“Alex would be great, thanks.” He returns to his seat as they drift off to greet other guests. “Everyone of ye sucks!” he says, pointing around the table. My friends burst out in laughter.
“In all honesty, Alex, we’re just giving you a hard time. How long are you in town for?” Colin asks as the conversation around the table turns back to a comfortable discussion.
I’m shocked by how little I actually know about Alex as I listen to him answer questions peppered at him from my friends. I didn’t know he has seven siblings or that his family lived on a sheep croft in the northern Highlands next to the ocean. I didn’t know that he had one more year on his contract with the Galaxy. I really didn’t know he was already being scouted by several other football clubs. Finally, I recognize something I do know.
“I know this one!” I blurt out a little too loud. When my friends turn to look at me, I feel the red creep up my neck. Turning to Alex, I stammer, “I knew about your torn ankle in college. That you have to tape it up now to keep it stable.” The table grows silent as the red continues up my face. I hadn’t realized how little we really knew about each other until tonight.
Looking around the table, I notice every couple here had known each other a while before getting together. In Colin’s case, he has known Maggie for six years.
Not me, I was the one that decided it was a good idea to have sex with a soccer star after knowing him for all of thirty minutes. This isn’t how a relationship starts. It starts by getting to know stupid things like where someone is from first.
They don’t start with me sinking my teeth into his shoulder so hard to keep from screaming through my orgasm that I left small scars. Especially not with a guy whose last name I didn’t even know at the time. I feel a groan escape from my lips as the realization hits.
“Claire?” Alex is watching me as the panic of what everyone must think about me slowly wraps itself around my brain.
“I can’t believe I turned into that slut,” I moan into my hands. I’m no better than my self-absorbed sister, jumping on a man with no conscience.
I hear the table go even quieter, except for the snort that escapes Colin right before he’s jabbed in the ribs by Maggie. He knows exactly who I’m talking about. He’s had the misfortune of crossing her path before.
“Okay,” I hear Alex say, pushing his chair back. “We’re gaun ootwith for some fresh air, yeah? We’ll be back.” He pulls my chair back with a yank, bringing me to my feet in one swift move. Tucking me into his side, we start toward the door. We don’t stop until I pull him to a standstill outside the door.
“Why don’t I know anything about you?” I’m really not prone to whining, but that’s exactly how the question comes out. He tries to pull me farther away from the people milling around the front door, but I twist out of his hand.
“Thanks for coming, but you can go. Go back to your glamorous life. Go back to your beautiful women, your fancy meals and your exciting world.” Apparently the whining wasn’t enough, I have to add drama to the mix.
“Whit the fuck are ye blethering on aboot?” There is a collective gasp behind me as Alex bends grabbing my waist and slinging me over his shoulder. Turning, he heads toward the golf course. Hearing a catcall from Colin, I look up in time to see my friends watching me being carried off. Do they try to rescue me from the stranger carrying me into the woods? Not even a little bit.
“Alex, put me down,” I say, trying to push off of his shoulder. I’m shocked into holding still when I feel a hard slap to my ass.
“Gréim fhathast boireannach!” he says.
“I still can’t speak Gaelic,” I shout as he stops.
“I said hold the fuck still. Or naw. Give me a reason tae spank yer ass some more,” he growls as he slides me down his body to my feet.
Setting me away from him, he takes a few steps before he stops to run his hands through his hair. Taking a deep breath, he turns back to me, his blue eyes on fire. He stands staring at me a second, making me look away.
“Alex, I…” I start but I can’t think of anything to say that won’t sound stupid. I’m pretty sure I’ve done enough stupid stuff lately to last me a lifetime.
“Claire,” I hear him growl out. “I’m sorry I’ve fucked this up so completely.” I startle when I hear his words. He hasn’t done anything wrong, except come in contact with the crazy American woman standing in front of him.
“Wait, let me finish,” he says when I open my mouth to protest. “I should have gotten yer number, called ye, asked ye oot, dated ye like a gentleman would. But instead, I had tae get my hands on ye. Once I tasted yer lips, I couldnae fucking stop. I like tae think ye felt that need tae be with me too, naw just spread yer legs like some groupie. I know ye’re naw a slut and, surprisingly, I’m naw one either. But once I had ye, I just kept wanting more. I still do.”
“Alex…” I try again but he places his fingers gently against my mouth.
“I deserved that slap. Whit kind of arsehole has a mind-blowing orgasm in the back of a library but cannae get a fucking phone number?”
He takes another deep breath before continuing. “I know we dinnae know anything aboot each other, that’s why I’m here. I rented a room for the month so we can get tae know each other better. I have tae fly oot for a couple of clinics during the week, but I’ll be here on the weekends. I thought we could start dating, so I can try this again. Now, tell me I’m a complete dick and I’ll get oot of yer life for good.” He slowly lowers his hand, waiting for me to say something.
“I would like that,” I whisper while watching a smile work itself across his face.
“Calling me a dick?” he asks with a low chuckle.
I laugh, “No, you staying around. Will you tell me everything about you, so maybe I won’t have to wonder why you keep coming back?”
“Everything, I’ll tell ye everything. Ye’ll be so sick of me by the time I report in February, ye’ll sigh in relief I’m gan for a bit.” Smiling, he steps back, holding out his hand.
“Hullo, my name is Alexander James Ross. I’m from the north of a very small town named Midfield where my family raises sheep on a small croft. We should live farther south, but my great-grandfather married the only child of a MacKay, so he inherited her land. I play fitbaw for a living. My first language is an odd dialect of Gaelic and I can whistle eight different dog signals. Is that enough for now?”
