Promises (24 page)

“I haven’t stopped loving him
,” Alex admitted at last.

“Shame
.” Natalie grinned against her head and smelled her hair, the scent of flowers enticing her. Her hand reached out to her back then dropped down. She realized that now was not the moment to hit on her.

Alex
gave a trembling grin. “I’m truly a one man woman—and one man in particular. Mainly that bloody twat who owns the hotel!” She shook her head in resignation.

“Well,
let’s just hope he comes to his senses.” Natalie released her and stood back, looking down into her face.

“Whether he does or doesn
’t, I need to hand in my notice. I’ve been looking for another job ever since I realized this is an Avery hotel. I’ve got one starting next month,” Alex said, begging her to understand. “I really appreciate all that you’ve done for me, but I have to move on. Is four weeks’ notice okay?”

“I suppose so, but why?
You don’t need to leave.” She wished she’d stay. There was so much more she could teach her, both in the hotel industry and in bed, if she’d let her.

“It’s just the way it is
.” How the hell could she say that in another month it would be obvious she was pregnant? And when people asked whose child it was? “Guess it’s the way of the world, and I’m just passing through, end of story!”

* * *

Solomon opened the door to his room, his mind still full of Alex. He knew he couldn’t make love to the woman who was with him. At least, he would not be able to give her his all. When he made love it was never half-hearted. He put his heart, his soul, and definitely his cock into it, and he knew damn well he couldn’t do that now.

He didn’t want to.

He hadn’t made love to anyone else since Alex had left him. She was the only woman he wanted in his arms, the red-haired, vicious-tongued temptress he’d left downstairs.

He felt arms
sneak around him, circling and slithering against his flat stomach and roaming over his muscles, seeking out the pleasure. He sucked in his breath; he wasn’t going there. Yet he enjoyed the sensations, the play of her hands across his flesh. Still his mind played tortured tricks, bringing back memories of
his
Alex. It was the only way he could think of her.

His!

N
o one else’s, never that. A surge of pure anger coursed through his body.

U
ntangling the blonde’s arms, his eyes dropped down apologetically. “Sorry, but I can’t do this right now.” He stepped away from her.

“But I don’t understand?” A
frown creased her patrician features as she held a hand out to him.

“It
’s not you, it’s me. Here.” He handed her a bunch of notes, pressed them into her hand, and turned her fingers over them. “That’s for a cab. I’ll ring one for you.”

* * *

“Well well, that’s a first,” said Natalie as she came off the phone and turned to Alex. “Looks like she’s not staying. Solomon has just asked for a taxi for her.”

Al
ex pushed down the flutter of relief. “Probably couldn’t get it up after the chill of the ice cubes I tipped over him.”

“Please
, tell me you didn’t!” Natalie said, shutting her eyes.

Alex grinned
.

“E
lvis has left the building!” Tom stated with a wide smile.

Alex
frowned at him, wondering what the hell he was talking about. “And?”

“Solomon Avery has gone
,” he stated with a huge grin. “And thank God for that. I was fed up with treading on egg shells. I heard he was supposed to be laid back, but I found him a mean bastard. His temper was at boiling point the entire time he was here.”

Alex paled,
the words piercing her sharply. Whilst he stayed she could play mind games, pretend they still had a chance. But she couldn’t if he’d removed himself. She was scared, shit scared that she’d pushed him to his limit.

B
ut wasn’t that what she wanted?

Rubbing her head worriedly
, she tried to digest the piece of information and work out just how she’d cope with life without him.

“Will he be back at all?”
She tried not to sound concerned, which was not an easy feat.

“No, doubt it
. That’s the first time he’s come here. Can’t see him doing a repeat.” He didn’t notice the despair in Alex’s face, how her features changed. The light in her eyes dimmed into darkness.

Natalie was nibbling on her lip
, trying to add a row of figures up, and each time it turned out completely different. Her chubby fingers slammed the buttons of the calculator angrily when the phone rang.

“Natalie speaking
.” Her voice was distracted as she scribbled an asterisk next to the line she had been adding. She was determined to get it right this time.

“
It’s Solomon.”

Instantly Natalie sat up
, staring at the receiver in disbelief. “Really? And what can I do for you?” She knew it would be about Alex.

Solomon paused, not qui
te sure how to phrase his words. He didn’t want to antagonise the woman, or insult her.

B
ut basically, he needed to know if she was shagging his ex.

“Well
, I heard through the grapevine that you and Alex were, how shall I put it … an item?” He closed his eyes, unable to believe he was actually asking that question.

