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Feeding
Frenzy Send feedback here Alexis’s pen tapped on the table in a beat that was merciless and unforgiving, almost as merciless and unforgiving as she was, or so her husband thought. “Your Honor…” Ric began. “I object.” The Judge leaned forward. “Mrs. Lansing,” he began. “Davis. Ms. Davis,” Alexis corrected ignoring the angry look Ric tossed her way. “Ms. Davis, you can’t keep objecting. DA Lansing has to be able to finish a statement before you can object, unless you are objecting to him personally.” Alexis’s brows furled and her tongue came out on the side of her mouth. “Then, in that case, I must still object.” The Judge sat back. “This is going to be a textbook trial, merely for the ongoing length and rhetoric. I propose a break, say until after lunch. DA Lansing and Ms. Davis, may I suggest you take your private dispute to lunch, and mend it. Is that understood?” “Yes, Your Honor,” Ric said respectfully. Alexis was digging in a large oversize bag, having barely heard the Judge. He banged his gavel. “Ms. Davis!” With slight start, Alexis stood her mouth full of something. “Yes?” “Do you agree?” Alexis glanced around quickly. She had no idea if she agreed, but the look on the Judge’s face suggested that perhaps she shouldn’t ask for a repeat of the question. “Um…yes, Sir,” she mumbled. “Good, then I’ll see you both in about four hours in a more professional frame of mind.” The Judge quickly left before Alexis could sort out what exactly she had agreed to. Her client gave her strange a look before also vacating the courtroom. “Are you ready to go?” Ric asked her. “Where?” “To lunch,” he offered. “The Judge told us to take a long lunch and iron out our personal problem there, and not his courtroom.” Glancing at her bag suspiciously, he frowned. “Is that microwave popcorn in your bag?” “What? No!” Alexis quickly shut her bag. So what, it a wasn’t lie. It wasn’t microwaved. She got it from kiosk that made it fresh with real butter. “Lunch?” Ric took her arm not allowing her to pull it away. “You wouldn’t want to be in contempt, now would you, Counselor?” Warring emotions moved over Alexis’s face, and against her will, her eyes went to his, then dropped to his mouth. Clearing her throat, she struggled to find a high ground, a place not so close to him. Damn him, he stayed too close for comfort and she was starving. “Look, I know you’re mad at me,” Ric began ignoring Alexis’s reaction to his claim. “I get that. It’s been six weeks—six weeks of hell, I might add. The guest room is lonely, and you do everything possible to ignore me including going out on dates.” “I do not go out on dates!” Alexis said with increasing indignation. “I see clients.” “Ned, three nights ago, and if I remember correctly, you went out with Jax three times in the last few weeks.” Ric’s hand moved a piece of hair off her neck. “That bothers me somewhat, since a constant parade of Alexis and her men isn’t my idea of fun times.” Against her will and better judgment, Alexis asked, “What is your idea of fun times?” Ric moved in closer not allowing her to retreat, swiftly and surgically cutting off her escape route by moving his hand down her arms to join their hands. “I think you know—actually, I know you know.” Ric found the side of her neck with his mouth. “So how much longer are you going to keep us in this holding pattern? What do I have to do to prove to you that I’m more than sincere about my feelings for you?” “Ric,” Alexis’s eyes became glassy, and she seemed to struggle with a decision, one that was hounding her. “I can’t say.” “Okay, I understand that. Once I would’ve taken that as prevarication on your part, but now that I know you,” Ric kissed her hard, his hand holding her still, “and I do know you, Sweetheart. I’m taking this as something important, something even you haven’t reasoned out, because you’re not cruel.” “I can be,” she admitted. Her mouth having a will of its own, damn traitor returned his kisses. Ric took the advantage moving back to sit on the edge of the defender’s table, his hands on her waist pulling her close into his body, letting her control the kiss from the advantage of a higher position. Alexis would never admit it, but she liked a taste of domination—the feel of a powerful male vulnerable under her hands. He could do that for a bit. He could give her the control, but all things being equal, Ric usually took it back. Alexis liked to feel it, but more than that, she liked to be overwhelmed and protected, she liked to have all her cares and reason dashed away. Leaning back, he forced her to lose her balance and settle deeper into him. Lunch, he was definitely starving. Her mouth on his, her hands on his shoulder and