Complications(30)

“He had been cheating on me for over a year. That’s what he told me a few weeks ago.” She felt Alex’s arms tighten around her. “I never suspected a thing. I guess that makes me the biggest fool on the planet,” she said bitterly.

“Don’t demean yourself for his mistakes,” Alex told her roughly.

“It’s hard not to. I should’ve ended things with him a long time ago,” she pointed out softly.

“Probably,” he agreed. “But the important thing now is that you’re done with him.” He leaned down to kiss her lightly. “And that you’re here right now. With me. Maybe that makes me selfish,” he commented, his voice lowering.

She felt a flicker of desire and knew that he was right. Alex was an amazing man. He let her cry all over him and listened to her bitch about her ex. And he had opened up to her about his father even though it was obviously a touchy subject for him.

“Hey,” he murmured gently. She glanced up at his hazel eyes and felt her chest warm. “Just for the record, I think you’re beautiful just the way you are.”

Her throat tightened at his words and she struggled not to tear up again. How many times had she wished Miles would say that to her in the six years she’d been with him? And here, Alex said it within a week of knowing her.

In order to not cry all over him again, she brought their lips together for a passionate kiss.

Oh yes, Alex Matlock was definitely an amazing man.





Chapter Eleven




Alex poured fresh coffee into two mugs as he looked out the kitchen window to his backyard. Bright sunlight filtered through the trees at this hour, casting a serene glow over the dewy grass.

He had slept in later than usual. It was only eight in the morning, but it was two hours after he normally woke up. Smiling to himself, he blamed it on Olivia.

Last night had been intense. In more ways than one. The sex, of course, was always mind-blowing with her. But he hadn’t expected the conversation that followed their first round. He hadn’t been comfortable sharing things about his father, but he felt relief saying them out loud. It was as though he released the bitter memories just by getting them off his chest.

He hadn’t told anyone about August. No one. Ever. But telling Olivia last night had seemed so right. And he was even more in awe of her after seeing her reaction and hearing more about her ex. Alex had been right about one thing. That jackass really had cut her deep.

Stifling the irrational anger and slight jealousy that arose, he carried the two mugs back to his bedroom, navigating around the piles of clothes strewn across the floor. He smiled when he saw Olivia still wrapped up in his sheets. He gently set down the mugs on his nightstand and crawled in behind her, kissing her neck and inhaling her soft feminine scent. She mumbled something and slowly woke up as he continued to nibble her ear.

She had told him before they fell asleep—after their second round of sex—that about five months ago she had hired a weekend manager for her shop. It was why he didn’t bother waking her up earlier and a part of him wanted to keep her in bed all weekend now that he knew she didn’t have to work. He wondered if she would object or if she had any plans.

“Mmmmm, I smell coffee,” she murmured sleepily, turning over to face him. Alex smiled and grabbed her mug from the nightstand. The enticingly strong aroma made her sit up against his headboard. To his disappointment, she clutched the sheets to her breasts. “Thank you,” she said huskily, as she accepted the mug and took a small sip.

“Sleep well?” Alex asked, eyeing her mussed hair and the enticing pink color of her cheeks and lips. I did good, he thought with a small smug smile. She looked like sex and it pleased him…immensely. He felt an irrational urge to thump on his chest like a caveman.

Shit. Alex knew things would get complicated between them, but he hadn’t counted on it happening this quickly.

A smile played over her lips as she caught his eyes. He was pleased she didn’t seem shy this morning. Not after everything last night at least. “I slept like the dead,” she admitted. “I don’t think I woke up once.”

Alex grinned, brushing his lips over her forehead as affection bubbled up in his chest. “You can thank my amazing sex skills,” he teased.

She laughed in disbelief, her eyes turning wide with amusement. “Your amazing sex skills?” she repeated slowly. “You’re so full of it.”

Alex nodded in mock seriousness as he gave her a heated look. “It’s a natural talent. Side affects include multiple orgasms and the best damn sleep of your life.”

She was already starting to blush even as she pushed at his shoulder playfully. “You know, you could probably list that on your resume in the skills section. I’m sure it would open up a lot of doors.”