Page 38 of Release
Chapter 14
ALEXANDRA wokeup in a strange orientation in her bed. In a panic, she tossed off the covers and gaze around until her groggy brain recalled what had happened last night.
Shit.
Wilkes is downstairs in my sitting room.
Her yawn morphed into a perplexed frown. Then, everything from the night before flooded back. Groaning, she clutched her head and checked her phone. Rick had sent her a text with the limo service contact information at some point last night. She threw on a robe, phoned the service and requested they send Wilkes’ driver from last night before she headed downstairs to get Wilkes out of her house.
He was still asleep, from the sounds of his gurgling snore she heard from the entryway. She stared across the couch to see a bare-chested Wilkes, sprawled out in a rumpled pile of blankets.
Where did his t-shirt go?
She didn’t want to know.
He looked younger as he slept there, oblivious to her. His hair fell across his boyish face, making it somewhat easy to forget this was the same man who had made her want to claw his eyes out after he cheated on her.
As she looked over at him, it was not too hard to piece together the reasons last night went as far as it did. There was some type of imbalance in their relationship, some point where she felt she had to mute her own passion to satisfy him, at the cost of her own happiness. That was the point where their relationship failed, not when Wilkes’ cheated. That was what made it hurt so much more when he ended up in bed with Lydia. What Wilkes was hoping for last night was just another repeat of the six months they had been together. Whether or not Wilkes could ever realize that, it didn’t matter anymore. He may have really turned a new leaf, but the truth was he would have to find someone else to share the new and improved version of himself with. They were no longer meant to be together. They probably never were.
“What have I done?” she whispered with growing uneasiness. She allowed a kiss that almost led God knows where. Thank goodness she found the emergency brake when she did. Now, she needed him gone.
Scrunching her nose, she called out to him. “Wilkes.”
Still sleeping, he groaned, sleepily moving his head before clutching the pillow tighter with an incoherent mumble. He had always been a deep sleeper. Quickly, she stepped around to the back of the sectional and shook his shoulder.
“Wilkes. Your limo will be here soon. Get up. You need to leave.”
A glance at her phone showed her it was still early, the perfect time for him to be gone without getting any unwanted attention from the usual with telephoto-lens-carrying paparazzi who would kill for something this juicy. She shook his shoulders again and he slowly woke up.
“Hey,” he groaned, opening his eyes and looking around.
“Get dressed, Wilkes.” She left the sitting room and headed to the kitchen to put some coffee on. She looked out the front door on her way back to him. The limo had arrived. With any luck, his phone and keys would be in the back.
Wilkes stepped out of the powder room when she returned. She was grateful he had dressed again and would be out of her hair finally. “Thanks for letting me stay on your couch.”
“It’s fine,” she told him, pulling her robe more tightly around her. “Your limo’s outside.”
“Thanks. I’ll check for my stuff.” He walked toward the door, then turned back to her. “Need a ride into work?”
She shook her head. “No, you go ahead. Thanks.”
He should have been heading out the door, but instead he closed in on her. “I’m sorry about everything, Lex,” he said, reaching his arm out to cup one cheek.
She stepped back, out of his reach. “It’s fine.”
“It’s damned hard to not to kiss you right now.”
“Wilkes…”
“I know. I know, Lex. I wish you and Bash the best. Have a good day.”
“Bye Wilkes.” Alexandra followed him to the door, and watched as he hurried down the steps and disappeared head first into the limo. He stood up a moment later, shaking around his phone and keys in his hand. He had left them in the back seat. With a wave, he was back inside. The vehicle turned around in the driveway and headed toward the gate, taillights growing fainter as she stared after him.
The front gate did not close automatically as Wilkes’ limo drove out. A flash of light. Then another. Then a few more.
“Shit,” she muttered.
The paparazzi.
More than one, and oh crap, Wilkes’ limo was slowing down? Soon there were three or four microphones pointed at the back window.
“He’d better not add any fuel to the fire,” she growled, shutting her front door.
Knowing Wilkes, he’d blow it out of proportion. This was the last thing Alexandra needed. She rushed upstairs to phone Bash. In case anything came of it, she needed him to hear it from her first. She closed her eyes, painfully pulling together something to say as she waited for Bash to answer. The call went to voice mail. Letting out a long breath, she went to shower and dress for what would be a long day.
