Rescue Me (22 page)

“One movie a night is your limit,” Alex said. He nudged her. “Scoot.”

Jasmine huffed, but that was the extent of her resistance, probably because she couldn’t argue through all that yawning. She put her arms up for a hug. Alex wrapped his arm around her and planted a loud, sloppy kiss on her neck.

“Yuck, Daddy,” she laughed; then she turned to Renee, her arms outstretched.

Renee’s eyes widened as she encased Jasmine in a hug. She looked at Alex over Jasmine’s head, a mixture of confusion and relief in her eyes. Alex could not think of a way to accurately describe the sensations that rushed through his blood as he watched Renee and Jasmine together. He had never allowed himself to picture another woman here, helping him raise his daughter. But he could see Renee as Jasmine’s stepmother all too clearly.

“Good night, Ms. Moore,” Jasmine said. “I’m happy you’re coming to Uncle Eli’s wedding.”

“So am I,” Renee answered. “Good night.”

“I’ll be right back,” Alex said, taking Jasmine by the hand.

“I’ll be right here,” Renee answered.

That sounded really good to him.

Renee settled back on the sofa, taking in her surroundings. She’d been to Alex’s house a few times over the past month and a half, but other than the first time when she’d come to see Jasmine’s closet, it had only been for a few minutes at a
time. The spacious living room was tastefully decorated, just like the rest of the house.

A picture of his wife cradling Jasmine as an infant sat on one of the end tables that flanked the butter soft leather couch. Renee lifted it and stared at the breathtakingly beautiful woman. She could see how Alex would fall for her.

“You were so stupid to mess up what you had with this man. But thanks,” Renee quipped as she placed the framed photo back on the table.

“You weren’t lying,” Alex said as he reentered the living room.

“Meaning?”

“You’re still here.” He smiled.

“Told you I would be,” Renee said. “Are you up for watching another movie, or are you ready to get to bed as well?”

He stared at her, the wanting in his eyes unmistakable, but there was also a hint of regret. Before he could voice his concern, Renee stopped him.

“Alex, I meant you in your bed down the hall, and me in my cramped little bed in the trailer.”

“I want more than that,” Alex said. “Just not yet. Not with Jasmine in the next room.”

“I understand,” she reassured him. “You need time to adjust to the idea almost as much as she does.”

“It will happen,” he promised, taking her by the hand and pulling her up from the sofa. He pressed a firm kiss to her closed lips, urging them to open.

Renee shook her head and pulled away. “Let’s not start that,” she said. “We both know what happens between us when there’s a sofa near.”

“And dusty cardboard boxes,” Alex added.

She burst out laughing, but had to agree. “So, another movie? Something with higher than a G rating? We don’t have to watch the ones I brought if you’ve got something else you feel like watching.”

Alex walked over to the wall and pressed the wainscoting. A door popped opened, revealing several shelves lined with DVDs.

Renee gasped. “Look at that, you genius carpenter you.”

“I try.” Alex grinned. “I’m pretty proud of this one. You have to look really close to see where the break is.” He pulled out a DVD case. “Along the lines of
Mulan
, I thought we could stay with the Asian flavor.”

“You actually have
Memoirs of a Geisha
on DVD?”

“If you tell my brothers, I’ll deny it,” Alex said. He slipped in the movie and Renee followed him down on the sofa, snuggling her back onto his broad chest.

“It’s too bad they weren’t offering an Asian history course in my program,” Alex said. “I would have aced it. I love Eastern culture.”

“You ever been?” Renee asked, mesmerized by the graceful fan dance the actress performed on the screen.

“No.” Alex absently stroked her arm. “I’d love to go one day.”

“So would I,” she said.

Renee could not hold back the image of trekking along the Great Wall of China with Alex by her side. As her husband.

It scared her, just how much she longed for that. When had she started thinking of this man she’d known for less than two months as husband material? When had she started considering
anyone
as husband material? She had never completely denounced the idea of marriage, but after she’d witnessed the atrocity that was her parents’ marriage, it was not high on her list of priorities, either. She was happy right here, single and free to make her own choices.

At least Renee thought she was happy. Until Alex. Being with him had given her a glimpse of what life could be like with someone who knew how to make a woman happy.

“Speaking of school,” Alex said, knocking her out of her
blissful daze, “I received some pretty high marks on that paper.”

“Really?” Renee turned to look up at him. “Congratulations.”

“It would have been impossible without your help,” Alex said.

