Yael
“How can you be so damn cheerful?” I groused at Alex’s sunshine smile and clear, sky blue eyes. But even as I grumbled, seeing him like that, flipping an omelet in my kitchen on a Monday morning, brightened my grumpy mood.
“I got laid last night by my favorite girl, and now I’m going to make music with my band. Not much can bring me down,” he answered.
I walked up behind him, wrapping my arms around his bare stomach. I laid my head between his shoulder blades and breathed in deep. A faint scent of citrus still clung to him, and right beside it, I smelled myself on his skin, which woke up a dormant slice of my heart I hadn’t even been aware of until then. It flared to life and was absolutely ravenous for more Alex Murray.
“Mmm. I’m not used to getting such five-star treatment in the morning. I usually slam a cup of coffee and shovel yogurt down my throat before I start work.”
He reached behind him to squeeze my butt. “Stick with me, boo. I told you I know all the tricks.”
Nuzzling into his skin, I hummed at how incredible he felt. “I think I just might.”
We sat together at my tiny table and ate breakfast. I told Alex my plans for the day, and we discussed his song a bit more. If my brother didn’t pull his head out of his ass and see the gold that was right in front of him, then I might have to do it for him.
Alex cupped the back of my head and drew me in closer for a kiss. “You’re going to be my knight in shining armor?”
“Maybe.”
“Don’t you think Mo’s going to be suspicious if you suddenly start defending me?” he asked.
“Are we keeping this—you and me—a secret?” We hadn’t talked about it, and honestly, I hadn’t decided what I wanted to do. It did surprise me Alex wouldn’t want anyone to know, though.
His gaze leveled with mine. “I think that’s best, until we know for sure this is going to stick. No sense in getting everyone riled up if you and I just implode in a week.”
“Okay.” I felt myself physically crumpling even though I wanted like hell to be able to hide how his words had hit me like a poison dart. “What happened to your deathbed visions?”
“No, no.” His thumbs grazed my cheeks. “Did I just hurt you?”
There was no point in being dishonest. Not now. “Yeah, you did. Do you think I would have started something with you on a whim? After all this time?”
“No, Yael. Forget what I said. What I mean is, I’m not ready to tell anyone besides my dad yet. Not when we’re going to be in the studio for twelve-hour days. Let’s just see when it feels natural. Is that okay?”
“You told your dad?”
He chuckled, pressing his forehead to mine before scooting back in his chair. “I did. He’s wary, but optimistic.”
“Wary, huh?”
“Told you, Boo. He knows it all.”
“And he thinks there’s a chance I’ll rip your heart out again?”
Alex sighed, squeezing my knees. “There’s always a chance of that kind of thing, right? We’re not perfect, we’re capable of hurting each other. Hell, I just inadvertently hurt you a few minutes ago. But I want to be with you, so none of that outside stuff is my concern.”
“I want to be with you too.”
“So, let's be together and only worry about whatwethink. What do you say?” he asked, a hopeful expression painting his face.
Instead of words, I climbed into his lap and showed him just how deeply I agreed with what he was saying. We were both going to be late, but some things just couldn't be helped.
It was mid-afternoon before I could break away from the series of phone calls and meetings I had to take before heading to the studio. When I arrived, I first went to Michaela’s office—since having Simone, she ran the studio with her partner, Jenna—finding an unfamiliar young woman sitting in the chair across from her with Simone bouncing in her lap.
“Hey.” I stuck my head in, unsure of the situation and not wanting to intrude. “Am I interrupting?”
Michaela waved me in. “No, come in.” She gestured to the woman holding Simone. “Yael, meet June. She’s our temporary nanny while Leticia is in Puerto Rico taking care of her mom.”
Ah, right. Mother Goose in the flesh as Michaela had called her.