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But he needed Alex not to be looking at his groin.
So he went for his phone.
It wasn’t Peri.
It was Chloe.
He figured this was about one of two things (unless it was about both), her pushing him about Alex (because Rix was under no illusions, Judge told his woman everything), or her losing her shit about Peri (because Judge was loyal AF, but Chloe obliterated the loyalty scale to the point they hadn’t created one to measure how deep her allegiance could go).
“Take it, we have time. I’ll raid the mini-bar,” Alex said, beginning to move into his room, so he stepped out of her way.
He hadn’t brought aftershave or cologne.
But she’d put on perfume and holy goddamn fuck.
It smelled of musk and amber, it was woodsy, warm, but delicate and perfect for her because that was all her, but also, she could get that scent all over him, and he wouldn’t mind wearing it, not only because it smelled of her.
Shit.
She headed toward the mini-bar.
He took the call from Chloe to get his mind off Alex.
“Yo,” he greeted.
“Where are you?”
“In the only place that could be described as the middle of nowhere in California.”
“California is a big state, Rix, there are numerous places like that.”
“Well, I’m in one of them,” he returned. “What’s up?”
“Is Alex with you?”
Okay, Alex was not any part of either of the reasons he suspected Chloe would be calling.
The door shut behind him as he moved back into the room and asked, “Yeah, why?”
“And where are the two of you? At the hotel restaurant?”
When his eyes hit her, Alex was holding up a bottle of red wine in one hand, and a beer in the other.
He tipped his head to the beer.
She turned back to the cabinet, and he saw her tank entirely exposed her shoulder blades.
Her skin was smooth and tan.
Great.
“No, we’re having a drink in my room. Again, why?”
“A drink in your room, excellent,” she bizarrely decreed, then demanded, “Put me on speakerphone.”
This was Chloe.
So…
No way in fuck.
“Chloe, tell me what you’re calling about.”
“It’s important. Put me on speakerphone, I need to talk to you both.”
“I’m not doing it until you tell me what this is about.”
“It’s about saving Alex.”
At these words, his chest constricted and his eyes shot from Alex’s shoulder blade to her profile.
“From what?” he growled.
“Her family.”
It was at that, he realized he’d heard it, but missed it.
Earlier, Alex had said, There’s a lot on my mind. Work stuff and, um…family stuff…
They then got into other things, so he hadn’t asked about it.
And Chloe and Alex might not be tight, but they spent time together. They liked each other. Chloe was rabidly friendly and in your business, but somehow managed to be that way in a manner that was sweet and generous and thoughtful.
Yeah, it was crazy, but she had a knack with that shit.
He couldn’t imagine Alex opening up easily with anyone.
But if there was someone she opened up to, it’d be Chloe.
“Going to speakerphone,” he said, and hit it, moving forward just as Alex extended the beer bottle to him. “Chloe,” he told her, taking the bottle.
Her brows inched together and she said, “Okay.”
“Alex?” Chloe called.
“Hey, Chloe.”
“Hello there, sorry to interrupt down time for you two, but obviously, time is of the essence. We have to plan.”
Alex stared at the phone, clearly as confused as Rix was.
“Wine for you?” Rix asked her.
Alex’s body jerked, she nodded and turned back to the mini-bar, but he moved closer and gently shifted her out of the way, setting his beer and the phone down to take over the drinks.
“Hello?” Chloe’s voice came from his phone.
“We’re here, but I don’t think either of us know what you’re talking about,” Alex told her.
“The situation,” Chloe stated.
“What situation?” Alex asked.
“For one, your situation,” Chloe said.
“I…what’s my situation?” Alex inquired.
“Coco,” Rix grunted, popping the cork, “just spit it out.”
“Well, it’s good you two are hanging out, because you need to get a head start while you’re out there together, practicing being boyfriend and girlfriend,” Chloe announced.
Rix froze, but his ears still worked and he heard the gust of shocked air Alex let out, like someone had gut punched her.
“What?” Rix snarled at his phone.
“For when you go to New York for Blake’s wedding,” Chloe did and did not explain, the last part because it was an explanation, it was just that Rix didn’t understand it.
“How do you know about that?” Alex asked in an agonized whisper.
Rix’s gaze raced to her face.
Her pale face.
She was staring at his phone like it was going to grow arms and legs and chase her around the room.
“Know about what?” Rix prompted.
Her eyes darted to him, and her cheeks went scarlet.
“Well, obviously,” Chloe’s voice came at them, “considering Alex’s sister Blake is…how to say this…how she is, Alex needs a fabulous plus one to shove in Blake’s face and to get Blake off her back during the wedding. And for that to work, you two are going to have to sell it.”
