“I want to build a snowman,” he confessed with a laugh. “Before I die.”
And there he went looking innocent again. Fuck. “I make a snowman every year. Nothing huge, just a little guy on my balcony. Oh, wait. I guess I won’t this year. I don’t have a balcony anymore.” I frowned. “And I might not be home for Christmas…”
“About that,” Alejandro started. Oh, how quick I could make things awkward. If there was an award for that, I’d have a whole shelf full of them. “I’m sorry you’re here, Ellie.”
He sounded sincere. “I almost believe you,” I said quietly.
His hand settled on the table, fingers tips brushing mine. The heat of his skin made me shiver. “I didn’t want them to take you. You have to realize that this is more of a hassle for me than anyone else.”
I chewed the inside of my lip. “Yeah. I can see that. I cramp your style.”
He laughed again. “Just a bit. You’ve been good company, and I know how fucked up that is to say.” He pulled his hand back and sighed, a little line of stress forming between his eyes. “I don’t know what else to do.”
I nodded. Alejandro was such a curious thing. He was stoic, hardened, and totally alpha. And then the next minute, he was honest and real and almost, dare I say, caring? He could no doubt brood with the best of them, with those dark eyes and pouty lips. But I liked this Alejandro, when he let his guard down and was himself.
Fuck.
I really liked that Alejandro. I wanted more of him, to talk with him, get to know him better. I was getting the feeling there was more to him than meets the eye. And maybe, just maybe, he wasn’t that bad after all.
That night, I got up from bed, unable to sleep, and went into the bathroom. I turned on the tub, prepared to get in for a long soak and maybe a little finger action while I imaged Alejandro’s tattooed arms around my body.
I pulled the nightgown over my head, carefully folding it on the counter. I stuck one foot in the tub. The water was hot, almost too hot and painful—just the way I liked it.
Then a shot rang out, echoing throughout the large house. My heart hammered, and my stomach dropped to the floor. I froze, naked with one foot in the tub. My breath left me in a whoosh.
Another gun fired, startling me. I almost fell. I pitched forward, sloshing water out of the tub and onto the floor. I pushed myself up and scrambled back, grabbing a towel to wrap around myself.
Holding the towel close to my chest, I stumbled out of the bathroom. I ducked down, creeping to the window. The smell of gunpowder hung in the air. Bright security lights flooded the front lawn. Men ran around, waving weapons and shouting in Spanish.
Then I saw him, wearing nothing but black athletic pants and holding an AK47. He looked just like he did in my dream. Alejandro shouted to someone then took off through the yard. He moved with such precision and grace. Light reflected off his eyes.
His jaw was set. He was determined and not at all scared. If anything, he looked annoyed. I watched him sweep through the lawn, holding up the machine gun. He stepped through a line of trees and disappeared from sight.
I slowly inhaled and rose, clutching the curtains with one hand and the towel in the other. What the hell was going on? Someone trying to steal from Alejandro? Other drug dealers? Cops?
I leaned forward, heart racing. Where was Alejandro? I hadn’t heard any more shots. He had to be okay. I blinked. Was I really worried about him? My eyes scanned the dark yard. Fuck, I was.
My muscles tensed, and my mind raced. I made my decision and jumped away from the window. I dropped the towel and ran across the room, dodging into the bathroom to grab the robe. I put it on as I flew across the room, stopping by the door, hand hovering over the doorknob.
I closed my eyes, reached out, and twisted. The door opened. I pulled it back and looked into the hall. There was no one there. The house was a quiet sanctuary to the chaos outside.
I looked up and down the dark hall, unsure of which way to go. The house was huge, and I’d been out of the room only once. I tied the robe around my waist and padded down the hall. I made it a few yards before I realized I had gone the wrong way. I whirled around, prepared to sprint away, when an open door caught my eye.
I took a deep breath and peered into the room. I knew right away it was Alejandro’s. The room was large, and everything was extravagant. A large bed with dark, satin sheets was against the opposite wall. The blankets were tossed back from his haste, and a pair of pants was in a pile on the ground.
Did Alejandro sleep naked?
I stepped back from his room. It didn’t matter. A war was raging outside the house. He may never get back into that bed again. I rushed down the hall, flying down the stairs. Men were shouting outside, their angry voices circling the house.