A Face in the Crowd (19 page)

She tilted her head to the side and met Oliver’s eyes. “Good morning.”

“Morning,” he grinned. “A guy could get used to waking up like this.”

God, he was beautiful. Even up close after a night of minimal sleep, Oliver looked as though he was ready to pose for the cover of GQ. His stubble only added to his sex appeal. She cringed inwardly when she realized how she must look in comparison and sat up.

As she untangled herself from the blanket, he reached out. “Lexie, you don’t have to run off.”

“No running. I just need a minute.”

Once safe in her bathroom at the back of the apartment she gripped the sides of her sink and stared into the mirror. What was she doing? She had just slept with Oliver Honeycutt. And, it had been amazing. The best sex of her life. Because you love him . . . her mind seemed to whisper. She blinked and her reflection blurred. Sleeping with him was only going to make losing him that much harder. Logically, she knew it was true, but she couldn’t have stopped herself if she’d tried.

It wasn’t as if she was celibate, but most of the time when she dated someone it was someone she liked, not loved. Someone who was fun, but there were only surface feelings. With Oliver everything was different. She touched her fingers to her collarbone where his mouth had been mere hours before and let them trail down her arm. She’d never felt more alive or more wanted. Or, more loved.

She shook her head. He couldn’t.

She brushed her teeth and ran a brush through her hair. She needed to go back out there and put a stop to what was happening. Let him go before he did the same to her. Looking at her reflection in the mirror she silently recited what she would say to him.
Oliver, you’re a great guy and I like spending time with you, but this can’t go anywhere. We should just remain friends.
She was distracted from her speech by the smell of coffee and the sound of Oliver’s voice echoing down the hall.

Barefoot and dressed in fresh clothes, Lexie started down the hall, but stopped when she heard what Oliver was saying. “I’m telling you Andy, you’re going to have get used to it. I’m going to be staying in Atlanta for a while.” There was a pause as he listened to what Andy had to say. She could only imagine.

Still without a shirt, Oliver was standing in her kitchen with one hand holding a glass of water leaning against the counter. Damn. She could practically feel the drool pooling in her mouth.

“Look, Andy, I know the guys are almost ready to record the new album, but I’m not ready to go.” He paused again. “Does it matter why? Yes, I know there are doctors in L.A., but it makes no difference. This isn’t about Bailey. Listen, I can’t do this right now. I’ll call you later.” Without explaining further, he hung up his phone and stuffed it back into his pocket. “There you are. Everything okay? You kinda ran out on me.”

“I’m fine.” She was pretty sure that was a lie considering the way her heart had shot up into her throat. Did he say he was staying in Atlanta? “Are you okay?”

“Stop nursing me, would you?” He set his glass to the side and offered her a playful smile as he stalked toward her, the look in his eyes making her feel warm all over. When he came to a stop, he backed her into the bar and leaned in, trapping her in place with his arms. “Lexie.” He bent his head to nip at her lip before deepening the kiss into something much less playful and much more erotic.

Her knees threatened to turn to jelly. It would be so easy to have him again. He was right here, his jeans her only obstacle.

He groaned. “I really need to get going.”

Her hands fell back to her sides as her brain took over. “That’s probably a good idea. Plus, I don’t want your mom thinking a crazed fan kidnapped you and locked you in their basement.”

“I’m assuming they’d be using me as a sex slave?”

She laughed. “Naturally.”

“I’m a grown man. Don’t be ridiculous,” he stood up straight and tried to make a stern face, but then his teasing smile returned. “I texted her last night in case she needed help with Bailey. She knows where I am, and she didn’t seem surprised.”

Lexie’s face burned.

“You can stop worrying any time. We’re both grown, consenting adults.”

“It’s not in my nature to stop worrying.” Lexie braced herself for what she was going to say next. She knew that it was now or never. “Look, Oliver—”

“Uh-oh. Nothing good ever started with the words ‘Look, Oliver.’” He laughed and kissed her again.

“All kidding aside, we can’t do this,” she gestured toward the couch.

