Page 26 of Jack of Hearts
“I can. Never.”
She glanced at him in surprise. “Seriously?” He shrugged, and she had the feeling he hadn’t meant to admit that. “Why not?”
“Too much of a luxury growing up. Then once I was a big boy ...” He grinned. “Real men don’t go around eating ice cream sundaes.”
Alex could put on a pink tutu and a sparkly tiara and he’d still be all man. She giggled at the image.
“Wanna share?”
“Nope.” No way she was going to share that with him.
His eyes danced with mischief as he leaned his head close to hers. “Bet I can make you.”
She slapped a hand over her mouth and shook her head.
“Tell me what amused you.”
When he sucked on her earlobe, she almost fell off the stool. If he kept doing that, she would tell him anything he wanted to know. She turned her face toward his, and their lips brushed. That hadn’t been intentional, but his gaze locked on hers, and the mischief that had been in his eyes moments before faded. As they stared at each other, his black eyes shimmered, hot with desire.
“Alex,” she whispered.
“I know.”
She wasn’t sure what he knew, but his mouth covered hers, and she tasted vanilla and chocolate and mint. Forgetting they were sitting on the sidewalk with people walking by, she slipped her hand around his neck, wanting more. As if she’d unleashed a tiger, he growled, shifted on the stool so that his legs were encasing hers, and pressed his thighs against hers.
Suddenly, a hand wrapped around her hair and yanked her head back. “What the hell’s going on?”
Oh God, Ramon. “Let go of me!” She tried to pull her hair away, letting out a cry of pain, tears stinging her eyes when Ramon yanked harder.
Like a striking snake, Alex exploded from his chair and squeezed his fingers around Ramon’s neck. “Let. Her. Go.”
She’d never heard Alex sound so dangerous, and although his anger was directed toward her cousin, he scared her. It was the second time tonight she’d seen him lose his temper, and all the questions she had about him surfaced. Who was he? Because he’d just proven he wasn’t afraid to take her cousin on. If he was one of Ramon’s minions, would he stand up to Ramon like that? She didn’t think so.
When Ramon let go of her hair, she exhaled, reached up, and massaged the back of her head. She’d been so stupid to sit out where anyone could catch sight of her and Alex and call her cousin, ratting them out. It wasn’t like she didn’t know Ramon had spies all over the place. So stupid.
A taxi pulled up, and a couple got out. Ignoring the two men staring daggers at each other, she grabbed her purse and slid into the backseat of the cab. She gave the driver her home address, refusing to look back as he pulled into traffic.
Tears burned her eyes, and she willed them away. A beautiful night had been ruined, and she didn’t know whether to blame Alex for luring her into forgetting how vindictive her cousin could be, herself for being lured, or Ramon for being a controlling ass. One thing she did know, she would hear from Ramon.
Every time the door to the bookshop opened, she was sure it would be Ramon. So far there’d been no sign of him. It was unnerving. She’d just as soon get the conversation over and done with.
What she’d told Alex was true. She was worried about her mother’s well-being and the control Uncle Jose had over her. But she hadn’t been able to bring herself to tell Alex about the loan from her uncle and how Ramon was holding that over her head. It was humiliating that a member of her family thought he had the right to treat her like a prized possession, and was threatening to close the bookstore if she didn’t march to his tune simply because she’d borrowed money. Families were supposed to take care of each other, not make them live in fear.
After tossing and turning most of the night, Alex’s questions resonating in her mind, she’d decided he was right about one thing. She needed to stop coddling her mother. It was time for some tough love.
“I did it!” Angelina clapped her hands after the customer she rang up had left.
“See. Easy.” Another customer approached the counter, and Madison stepped back, letting her mother handle the transaction on her own.
“She’s a natural,” Lauren said quietly, coming next to Madison.
It was true. Angelina was chatting with the customer, completely at ease as she finished the sale. Since she’d come to work for them, there was a new bounce in her step, and her eyes were brighter. Maybe having a purpose to her days was bringing her out of her depression. Madison sure hoped so.
“HGA! To your three o’clock,” Lauren exclaimed, grabbing Madison’s arm.
HGA was their code for hot guy alert, and Madison sucked in a breath at seeing Alex heading straight for her, his eyes locked on her.
Lauren took a step toward Alex. “I got this.”