His reply was a deep
, throaty chuckle. “No, afraid not. I wanted to but she had other ideas. And she told me in no uncertain words.” Natalie wondered why he was concerned, and voiced her thought. “Why?”

“Just needed to know, put the gossips to rest
. You’re obviously aware of our rules on employee fraternisation,” he said, trying to cover himself.

“Well, you won’t have to worry on that score
.” She paused, wondering how he’d take the news. “She’s handed her notice in.”

“What!” yelled Solomon
. She was running again? Only this time he’d be dammed if she went anywhere without him. “When?”

“
She’ll be leaving next week. Shame, she’s a nice girl, be sad to see her move on.” Natalie smiled into the receiver, hoping he’d come back before then. They’d make an interesting couple.

“Yea
h, and thanks for telling me.” Clicking the phone, he was just grateful he’d made that call. He rang his new secretary. “Rearrange the venue for the board meeting; it’s to be at the Ocean. I don’t care how short notice it is, now do it!” His voice was hard with worry. He was scared he’d lose her permanently this time, and he was damned if he would allow it.

A
fter the meeting he’d arrange to meet Alex, lock her in her room if needs be. Either way, he wasn’t leaving without her. He’d rather endure her hatred than the emptiness that consumed him right now.

* * *

Alex was packing her bag. She didn’t have much, so there wasn’t really a need to do it just yet. But she had to keep her hands and mind preoccupied to stop her thoughts from returning to Sol.

S
he glanced up at the soft tap at the door and hesitated before opening it. To her surprise, it was Anna.

“
What on earth are you doing here?” She stared in shock before her manners kicked in. “Come in. Sorry, it’s just I wasn’t expecting to see you.”

“Callum told me you were here
.”

Alex shook her head
. Was there nobody he hadn’t told?

“He also told me what happened between you and my brother
.” She dropped that little bombshell before sitting on the edge of the single bed.

Alex put a ha
nd up to her eyes and rubbed them. “And yet more lies,” she breathed.

“What did he do?” asked Anna
quietly.

“He lied to me
.” Unable to face her, Alex stared down at the floor.

“Did you think to ask why?”
she pressed.

Alex’s head shot up, her eyes blazing
. “You agree with him? You think it’s right that he took me for a fool? To tell me he loved me, when he, when he ….” She dissolved into tears, feeling the hot and salty globules trickling down her gaunt cheeks.

“He pretended not to have money because he wanted to me
et someone who cared about him. Not his wealth and prestige, the real Solomon,” said Anna, blissfully ignorant of his original intent. “And if you think he’d tell you he loved you while he was still with that
thing
Sue, then you don’t know him at all, do you?”

A
lex glanced up, the words registering. “But why would she tell me that?”

“She wanted him
. Call it jealousy, or just plain viciousness, I don’t know. What I do know is that he loves you. He’s in pain and hurting so much, I’m scared, Alex,” she admitted.

“But he made me promises and broke them
.” She begged her to understand.

“And you say you love him,
yet you’ve broken him!” snapped Anna, fed up with hearing her blame her brother. “Yes, he made mistakes. But so have you! Why didn’t you wait to see him, ask him if what she said was true? Because I know if I loved someone I would want to face the truth before running away.”

Alex stared at her, listening t
o her words. She knew the reason why she had run. It was her own pathetic hang-ups about herself. She’d swallowed her self-esteem, believing that she was worthless compared to that woman, and had given in.

She had g
iven up the man she loved with all her heart and soul without even a fight, without allowing him a chance to defend himself, all because she was afraid of the answers.

She sat for a moment digesting
the truth, suddenly realizing this was now all about her—her lack of self belief—and Solomon had borne the brunt of it. She’d said she loved him, had promised to trust him. But she hadn’t; instead she had condemned him.

Sighing
shakily, she sat down beside Anna and took her hand. “Thank you, I think you’re right. No, I know damn well you are!” She hung her head. “But it’s too late. He’s gone. He hates me and I don’t blame him.”

“He’s on his way back here.
He’s got a board meeting at the hotel tomorrow afternoon.”

Alex’s
eyes were suddenly vibrant.

“
Maybe that’s your chance. Show him you’re not afraid of anything, that you love him. And you do, don’t you?” Anna clasped her hand.

“
Oh, Anna, with all my heart. But what if it’s too late?” Her nerves resurfaced, the self-doubts not quite put to rest.

“Trust me,
I know my brother, and it isn’t.” Anna squeezed her hand, smiling.

“Then I know just how to show him
.” Alex whispered into Anna’s ear, then sat back and grinned at the shock on the woman’s face, soon replaced by a huge smile.

