Reason and Romance (River Valley Book 1) (20 page)

“I have to say, this is an interesting household,” Mr. Montgomery said.

Alex’s laugh was easy, relaxed. “No, we just put on a special show for you.” But as he rounded the corner with his father, his eyes met Adrian’s, and she couldn’t resist a secret shiver. Oh yes, things weren’t finished between them, and she didn’t think she entirely minded.

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

It was a gorgeous Saturday morning. When Adrian woke up a little before eight o’clock, she peeked outside her blinds. For the first time she looked past the garbage bins they kept in the backyard, and looked up at the blue sky instead. Back in Chicago, the temperature would have dipped, so people would be wearing long-sleeved shirts and jeans, but here in River Valley, people still wore T-shirts and shorts. How could you not like wearing flip-flops?

She was smiling when she went outside and sat on one of the lounge chairs. In the weeks she’d lived here, she’d never used the pool, but now she was tempted to go for a swim. Forget all of her problems, if only for a little while.

Actually, things weren’t bad. Mr. Melbourne wasn’t tormenting her in AP English anymore. She had Travis, Justin, and even Vaughn. The kids at Varner High had stopped looking at her askance. Even better, no one knew or cared about her mother.

“A penny for your thoughts,” Alex said from the doorway.

She glanced up at him and gestured to the other lounge chair. It was still early, but he’d showered and dressed. Just a casual black shirt and shorts, but somehow Alex stood out. He had never quite fit into the world Adrian had constructed for herself.

“You really want to know? Or are you just making conversation?” she said.

He sat down. “How about both?”

“Why did you tell my father about Mr. Melbourne?”

Oh, he’d said that he had done it for Nicky’s sake, but she couldn’t and wouldn’t accept that reason. There had to be more.

His mouth tipped. “I think you know the answer to that, Adrian.”

“Care to be more specific?”

“You remember Homecoming? I said that you outshone every girl. You still do.”

Her lips parted. He’d said that, yes, but she’d shoved his words somewhere into the depths of her memory because this was Alex Montgomery and he didn’t do nice.

Undeterred by her silence, he went on. “It still puzzles me how you ever ended up with that boyfriend. You guys looked wrong together.”

This she could talk about. “Jason wasn’t always an asshole. He really was nice at first, and I think that’s what I wanted.”

“Do you miss him?”

“No. Not anymore.”

Those eyes warmed, and oh, God, she couldn’t breathe. She read the intention in his eyes, but she didn’t move, not even when he leaned in.

His lips touched hers. The kiss was so utterly soft that she tugged his head closer. She thought she heard him gasp, but by then, he was tilting her head back. Yes, yes, this was what she’d wanted. Her eyes slid shut as the kiss deepened.

What was a simple kiss exploded into fireworks.

It was Alex who pulled away first. She was gulping for breath, her pulse hammering, and she knew she couldn’t hide it. The only consolation was that he looked scarcely any better.

He turned his face against her shoulder. “I can’t get you out of my mind, Adrian.”

She smiled because she couldn’t help it. And because she couldn’t help being a little cruel, she nibbled on his earlobe and was rewarded with a shuddering breath.

“Damn,” he said softly.

She ran a finger down his arm. She had been somewhere between drunk and sober when she’d slept with him weeks ago, but now she had no such excuse. She
wanted
to do this, the consequences be damned.

“Alex? Where are you?”

They sprang apart quickly. Adrian scooted backward until she was in her lounge chair. Alex leaned away, just in time before his mother stepped outside.

“What’s up?” Alex said.

Karen’s gaze slid over them distractedly. She was putting on her earrings, even as she nodded hello at Adrian. “Good morning. Your father’s in the kitchen if you want to talk to him.”

Adrian straightened. “Is there something wrong?”

“No. It’s just …” Karen blew out a breath. “We’re just taking the kids out for breakfast. Then we’ll go to family counseling.”

Adrian kept the surprise from her face. She hadn’t heard anything about family counseling until now, but maybe Meg breaking Owen’s lightsaber had been the last straw.

“Really? I hope it goes well,” she said.

“Me too. They don’t know yet. Alex, the repairman’s supposed to come, so if you can watch out for him …”

“I’ll take care of it,” Alex said.