“I wouldn’t say that,” Renee lied.

“Who are you trying to kid?” he said. “I know that paper was awful; I’m just happy it’s behind me. I have just the final to get through before I’m done with that class, and one more semester before I get my degree.”

The pride Renee heard in his voice nearly brought tears to her eyes. He didn’t need that degree he was working so hard to obtain. He owned a successful business, and probably made more money than 80 percent of Americans who graduated from college, but he’d set it in his head that he would finish the degree he’d given up on.

“You’re such an inspiration,” Renee said, pressing a kiss to his chest. She heard his swift intake of breath, and felt his chest give. “Oh, sorry. I forgot we weren’t going there.”

“God,” Alex breathed, letting his head fall back on the sofa. “I can’t wait until we do.”

Chapter Fifteen

 

As he stared at the people trudging through the airport’s security checkpoint, Alex questioned his wisdom in keeping Renee’s presence on this trip a secret from the rest of his family. He’d nearly confessed several times over the past few weeks, but could never scrounge up the courage to come clean.

It had been a long time since he’d felt this nervous. Alex
shifted from one foot to the other, the constant opening and closing of the automatic doors adding to his agitation. Of course, he could move away from the doors and solve at least one of his problems, but his head was filled with too many visions of this entire situation going horribly wrong to have something as simple as common sense creep in.

“Daddy, I’m going with Grandma,” he heard Jasmine call from where she waited at the airline’s check in counter with his mother.

“Alex, are you coming to the gate?” Mama asked.

“I’ll be there in a minute,” he said.

“We board in twenty minutes,” she reminded him.

The fact that they boarded in twenty minutes was causing an ulcer to form in Alex’s stomach. He’d tried calling Renee three times, with no luck. He didn’t want to believe it, but Alex was coming to the realization that he was being stood up.

Had he moved too fast? It had been a bold move, asking a woman he’d only known a couple of months to come away with him and his family, but it had not felt too fast at the time. It had felt right. Perfect, even.

“You don’t have to wait for them,” Mama said. “It’s better if we get to the gate now.”

“Daddy’s not waiting for Uncle Eli,” Jasmine said.

Alex shot Jasmine a stern look and shook his head.

“Ooh, sorry, Daddy,” she said.

“What’s going on?” Mama asked. “Jasmine,” she said when they both remained quiet.

“Nothing,” Jasmine answered.

“What has Grandma told you about lying?” his mother warned.

“Daddy said it’s all right to lie,” Jasmine said.

“You told her what?” his mother shot at him.

“Good morning.” The sound of the voice behind him could not have been sweeter to Alex’s ears. “Sorry I’m late,” Renee said.

“Hey, Ms. Moore.” Jasmine let go of his mother’s hand and wrapped her arms around Renee’s waist in a quick but strong hug.

“Hi, Jasmine. Hello, Alex.” She turned to his mother. “Hi, you must be Mrs. Holmes.” Renee stuck out her hand.

A blanket of confusion shrouded Mama’s face. “I am,” she answered.

“Mama, this is Renee Moore,” Alex said. “You should probably check in,” he said to Renee.

“I printed my boarding pass from home,” Renee said. “And I checked my bags curbside.”

“We’re here.” Eli came charging through the automatic doors with Monica right behind him. “Why are ya’ll standing here? The plane will be boarding in another fifteen minutes,” he said. He stopped short when he saw Renee.

Everyone stood in a circle, staring at each other as if they were all on display at a museum.

“I decided to bring a guest,” Alex said. “That’s okay, isn’t it?”

They all agreed at the same time.

“Come on.” Alex took the small leather bag from Renee’s hand and pulled the strap over his good shoulder. “Let’s get to the gate.”

“You didn’t tell them I was coming?” Renee whispered as they trailed behind the rest of his family.

“They know now,” Alex said.

When they arrived at their gate, the plane had already begun boarding. Knowing his mother hated sitting at the back of the plane, Alex had purposely chosen two seats in the rear for him and Renee. Ushering Renee quickly past his mother’s row, he deposited Jasmine in the seat next to Mama.

“Alex.” His mother grabbed his hand.

“Jasmine will fill you in,” he said.

“Alexander Wesley Holmes,” his mother hissed.

He decided to give her the quick version. “She’s a teacher
at Jasmine’s school. I’ve been helping to fix up her house, and the two of us have been seeing each other.”

“But … when?” She looked so confused, Alex felt sorry for her.