hair—everything about her said she was starving too. If she was in need of a feast, he would happily be the food she dined on. “Alexis.” “Alexis.” Neither of them seemed to notice her name being called, too intent on the other. She pulled back confused, her tongue actually moving over her lips, tasting him on them, their eyes locked before his eyes moved to watch her tongue. She retreated a bit and he followed, their mouth joining again in a deep devouring kiss. “Alexis.” Breathing heavily, the calling of her name finally registered, and Alexis and Ric looked towards the courtroom door. Sonny. Cursing under his breath, Ric refused to relinquish the hold he had on his wife. He could feel it. She was slipping away, mentally trying to compose herself. Reluctantly, he released her uncomfortably standing. Fencing Alexis in was too dangerous. The woman had a magnificent pair of legs, and despite her hatred of exercise, he never met anyone capable of running away as fast as she. If he didn’t make her too skittish, usually she only wandered about a hand’s length away. “Sorry if I interrupted,” Sonny said easily, the amusement in his eyes belied his claim. “Alexis, I need to talk to you. It’s important.” “We were just going to lunch,” Ric pointed out, his eyes dark and unyielding as they met Sonny’s. “I’m sure you were.” Sonny smiled charmingly at Alexis flashing dimples her way. “Alexis, it’s really important. It involves Kristina.” Ric sighed. Admitting defeat, he leaned over and kissed Alexis on the cheek close to her mouth, his lingering. “I’ll see you after lunch, Counselor. Maybe we can finish this discussion.” He smiled at the wary look that entered her eyes, but it was the way her eyes than dropped to his mouth and the hungry stare that salved his disappointment. Yep, she so wanted him. “Sonny,” Ric said as he passed his brother. Once he exited the courtroom, he glanced back, his self-confidence slipping. Alexis and her men; and of all of them, Sonny was the one he couldn’t handle. * * * Alexis smiled at the server. “A mineral water with a twist of lime,” she said keeping the menu, already mentally listing what she wanted to eat. “I’d buy you a glass of wine, Alexis.” “Mineral water is fine.” Alexis glanced at Sonny over the menu. “So -- I need to eat and get back to court, so is this going to take long?” Sonny noticed Carly coming into the Cellar with paperwork, her eyes moving over the place immediately finding him and Alexis. Leaning back, he chose to ignore her, but he carefully noted her reaction. So she got her apartment across from the fair doctor. Bully for her. Sonny leaned in intimately towards Alexis lowering his voice. “Stop it,” Alexis said going back to the menu. “What?” Sonny’s eyes a wealth of innocence, but Alexis’s eyes narrowed meeting him head on, her one brow lifting elegantly. Sonny laughed, charmed despite himself, his rich baritone laugh filling the room, drawing an even more violent reaction from the watching Carly. “Obviously Carly must have arrived, and sure, we can talk, but the Cellar? Do not use me in some flirting war with your ex-wife. I’ve had my vaccinations.” Sonny laughed shaking his head, her dry tone a cool blast from their past. “I’ve really missed you, Alexis.” “Uh-huh, toothaches are like that. Low level pain junkie, you should consult a therapist.” Sonny gave up the chase and got to it. “I need you to do some legal work for me.” Alexis closed her menu. “No.” She looked around. “Waiter?” “Alexis, don’t say no. It involves Kristina’s happiness, and I think you should reconsider.” Alexis ignored him. “I’ll buy you lunch,” he offered. Alexis gave him a once over. “You might be chewing off more than you can handle. I’m ravenous.” “I know, denied fulfillment none withstanding, I would offer my services in your husband’s place, but I’m sure he wouldn’t find that amusing.” Alexis ignored his reference to her and Ric and sex. Tipping her head, she waited. “Obviously, you’re not finished. So go ahead,” she said crossing her arms in front of her. Sonny swallowed a smile. “I know anything I offered in compensation would be refused, but how about the menu. Pick anything you want.” Alexis made a ‘uh-huh-ing’ sound in her throat waiting for it. “You and Ric seem pretty intense. I swear if I hadn’t interrupted that courtroom would’ve found another purpose.” “Are you through or is there more?” “Just a little more.” Alexis sighed heavily her hand waving. “Well, don’t hold back on my account.” “It looked like he was going to rock you body and soul right there on the courtroom table.” Sonny noted the slight blush starting up Alexis’s throat, and his smile widened when she moved a hand over her neck. “Is it hot in here?” she asked him innocently. Blowing