I’ve gotta get out of here. One night, then I’mgone.
With their plates loaded with food, they ate side-by-side at his dining room table while the snowplows lit up the sleeping city across the dark river. But Alexandra stayed keenly aware of Crockett’s close proximity. His every breath and sideways glance reminded her she was with the one man she’d fought so hard toforget.
They fell into a familiar rhythm, like two halves of a whole. He set his fork down to sip his coffee. She paused to drink her water. She crossed her legs. He shifted in his chair. By the end of their meal, their shoulders rose and fell in sync. Despite facing the window, Crockett turned his chair so he could see her without craning hisneck.
His solicitations comforted and unsettled her. Regardless of her deep-seated feelings, she needed to keep him at arm’s length. Her heart was already breaking over her mom. She couldn’t fall for him again only to lose him again. He’d dumped her once. Chances were good he’d do it again. Torturing herself was pointless. She wasn’t staying. When her mom got better, she’d return toCalifornia.
Plus, she needed him to do the interview.DC’s Brightest Tech Starwould bring in the ratings and get her noticed. Then, she could circulate her resume and get the hell out from under Max’sthumb.
She’d show her appreciation by cooking him dinner and buying him a tube of antiseptic cream for his shoulders.Wow. That’spathetic.
“I’ll crash on the sofa,” he said. Ignoring her protests, he escorted her to his bedroom, and retrieved a pillow and blanket from his walk-in closet. “Get some sleep.” He closed the door, leaving heralone.
A sharp pain sprang from her chest. Feeling like he’d abandoned her, she flung open the door. In the darkened hallway, heturned.
“Thank you for tonight,” shesaid.
A satisfied grin spread over his face. “Are you thanking me as Electra orAlexandra?”
Both.Smirking, she said, “Goodnight,Crockett.”
He tossed her a nod, then retreated toward the living room. Fearing another nightmare, she left the door ajar and the desk lamp on. Exhausted, she curled up in his bed. Surrounded by Crockett’s delicious scent, she closed her eyes and remembered happiertimes.
She’d met Crockett Wilde when Colton had invited his freshman college roommate home for Thanksgiving. Alexandra’s attraction to him had been immediate and intense. Normally quiet, the fourteen year old had been so tongue-tied she’d barely uttered a word during his entire visit. Beyond Crockett’s obvious good looks, his easy laugh, Texan charm, and sexy accent made her heart pitter-patter and her cheeksflush.
After crushing on him for four, long years, she wanted him to see her without her dark disguise. So, when her mom hosted a party to celebrate everyone’s graduation—hers from high school, and Colton’s and Crockett’s from Harvard—Alexandra traded her Goth look for a chiffon dress and heels. She washed away the black hair color, pulled her brown hair into a sweeping ponytail and went makeup free. Despite feeling totally naked and completely vulnerable, she had to do it. Even if Crockett hadn’t cared, her mom had been ecstatic. That, alone, had been worth theeffort.
But her planhadworked. Crockett had noticed her. They spent most of the afternoon and evening together. And when he told her he’d landed a tech job in Northern Virginia, and wasn’t returning home to Texas, she’d made up her mind on the spot. She would give him her virginity before she left for college inAugust.
In true form, Crockett had been a gentleman. He asked her out on a date—then another and another and another. When they did finally make love, she fell, hard. But in true Mitus fashion, she kept her feelings tucked deep inside. That summer they became inseparable—until he sent her packing and broke herheart.
She rolled over and hugged the other pillow. As she drifted to sleep, she imagined snuggling in Crockett’s strongembrace.
Alexandra woke with a start. Adrenaline spiked through her as her eyes darted around the unfamiliar room. Then, her consciousness kicked in.I’m at Crockett’s.And her thundering heartbeatslowed.
Another nightmare. The faceless man and dark-haired woman had argued, but then as nightmares often go, the woman morphed into a different lady—a blonde drenched in makeup. The man kissed her. For some reason, that upset Alexandra. The man wasn’t supposed to be kissing that lady. She wasn’t his mommy.What the hell?The dream made no sense.I’ll need sleep meds to get through this bout ofnightmares.
Confused and frustrated, she tiptoed toward the kitchen for a glass ofwater.
“You okay?” Crockettasked.
She startled. “Ooh. Yeah, sorry. Didn’t mean to wake you. Just grabbing somewater.”
“I’m a light sleeper.” After flipping on the stovetop light, he filled a glass with filtered water from his refrigerator and handed it toher.
Guzzling the cold liquid helped, but she couldn’t shake the disturbing image. “Thanks.”
He furrowed his brow. “What’swrong?”
“Nothing.”
“At Wilde Bed & Breakfast, we have a tell-the-truth policy.” He paused. “Let’s try this again. What’s really goingon?”
Tell him.“I had anightmare.”
* * *
In the kitchen,Alexandra’seyes had been wild with fear, but when he settled her on the sofa, beneath the warm blanket, her quaking subsided. He sat beside her. “Talk tome.”