“Wait until we get to the islands,” he said.

Alex knew she’d have a lot of questions once they landed. He’d spent the past few days trying to figure out how he should answer them. It all depended on how he and Renee decided to address their relationship. They had a couple of hours to figure that out.

“I can’t believe you,” Renee said when he sat down next to her.

“It’s easier this way,” he said.

“For who?”

“Definitely for me,” he said. “This will probably be the most agonizing plane ride my mother has ever had. I give it about five minutes after we take off for her to make her way back here.”

“The flight attendants won’t allow her to walk until we’re at our flying altitude.”

Alex settled back in his seat and buckled his seat belt. “You don’t know my mother.”

“What are you going to tell her about me?” Renee asked.

“What do you want me to tell her?”

“It’s up to me?”

“I guess it’s up to both of us, but I want you to be comfortable with all of this. What would make you comfortable? Saying you’re my girlfriend?”

“I’m okay with that if you are.”

He was more than okay with it. Just the thought of claiming her as his girlfriend—his woman—sent a dose of desire shooting through his bloodstream.

“How do you think they will take it?” Renee tipped her chin up toward the front of the airplane.

“They’re good people, Renee. A little pushy. A little noisy. Okay, a lot noisy. But they’re good people. Just be
prepared to have every question under the sun thrown at you.”

“Oh, that’s comforting.”

“Don’t worry, I’ll be there to run interference. Besides, Jasmine’s probably told her everything she knows about you.”

To Alex’s surprise, the flight attendants were able to keep his mother seated for the first twenty minutes of the flight, but as soon as the light on the seat belt sign went dim, Alex saw her pop up from her seat ten rows ahead of them. She came charging down the aisle like a woman on a mission.

Renee gripped his hand. Alex gave it a reassuring squeeze, relishing the softness of her palm.

“Hi, again,” his mother said, reaching over and extending her hand to Renee. “We didn’t get much of a chance to talk earlier.”

“I know, sorry about that,” Renee answered.

“Alex, why don’t you join Jasmine for a while?” his mother said.

“Not a chance,” he answered. “You’ve got five days on an island with Renee.”

“I just want to chat for a bit,” she said.

“It’s okay, Alex,” Renee said.

Alex shook his head, but rose. “You were warned,” he said to Renee.

Mama slapped him on his good arm. “Stop it. You make me sound like a monster.”

“You can be a bit scary before breakfast,” he said.

Alex found Jasmine watching
Shrek
on the seven inch portable DVD player Eli had given her for Christmas the year before.

“Grandma took your seat,” she said, shaking her head.

“Just for a bit,” Alex answered. “What did you tell Grandma about Ms. Moore?” Alex asked, pressing the pause button on the movie.

“I told her that you and Ms. Moore are boyfriend and girlfriend, but that you don’t want anybody to know.”

“If we agreed that I didn’t want anyone to know, why did you tell Grandma?”

She shrugged. “I always tell Grandma stuff. And Grandma’s smart. She would have figured it out.”

The logic of a six year old.

“Grandma said she’s happy you have a girlfriend. She said you’re too young to be by yourself.”

His mother’s reaction didn’t come as a total shock. She wanted more grandchildren and his seeing Renee was one step closer to achieving that goal. Alex had figured his widowhood had been a free pass to escape his mother’s constant badgering and matchmaking, but he knew his reprieve was coming to an end.

“You think I should go and save Ms. Moore from Grandma?”

“Probably,” Jasmine said. “Daddy?” She looked up at him, the seat nearly swallowing her.

“Yeah, Pumpkin?”

She motioned for him with her finger, and Alex leaned in closer. Jasmine put her mouth up to his ear. “At Uncle Eli’s wedding, please don’t dance with Ms. Moore.”

“Why?” Alex asked.

“Because if she sees the way you dance, she probably won’t like you anymore.”

“Thanks a lot, Jazz. You sure know how to make Daddy feel good.”

“You’re welcome,” she said, his sarcasm flying right over her head.

“I’m going back to my seat. I’ll see you when we land.”

“Daddy? Are you going to marry Ms. Moore?”

The unexpected question gave him pause. Alex’s first instinct was to say no. He and Renee had only known each other for a short time, and even though the thought had flitted across his mind for a millisecond, marriage was so far off his radar it wasn’t even a blip on the screen. But just because he wasn’t about to marry her now didn’t mean it
wasn’t in their future. Who knows where they would be a year from now?