out hard, she looked around again. “You’re paying right?” “Anything you want.” “My daughter.” “Except that.” “Fine.” Alexis finally waved down a waiter. She smiled sweetly at him. “I’ll start with an appetizer.” The man had his order pad ready. “Very good, ma’am. Which one?” Alexis smiled pleasantly at Sonny. “All of them.” Sonny lifted a brow, moving to the side to check out Alexis’s body. He frowned. She actually looked thinner. Her usual nice slim but curved body actually was slimmer than usual. “Have you lost weight?” “A little. I was off my feed a bit over the past few months—stress,” she added quickly. “Now, I’m feeling great.” Alexis handed the waiter her menu. “For the main entrée I’ll have the veal ravioli in morel cream sauce with extra parmigiano-reggiano cheese, the saddle of beef—rare, and oh….the grilled pork chops!” The waiter cleared his throat. “That would entitle you to three dinner salads.” “Oh, just put them all on one plate, extra croutons, and bleu cheese dressing on the side.” “The potato, rice or risotto?” “French fries, with a large side of sour cream and ketchup. You don’t have French onion dip do you?” The waiter shook his head regretfully. “Does this come with bread?” “I’ll get you a baguette.” “Bless you.” Alexis glanced at Sonny. “Did you want anything?” Sonny sipped his drink. “I just gained ten pounds listening to you order.” * * *
Ric watched her, his eyes willing her to look at him. Sighing, she glanced over. “Well, how was lunch?” “Incredibly filling, and yours?” “Incredibly wet and cold…I might as well have removed the hot water tap from our shower. I seem destined to only take cold ones.” Alexis’s eyes widened and she glanced at her client quickly. The man next to her was too busy talking to someone behind him, an associate there to support him. “I’m…” she started, really wanting to tell him that she was sorry. “Forget it. I made my bed.” Ric came over to lean down close, his head near hers as he concentrated on her and her alone. “So?” Alexis moved uncomfortably, pulling her jacket down discretely, nervously patting her stomach in an involuntary reaction to his intensity as a slight blush moved up her neck and cheeks. “So?” she croaked her mouth suddenly dry. “Sonny? What did he want?” “Oh!” Alexis breathed easier. “He wants me to work for him.” Ric laughed shaking his head. “He’s joking right?” “No, I would say he was in earnest.” Ric’s eyes darkened. “I hope you said no.” Alexis shrugged glancing at the Judge’s bench. Still no Judge. “Actually, I took the job. It was easy money.” “Alexis…” She held up her hand. “Please, file lecture thirty-seven in the circular file. I’m not getting into bed with the devil;” Alexis made a face, “not this time, thank you. Ric’s jaw flexed but he held his tongue. “What’s the job?” Alexis glanced around. “He’s trying to buy some dream house for Michael. It’s this huge mansion, so I guess that would make him Sonny, lord of the manor.” Ric groaned. “Don’t tell me, now you want to out house Sonny.” “Don’t be silly. I can’t afford a house that size.” Alexis said, a bit unhappy about that. It wasn’t the money as much as the idea that came with a house of that size. It was a house of dreams, hopes, and a family life rich in love. “Anyway, he is in a bidding war with this unknown buyer, and literally, he is losing.” “And your job?” “Supposedly, he wants me to see if I can discover who the bidder is, and all his legal rights in this process.” Ric frowned. “Did you inform him that first, you’re not a real estate agent? Second, you’re not a real estate attorney, and finally, to get hung?” “Nope. I told him it would be triple my usual fees, and he has to pay for ten hours regardless of the time spent and outcome. Also, I would not guarantee a foreclosure. What the current owner chooses to do is his rights.” Ric was resigned. She found yet another project to keep her busy and out of his sphere. “I see. So how long do you think this case will take?” “It’s done. I finished it on my way to court.” Ric sat on the edge of the desk. “From the Cellar to the Courts? That’s hardly a ten minute trip.” “I know. Ten hours of triple fee for ten minutes of work.” Ric slowly smiled sipping his coffee. “You’re good, Counselor. I bow to your greater skill.” “I am! I am realyl good.” Alexis was more than a little pleased. “I stopped at property, asked for a deed check, and guess what?” Ric lifted a brow. “The current owner submitted a deed of sale. He closed the deal with the new owner this morning, actually right at lunch time, while Sonny was trying to work me. How perfect is that?” Ric smirked as his eyes moving over her animated face. “So it is a legal done deal.” “It is. He would now have to approach the new owner and try to