“Do what exactly?”

“You know what I mean.”

“No, Lexie I don’t believe I do,” he pushed away from the counter and stood up to his full height. “It looks like you’re going to need to spell it out for me.”

Lexie swallowed as he crossed his arms and stared her down, but she held her ground. “Nothing can happen between us. I’m prepared to be your friend, but nothing more.”

“It’s a little late for that, don’t you think? Besides, I don’t see the problem. We’re not at the hospital. You’re not going to get in trouble at work.”

“That isn’t it, Oliver.”

“Then, tell me what ‘it’ is, exactly. You don’t like me? Because the way you made love with me would suggest otherwise.” Her cheeks burned like fire, betraying her. “That’s what I thought.”

He uncrossed his arms and leaned down until his mouth was directly in front of hers.

Her breaths quickened. “Oliver,” she put up her hand, “it doesn’t matter how I feel. There are people who are counting on you.”

“I don’t care,” he placed his hand over hers and trapped it against his chest. His heart was beating as fast as her own.

“Well, I do. I’m not going to be the Yoko in this situation. Your life is in L.A. Mine is here.” Lexie tried pulling her hand away in vain. It wouldn’t budge.

“So, come to L.A.”

Her eyes practically bulged out of their sockets. “Oliver, who says I want to move across the country and give up my whole life?”

“What whole life? Your job?”

She pushed away from the counter, fire building in her chest. She wasn’t an A-lister by any means, but she was happy. At least somewhat. He didn’t get to decide how she was supposed to live her life. “What’s that supposed to mean? I do have a life. And, I’m damn good at my job.”

“That’s not what I meant. You’re amazing at your job. Believe me, I know. Don’t twist my words.” Oliver took a deep breath and rubbed a hand over his bald head. “Listen, Alexis, what I’m trying to say and am not doing a very good job of explaining, is that I think we could be great together. I want to make a go of this, of us, and I don’t care if we do it on the east coast or the west coast. You decide.”

She swallowed. He wanted to be together. He wanted her to move to L.A. with him. She’d always wanted to see more of the world. Could they really be happy after knowing each other for such a short time? How many times had her mother, Donna, married a man she barely knew or moved them in with him? And, how many times had it worked out? Zero. Lexie would not follow the same path.

“Regardless of what you want, it isn’t that simple.” Lexie turned her back to him and stared out at her living room. It was easier to compose herself when she wasn’t looking at him. “Your band needs you. Your family needs you. Your fans are counting on you. One man doesn’t deserve to be pulled in so many directions. I would just be one more weight threatening to pull you under.”

He put his hands on her shoulders. “You’re not going to pull me under and you aren’t a burden. You’re a light in the storm that is my crazy life.”

“I know that’s what you believe now, but how will you feel in two months once you’re away from here?” She wanted to add and away from me, but she didn’t.

“I know exactly how I’ll feel, Lexie. I want to be with you.”

“Why do I always have to tell you that you can’t always get what you want?” She turned then and looked him in the eye. “This is one of those times, Oliver. I will not uproot my life for you and you shouldn’t do it for me. I don’t want you to.”

He released her shoulders and turned to grab his shirt from the back of the couch as a wall of hurt erected between them. The wounded look on Oliver’s face was enough to shake her resolve, but she knew she was right. One day he would see it, too.

After several deafening seconds of silence, he spoke. “I don’t know what I have to do to make you see that I want you and it isn’t going to change because I’m back in L.A.” He tugged his shirt on and paused by the door. “I’m not like Mike. I’m a man who knows what he wants and that’s you, Lexie, and whether you want to believe it or not, I know you want to be with me, too.” He opened the door and stepped out, leaving her in her apartment, alone.

Chapter 19

Lexie washed her hands and hurried down the hall. It had been the same for days. Rush from one patient’s room to the next, administer meds, wash hands, and repeat. She had three patients in her care and they were all high maintenance. Between one of them coding and the amount of blood products each one needed, it was a miracle she hadn’t keeled over.