It was also time for him to start being more honest with his daughter. Renee was right, Jasmine was able to handle more than he gave her credit for.

“Maybe after we get to know each other better, and if Ms. Moore wants to get married.”

“I think she does,” Jasmine said with an all knowing confidence that brought a smile to Alex’s face.

“How are we doing here?” His mother came from the back of the aircraft, the smile on her face a mile wide.

“How
are
we doing here?” Alex threw the question back at her. The fact that he had not heard Renee screaming her head off made him feel marginally better.

“Alex, I love her,” Mama said, unable to maintain the cool facade. “She’s so sweet. I can’t believe you haven’t introduced her to the family.”

“I told him he should marry Ms. Moore,” Jasmine said loud enough for the entire plane to hear now that she’d stuck the DVD player’s earbuds in her ears.

“I agree,” Eli added from a few rows up.

“I’m going back to my seat,” Alex said. When Alex reached his seat, the smile on Renee’s face was priceless.

“Sorry about that,” Alex said.

“At least I know I’ve won over the family,” she said.

“This isn’t an audition,” Alex said, realizing how harsh the words sounded as the smile drained from her face. “That came out completely wrong,” he said. “I meant that you don’t have to prove anything to my family. I hope you don’t think that’s why I brought you here.”

“I hope you brought me here because you wanted my company,” Renee said. “But I don’t mind getting to know your family, Alex. I want to get to know them better. Do you understand what I’m trying to tell you?”

“I think I do,” he said, picking up her hand and placing a kiss on her fingers.

“Alex, it has been a long time since I’ve felt this way about anyone. If ever.” Just like that, she’d put it all out there for him. The ball was in his court. “And since you’re looking completely freaked out right now, I’m thinking that was the wrong thing to say,” she said.

“No, no. It wasn’t.”

Damn. He was in uncharted territory.

“Here’s the thing, Renee. I’m not even sure what this is I’m feeling. I thought I was in love with my wife, but what I’m starting to feel for you is stronger than what I felt for her even when our marriage was good. I’m not sure I even know what it feels like to truly be in love, but this is as close as I’ve ever been.”

“So, what do we do with this newfound knowledge?”

Alex brought her hand up to his mouth again. “We can see where it takes us.”

Renee was able to avoid further interrogation from Alex’s family for the remainder of the flight. When they landed at Princess Juliana International Airport on the Dutch side of the island, Alex quickly loaded both Renee and Jasmine into a taxi, leaving Eli and his beautiful fiancée, Monica, to follow them along with their mother. Renee stared in awe as they traveled along the road to the villa Eli had rented on Baie Rouge on the French side of the island.

“Daddy, the water’s so blue,” Jasmine screeched. “I can’t wait to swim.”

“You can swim as soon as we settle in. Uncle Eli said the place where we’re staying has two swimming pools, and a private beach. But I don’t want you going near the water without an adult around, okay, Pumpkin?”

“I promise,” she said. “Ms. Moore, do you know how to swim?”

“Yes, I love to swim,” Renee answered.

“I have a pink bathing suit with flowers. It’s new. I brought
my old one with the strawberries, but I don’t think I’m gonna wear it.”

“I’m sure you’re going to look very cute, no matter which bathing suit you wear.”

Jasmine nodded. “I’m always cute,” she said.

“And extremely humble,” Alex chuckled.

“That, too,” Jasmine agreed.

Renee couldn’t help but laugh. The thought of how easily she could picture both of these people in her life shocked her. She could envision driving Jasmine to school every day, the two of them baking cookies in that enormous, unbelievably beautiful kitchen in Alex’s house. She could see herself welcoming Alex home in the evening with a kiss, then treating him to something a lot more intimate once they tucked Jasmine in bed for the night. Not only could she
envision
those things, but she wanted to
experience
them.

Not for the first time since she’d accepted his invitation did Renee wonder if this was a bad idea. Spending time with Alex on this island, known for its intimate coves and romantic, secluded beaches, could only cause her to sink deeper in whatever it was she was starting to feel for him. She knew all too well what could happen when a woman allowed herself to become too emotionally attached to a man. That binding, all consuming obsession had prevented her own mother from leaving her father, despite everything he’d put her through.

“Renee?”

“Yes,” she said, shaking her head of the memories she did not want to stir up while living in paradise.

“We’re here,” Alex said.

Renee allowed Alex to help her from the taxi. She stared up at the estate before her and nearly stopped breathing.

“Are you kidding me?” Renee said.