Anyone but Alex (The English Brothers Book 3) (15 page)

“Your… boyfriend?” he asked, swallowing audibly after saying it.

“Mm-hm,” she murmured, her thumb grazing his cheek softly before she lowered her hands. She ran them down his arms until her hands found his, and he laced their fingers together. “We’re already exclusive, aren’t we? So, what’s the big deal?”

“Boyfriend,” he said again.

“Yes. Boyfriend and girlfriend.” She laughed softly. “They’re just words.”

He nodded, biting his lower lip and squeezing her fingers. “They won’t know what to do with this… A
lex English and a—a girlfriend. For a whole month.”

She beamed.
“They’ll think you’ve turned over a new leaf.”

“I have, Jess,” he said softly, brushing
his girlfriend’s lips with his before pulling away to look into her eyes. “I promise you, I already have.”

***

Something Alex didn’t know: Jessica Winslow was a hundred percent a total and complete pain in the ass when it came to choosing a Christmas tree.

She’d turned her nose up at a Blue Spruce, declaring the light blue color tacky.

Balsam fir smelled “divine,” apparently, but the weak branches wouldn’t hold ornaments, so what was the point?

White spruce had nice, firm branches, she said, but no
Christmas smell.

In the end, they chose a Fraser fir, though Jessica
pursed her lips and warned him not to put any glass ornaments on the branches because they’d fall to the floor and break.

What Jessica didn’t know was that Alex
had no ornaments, glass or otherwise. He had never gotten a Christmas tree for his apartment before. Though he loved Christmas and enjoyed the way his mother decorated Haverford Park, he didn’t see much point in decorating his own place. He didn’t entertain very much, and it wasn’t like he had a girlfriend to take charge. Except… except now he sort of did.

A girlfriend.

Jesus, Alex hadn’t had a girlfriend since he was a senior in high school, and even then it hadn’t lasted long. It was an episode in his life that he tried to forget, but it still seeped into his dreams sometimes. The image Johanna Martinson’s face when she found out that Alex had cheated on her… she’d left school, raced home, drawn a bath and slit her wrists. Luckily, her older brother, home early from football practice, had walked in. An ambulance was called and Johanna’s life was saved, but Alex had sworn off serious commitment after that. If his actions—his stupid choices—could hurt someone else that deeply, he’d just as soon not raise any woman’s expectations ever again.

And yet, here he was, breaking all of his rules for Jessie Winslow.

Jessie, Emily, and Daisy sat on the side of a hay wagon chatting, and Alex cast his glance at Jessie, wondering if she knew about Johanna. Probably not. She was only eleven years old and living in London when it had happened. And everyone had comforted Alex at the time by reminding him that Johanna’s parents were in the middle of a vicious divorce, and she was already an emotional train wreck of a young girl. But Alex had known the truth and hadn’t really forgiven himself for his part in heaping more pain on her already-hurting heart.

H
e hadn’t seen Jessie coming. And now here she was, all soft and certain, her eyes lighting up to see his, her mouth a goddamned miracle and her body made for loving. And for the first time in over a decade, Alex wanted to use the word “girlfriend.” From the moment he’d seen her, he’d wanted her, to belong to her, and just a week later, his wish became a reality. She was his girlfriend, and he was shocked and awed to discover that’s exactly what he wanted.

“So, what’s going on with you and Jessie?” asked Fitz, dragging his tree on the ground to stand behind Alex. They were
in line for the baling machine that wrapped netting around the trees for easier transport, but there were at least five people in front of them.

“We’re spending time together.”

“I was surprised when you invited her today. I can’t remember the last time you brought a date to a family outing.”

“That’s because I
don’t.”

“I’d give you the speech about Jessie being a nice girl and the Winslow’s killing you if you hurt her, but I
have a feeling you don’t need to hear it.”
Alex pulled the trunk of the Fraser fir forward and dusted his gloves on the front of his jeans. “You’re right, I don’t.”

“So, you’re serious about her.”

“As serious as I can be about someone leaving for London in four weeks.”

“
Ohhh,” said Fitz. “I didn’t realize she was leaving.”

“This is only a visit. She lives there. She works at the Tate.”

“Well, you could always…”

“No, Fitz.
She lives there. I live here.”

“Well… I guess it m
akes it easier, huh?”

Alex narrowed his eyes, resenting the implication of his brother’s words
:
The only way Alex could have a girlfriend was if it was only temporary.
It was probably true, and it made perfect sense, but Alex didn’t like it.

Fitz continued, oblivious to the
conflict he’d stirred up in Alex’s head and heart.

“Well, I hope you don’t take this the wrong way, but it’s kind of cool to see you hanging out with one girl for a change.”
Fitz looked over at his fiancée sitting beside Alex’s girlfriend. “Daisy and Emily seem to like her. Jessie always was a nice little kid.”

She was
a lot more than a nice little kid to me
, thought Alex, following Fitz’s eyes. Jessie was giggling at something Emily was saying, and as she threw her head back, her black waves tumbled down her back, shiny in the sun. His whole body ached in that new, good way that he didn’t mind. He’d never seen anything as beautiful in his whole life.

“I’m crazy about her,” murmured Alex. Not really to Fitz. Not really to anyone. The words just slipped out of his mouth fully formed. He couldn’t have stopped them if he tried.

“I can tell.”

“You can tell what?” asked Barrett grumpily. His tree had fallen off the back of the wagon halfway from the orchard
, and he’d jumped off to retrieve it. But, the driver hadn’t noticed, and Barrett had to walk all the way back, dragging his tree behind him.

“That Al’s in love.”

Barrett scrunched up his face. “What the hell?
You
? Now you’re in
love
?”

