The Things I Do for You (The Alexanders) (2 page)

He’d fallen asleep at his desk after a really late night and asked Kaylee to go pick up his dry cleaning when she got in that morning. He could shower at the gym downstairs and change into one of the suits he’d just had cleaned. Not only had Kay done it without any hysterics or unnecessary questions, but at the end of the day, she’d pointed to his lower desk drawer and said “just in case.” He’d pulled the drawer open to find a stack of neatly folded shirts, slacks, and ties. The remainder of his cleaning she’d left on the hook behind his office door.
 

That had been the day he’d decided he was keeping her.
 

“Even though I hired you as a favor to Jackson, I kept you on because you’re doing a hell of a job. You’ve earned the right to be here.”

Kay looked down at her shoes, clearly embarrassed by the praise. “Thanks. I’ve been enjoying it. This is certainly the most
unusual
job I’ve ever had.”

 
“Good. I’m a lot of things, but I hope I’m never boring. So, did we get word yet about our bid for the Alexander Foundation youth project?”

Kay was suddenly very interested in the pattern of the carpet. “Yes, sir. Unfortunately, we were outbid.”

“We were outbid?
Damn
it.” Nick pounded his desk in frustration. He’d started the Alexander Foundation to help kids who hadn’t been lucky enough to grow up with parents like his. He’d been searching for months for the perfect piece of land to build his retreat for troubled youth.
 

Not that he hadn’t always wanted to help others, but watching his little brother fall head over ass in love had made him start thinking about the future. Being a bachelor had always suited him. His brothers, Bennett and Elliott, seemed to feel the same way. They had the freedom to do what they wanted and when they needed a fix of family time, they had a blast playing uncle to Jackson’s two boys, Chris and Jase.

Marriage and parenthood were things he’d considered to be on a distant horizon. He knew he’d want them one day, but that day had never seemed particularly close.

Lately though, as he spent more time with Jackson and Ridley, he wondered if that time was finally here. Actually, if he was honest, it was spending time with his future sister-in-law, Raina Winters, that had him thinking differently.
 

Their one-night stand earlier in the year had rocked him down to the core. He hadn’t been able to get her out of his mind since. But she obviously hadn’t felt the same way—she’d avoided his calls and emails afterward. They’d been forced to spend more and more time together lately as Jackson and Ridley planned their wedding. He’d hoped their forced interaction would cure him of his obsession, especially since they seemed to annoy each other at every opportunity.
 

Unfortunately, as time went on, he fell deeper in love and she became more and more indifferent.

“I’ve already starting working on the bid for the next site on our list,” Kaylee assured him. “I know we’ll find something soon.”

“Great. I was really hoping to get this project off the ground before winter, but I guess that was too good to be true.”

“It’s an amazing project. It’s going to help a lot of kids. You might want to be careful, Mr. Alexander. You’ll tarnish your image as a happy-go-lucky playboy. People might actually start taking you seriously.”

Nick tried and failed to crack a smile. “We can’t have that, can we?”

Normally it wouldn’t bother him to joke about his playboy status. He’d always done whatever he wanted and hadn’t cared if other people liked it or not. It was only in recent months that his lack of relationship experience had been a problem and his reputation had stood in the way of him getting something he wanted.

Someone he wanted.
 

All he could do was hope she’d finally thaw toward him a little. She didn’t have his cell phone number, but she knew she could always reach him at his office.
 

He could only hope, anyway.

“Any messages?” he asked. Most of his family called him on his cell phone, so he doubted there were.
 

“Oh yes, just one.” Kay raced back out to her desk and then reappeared a few moments later. “Your brother wanted to remind you that you were supposed to come over and look at his investment portfolio today.”

“Which brother?”

Kay looked up from the paper. “Huh?”

Nick smiled. “Which one of my brothers? I have three.”

“Oh. Right! Sorry, it was Jackson. Actually, it was Ridley who called but she told me to say the message was from your brother,” Kay said sheepishly.