work a deal.” “You mean intimidate.” “Semantics. Do his Sonny thing, but my job, it is done. Once the new land title is processed, he’ll know the new owner’s name.” “Abstracting can take weeks.” “It can with all the backlog and they check on liens against the estate.” Alexis’s nose twitched. “I smell chocolate. Are you eating chocolate?” Ric shook his head no. Alexis lifted herself a bit and sniffed again. Before Ric knew what she intended, her hand grabbed his tie and pulled him to her, her mouth kissing him voraciously, obviously enjoying the task. Alexis glared at him. “You taste like chocolate.” Ric cleared his throat bending even closer. He held up his coffee cup. “Double mocha latte, with extra cream.” “Oh!” Alexis put her nose into the cup taking a big whiff. “It’s smells heavenly. It tastes heavenly.” Oh yeah, she knew that from sucking him down like a tasty freeze. “I’ll share,” Ric offered hoarsely. “Is it caffeinated?” “Absolutely.” Alexis’s face fell, and she glanced at her herbal tea. “I better stick to my tea.” Ric took a deep drink from his coffee and then reached down and kissed her again. Alexis moaned at the taste of the coffee and chocolate. “Are you sure? I wouldn’t mind sharing,” Ric offered. Alexis glanced at the coffee longingly. “Mean people suck. You know, I really shouldn’t.” “I won’t tell the caffeine police.” Alexis shook her head regretfully. “I would know.” She pulled his mouth closer kissing him again enjoying the taste, enjoying him. It was the clearing of a throat that made them look at the bench. “Well, it would appear that you settled your differences?” The Judge commented dryly. “Shall we continue with the case? You know…the reason we’ve all gathered here today.” “Yes, Your Honor,” both Ric and Alexis said at the same time as Ric stood. “Mr. Lansing, I will hear from you first.” Ric went to his desk, but he paused for a moment, and whispered to Alexis. “Strange, I swear I can smell pork chops.” “Mr. Lansing,” the Judge prompted again. “Yes, Your Honor.” Alexis waited until Ric’s back was turn, and she discretely pushed her bag further under the table. Throughout the remainder of the day, Ric kept suspiciously glancing at Alexis. She appeared to be eating something, and from time to time, he swore she had something in her hand taking nibbles. Upon adjournment of the day, he laid in waiting for her outside the doors. Coming up behind her, he easily detained his wife from slinking away. “What were you eating, Counselor.” “I wasn’t.” “I heard you, saw you, and,” Ric’s hand moved over the front of her jacket flicking off a crumb or two, “your clothes say otherwise.” “It’s nothing. I must have gotten the crumbs at lunch.” “Right.” Ric wasn’t so convinced. His wife had chipmunked her way through the afternoon on what appeared to be bread. Exasperated, Alexis tapped her foot. “Fine. I was snacking on leftovers from lunch.” “Leftovers? You took home a take away bag?” Ric laughed shaking his head. “You never take home a doggie bag. Don’t I remember you regaling me with some statistic over food poisoning due to improper something or other dealing with leftovers.” “That was Chinese.” Alexis made a face. “This time I couldn’t finish, and since I might get hungry, I figured that I might need….a snack?” “Uh-huh.” Ric reached for her bag, a larger one than usual, one that she only just recently began to carry. Alexis pulled her bag out of his reach, and for a moment, they struggled until something went flying out of the bag bouncing around the floor. “Is that a pork chop?” Ric asked. “No.” “It looks like a pork chop,” Ric glanced at the red faced Alexis. “I knew I smelt pork chops.” “Fine! It was a pork chop.” Alexis quickly picked it up, shoved it back into a bag and tossed it away. “Not anymore. It hit the floor. I can’t eat it, now—now it is garbage.” Ric caught her arm to look into her bag. “You realize you have half a baguette in your bag along with that pork chop.” “I told you, I couldn’t finish it at lunch.” Ric gave her a strange look, and Alexis cleared her throat, her eyes darting around for a plausible explanation. “I’m famished, that’s all. Lately, I feel hungry all the time.” Ric sucked on his bottom lip thoughtfully. Backing her up a bit, he trapped her against a wall. His hand came up to move hair off her neck, as his fingers brushed against her lips. “You know, honey,” Ric said softly. “If you want me that bad, you only have to say. You don’t have to compensate with food. I promise I’m much healthier for you—lots of exercise and less calories.” “I’m not,” she reassured him, her eyes on his approaching mouth. “I really don’t think you should kiss me here.” “Why not?” Alexis nodded to the attention they were attracting including a few judges