She wasn’t a fool. She knew Janice was angry and embarrassed about what had happened with her sister. Had someone else discovered Ashley’s error, things may have unfolded differently, but Lexie’s involvement seemed to have broken the already fragile peace that was between them. Janice was taking full advantage of Bailey’s departure by maximizing Lexie’s patient load.

She took a deep breath before entering her second patient’s room and sliding on a new pair of gloves. She would not give Janice the satisfaction of complaining or failing to do her job. Besides, staying busy also meant she didn’t have time to think about Oliver, not that he wasn’t putting forth a solid effort to get her attention. So far that week, he’d either called, texted, or sent flowers every day. And, every day, she’d done her best to ignore the dull ache in her chest every time she saw his name or heard his voice. It was better this way. That was her new mantra and one she was beginning to hate.

“Aren’t you going to at least read the card?”

Lexie looked up from where she was jotting down a note on her arm and blinked twice at Laura who was sitting behind the desk. “What?”

“The card on the flowers,” Laura gestured to the beautiful tropical arrangement sitting at the nurse’s station. “They’ve been here for an hour. If you don’t read the card, I’m going to have to do it for you. The curiosity is killing me.”

More flowers and this time he’d sent them to work. Well played, Oliver. Well played. Lexie reached for the little white envelope tucked between the birds of paradise and yellow orchids. As she read, her throat constricted.

For my Sexy Lexie,

The one that I want.

O

“Aren’t you going to tell me who they’re from?” Laura was practically salivating.

“Nope,” she stuffed the card in her pocket and hefted the large arrangement from the desk. Laura’s jaw fell open, but Lexie didn’t turn around. She didn’t want her business becoming floor gossip.

Later the same day as she drove home, the sun was beginning to set, sending bright colors across the sky. Every few minutes, Lexie found her gaze drifting over to the passenger seat. The flowers were beautiful and they made it impossible not to think about Oliver, which she imagined was his purpose in the sending her flowers in the first place. She couldn’t practice her out of sight, out of mind trick. Not when her entire apartment looked like the inside of a floral shop. She was flattered. How could she not be? No other man had ever spoiled her so fully, but it didn’t change anything. He was still Oliver. One romantic gesture, or several as was the case, didn’t change anything.

Her phone buzzed inside her bag as she climbed the stairs to her apartment, but with the flowers slowing her down, she missed the call by the time she made it inside. The display showed a number she didn’t recognize, and as she was about to write it off as a telemarketer, the message light appeared.

“Hi, Lexie, Oliver here, again. I hope you got what I sent you. I just wanted you to know I’m thinking about you.”

She smiled despite herself as she stared around at the other four vases displayed around the room. One bouquet was full of deep hues and minimal greenery, passionate in its colors while another was full of light pink peonies and other assorted white blooms creating a more romantic feel. Whether or not it was Oliver or a faceless florist, someone had exquisite taste.

She tapped her fingers on the counter and glanced at her phone. She should call to thank him, but she couldn’t. Calling would only encourage him. She pulled her hand back and cut through her apartment, careful to keep her eyes averted as she went. What she needed was some time to relax and a nice warm bath sounded like the perfect solution. Talking to Oliver definitely wouldn’t help.

The next day, Lexie was still saddled with hard patients, which was made worse by her lack of sleep. After her long bath the night before, she climbed into bed with every intention of getting a good night’s sleep, but it wasn’t meant to be. Instead, she’d spent the entire night tossing and turning. Oliver was never more than a breath away from her thoughts which made it impossible to sleep and when she did finally doze, his face was the one she dreamt of.

Why did she have to fall in love with him? It was this line of thought which had plagued her all day and it had her so distracted that when Laura called her name, it took her more than one try to get her attention.

“Lexie, for the love of God can you hear me?”

“Yes, I’m sorry.” Lexie hurried over to Laura, ashamed she’d been caught daydreaming. Again. “What is it you needed?”