“No worries. I know firsthand how hard it is to say no to my future sister-in-law.”
 

“Yeah. Ridley is awesome. Anyway, I’ll bring in that new bid when I’m done with it.” She nodded at him and then turned to leave.
 

Just before she reached the door, Nick called out, “Kaylee? Just out of curiosity, did you happen to hear who won the bid?”

She stopped in her tracks but didn’t turn. “Yes, sir. It was Steven Silvestre. Again.” She rushed out and pulled the door closed behind her.
 

*
 
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*
 
*
 
*

RAINA PARKED BEHIND Jackson’s car and sat staring at the house for a moment. Her phone let out a chirp. Recognizing Steven’s ringtone, she immediately answered.

“Hey, there you are! I’ve been trying to get in touch with you since yesterday.”

“I know, I’m so sorry about that. Negotiations aren’t going well here. I meant to call you last night and then just passed out when I got back to my hotel.”
 

She’d always loved Steven’s voice, perfectly smooth and well-modulated. At thirty-four, he was just so much more mature than the other guys she’d dated.
 

“I’m sure you were exhausted. I know you’re working really hard on this deal. I just missed hearing your voice, that’s all.”
 

There was an awkward pause as if he didn’t know how to respond.
 

“Well, I’ve missed you, too. I’m flying back in tomorrow. Let me have the honor of taking you to dinner. You pick the place. We haven’t had time to really talk in a while. There’s been a lot going on.”

Raina smiled. Typical Steven. Even when they were just talking on the phone, he was always so formal. “Of course we can have dinner. I have a lot to tell you, too. I think you’re going to be excited when you hear my news.”

He knew she was trying to work out a deal for her own reality show and had already agreed to allow himself to be filmed for a certain number of episodes after they were married. He’d even given her pointers on negotiating with the network.
 

Steven was truly her perfect complement. Someone calm and steady to keep her focused on what was really important. He never raised his voice or lost his temper.
 

She thought of her last conversation with Nick. Calm and steady were not the adjectives that came to mind. She’d probably used every four-letter word in the English language during that conversation.
 

She looked up and saw her sister standing in the doorway of Jackson’s house. “Oh, I have to go. I’m meeting Ridley for lunch.”

“That’s fine. I’ll see you tomorrow. Just text me the time and place and I’ll meet you at the restaurant.” He paused for a moment and then said, “I’m glad things seem to be going well for you, Raina. I want you to be happy.”
 

She frowned as the call disconnected. She enjoyed spending time with Steven, but she couldn’t help wishing he wasn’t always so… stuffy. He’d been so busy working on his latest acquisition deal that she’d barely seen him over the last month. He was flying back and forth to New York several times a week and holed up in his office the rest of the time.
 

Raina considered herself a completely modern, enlightened woman and wasn’t even slightly ashamed of her healthy sex drive. Which was why it was a shame that she didn’t really miss the sex when Steven was traveling. They’d never been overly demonstrative with each other and to be honest, their sex life was much like the rest of their interaction. Calm, steady, and mature.
 

Boring.

Steven was simply too cultured to get worked up about much of anything other than business.
 

It probably didn’t help that she’d met him right after the most intense sexual experience of her life.
No, don’t think about Nick.
She refused to believe that one night with Nicholas Alexander had ruined her for all other men.

 
Besides, sex isn’t everything
, she thought, feeling slightly disloyal. Steven wasn’t the most exciting man, perhaps, but he knew what was important. He’d never hurt or embarrass her, at least. He’d be a steady father figure for the three children they planned to have.

She pushed open the car door just as Ridley noticed her.

“Raina! You’re here.” Ridley stepped onto the porch and set the oversized pot of flowers she was carrying down on the step. “Come on, I’ve just finished cooking.”