leaving for the day. “We’re starting to get a reputation, and whereas mine is slightly tarnished, yours as DA really can’t afford the hits.” “You’re avoiding.” Alexis went under his arm gathering her stuff to beat a hasty retreat. “I’ll see you at home, honey,” he called to her. Alexis didn’t comment as she rushed off. Ric watched his wife as she did her only real defensive maneuver—flight. He was shaken from his revelry of Alexis musing as a messenger found him. “Ric Lansing?” “Yes?” “I have a delivery, Sir. I was told it was a rush.” Ric took the envelope and quickly signed the receipt for the messenger. Pulling out the papers, he unfolded them reading them quickly as a smile pulled at his mouth. Glancing up, he looked at the empty corridor where Alexis had rushed from as he contemplated his pork chop wielding wife. *** “A pork chop!” Jax repeated, wiping mirth from his eyes, but as soon as he made eye contact with Alexis, he went off on another bout of laughter. “I’m being serious here! I was mortified when that chop went flying.” Jax swallowed his laughter and tried, gravely tried to look sympathetic and serious. He failed. Falling over to the side, he kept laughing as Alexis looked about irritated. “Seriously, what’s the problem here, Alexis?” “He thinks I’m a loon.” Jax took his ex-wife’s hand in his. “No, darling, he knows you’re a loon. He lives with you.” “Thanks! You realize that in our divorce decree there is a small clause that states emphatically that you have to be on my side in all things, even when I’m wrong.” “I am on your side. I have taken you to dinner numerous times, all so you can avoid the poor man.” “Sorry to be a trial.” “No you aren’t,” Jax said knowingly. “Look, Alexis, I’m the last one to offer relationship advice, but since you equally suck at this….actually, you excel at sucking at it, I’ll do it anyway.” Alexis rubbed her forehead. “I hate it when it starts like this. It means I’m not going to like your advice.” “Go home and cut the man a break. He’s jumped through hoops these last few weeks to make amends. Give him a life line.” Alexis chewed on a nail unhappily, wrecking a perfect manicure. “I can’t. Not this time. It’s too important.” She glared in disgust at the damage she did. “I wish I could, but for once in my life—just once, I want to do something the right way. I don’t want to fall into it, or just bumble along until things even out. I want this for the right reasons.” “Look, you’re up against it. Time isn’t on your side. You need to make up your mind, and you need to do it today.” Jax smiled at her frown as she worried on the inside of her mouth giving her mangled manicure a break. “Is it his competition and agendas with Sonny?” Alexis shook her head. “I might not like that Kristina and I was one to start with, but I understand them. I’ve actually counted on his adversarial relationship with Sonny to work towards my advantage a few times, so I think I’ll refrain from being a hypocrite about it in this instance.” “So, I guess I am missing the problem. The man has feeling for you, and damn if you don’t reciprocate, so why are you having dinner with me again?” Alexis smiled picking food off her plate and munching thoughtfully. “You mean, why am I forcing you to babysit me when you could be wining and dining Courtney?” “Shut up and eat your pile of food.” Jax looked at her plate. “Seriously, you’re eating enough for a third world country.” “I’m literally ravenous all the time. I think I got dizzy earlier at the sight of a chocolate éclair.” Alexis sighed unhappily at the dessert she wouldn’t have. “I could be home right now playing with my daughter, but no.” “Because Ric is there,” Jax guessed. “Oh, he is getting so evil. He walks around in tight jeans and an old Harvard Law t-shirt that is threadbare and too tight, knowing it will inspire Yale competition from me, and” she said in outrage, “he stopped shaving twice a day.” “The monster.” “Shut up! Do you not know how hard it is resist his five o’clock shadow? Feeling it rasping against my skin, the way he leaves a little burn, sometimes on my back and neck, and…” “Waiter!” Jax called to a passing server. “Another whiskey, and make it a double.” Jax gave his friend a sore look. “Listen, can you refrain from the details? I’m only just getting to like Ric, and if you feel compelled to have me defend your honor,” Alexis snorted at that, “I might have to.” “We’re married,” she pointed out. “Good, then why are we sitting here? What do you need?” Alexis put her head down on the table, her hand reaching out and slapping it hard. “To be anyone except me!” she said morosely. “Alexis, I’m not helping. I happen to like you as you are.” “No, no, Jax, you have to tell me what to do!” She grabbed his hand desperately, her eyes pleading. “You have to! I—I’ve got a lifetime of bad choices, and if you were to tell me, then maybe it will work out.” “Cut him loose,” Jax said cruelly. Alexis mouth opened wide, she sat up. “What?! Cut him loose!” Jax smiled. “Thought so,” he said smugly. “It looks to me like you already made a decision. So why are you sitting here with me with him sitting at home wondering where you are?” Alexis chewed on her lip nervously. “I—I’ll mess it up. How do I—I mean, how do I tell him?” Jax took her hand and kissed the back of it. “Honey, just leave the damn bedroom door open.” * * *
