Page 13 of The Longest Wait

Lucy reluctantly stepped away from Jack, but he snatched herwrist and pulled her close to him again. It was like he couldn’tstand to not have his wife near him. While Sofia searched for thecookies, she saw Jack whisper something in Lucy’s ear that madeher friend giggle.

“Ugh, you two make me sick.”

Lucy turned around. “Fair. But I promise one day you’re goingto find someone who makes you want sneak away, even it’s onlyfor five minutes to kiss.”

This was comical. Sofia flipped her hair over her shoulder andspotted the cookies next to the fridge. “That’s doubtful. Either way,can’t you two keep your hands off each other for a few more hours?You’re hosting a party. For your brother.”

Jack wasn’t enthused. “Don’t remind me. All I wanted was anight in. I don’t even think Alex likes this shit.”

“Likes the party or likes you two making out?” Sofia goaded.

He laughed. “Both.”

Lucy gently pushed him. “I told you I would make it up toyou. And, I would like to mention, Alex is having a great time.”

Jack smiled at her before giving Lucy a sweet kiss.

The two of them were enough lovey-dovey to make someonescream, namely Sofia. She slipped away from them so she couldcontrol her gag reflex. Yes, she was happy for Lucy and Jack. Theyhad the real deal: the love most people only day dream about butdidn’t get. But come on, they could simmer down on their constantneed to touch each other.

A small, little, not even worth mentioning part of her wasenvious. She stomped that feeling down as soon as it tried to rearits ugly head.

Safely away from seeing something she couldn’t unsee in thekitchen, Sofia placed the extra cookies on the table. She saw Tesstalking to her assistant, Grace, who looked like she was about topoop her pants. Grace probably forgot to refill ice or something,and Tess was losing it. The poor girl looked as if she was going tocry any second.

Sofia was doing anything to avoid the person they werecelebrating, so she figured she should save the Grace from whateverTess was reprimanding her about. She pushed off the table whensomeone grabbed her hand and yanked her into the bathroom.Before she oriented herself, the bathroom door locked and thelights flicked on.

She glared up and all her good deeds of getting cookies andwanting to save Grace went down the drain. Alex gave her a displeased look, one she was all too used to.

“What the fuck are you doing?” Sofia snapped at him. Didn’the know she had an assistant to save?

Alex refused to let go of her wrist. “It’s my party—”

“So, you can cry if you want too,” Sofia interrupted.

His dark brown eyes were unwavering and filled with disdain.“I was saying it’s my party, and you have outdone yourself bymaking a point to not be in the same room as me.”

“Took notice of that, huh?” Sofia said in tone like she had moreimportant things to do. Which she probably did. Grace probablyput in her two-week notice by now.

“After your last charade at Lucy’s wedding, you owe me anapology. I thought I would get one when I saw you last month,but naturally you either argued or ignored me.”

Sofia held her head high. “I don’t regret a thing I said to you,so I have no need to say sorry.”

“Pretty sure at one point, you said I meant nothing to you andthis was followed by a drink thrown in my face.”

“Like I said, I don’t regret a thing. Do you want me torepeat myself—”

Now it was his turn to interrupt her.

Alex crushed his mouth on hers; it was like he had to stop herfrom saying she didn’t care about him. The kiss was demandingand hard, as he pushed her against the door, his hands possessivelydragging over her body. Sofia let herself forget he was public enemynumber one. His kiss, it was hypnotizing, making her feel tinglyand desirable. Her hands also traveled over his body, giving in toher need to touch him. His tongue pushed into her mouth, battling with hers. She shivered at the electricity between them. Sheached for more.

“Bullshit I mean nothing to you.” His cocky voice brought herback to reality. She pushed him away, but he refused let go.

Sofia was an idiot getting caught up in the aura of Alex allbecause the man knew how to kiss. “Let go of me.”

It was as if he didn’t hear her because he didn’t move.

“If you don’t let me go, I will ruin your chances of ever havingkids”—she paused to be dramatic—“meaning, I will kick you inthe balls.”

“You want me,” he said smugly.