Page 45 of Jack of Hearts
She picked up her phone as she stood. “Are you going to call your brother? Lauren was serious.”
“No. Ramon probably won’t come back, but better safe than sorry. He’ll crash on your sofa.”
“Call and tell him he can have my bed for the night.” She leaned over and kissed his cheek. “Sweet dreams.”
He grabbed her hand, turned it over, and kissed her wrist. “If they’re of you, they’ll definitely be sweet. Now, go wash your hands and get all my germs off.”
She paused at the door. “Thank you.”
“For?”
“For coming when I called, especially after how I treated you.”
His eyes locked on hers. “You knew I would.”
Yeah, she hadn’t doubted it for one minute. She smiled. “Good night, Alex.”
“Night, Mad.” He pulled his pillow over his head. “I’ll feel better tomorrow, and then I’ll let you play with my chest.”
“Promises. Promises.” She closed the door, making a detour to the kitchen for a glass of water before she took herself to bed. Should she have told Alex everything? All she’d said was that Ramon had attacked her. She’d kept to herself his demand that she allow him and his uncle use of the bookstore to funnel money through.
Although she wanted to tell him, she still didn’t know exactly what his relationship was with Ramon. Sleep was elusive. She tossed and turned, her heart arguing with her mind. Her heart said she could trust Alex. Her mind questioned her sanity for believing that.
The smell of coffee drifted through the open door of Alex’s guest room, the aroma dragging her from sleep. She’d finally drifted off sometime around dawn after deciding that she’d listen to her heart until Alex proved her wrong. Stupid maybe, but he’d sworn he didn’t do drugs or sell them. She chose to believe him. Even so, she wasn’t sure enough to tell him about the money laundering. Which, if she was honest with herself, put her right back to stupid.
She rolled onto her side, sighing in dreamy pleasure as she pulled the comforter up to her chin. The guest bed was better than hers at home—the mattress perfect, the sheets cool and silky, and the down comforter one she could snuggle in forever. Five more minutes and she’d get up.
“Rise and shine, sleepyhead.”
Madison groaned. “Go away.” The covers were pulled off, and she opened her eyes to see Alex standing over her, a smirk on his face.
“Not a morning person, are we?”
“Hate mornings, but especially hate cheerful morning people.” She stretched her arms over her head.
“Then I guess we better break up, Grasshopper. Too bad about that since it means you won’t get to play with my chest after all.”
Break up? Did that mean he considered them back together? “Alex?”
“Mmm?”
“Thank you.”
“For what? Being happy when you called me? I wasn’t pleased about the reason you did, but what’s important is that you’re here where I can keep you safe.”
She wanted to ask if they were back together, but she chickened out. What if he said no, he was only playing the hero by coming to her rescue. Besides, he wore only a pair of worn jeans that hung low on his hips. It was hard to think straight with his chest right there in front of her face. All she wanted to do was follow that trail of hair with her tongue, not stopping until she claimed the prize.
“How do you like your coffee?”
She jerked her gaze up to his face, only to see amusement in his eyes. The man knew exactly where her mind had been. “Poured down my throat. I’ll be there in a minute.”
“Don’t go back to sleep.”
“Yeah, yeah.” He turned away, and she frowned at the scars on his back.
After a quick shower, she dressed, then went looking for coffee. At the entrance to the kitchen, she stilled. Alex stood at the stove with his back to her, still shirtless. A confusing mix of lust and rage coursed through her. He was magnificent! The broad shoulders, trim waist, lean hips, and mussed black hair long enough to cover the back of his neck were straight out of a woman’s wet dreams. She wanted to crawl all over his body, touching, tasting, exploring.
It was seeing the scars on his back again, though, that made her want to wrap her arms around him and promise she’d never let anyone hurt him again. They were old ones, white and puckered. Feet bare, she padded toward him. She thought she could sneak up behind him, but he tilted his head as if listening.
