She shook her head. “I guess I’m just shocked. Learning isn’t typically what your family is highlighted for in the media.”
“Yeah, well the media is right and the media is wrong. Believe me, Miss Storm, there isn’t a thing that has hit the media that isn’t controlled by us. No such thing as bad publicity and all that? We show them what they want them to see, what’s best for us to keep us trending on Twitter, bring in the audiences. Our real lives,” I looked her straight in her eyes, “no one has seen that but us.”
Alexa went quiet. I could tell that she was thinking seriously about what I’d said. It wasn’t a surprise to me that someone so tied up in the media industry knew my family’s reputation in the media, or even that she was willing to take it at face value knowing that everything in the media was twisted. It was a surprise that, even after everything we’d offered her, she was still willing to believe it all was true.
Neither of us said anything else. I pulled off Alexa’s purple, Nike running shoes and her white ankle sock. A jolt of arousal immediately shot south as I held her bare foot in my hand. It was slender and smooth, with sparkling, blue paint on the toes. For a moment, my mind travelled to an image of her foot held up on my shoulder, with far more than her socks removed from her body, but I closed my eyes and pushed it away. It wasn’t the time for those kinds of thoughts.
I pushed and prodded at Alexa’s ankle. It was already swelling, but the bones didn’t seem out of place. “It’s not sprained, but we’ll want to get some ice on it.” I looked up at her. “Can you reschedule with Sadie? My place isn’t far.”
Alexa chuckled. “Oh no. I know the game. I’ll call a cab from here. Thank you though.”
Had the thought of having Alexa in my house excited me a little bit? Sure. Did I have an ulterior motive in wanting her to go back to my place and ice her ankle? No. I just didn’t want it to get any worse. “There’s no game. It’s not sprained, but if you try to walk on it, it will get worse. I just want to help. Honestly.” Alexa continued to look at me through a raised eyebrow and I shrugged my shoulders. “Suit yourself.” I placed her sock and shoe on the bench next to her and then stood up. “I’ll leave you be. I just hope that, one day, you will learn we aren’t the sex crazed maniacs you think we are.”
Without another word to Miss Storm, I turned and walked away.
9
Alexa
I limped my way into the small coffee shop where I’d agreed to meet up with Sadie. It felt awkward walking up to the most stunning person in the entire building as if I was worthy of being in her presence.
“Hey!” Sadie jumped up from the table she was sitting at. “What happened?” She linked her arm in mine and helped me to sit down at the table and then returned to her seat.
“Running accident. I was distracted and didn’t notice a piece of uneven pavement. Thanks for rescheduling.”
Sadie giggled. “What were you distracted by? Gorgeous guy?”
I raised an eyebrow. “Rogan Foxx.”
Sadie nodded knowingly. “Ah. The Foxx brothers,” Sadie giggled, “they are something else aren’t they?”
“Yeah, um. Actually, I was wondering if you could tell me more about them? How long have you been working with them?” I asked.
Sadie took a sip of her coffee, making even it look good. “Well, I’m new to Jett and Rogan’s modeling agency, but my husband has been working with them since before we got together.” It was at that moment that I noticed the large, expensive-looking ring on Sadie’s ring finger. Whatever kind of man had landed her had to be otherworldly himself. I wondered if I’d get to meet him while working with the Foxxes. “I’ve spent my time with all of the Foxx brothers and even the head Mr. Foxx. I attended his wedding earlier this year to some woman he met in Italy.”
“Wow. Um.”
“Alexa?” I looked over and the barista behind the counter was holding up a cup. “S’more mocha with an extra shot?”
“Oh.” I started to stand up and Sadie jumped up from her seat.
“I’ve got it!” she fluttered over to the counter, grabbed the cup, and returned. “Here you go.” On top of being so beautiful, she was also really kind.
“Thanks.” I took a sip of my coffee while Sadie settled back into her seat. “Uh, I was about to ask, what are they like? The Foxxes? You know, I see all this stuff in the media. All anyone says is that they’re selfish and rude and playboys, and I actually went to school with the twins and that’s exactly what they were like.”