Chapter Seventeen

Alexa sat closer to the edge of the couch cushion. She adjusted the position of her laptop on Rafe’s coffee table. Her face became clearer in the window of the video conference app dominating the screen. Gold earrings, makeup, and a cream blouse gave her a professional appearance. The gray curtains in the background enhanced the image. No one would guess the rest of her outfit consisted of green geometric patterned yoga pants and fuzzy blue socks. It wasn’t fashionable, but she didn’t care. In the past, she’d never telecommuted, but after working from Rafe’s studio for the last few days, she could understand the appeal.

The three managers on her team, along with her second-in-command, Beth, waited for her to begin.

She smiled. “Good morning everyone. Today’s agenda is straightforward. For the first half hour to forty-five minutes, we’ll review the quarterly financial reports. Then we’ll take a ten-minute break and finish with updates.”

Just after noon, she logged out of the meeting. The managers had marching orders for monitoring their budgets. Beth would make sure all their contracts, including the one for the nutritional supplement company in Connecticut, were on track. Other than confirming Beth as her replacement and making sure the plans for the gala were complete, she was done. Free to focus on her upcoming job in Seattle instead of any exciting developments unfolding at NorthStar. Gloominess swept in. She didn’t have time to feel sorry for herself. She had to tidy up. Rafe was a neat freak. If she didn’t put things away, he would.

When he’d first started picking up after her, she’d reasoned that with the two of them living there, the space could easily become disorganized. The more she observed him, though, the more it seemed as if keeping things clean and tidy was a bit of a compulsion.

Rafe came through the front door, carrying a white sack. He glanced at her and the laptop and started tiptoeing inside.

“You’re good. I’m done.” She met him in the foyer.

He kissed her. “I brought food.”

“Thanks.” Alexa moved to a high-backed chair at the kitchen island and sat down. She took two sub sandwiches and two bags of potato chips from the sack. “Which do you want—turkey or roast beef?”

“Doesn’t matter to me. Pick the one you want.” Rafe took a pitcher from the fridge and poured a glass of water. “Want some?”

“Please.” Alexa unwrapped a sandwich and took a bite. Mayo with dill melded nicely with turkey, lettuce, and tomato.

He brought her a glass of water, and leaned a hip against the island. “Meeting go well?”

“Yes.”

“You okay?”

“Why wouldn’t I be?” She focused on opening the bag of chips. The seal wouldn’t break. “Beth is ready to take over. Everything is on track. I’m out of the way and not a distraction for the staff.”

“You don’t honestly believe that distraction bit, do you?”

“If I was still in the office, the gossip mill would be having a field day, now that Brad is back at NorthStar. His staff is just as loyal to him as mine is to me. We don’t need the employees taking sides.” She pulled harder on the chip bag. It wouldn’t budge. “I’m leaving in two weeks, anyway. The transition will be easier if I bow out now. Putting the company first is what my father expects me to do.”

“Is it?” Rafe took the chips from her. He pried the package open with ease. “You won’t know what your father is thinking if you don’t talk to him.”

Her cell remained at the office with Jen, who monitored her calls, passing on anything pertinent. Text messages were automatically linked to her tablet and laptop. She’d ignored the ones from her parents and Brad, but she did instruct her assistant to let them know she’d call them soon.

Alexa accepted the bag. “My father loves me. Of course, he won’t say it.”

“Stop fooling yourself.” Rafe wrapped an arm around her shoulders and embraced her from behind. “You’re the type who needs facts and definite resolution to situations.”

“How do you figure that?”

“You tracked me down after my performance and demanded a kiss.”

“I didn’t demand.”

He laughed. “Sounded like one at the time. What about you calling me on my bullshit when I invited you to pick up your earring? You insisted on knowing where we were headed.” He brushed his lips along her temple. “Trust me. You’ll feel better if you talk this through with your dad.”

“I guess.” She fed him a chip. “I just need a minute. I’ll phone him first thing next week.”

“I’m holding you to that but call your mom now. She left a message on my phone.”

“What? I told Jen not to give anyone your number.”

“She didn’t. When I came by your office the day of your going away party, the receptionist in the lobby kept staring at me, as if she recognized me. I suspect the word got around about who I was, and it made it back to your mom. She called the club. Our administrative person gave her my number.”

Her mother was pestering him? “I’m sorry about all of this. Me practically moving in. You having to deal with my problems. You didn’t sign up for this. I’m sure Nat or Cori will let me stay with them.”

“Do you want to be here with me?”

“Yes, but y—”

Rafe spun her chair around. “I’m fine with you being here.” He pressed his cell into her hand. “Talk to your mom and put her mind at ease. I’ll pick my phone up this evening when I get back. The staff knows I won’t be available for a few hours, but if someone calls, tell them to reach out to Shannon. I need to change.”

“Where are you going?”

He went to the closet. “To fulfill my end of a trade. The guy who repaired the tiles in the lobby needs manpower for a job this afternoon.”

On top of all that, he was still working tonight? Outside of being with her, club business—especially the plans for adding a kitchen to Escapade West—dominated his life. He needed a structured schedule and regular days off. She held back her comments and munched a few more chips.

Rafe came out wearing tan work boots, faded jeans, and a worn, white T-shirt with a red and blue Washington Wizards basketball logo on it. He tipped up her chin. “Call your mom. You’re her only child.”

“I’m a grown woman with a life of my own.”

“From her point of view, I doubt your life will ever completely be your own. Invite her over, if you want. She’s just worried about you and wants to know you’re okay. That’s what moms are supposed to do, isn’t it? Cut her some slack.”

His lips on hers cut off Alexa’s forthcoming objection. Salt from the chips they’d eaten flavored the kiss. “See you later.” Then he turned and left.

Alexa sank down on the couch with Rafe’s phone in her hand. She wasn’t ready to talk to anyone about Rafe, or about how she felt now that Brad was back in town. Or discuss how her mother was undoubtedly still struggling with her move to Seattle.

Alexa set the phone down on the coffee table and grabbed her laptop. NorthStar’s publicist had sent the rough draft of the video about her father for the gala. She pressed play, and the short clip started with the early days, when NorthStar had been a small operation. Back then, her father had done everything from driving a big rig to supervising the loading of freight.

As the video progressed, it showed him in a suit and tie, shaking hands with clients, and he and her mother cutting the ribbons, opening NorthStar’s operation facilities throughout the northeast. It ended with an older picture of him sitting at his desk talking on the phone, perfectly content to have her, his mini-coworker, on his lap as she lined up pencils on the calendar blotter in front of her.

A lump formed in her throat. She wasn’t abandoning her family legacy. Leaving NorthStar for more responsibility and a place out of her comfort zone was the right move, wasn’t it? It was also best for her father and NorthStar for her to go. She wasn’t running from her past or avoiding anything. Doubt picked at her reasoning. She shifted her attention to the reports pertaining to the new contract Beth had emailed for her to look over.

Shadows fell as the day turned into early evening. She turned on the overhead lights and kept making notes. Hours later, pounding on the door startled her.

“Rafe. Alexa.” Shannon’s voice filtered in. “Are you in there?”

Alexa answered the door. “He’s not here. I’m afraid I don’t know when he’s coming back.”

“I’m not looking for him. I’m here for you.” Grimness shadowed Shannon’s expression. “Your father’s been trying to reach you. Your mother was taken to the hospital.”