Sitting on the sofa working on a case, he heard her checking on Kristina. It wasn’t long before the familiar sounds of her going to her room echoed through the apartment. Irritated, Ric sat back with a sigh. She was the most stubborn woman he knew. Reading his papers, Ric had no idea what they said, his mind engaged in new ways to convince Alexis. It took a bit of time for him to realize that something was different. At first, he looked about the apartment, the shadows of the room chased away by the light next to him. Everything looked in place. His breath hitched in his throat when what was different finally dawned. The door, it was open. After six weeks of being firmly shut, it stood open with a light beckoning him. Standing, he stared at it for a moment. Going to his jacket he removed something he would need. It was with tenuous steps that he slowly walked towards her bedroom, but once he started, nothing was going to stop him. Except one thing. Ric turned around and reached over taking the house phone off the cradle, and turning off both of their cell phones sitting in their chargers. “Hey,” he said quietly from the doorway, leaning against the door jamb. She was in bed, sitting up reading through some papers. Sharing a look with him, she worried her lip for a moment before gathering her papers and placing them on the bedside table. Moving a bit, she made room for him to sit next to her. Encouraged, Ric entered the room shutting the door behind him. Alexis waited until he sat down. “I lied to you.” Ric lifted a brow, and he narrowed his eyes. “It was a lie of omission; actually, I have a few of those to confess.” Ric nodded, his eyes dark. “I understand those lies of omission; they can come with hefty cost.” “They can.” Alexis took a deep breath. “I forgave you weeks ago,” she confessed. Ric had been looking down, watching her hands clench and unclench on the bedding. Suddenly he looked up at her. Clearing his throat, he tipped his head. “You didn’t think it important to tell me?” What were the last few weeks if she forgave him—prolonged torture? Ric shook his head. No. He knew Alexis, she was never intentionally cruel, and even he recognized an internal struggle. “I—well, yes, but it’s complicated.” “With us it always seems to get that way.” Ric reached over, taking on her hands, folding his fingers with hers. Alexis smiled at that. “There is something I want—actually; I think I should say, something I need. Something only you can give me, and I’m at a loss at how to ask you for it.” “Just ask.” Alexis wished it could be that easy, but as already mentioned, it never was—not with them. “I’ve made so many mistakes in my life, gone about things in the wrong way. And, the two of us, together we’re a combined calamity. You pursued me for all the wrong reasons.” Ric didn’t deny that. “It was a pursuit too. I know you accused me of having a crush on you, wanting your attention, but it was all you.” Ric didn’t comment. He couldn’t. How he started out, it wasn’t something he was proud of, especially not the times that he tossed her past in her face, and was harsh. When it started, the need to get her to notice him, to actually take him seriously was a burning desire that at times got out of hand. “Alexis…” “Let me finish.” Alexis cleared her throat. “I can be accused of the same thing. Why I married you, it wasn’t for any of the right reasons—not the reasons two people should agree to join their lives. I’m not saying that Kristina isn’t the best reason, but in truth, our marriage hardly affected the outcome. I selfishly took your offer, partly for Kristina, but in large part for myself.” “What is it you need from me, Alexis?” If she used him in some way, he wasn’t going to complain. It got him where he wanted to be, but maybe her guilt over it would be the door he needed for them to find a peace over it. Alexis breathed out harshly, closing her eyes for just a moment. “I need you to be in my life for the right reasons, and I need to ask you to stay for the same ones.” Alexis’s eyes were suddenly bright from suppressed tears. “For once in my life, I want to do things the right