After a few more seconds, which felt like a lifetime, she softly asked, “Did you date anyone while I was gone?”
I tilted my head and watched her closely. When I closed the bedroom door, she looked up, her expression stiff and filled with dread. My parents weren’t nosy, but some things needed to remain private between a man and his woman. I needed Lex to see my face. Really see me when I answered her. Words alone might get misconstrued. “I tried—once. But I stopped it before it went anywhere. She was a random tourist who came to the Red Onion. But I knew it would be a mistake. So I dropped her off at the ship and went home.”
Relief flashed across her face followed by hope. “Really? You didn’t sleep with her?”
I took a step forward. “No, I didn’t. It’s been only you since the flat tire.”
After I changed Lex’s tire on the side of the road, I canceled the date I’d had planned for that night. It had taken me a while to convince her my sleeping-around days were over and to give me a chance. To be fair, I had earned the reputation. But after I saw Lex, I knew I would only ever want her.
She released a breath with a shake of her head. That wasn’t a good sign. I thought she’d be glad I hadn’t fucked another girl. “What are you thinking?”
“I’m so sorry for what I did. I nearly ruined us. If you had… I just… I…”
I knelt in front of Lex, resting my hands on her knees. “No more sorrys. Let’s just move forward and see where it takes us. I wish I’d talked to you when I came to New York. There’s a lot I wish I’d done. But we’ve found our way back to each other. That’s what counts.”
“You came? To New York?”
I nodded. “Two months after it ended. When I realized you weren’t going to reach out, I got on the first plane. When I got there, I saw you run into Hollis’s arms. I hated the son of a bitch. I turned around, got on a plane, and left. Never told anyone but Mom and Dad what I saw.”
Adamantly, Lex shook her head. “Oh no. We’re just friends. Always been just friends. I promise. Nothing has ever even gotten weird between us.”
It was good to have the reassurance. As long as he kept his interest away from my girl, we’d get along great. “We good?”
“We are. More than good. But, Drake, I still don’t understand why someone would want to do that to us. Write a letter from my dad. That seems so cruel. And I don’t understand why. It makes no sense.”
“No, it doesn’t.” But, baby, I’m going to find out who. Stay calm. Don’t get worked up right now. I took a deep breath. “We’ll figure it out. Together.”
“I like the sound of that.”
Whoever it was would pay for nearly ruining our lives.
Chapter Seven
Alexa
I wiped my brow before I began to scrub another window. At least the weather was mild today. Since most Alaskan homes didn’t have air conditioners because of the permafrost, hot days were hell. For the tenth time, I checked my phone to see if Teagan had texted back about me getting my clothes. But there was nothing. What’s wrong with her? When she gave me the key to the place, it had been as if she couldn’t leave fast enough. And she hadn’t asked about my encounter with Drake. It made me wonder if she’d been holding the keys hostage to force me to see him. Or is it something else?
I sprayed more cleaner on the glass and started scrubbing again. Hollis was upstairs, attempting to sweep. I didn’t think he’d ever held a broom before in his life. After I showed him, he walked upstairs with pep in his step, twirling it about. He was such a goof. But he was a brilliant doctor. New York-Presbyterian Hospital had all but begged Hollis to come work for them. The hospital ranked number eight in the nation.
I stepped back and surveyed the window. The windowsill was slightly askew. Oh man, this place needs a lot of work. I was handy, but this would take me months by myself. We were going to have to postpone the opening, which was disappointing.
There was some sort of cry of pain. I called upstairs, “Hollis?”
There was cursing before he yelled, “Coming!” He came trudging down the stairs. “I swear that broom is out to kill me.”
On the opposite side of his face from his bruised jaw was a red welt.
“What happened to your face?”
He pointed to his jaw. “Crazy Alaskan.” Then pointed his cheek. “Crazy Alaskan broom. Apparently, Alaskan things and I are not getting along.”
I put my hand to my mouth, trying not to laugh. Hollis pointed to me with a glare. “Don’t you dare.” He tipped his head to the left and then the right, cracking his neck. “Surgery is easier than this wilderness.”
Shaking my head, I tried to control my giggles. Sweeping was hardly wilderness. “I think we’re going to need to hire this project out. I don’t know how we can open on time if the contractor can’t fit us in.”
Throwing his head back, he dramatically whispered, “There is a God. Finally, my friend has come to her senses. No more manual labor.”
I punched his shoulder. “It wasn’t that bad. And you wanted to be Mr. Fix-It.”