His Alone (For Her #2)

“I’ve never seen your face like that, Paige. You looked so lost last night.”


She keeps trying to push me back there. Back to somewhere I don’t want to go, because I still feel shame about that, too. I’m pissed at how easily I froze in front of my father last night. How many years have I been so good at hiding things? How come it’s all starting to show? Maybe I’m cracking. Maybe I’m not as strong as I thought I was. How many nights had I lain in bed thinking of all the things I’d say to him whenever I came face-to-face with him again? Throw my own threats in his face and show him he didn’t scare me. That I was going to haunt his dreams now. He’d lie awake at night, scared to close his eyes in case the nightmares would come. But I didn’t give him that. Instead I gave him the fear he loves to see in people.

“I was fine. Captain brought me home.” She raises her eyebrows in surprise as I try to change the subject. Yeah, that’s how I can get her off this. She’s always eager for Captain information and wants to talk about this thing I have for him. Now that she’s happily in love, she seems to want the same for me. I bet she’s already planning double dates. I almost snort at the idea. I give her more details, knowing it will keep her off topic. “He stayed the night.”

“Oh my God!” She claps excitedly and I shake my head.

“Calm down. We just slept.” I can practically see little hearts floating over her head. “I don’t know what’s up with him. One minute he’s kissing me and the next he’s on the other side of the room.”

“He’s hard to read. His face is always the same. Like a stone that sees all, but I know he’s into you. I mean, the only time he ever cracks a smile at work is when you’re poking at him.”

I want to ask if she thinks something between him and me could really work. She’s the one who dubbed him Captain America. We’d joke about how perfect and all-American he always looked. That kind of perfection wouldn’t want me once he’d start to peel back my layers. At one time I thought I could fake it until I made it, but if I’ve learned anything over the past few days, it’s that Ryan is able to see through me too easily for my liking.

I shrug like it’s no big deal. I get up from the sofa and walk to the rack of dresses, pulling off one that’s actually white.

“This will rock on your body,” I tell her. It could fit her like a second skin, and Mal has all the right curves for something like it.

“I’d have to get married tomorrow or it’ll never fit.” She stands, putting her hand on her belly. “We read the test wrong Friday. We didn’t wait long enough. I’m pregnant. You’re going to be an aunt.” Her face lights up, and now I know where that glow is coming from.

I rush over to her, embracing her in a hug, knowing how disappointed she was, even if she tried to hide it, when the test was negative. Mal shows everything on her face.

“I still can’t believe it,” she murmurs next to my ear. I can hear tears in her voice as I pull back and look at her. She so freaking happy it makes me smile even wider.

“I know what this needs,” I tell her. She sniffs and gives me a watery smile. I know she’s happy, but it’s not the time for tears. It’s time for fun. “I’m going to try on that pink wedding dress.”

Mal bursts into laughter.





Chapter Eight


Paige



* * *





WHEN THE ELEVATOR DINGS, I look up from my phone and see Miles and Mallory step out. It’s Monday morning and things are back to normal. Well, as normal as they can be now that everything’s changed. Mallory is getting married and having a baby, and I’m too happy to worry about how this is going to affect me.

Standing up, I feel Captain move in beside me. I try to ignore the way my body heats at his proximity, and focus on my job.

I woke up bright and early this morning to get ready for the day. I dressed in my usual attire for work: a white button-up collared shirt and black slacks. I change it up a bit with my shoes, unable to stop wearing ridiculous heels. Thank God Miles has always provided me with a hefty salary, so I can afford the things I like. I should probably wear something more sensible, but shoes are my weakness. Well, shoes and food. For a second I think about the kiss I shared with Ryan and realize I could easily be addicted to that, too. Probably already am.

Shaking off the thoughts of him and his gloriously naked chest, I straighten my shoulders and tuck my phone into my red leather messenger bag that matches my shoes. Today I’m wearing my favorite pair of Miu Miu Mary Janes, with heels that look like big screws. They give me the height I need and make me feel industrially sexy. Is that a word? It is now.

I’ve been waiting down here for about fifteen minutes, during which time Captain was watching me from across the street. I wondered when he’d come inside, but I guess he was waiting until the happy couple needed their security detail.

“Good morning, kitten.”

His low voice sends a shiver of pleasure right between my legs, and I have to blink a couple times before I can respond. No one could have heard him say the words, and I’m sure if he repeated it to a stranger they’d seem normal. Possibly playful. But to me, the memory of the last time he called me that has a whole mountain of meaning attached to it. I remember his deep voice whispered in the dark, and all those desires come flooding back.

Thankfully, I’ve taken my mind out of the gutter by the time Mallory and Miles approach us. It’s then I realize I never responded to Captain, and it’s too late. I smile at everyone but him in greeting. Those green eyes will make my knees weak right this second and I need to compose myself first.