“I was going to let you know that there is a man waiting for you at the desk,” Laura grinned and jerked her head in the direction of the nurses’ station.

“What man?”

“Let’s just say that I don’t think you need to tell me who the flowers were from yesterday.” Laura smirked and sauntered off.

When Lexie’s cheeks betrayed her by flooding with heat, she cursed her fair skin and then cursed again when she rounded the corner to find Oliver leaning against the desk chatting easily with one of the other nurses. What was he doing there? She should’ve called him back. Maybe it would’ve kept him from showing up.

He was dressed in worn jeans which were slightly frayed at the bottom, a green T-shirt that showed off his sleeve of tattoos, and a baseball cap. Even with the hat, there was no mistaking him for someone else. Her heartbeat quickened at the sight of him. He was sexy as hell and it showed in his posture and mannerisms as much as it did in his actual looks.

The second they made eye contact he sent her one of his easy smiles, and didn’t seem put off in the slightest by her furious glare. She mentally counted to ten to keep her temper in check. “Hello, Mr. Honeycutt, it’s nice to see you.”

“Lexie,” he nodded. “Just the lady I was looking for.”

“I can’t imagine why.” Lexie took a few steps out of earshot of the desk area which was becoming more crowded and then turned. “What is it I can do for you?”

“I was wondering if you wanted to grab some lunch.”

“I can’t leave. I’m too busy.”

“Dinner then.”

She opened her mouth to say no, but the way his eyes were boring into hers assured her he wouldn’t take no for an answer. She was also afraid that he might stand there all day trying to talk her into it. The faster she agreed, the faster he would leave.

“Dinner would be nice. Assuming I don’t fall asleep in the middle of it,” Lexie tried to lighten the mood, but her words had the opposite effect.

“I don’t believe you will,” Oliver’s tone turned erotic in a way that had her blushing all over again. “I’ll text you the address. Oh, and Lexie, you can breathe now. I’m leaving,” he grinned and she wondered if he could somehow read her mind.

Lexie watched his progress to the elevators and held his gaze until his grin disappeared behind the sliding doors. Dinner with Oliver. A tremor ran through her body from her fingertips to her feet at the prospect of what could happen. She was crazy. Hadn’t this been exactly what she’d been trying to avoid? At least until she could get her emotions under control. She stuck out her chin and lifted her shoulders. She wasn’t thinking about their little date the right way. Instead of letting him work his Oliver voodoo on her, she would use the opportunity to make her case against him staying.

She turned on her heel without looking at the nurses who were standing behind the desk with eager eyes and wondered if they would wait until she was out of earshot before greasing the gossip wheels. Excited whispers broke out all at once after she made it all of ten feet down the hall. That answered that.

A few hours later, her phone buzzed on the bench beside her when Oliver texted the address. She was curious what sort of restaurant he had chosen and prayed the restaurant wasn’t cloth napkin swanky. She hadn’t exactly brought a little black dress to work with her. All she had was her favorite jeans, the ones that made her butt look good, thankfully, and a fitted sea green top. It would have to suffice. When her stomach grumbled at the mere thought of food, she opted to apply her makeup in the car.

Cars were lined up for two miles in an attempt to exit near the baseball stadium, no doubt heading to a Brave’s game. Her stomach grumbled again in protest of the long hours with no food. Once she was able to separate herself from the baseball fans and she came upon what was supposed to be one of her final turns, she realized she seemed to be heading away from commercial buildings and into a residential area.

The homes on either side of the car were magnificent and old. They had obviously been around for half a century and had undergone renovations to stay current. The landscaping was immaculate in each manicured lawn and suddenly it occurred to her where she must be heading. Her heart skipped a beat. Seeing Oliver in public was one thing, but alone . . .

She lifted her foot off the gas as she debated turning around. Her mind was screaming that this was a bad idea, but if she didn’t show, she ran the risk of him showing up at her place. A place he’d already managed to get her out of her clothes. Not that she’d minded. Hell, she’d practically jumped him, but not again. Courage, Lexie. Come on. She stepped on the pedal and continued on. Better to get it over with.