* * *

Sol was anxious. He hadn’t seen any sign of Alex and was terrified she’d disappear before he’d had a chance to find her. Or, to be more precise, kidnap her. He pushed the board meeting underway without preamble. Sitting in the centre of the u-shaped table, he was determined to make this the fastest meeting in history. His mind was on Alex, unable to move on and uninterested, when suddenly the door opened. Glancing up irritably, he listened to the shouting.

Alex slid past the porter outside and walked into the room
. He chased after her. “You can’t go in there, miss. Come on, out you go.” He tried to grasp her arm but she was having none of it.

“I’m here to
see Solomon,” she hissed. “Now get your bloody hands off me.”

“
Leave her!” Solomon’s deep voice echoed around the room. His heart was thudding in his chest and he wondered what the hell she was up to. He waited till the door closed.

A
ll eyes turned to her.

F
rom what he could see, she wore an oversized Macintosh and high stilettos. The soft clack of heels echoed eerily, breaking into the silence of the room as she walked down the centre straight towards him. Her green eyes blazed and fixed firmly on him, unwavering.

“Unless you want to give your board of directors a little show, I would suggest that you ask them to leave,” she said, poised in the centre of the room.
She undid the first few buttons of her Mackintosh, which started to gape open.

He couldn’t
believe this was
his
Alex. She was oozing sexiness with a confidence he’d never seen before. Every male eye in the room was focused on her, waiting to see what she would do next. It was only when Callum nudged him that he came to his senses.

“Christ, no wonder you’re besotted with her
,” he said.

“Meeting adjourned! Out
, all of you!” shouted Solomon, his voice hoarse. He couldn’t believe she’d had the nerve to barge in this this way.

T
he door closed and they were alone.

She
let her Mackintosh slide to the floor, revealing a black lace bra and panties so skimpy they bordered on the obscene. Her slender legs were ensconced in black stockings and garters. Solomon’s gaze fixed on her large breasts that bounced invitingly. They shuddered, almost breaking free from the low cut bra, and he winced worriedly.

She
paused in front of him. Hitching her hip onto the desk, she sat on it and slid round, placing a leg on either side of him.

Solomon swallowed.

He was n
ot sure what she was about. The last time he saw her she was full of hate, and now she looked full of something very different.

He felt her hands, so soft,
cradling his face. Her thumbs soothed his cheeks in a loving, caressing scroll.

“I’
m sorry, Sol, so sorry for what I’ve done to you, baby.” She ran a finger lightly across his lips. “I need to tell you how much I love you. If you’ll still have me.” She leaned forward and tentatively placed a soft kiss on his open lips. Then she found herself crushed to him, his mouth hard and urgent against hers as he thrust his tongue in hungrily. Alex wrapped her arms around his neck and threaded a hand through his hair, needing him with an urgent desperation.

“
If
I’ll have you?” he whispered shakily. “You crazy, beautiful woman! I love you so Goddamn much! I’m just glad you realized it because I was about to kidnap you.” He scooped her up in his arms and whispered in her ear. “I’m so sorry, Alex, for everything. For the lies, how I treated you. I should have told you outright who I was and what I wanted. Will you forgive me?”

His reply was her lips sliding over his. “Yes.”

“I’ll make it up to you, honey, I swear. I’ll never lie to you again, but first I’m taking you to bed. I want to make love to you in every way possible.” Her arms wound tight around him, the sizzling sensations in his stomach exploding as she licked his neck. Her mouth was hot against his skin, nipping at him gently.

“Hurry up
, Sol, I need to feel you inside me. It’s been too long.” She giggled when he kicked the doors open. A round of hollering and whooping, along with a loud applause echoed through the foyer as he carried her to the lift and his room.

Dropping
her to her feet in front of him, Sol gazed down, amazed at the transformation. “I still can’t believe you did that.” He kissed her neck—just to the side where it joined her shoulder, the place she loved—and felt her shudder. “Considering you don’t like to be the centre of attention, you had it back there all right.”

“I wanted to show you
, Sol, how I’ve grown. I’m not scared anymore. And it was the only way I could prove it. You needed to see I don’t want to simply exist anymore. I want to
live
.” She took his hand and kissed his knuckles. “With you. For the rest of my life.”

“Amen to that
,” he said, wrapping his arms around her and squeezing her tight. “I’ve been going out of my mind without you, you know that?”

“Well, you should thank you
r sister. She paid me a visit, told me what I needed to know, the truth about myself.” Her love drizzled over him as she pleaded for his forgiveness. “And you were right, only I was too stubborn to admit it. It was easier to blame you than admit to my own insecurities.” She felt his arm wander down her back and cup her bottom; then he twanged her garters so they slapped against her skin.