“Good. Excuse me, Adrian.” Karen hurried back inside the house.

Adrian found Alex watching her. “You don’t like my mother, do you?” he said.

Should she lie? Even as she deliberated, she knew it was too late. Her silence had answered that question already.

“No,” she said.

“Why?”

Because Karen’s a better mother than mine ever was. Because my father loves her more than he ever loved mine. Because if he hadn’t met her, we wouldn’t be here …

“I haven’t had a mother in ten years,” she said truthfully. “So I’m not used to having one. What about you, Alex? Do you like my father?”

His reply was quick. “Yeah, he’s okay.”

She didn’t know if she was ashamed or relieved that they’d finally had this conversation. They were going to be stepsiblings, but even as her gaze went over him, she knew she would never think of him as one.

Meg stomped outside. She’d scrounged up a plain black T-shirt and then hand-painted the message: “MAKE WAR, NOT LOVE.” Nicky was shadowing her, keeping her apart from Alex’s brothers. A good idea since Isaac was still sporting a black eye and a resentful expression. Next to him, Owen was gripping his new lightsaber.

No, Adrian didn’t think that war would end anytime soon.

Her father joined them. “Stuart Montgomery recommended family counseling,” he said without any preamble. Karen must have informed him that she’d told Adrian. “Let’s see if it gets any results.”

She shook her head. “Meg’s done therapy before.”

“I know, but I’m not giving up on her. There are some things worth fighting for.”

He hadn’t meant it for her, but it rang true. She’d tried to make herself strong, so that no one would hurt her ever again, but Jason had devastated her anyway. God, what a stupid fool she’d been. Thankfully, Jason and Stephanie and her old life in Chicago felt like a dream. A bad dream that she was waking up from.

“Do you want me to come, Dad?”

He considered the idea. “Next time, I think. I want to get Meg and the boys talking first.”

They all trudged toward the garage, Adrian following in their wake. Her father and Karen were practically pushing the younger kids out of the door. “Why do we have to go?” Owen wanted to know. “Why can’t I go play with my friends instead?”

Her father pulled out of the driveway. Adrian waved goodbye, even as she mentally calculated. The family would eat breakfast first, so that’d take them at least an hour. Then another hour for the counseling session.

Oh yes …

She wasn’t even surprised when Alex glanced in her direction. They both knew they were alone in the house since Nicky had left with others. He was leaning against the wall, as if waiting for her to make the first move. The thought made her smile because since when had Alex Montgomery ever waited for anyone?

“So … feel like playing some Parcheesi?” she said.

Alex’s grin was blinding, and helpless against that smile, she giggled. “Maybe later,” he murmured.

Their kiss was slow and deliberate. It was one that demanded to be savored over and again. As he pulled her close, her eyes slid shut. Her hands clung to his back as he pushed her up against the wall. No, oh no, she didn’t have any illusions about where this would end up.

His room was flooded with daylight. Even when he groped for the blinds and closed them, the room was bright enough that she could still see him. Adrian looked into his eyes and saw Alex Montgomery.

Alex’s mouth and hands were all over her, his weight pressing her down. Heat seemed to settle into her bones, liquefying them. She could hear herself gasping in his arms. Saw herself yanking his shirt off and unzipping him. Then she was tracing him with her mouth, her tongue, and her hands, and wringing out every moan from him. This was exactly what she’d wanted, and when he gasped her name, she laughed breathlessly.

When he gripped her hips, she twined her arms around his neck. They’d done this before, but with the flimsy excuse of alcohol removed, she couldn’t pretend.

She dissolved in his arms.

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

Her eyes fluttered open, but even as she stretched out, she knew Alex was still there. He was sprawled next to her. It felt so right that she let herself luxuriate in his warmth. She’d never spent a day like this, making out and having sex however often she liked. For once, it had all been about
she
wanted.

She had cheated herself, she knew new. All of that clumsy sex with Jason had made her wonder if she was deficient or something. Her friends had raved about the great sex they were having with their boyfriends, but their talk had left her cold and empty. She had tried to get into the spirit of things with Jason, so to speak, but after some embarrassing attempts, she’d decided she just wasn’t cut out for it.