way—normal.” Ric stared at her for a moment before he scooted a bit closer. Putting a hand around her neck and pulling her close to him, he asked softly, his mouth a mere inch from hers. “Would…if I said I love you, that I love your daughter, and that is the only reason I want to stay…would that be the right reason?” Ric kissed the side of her neck, his eyes closing at the sound she made in her throat. “Would that be normal enough for you?” “It would be a good start,” she admitted before kissing him. Her arm went around his neck as he pushed her back on the bed. It was the sensation of going down that made her realize what was happening. Scrambling away, she evaded his body and emerged on the other side of the bed. “Alexis?” “Wait,” Alexis said breathlessly, she held up a hand. “You—you stay over there.” Ric was confused. They made up, so that meant that they could go to makeup sex, which in his mind was one of the better moments in life. “Okay?” “The other lie of omission,” she said thickly. Ric stretched out on the bed, his back against the headboard. “The other lie?” Ric repeated a sense of foreboding doom hitting. Damn, he definitely wasn’t getting his makeup sex. “Is it a big one?” “Huge.” He was afraid of that. She looked so damn guilty, and his mind ran over possible scenarios, the worse being one he could not even utter. She didn’t—she wouldn’t sleep with Sonny—anything but that. “Okay, let’s hear it.” “The cabin, when we were stranded,” Alexis started, her eyes darting nervously. “The blizzard,” he helped out. “Right.” Alexis made a face. “Everything there was pretty natural there.” “We were in a large piney forest, that’s pretty much high on the nature scale.” Alexis shook her head struggling to find a discrete way to say it. “I mean natural, without enhancements or anything—not us.” Ric blinked twice, his head tipping. “We were alone, and there definitely wasn’t anything there except us and a quilt.” “No!” Alexis rubbed a hand over her forehead. “I mean us.” Ric made a face. “Well, we seemed to fit perfectly—naturally. We do fit perfectly.” “I don’t mean like that.” “Okay? Our bodies? Our clothes? We kept on as many as possible to stay warm, but nothing that got in the way. You kept your camisole on and I kept my shirt. It was pretty cold, but otherwise, we stayed about as natural as nature makes us.” “There is that, but I mean…moreso.” “Moreso? How?” Alexis’s eyes darted to his groin area, and then away. It took a moment before for what she was saying to finally register. Ric’s face did a shift as a light came on, and he suddenly understood what she was saying. “No latex.” Alexis was very serious. “Right. Nothing between us.” Ric’s mouth opened, closed, and then opened again. His voice actually caught in his throat. “Alexis, you’re not?” Alexis reached into the side drawer of her bedside table and passed him a small plastic test. “Pink is positive and blue is negative.” Ric stared at the pink indicator of the home pregnancy test. Alexis handed him the official lab result from Dr. Meadow’s office. “How long?” Ric asked hoarsely. She stopped drinking caffeine a few weeks ago switching to herbal tea, and he remembered her being slightly pale and not eating. How long what? How long had she planned to wait to tell him, or how long she knew? Alexis went with the latter. “I suspected the week after my trust in you got blown away.” Ric nodded breathing in deeply his eyes staring at the pink stain. “Were you going to tell me?” “Yes, but…” Alexis moved across the bed on her knees, kneeling beside him. She took his hand. “I stopped being angry at you, but then I had a dilemma. If I told you, would you stay with me for the wrong reason?” “A baby—our baby, that is hardly a wrong reason.” “You married Liz because she was pregnant.” Alexis licked her lips. “I didn’t want to do something the wrong way again. I want to finally do something right—normal.” “That was huge,” Ric said more to himself, but of all the nightmare scenarios he cooked up in his brain, this was—this one was not so bad. Actually, it was… Ric smiled. “Are you all right? Is the baby?” Alexis laughed, relaxing finally when he smiled. She took his hand placing it on her stomach that was just starting to show. “Oh, we’re fine. I was sick as a dog until about a week ago, and then suddenly I started to have these terrible cravings and I can’t seem to eat enough.” Ric’s mouth pulled on the side as he forced her to lie beside him, his hand staying on her stomach. “So that explains the pork chop and bread. I was going to get a doctor to give you a discrete psych review.” “No!” She saw the teasing glint in his eyes. “I was scared at first,” she admitted very serious. “You should’ve told me.” Ric moved his hand up her