Page 86 of Second Chance for Mr. Alden

I slipped my fingers over her shoulders and rubbed until her muscles slowly released.

“No, it’s okay. Just keep telling her I’m busy or out of town. Thanks, Lexi. I’m sorry to have thrown you in the middle of my family drama.”

Jess curled up against me.

“So tell me more about this business opportunity,” Jess asked.

Jess quietly listened to Lexi talk, every so often she hummed an affirmative, or asked a clarifying question. With Jess resting in between my legs, I tried to stretch out on the loveseat the best I could. She gave me a commiserating look and patted my thighs. It didn’t matter to me. I’d stay out here until she was ready to go back to bed.

I closed my eyes and focused on the weight of her body on mine, how her curves fit against me perfectly. How I could see myself doing this every night for the rest of our lives.

“Babe.” Jess’s full lips pressed against mine. “Hey, sleepyhead.”

I opened my eyes to find her deep brown ones staring back at me. I smiled. “Hi.”

“Hi.” She wiggled in my lap until she straddled me.

“You seemed tense during part of the call.” I wanted her to know she could talk to me about anything.

She groaned. “Yeah, my mother stopped by to talk to me. Apparently, she was angry I wasn’t at her beck and call. She told Lexi to let me know Jareth is still interested in marrying me.”

My arms banded tight around her. Jealousy flared in my gut, and I wanted to punch Jareth and tell him to walk away from Jess. “Well, he can’t have you,” I growled.

Jess cupped my cheeks, and placed kisses on my forehead, on my cheeks, and then finally, a faint one on my lips. “No, he never will. I’m yours, James.”

I grunted. “Yes, mine.”

She smiled. “And you’re mine.”

I relaxed. There was nothing to be jealous about and I needed to remember that.

Her fingers rubbed at my beard, each swipe telling my body to relax even more.

I cleared my throat. “Things okay with Lexi?” It was weird to not talk to my sister all the time. We usually called each other a few times a week, but with me trying to keep Jess safe we were keeping calls down to a minimum.

She dropped her hands to my shoulders. “Yeah, she’s really good. She had a few business things in the works she wanted to go over with me, but for the most part Gage is keeping her cooped up, too.”

I nodded. “Just in case.”

She sighed. “I know.”

“Gage is still working to trace the gifts you got, and he’s working on finding the drivers of the truck and the car that followed us. He’s reaching out to his contacts to see if he can find any paper trail regarding either of those things. I know it’s hard to sit tight, but he’ll find something.”

She nodded and her lips twisted into a grimace. “I know. I’m just not the most patient person in the world.”

I chuckled. “You?”

Her hand swatted playfully at my chest.

“How’s Reina?” I asked, hoping to raise her spirits. She loved talking about her fur baby.

Jess frowned. “She’s doing the cutest little things James, and I’m missing all of it.”

“I’m sure Lex can send you a video.”

She pouted. “She did, but it’s not the same. That’s my baby and it’s like I’m missing her first steps and stuff. Do you think if we’re here much longer we can find a way to bring her here?”

“I don’t know, Jess. It would be risky to move her. Anyone who knows you, knows you take Reina everywhere. If we bring her to you, it might bring your kidnapper to our door.”

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