Page 68 of LA Reign

“Maybe the next time you visit, he won’t be so distracted with work,” I suggest.

She smiles at me. “I hope not. Then we could all go out to Alejandro’s club. That would be awesome. Clubbing with my girl and her hot bodyguard,” she giggles. “Who’d have predicted that this time last year, when we were living on ramen bowls?”

“I know. Things have changed. Apart from one thing. You’re still man crazy. I’m sure you’ll forget all about poor Hugo as soon as you’re back in New York.”

“Oh, I don’t know honey, those eyes and those biceps are kinda hard to forget.”

“I seem to recall you saying that about Logan Woods not so long ago.” Logan was one of Kelsey’s many loser exes.

“Oh, well he turned out to be a complete asshole, didn’t he? You always had his number though, Alana. You’re such a great judge of character when it comes to men. I always pick the crazies or the complete assholes.”

“Well, I’m not sure you’re entirely right about that.” Unless, of course, she counts remaining a virgin until my age as a wise choice.

She takes off her sunglasses and perches them on her head, her sparkling green eyes gazing at me as she sips her wine. “Actually, you hardly ever dated at all, really. Not even in college. Not since Bobby Conroy broke your heart.”

“Exactly. I didn’t pick well there, did I?” I raise my eyebrows at her.

“Jerk,” she snorts.

“Hey, did I tell you I ran into him the other week? He’s some tech millionaire now.”

“Really? Bobby the jock a tech geek? No way!”

“Yes way. He was the keynote speaker at some convention at the hotel.”

“I bet Alejandro loved that,” she starts to laugh. “You running into your handsy ex-boyfriend.”

“He wasn’t handsy,” I insist.

“Whatever. So, did Alejandro like him?”

“No,” I grin at her. “Not even a little bit. In fact, he threatened to break his arm.”

“For not being handsy?”

“Yeah. Well, Alejandro can be, uh, passionate.”

She sighs a little, looking dreamy and distracted. “Good. We should all be so lucky as to find a man who feels like that about us. You certainly seem to have picked a good one now, though. He adores you, Alana.”

I smile back. “You think?”

“Girl, I know! He can hardly keep his eyes or his hands off you. And why wouldn’t he feel like that? You’re a knockout. But it’s more than that. The way he looks at you. It’s everything,” she sighs dramatically. “I want that too. I want an Alejandro.”

I grin at her. “Well, there’s only one of him, and he’s very much taken. But I hope you do find your own happiness some day soon, Kelsey. Believe me, it can happen when you least expect it. Sometimes I still can’t believe he’s my husband, Kels. He’s just…well, he’s everything I have ever wanted, and everything I didn’t even know I wanted, rolled into one hot package of fine-ass man.”

“Damn right he is. And speaking of a fine-ass man,” Kelsey nods toward the French doors. I look up to see Hugo walking out into the grounds. I’ve become so used to Hugo since he became my bodyguard that sometimes I even forget how handsome he is. Kelsey has definitely not forgotten, as she’s practically drooling.

“I’m signing off, Alana,” he tells me. “Hank, Ray, and Josh are here in the house, and the patrols are outside as usual. Lucia is studying in her room, and Mr. Montoya asked me to tell you that he’ll be home after dinner, so don’t wait for him to eat.”

“Thanks, Hugo,” I say. “That’s great.” I’m disappointed Alejandro won’t be home for dinner, but I know how busy he is. Besides, I have Kelsey here to keep me company.

“You fancy sticking around for a quick drink, Hugo?” she asks as she lifts the half empty wine bottle.

He clears his throat. “I’d better not,” he says but his eyes are drawn to Kelsey’s legs as she crosses them, exposing the skin at the top of her thighs in her short sundress. Totally accidental, of course.

“I’ll see you tomorrow, ladies,” he mumbles as his cheeks flush a light shade of pink.

Kelsey stares after him as he walks back into the house. “Oh, I would climb him like a tree,” she says as she fans herself with her hand.