“No,” said Alex, punching Fitz in the arm. “
I’m
not
in love. I wouldn’t even know… no. I’m not.”

Fitz stared at Alex knowingly
, and Alex glared back at him, turning back to Barrett. “
He’s
getting married and having a baby, and he suddenly sees the whole world through his own special love-colored glasses.”

Barrett raised his eyebrows at Fitz. “
By the way, it’s crazy that you’re having a baby.”

“Finally someone’s making sense,” said Alex.

“It’s good crazy,” said Fitz, looking over at Daisy. “It’s crazy awesome.”

“It doesn’t freak you out?”
asked Alex.

Fitz shrugged. “I want to be a good husband to Daisy. I want to be a good father to ou
r baby. But freaked out? Nah. I’ve wanted this for so long, you wouldn’t believe it.”

“And you?” asked Alex, looking beyond Fitz to Barrett. “
You
ready to get married? Ready to give up the boardroom?”

“To Emily? Yeah. Tomorrow. And I’m not giving up anything, Al. I’m still going to do killer deals. They’ll be even better because she’s amazing at sorting through strategy. The Harrison deal?
To be honest, that was more Emily than me.”

“Speaking of Harrison,” said Fitz, turning to Barrett
. “I noticed you trying to strong-arm Chris Winslow into going to Devon in January.”

“Someone’s got to go
. For at least a few months, to oversee things,” said Barrett, sighing as they moved up in line again, dragging their trees behind them. “You can’t go. You’re having a baby. And I can’t go. I’m getting married.”

“Chris isn’t interested?” asked Alex.

Barrett shook his head. “He said he would if there was no other option, but he’d prefer to stay in Philly. And it doesn’t make sense for Cam to go. He’s the money-guy, like you.”

“We need to ask Stratton,” said Fitz, grimacing.

Although Stratton was an excellent project manager, his people skills sometimes left something to be desired, which didn’t make him an ideal choice. Barrett groaned.

“Maybe we could get him some coaching?” suggested Alex. “Before he goes?”

“I don’t think it would help,” said Fitz. “It’s the way he blurts things out. Especially when he has to work with women.”

Barrett nodded, then shrugged. “We don’t have a choice. I think it’s got to be
Strat… unless
you
want to talk to Christopher about it?”

Alex’s eyes widened. “I don’t think I’m very popular with the Winslow’s right now.”

“Business is business,” insisted Barrett, “and you know Chris better than me or Fitz.”

“Fine,” grumbled Alex. “I’ll talk to Chris.”

“Speaking of the Winslow’s,” said Barrett, flicking his chin at Jessie before continuing, “you two look good together. You don’t look much like
friends
, but you look… I don’t know, happy. Like she actually means something to you. Like you might let her stick around beyond Sunday brunch.”

“
Shut up, Barrett,” said Alex, but his face softened as he glanced over at Jessie and caught her emerald eyes. She grinned, hopping off the wagon and walking over to him with a good bit of sass in her stride.

“Excuse me, sir,” said Jessie, when she was within a few feet of him. “Were you just checking me out?”

“Huh?”

She put her hands on her slim hips.
“I was sitting over there with my friends, and I’m pretty sure I noticed… You. Checking me. Out.”

Alex heard Fitz and Barrett laughing softly behind him
, and he grinned at Jessie. “What if I was?”

She took a step closer to him.
“You should know that I have a boyfriend.”

“Oh, really?”

“Mm-hm,” she said, taking one more step.

“Lucky guy,” said Alex,
dropping his glance, losing himself in those mind-blowing, soft, red lips.

“
Lucky me,” she said, so close to him now that he could smell tea roses, he could see the lusty darkness in her eyes, he could feel the heat she was throwing off of her body. She leaned a little bit closer, and in front of Barrett, Fitz, Emily, and Daisy, she entwined her arms around his neck and kissed him.

And Alex English, who
never dated any girl more than thrice and who swore he’d never have another girlfriend again, dropped his tree, pulled his girlfriend, Jessie, into his arms, and kissed her back.

Jessie wasn’t nervous.

At least that’s what she told herself as she and Alex pulled out of the driveway of Haverford Park and headed back into the city to have dinner at Alex’s apartment. The Christmas tree farm had been tons of fun, and Jessie had greatly enjoyed getting to know Emily and Daisy a little bit better, but mostly she loved being with Alex.

Since their talk
against the hedges at Westerly that morning, it seemed like Alex had stopped fighting his feelings for her. All day he had reached for her easily in front of his family. And when he wasn’t touching her—holding her hand, putting his arm around her waist, or kissing her in the tree-baling line—he watched her, his eyes heavy-lidded and deliberate, scorching her skin with the heat of his gaze. She’d said she wanted a man who couldn’t take his eyes off her, right? Well, Alex was certainly delivering.

Jessie felt it in her bones, in her head and in her heart: a
barrier had come down between them, which meant that anything could happen tonight. Except, now that the opportunity was presenting itself, in an exasperating turn of events, Jessie wasn’t sure if she was ready.

“You okay?” Alex asked as he turned onto the highway, the dying sun shining orange and lavender in the rearview mirror as they raced toward his apartment. “You’re sort of quiet.”

“I’m fine,” she said. “It was such a nice day.”

“Barrett and Fitz gave me a little bit of a hard time about you.”

She shifted in her seat to face him. “About me? Why? They don’t approve?”

“They totally approve. I think they’re in shock. All four of them, in fact.”

“Daisy and Emily may have mentioned you don’t bring dates to family events very often.”

“Ever, Jess. I don’t
ever
bring dates to family events. Occasionally I’ll schedule a date for a gala or benefit. Otherwise, I play the field.” He cleared his throat. “Except for… now. With you.”