When Ridley had invited her over for lunch the prior day, she’d agreed before she remembered her doctor’s appointment scheduled for ten o’clock. If she’d been thinking clearly, she would have rescheduled lunch.
 

The last thing she needed after hearing that her chances of having a baby were getting worse every day was to watch her sister and Jackson coo at each other.

RAINA LOCKED THE car and watched her sister stroke the blooms on the potted plant like she was petting a dog. For as long as she could remember, her sister had loved flowers. Personally, she could barely tell a daisy from a sunflower, but Ri had an exhaustive memory for the different types and how to care for them. Since she’d moved into Jackson’s house, his yard had been completely redone, the walk leading to the front steps taking each visitor through an array of colors and scents.
 

Raina took a deep breath of the fragrant air as she passed the clusters of flowers lining the walkway. Ridley pulled her into a quick hug. “I hope pasta is okay. I didn’t feel up to much else.”

Instantly, Raina was on alert. “Are you feeling okay? Is your scar giving you trouble?”

Just a month ago, Ridley had been held at gunpoint and shot by a stalker. Every time she thought about it, Raina experienced a surge of helplessness. Nothing would ever erase the raw fear she’d felt when she’d gotten the call that her sister was in the hospital. Especially since the call had come from Nick. What if she hadn’t answered? It had been a sober reminder that their feud affected more than just the two of them.
 

“I’m doing my physical therapy and of course, Jackson won’t let me do anything. I’m still pretty tired. Once I’m able to move around more, I think I’ll feel better.”

Raina followed Ridley into the house, noting all the changes her sister had made in recent weeks. Under different circumstances she’d probably tease her about playing house with a guy she’d just met. But even someone as cynical as she was could appreciate that Jackson was truly in love with her sister. You could practically see the hearts and flowers circling the guy’s head when he looked at her.
 

If it wasn’t so damn sweet it would be nauseating.

“So, what have you been up to? Besides being waited on hand and foot by your hot fiancé,” Raina teased.
 

Ridley looked uncomfortable and then said, “I met our father.”

Raina’s mood immediately soured. “Oh. So, what are we having for lunch? I’m starving.”
 

“That’s all you have to say? ‘What’s for lunch?’ Don’t you want to know what happened?”

“Not really. I understand that you’re curious about him, but I don’t particularly need to hear excuses from some guy about why he abandoned his wife and two kids.”

“There are two sides to every story, Raina. I just want the chance to get to know him. He was really worried when he heard I was injured.”

Struggling to keep her voice even, Raina replied, “I’m sure it’s easier to worry now that we’re all grown up and don’t require any actual care. Now, I don’t want to talk about this. I want to enjoy the afternoon with my sister.” She smiled to hopefully take the sting out of her words.
 

“Fine. I made spaghetti. I hope that’s okay.” Ridley led her out to the back patio. The food was in a pretty white warming dish and there were colorful plates and cups already laid out. Raina dropped her purse next to one of the chairs and sat down.
 

“That sounds delicious. If I was at home, it would be a microwave dinner, so I’m hardly going to complain.”
 

Despite how successful she’d become in recent years, Raina was wary of hiring help. She had enough people making up stories about her as it was. The last thing she needed was a tabloid tell-all from a chef or driver. Jackson had recommended a trustworthy maid service but other than that, she did things herself. And by doing things herself, she meant ordering takeout.
 

It was just one more thing she’d have to get used to changing in her life. Once filming started for the remaining episodes of her show, her well-guarded private time would be a thing of the past.

Ridley bustled around the table, filling her drinking glass with iced tea and spooning the pasta into their bowls. As she passed Raina’s chair, her foot accidentally bumped against the handbag sitting on the floor, knocking it over. Several colorful brochures spilled out of the top along with Raina’s cell phone and keys.

“What are these?”
 

Before Raina could react, Ridley picked up one of the pamphlets and flipped it open. Her forehead furrowed as she started reading. “Raina, what is this?”