Alex lifted himself on an elbow. She wasn’t wearing anything under the sheet she’d pulled up to her breasts, but instead of scurrying and hastily pulling her clothes on, she met his eyes boldly. What she saw in his gaze was appreciation. There was no question he thought she was attractive. Her lips curved into a smile before she could stop herself.

“What are you thinking about?” he asked.

“Jason.”

“Okay, that’s not what I wanted to hear.”

That made her laugh. “Not like that, silly.” She cast him a sly glance under her eyelashes. “I was just conducting a scientific analysis of the differences in your … ah, performance and his. He gets a failing grade.”

He was smiling. “Is that right? How do I hold up?”

“I’d pass you.”

A squeak escaped her when he tugged her into his arms. “Baby, I don’t settle for a mediocre grade.”

She had to laugh again. She, Adrian Blake, was unabashedly flirting with him, and he was flirting back, even after they’d had sex. Only then did she realize just how tense she’d been. She’d expected to get a slap on the ass and a “this was really great, but let’s not do it again” line. No, instead, they were joking, and it was okay. More than okay, even.

“You can always make it up to me,” she said.

Alex grinned. “Yes, ma’am.”

He reached for her, but she was already pulling him down. Their parents could come in anytime now, and she still wouldn’t care.

When she finally regained her senses, she was gasping for breath. She couldn’t really describe what had just happened. She’d been desperate for him, clawing at his back and kissing him all over. And the best part was, he seemed just as desperate.

It was
wonderful
.

His breathing was ragged and uneven. “You’re going to kill me, you know that?”

She walked her fingers across his arm. She didn’t have the willpower to do anything else. It was quite possibly beyond her mortal limitations to get up, shower, and dress.

“Please. You’re a big boy,” she said.

Alex was lying on his stomach, his voice muffled, but she could still hear his tired satisfaction. “Yeah. That’s what they all say.”

She smacked his arm. “Jerk.”

She’d only meant it as an affectionate barb, but maybe there had been an odd note in her voice because Alex turned his head, so that their eyes met. “I’m not completely a jerk, Adrian. You know that, right?”

“I know.”

Even so, she struggled to sit up and pull the sheet to her breasts. She didn’t know where he was going with this.

He sat up as well. “Look, I gave you a hard time when you first moved here. I didn’t tell anyone to ignore you or anything like that, but they stayed away from you, and I didn’t do anything to stop that. So, for what it’s worth, I’m sorry, Adrian.”

Her teeth sunk into her lower lip. The great Alex Montgomery was actually apologizing to her? For weeks, she’d dreamed of nothing other than crushing him into the mud.

And getting him in bed.

The thought made her cheeks flame, but, well, it was true. Maybe that was a part of the reason she’d treated him so coldly in the beginning. There had always been that tug of attraction between them, one that still frightened her. Alex didn’t fit in any preconceived squares she’d built out of her life.

“Apology accepted,” she said finally. “And for what it’s worth, I was a bitch. Everything happened so fast. A new family, a new home, a new school.” She shrugged helplessly. “I had to blame someone.”

“And I made myself a convenient target, huh?”

“Something like that. So … I’m sorry, Alex.”

“Not a big deal.”

“Now that’s settled, maybe we should get dressed.”

Alex’s eyes were an intense green. “What’s the rush?”

“Again? You can’t be serious.”

He leaned his head against the bedstead and laughed. “That actually wasn’t what I wanted to talk about. But hey …”

“Shut up.” She tapped his arm. “What did you want to talk about?”

She’d never really seen Alex hesitate before. His body posture was relaxed enough, but a certain watchfulness had crept into his gaze. He’d turned, so that they were facing each other in bed, but he’d moved slightly backward, so they weren’t touching.

“Listen, Adrian. I’d be lying if I said I didn’t want this. You’ve been on my mind for weeks. Now that we’re here, I think maybe we should take it slow.” His smile was self-conscious, even. As if he couldn’t quite believe what he was saying. “Don’t get me wrong, the sex’s great, but …”

It was the “but” that made her blood run cold.

Adrian stared at him, unable to move. She’d kept waiting for the other shoe to drop, and even though she’d expected it, it was still a surprise. What a fucking idiot she’d been!