body to brush her hair aside. “We’re already married, so technically, we did this perfectly normal. Get married on the fly, search for a monster tree, get stranded in a freakish blizzard, roll around like bunnies, and make a baby. See—perfectly normal.” “God, we’re cursed.” Ric laughed stretching out beside her, his mouth kissing her jaw. “What’s so great about normal? Maybe—just maybe you’re looking at this wrong? Maybe this is normal for us.” Ric put the pregnancy test on the bedside table. He was keeping that. “So how long were you scared?” “About three minutes,” she noted his surprised look. “You thought it would be longer, huh? Well, I was until I remembered something real important.” Ric lifted a brow in inquiry, his head leaning over to kiss the side of her neck. “I love being a mother.” Ric mumbled something against her, his mouth moving. He was systematically removing her clothing hardly noticing that she had his Harvard t-shirt off. Moving away from her, he frowned at the slight redness to her skin. His hand moved over his face. “I should shave.” Alexis hooked an arm around his neck. “Uh-uh. Leave it on!” Her nails rasped against his slightly bearded skin, as his eyes darkened. Ric had no problem complying. When his jeans were unfastened, he remembered what he had in the back pocket. “Hey, I almost forgot,” he said as he retrieved the envelope from the back of his jeans before he lost his pants. “I bought you something today, but I’m worried you’ll see it as a ploy or tactic to get to Sonny, and using you to do it.” Alexis leaned back on her elbows. “Is it?” “Well, it wasn’t until today. Let’s just say, Sonny won’t like it, but I didn’t do it with him in mind,” Ric admitted honestly. “I’ll take the jab at Sonny as a bonus.” “Hmm, like perks.” Alexis brushed his hair off his forehead. “So, are you going to give it to me?” Aw, the double entendre was not lost on him. He smiled wickedly before handing her the envelope. Uncertain, Alexis pulled out the papers, perhaps a part of her afraid that he had filed divorce proceedings, but a rational part knowing better. Alexis’ mouth opened, and her eyes went to him in shock. “Oh my God! You bought me Sonny’s house!” * * * “Alexis!” Alexis groaned looking at her elegant watch. Waiting, she turned to find Sonny rushing to catch up to her. “I got your message about the house, but you weren’t answering your phone last night or this morning.” “It got turned off. What do you need, Sonny? I’m late for early court, and I sent my bill to your accountant.” “The house…” “As I told you in message I left you yesterday, the owner made a deal with the other bidder, and the house is already sold. The owner was under no obligation to keep bidding open once he found an offer he liked. I’m sorry, there is nothing you can do to stop it.” “How about the new owner?” Sonny asked. “We can maybe talk to them and buy it at a profit.” Alexis smiled sweetly. “Well, from what I understand, it is a house bought by a man for his wife, and they are expecting their second child. I am positive that there is nothing, and I do mean nothing, in this world you can offer this woman to give up that house. It’s more than a house. It’s a token of love—a commitment to a future and that can’t be bought or bartered.” Sometimes, dreams do come true. “Michael really wanted that house.” Alexis felt sympathetic, but not enough to give up her house. “Help him find another one.” Alexis glanced at her watch again. “I really have to go. I overslept, my phone was turned off, and I just found out my court time was moved up.” Alexis swallowed a smile wondering how long it would be before Sonny realized that she was the new owner. Alexis gave him a hasty wave before rushing into the courtroom. The judge wasn’t there yet, but the DA was. Her steps faltered as her appearance shifted, and a professional haughty look moved over her face as she went to face down her opponent. “DA Lansing,” she began. “I can’t believe you had this moved up, and you didn’t bother to inform me. This is a miscarriage of my client’s rights! If you think this maneuver is going to catch me unprepared, just because I didn’t have time for breakfast—and yes, I am starving—think again.” Ric calmly pulled a box of Krispy Kreme donuts that were sitting on the table from behind his back offering her one. Alexis stopped talking her eyes going from the donuts to her husband. Suddenly she was in his arms, her arm around his neck tight. They were in public, and they were in court—again. Oh damn. Maybe he was right. Maybe this was normal for them. Other people’s normal, it seemed so boring in comparison. “I love this man,” she whispered. “I absolutely love this man.”
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