At the final turn, she found her path blocked by iron gates. Before she had time to roll down her window and press the button on the little box outside her window there was a buzzing sound, and the gates swung open. She blew out a breath. Too late to turn back now, Lexie. She rolled ahead leaving the gates behind.

Her eyes widened as the house came into view. It was breathtaking and reminded her of Tara in
Gone with the Wind
. It was an all-white plantation style house, complete with wraparound porches and a fountain in the center of the U shaped driveway. She could hardly believe she was still in Atlanta. In all her years she’d never seen this part of the city.

She parked her car at the top of the U and gawked at the house, if you could call it a house, as she climbed out of her car.

“I see you found the place.”

She jumped at the sound of Oliver’s voice. The fountain had kept her from hearing the door. Seeing him there leaning against the doorjamb in jeans and bare feet she at least felt better about her own attire. He didn’t look like the kind of person who would live in a house like this one, but he didn’t look out of place either.

“It’s a beautiful area,” Lexie climbed the steps toward him. “If this is your idea of a temporary home, I can’t imagine what your house in L.A. must look like.”

He took a step back and let her pass in front of him into the house. “Actually, my house in L.A. is nothing like this one. It’s smaller and much more modern. This is what was available in a pinch.”

“And, it has a gate,” she added.

“Which is always a good idea,” he started down a hall toward the back of the house and motioned for her to follow.

“Any girls hanging out in the bathroom?”

“None that I’ve found, yet.”

She followed him down a wide hallway, taking in the scene as she went. The walls were lined with pictures and a tall, wooden sculpture of a lion looked on from a corner. As they passed a living room she stifled a gasp. She expected the house to be over the top fancy, but she hadn’t expected it to look as homey and welcoming as it did. Plush pillows and heavy throw-blankets were strewn about the large couch and extra wide chair. Tall bookshelves full of books, nick-knacks, and awards filled an entire wall, which considering the ceilings looked to be about fourteen feet high, was impressive in and of itself.

When a familiar face caught her attention, she paused beside one of the frames and studied the men in the picture. “Is that Tyler Perry?”

Oliver laughed. “Probably. It is his house after all.”

“You’re kidding?”

“Nope. He’s away on location and offered it to us. Great guy.” Oliver turned to the right and disappeared from view. “I hope you like pasta.”

She shook her head. Tyler Perry. She was in Tyler Perry’s house. What was next? The members of Fall Out Boy were stopping by for dinner? She forced her feet to move. “I love pasta.”

“Good,” he smiled as she stepped into the kitchen, “because, it’s one of the few things that I make well.”

“So, where’s your mom and Bailey tonight?” Lexie slid onto a barstool and watched Oliver move around the kitchen.

“Mom’s on her way back to L.A. and Bailey is at a friend’s. We have the whole house to ourselves.”

Her stomach tightened at the thought of being alone with Oliver again. Dinner was a terrible idea. She should’ve just called, thanked him for the flowers, and moved on.

As Oliver moved to the sink to drain water from the pasta, the muscles under his shirt bunched and relaxed. Steam rose and when he lifted his hand to wipe his face, the sight was enough to make Lexie’s mouth go dry. Needing something else to focus on she slid her hands into her lap. “How are the guys? Have they started recording the new songs?”

“They got together today and started kicking some things around,” Oliver filled two plates and turned to set one in front of her.

“I bet they miss you.” Because, that’s where you’re supposed to be, she wanted to add. You’re supposed to be in L.A., not cooking me dinner in Tyler Perry’s kitchen.

“I doubt it. I’m very opinionated when it comes to recording. They’ll get more done without me there.”

She doubted that was true, but let the subject drop. “I never got a chance to thank you for the flowers. They’re beautiful. All of them.”

“I’m glad you like all of them.” Oliver set his plate to the side while he poured two glasses of wine. “Follow me.” He picked up his own glass and plate and left the kitchen.

Lexie did as asked and followed him into the cozy living room she’d noticed earlier.