Jessica Hart - Here Comes The Bride

She blinked. “You mean like help you pick out things for your restaurant?”

“We could do that. I could help you find someone to rent this condo. If you need a mover to transport some things to La Jolla, I’m your man. I’ve got a truck and am ready to go.”

“Aren’t you being a little impetuous? Your girlfriend must be shattered to think things are over between you.”

“If she is, someone else is already waiting in the wings.”

Reese stared at him. “Are you implying she was unfaithful to you?”

“No.”

“Then maybe if you gave it a little more time-”

He shook his head. “It’s finished, Reese. I’m ready to move on. You and I have both severed ties with the studio. Something tells me you are as much at a loose end as I am right now.”

His comment was so patently true, there was no point in denying it.

She drew in a deep breath. “I’m going to be honest with you about something, Alex.”

He’d propped himself against the counter. “What’s that?”

“I don’t think we should see each other again after tonight.”

“Give me a reason.”

She folded the dishcloth. “Because it’s not a good idea.”

“That’s not specific enough.”

“For one thing, you’re just coming out of a relationship.”

“Meaning what?”

“Meaning you’re feeling vulnerable and…lonely.”

“So I’ve turned to you because you’re the most handy female around, is that what you think?” He smoothed a strand of her hair off her forehead. It caused her to tremble.

“It’s true.”

“What’s so bad about two lonely, vulnerable people seeking each other out? We’ve been friends for a long time.”

In a panic, she backed away from him. “That’s the whole point. We’re friends. Nothing more.”

“Would you like it to be more?”

“Stop using Fabio’s lines!”

“Is that what I’m doing?”

Heat suffused her face. “Except for the part about him feeling alone because he left the monastery, it’s his script verbatim.”

“Like I said. I related to Fabio in a lot of ways. The part was perfect for me. Sometimes it’s hard to separate fantasy from reality.”

She folded her arms. “Well, in our case you’re going to have to. If Alex Kieris and Reese Bringhurst were meant to have had an off-screen love affair, it would have happened long before now.

“The fact that you waited until breaking up with your girlfriend before turning to me proves that what you felt for her was what you should feel if you’re really in love.

“I don’t want to be a woman you’ve decided to spend time with because you can’t have the one you really wanted. A year’s a long time to devote to one person, Alex. You can’t tell me you didn’t have hopes of marrying her when you first met her.”

He cocked his head. “You’re right. She changed my world.”

“You see?” Reese cried. “That’s what I’m talking about. Even if it didn’t work out in the end, you felt that way about her when you first met.”

“That’s true.”

“Thank you for being honest about that at least.”

“I wouldn’t be anything else with you.”

“Then you understand where I’m coming from.”

“I think I do. You’re a lot like your aunt Lilian.”

Reese jerked her head toward him. “Did she tell you about her husband?”

He nodded. “She also confided that after she’d been widowed, there were several men who’d been friends with her a long time before they proposed to her. Two of them were costars on the show like you and me. But she didn’t say yes to any of them because the fire wasn’t there from the start.”

“One of these days I’m going to meet a man who’s so on fire for me, nothing else matters and he can’t live without me.”

“You mean like my grandfather.”

“Yes. He loved your grandmother so much, he lost the will to live after she died. My parents felt the same way about each other. So did Lilian and her husband. That’s the kind of love I intend to have. When the right man comes along, I’ll know it.”

“So you have no interest in even keeping up a friendship with me?”

“For what purpose? We’re no longer costars. I don’t believe men and women can be friends. Either we’re lovers, or we’re nothing. If I want friendship I can call Leah or Cammy.”

He rubbed his thumb across his lips thoughtfully. “I’m glad you made that clear. Once again it appears you and I are in agreement and hold to the same philosophy about men and women. I would never spend time with a woman I didn’t desire.

“Furthermore, I couldn’t costar with a woman I didn’t find appealing. If Leah or Sally had been playing the part of Carly, I would have turned down the role of Fabio.”

“As long as we’re being honest, that works both ways, Alex. If you’d been unattractive to me, I would have told Phyllis I wanted out of my contract a year ago.”

His gaze played over her face. “That’s because neither of us is an actor at heart. We can’t pretend something we don’t feel.”

“No.” I can’t go on pretending I don’t care around you.

“Tell you what, I’m going to fix our dessert.”

“Can I watch?” she asked brightly. Until he left the condo, she had to act as if she weren’t dying from pain. “I promise not to give away any of your secret recipes.”

“I wasn’t worried. You can help me if you want.”

“I’d love to.”

“Bring me two dessert plates, and get the cream out of the fridge.”

He was like a magician. One minute there was a bunch of isolated ingredients on the counter. In the next, he’d made a beautiful arrangement of figs, bananas, walnuts and peanuts.

After sprinkling them with cinnamon powder, he put a little brandy in the cream and poured it over the top.

“This dessert is a nice change from Filo pastries. Not as heavy.” He pulled a fork from the drawer. “Here. See what you think.”

Before she could stop him, he’d put a mouthful of the concoction to her lips. She had no choice but to open up and eat.

Incredible.

That was what it was. Incredible.

“You like it?”

She made a moaning sound.

“I take it that’s a yes.”

Reese nodded.

“Just a minute. Don’t move. You’ve got cream on your mouth.” He removed it with his index finger and tasted it. “It could use a little more brandy. What do you think?”

“I-I think it’s perfec- Oh-there’s my phone. Excuse me for a minute.”

She turned to reach for the phone on the wall, but she was trembling so hard, she had to brace herself against the counter.

“Hello?”

“Hi. I thought I’d call and see if everything is okay? If it’s not, maybe go to a movie or something.”

“Leah-”

Alex moved around to her side so he could watch her while he ate the dessert he’d made.

“You sound funny. Are you all right?”

“Yes. Of course I am.”

“Have you got company?”

“Yes.”

“A man?”

“Yes.”

“Let me guess. It wouldn’t be Alex Kieris, would it?”

Heat filled her cheeks. “Why do you say that?”

“Because when you left the set, he raced after you like a bat out of you know where. I’m just putting two and two together. It’s okay. Obviously you can’t talk right now. How about lunch tomorrow?”

“I’d like that. Arturo’s at twelve-thirty?”

“Perfect. See you then you, lucky, lucky girl.”

“Bye.”

Alex took the receiver from her and put it on the hook. “Did Leah want to do something with you tonight?”

“Yes.”

“Then why did you let my presence stop you?”

She averted her eyes. “Because I’m not in the mood for a movie.”

“What are you in the mood for?”

He’d finished his dessert. She put hers in the fridge, and washed his plate. Anything to give her hands something to do.

“After the most fabulous meal of my life, I’m too full to do much of anything except lounge in the other room and watch a little TV before I go to bed.”

“That sounds good to me too. Shall we see what’s showing on the cooking channel?”

She was amused by the suggestion, a smile broke the corners of her mouth. She headed for the living room and picked up the remote from the coffee table. “Do you watch it often?”

“Sometimes when I can’t sleep.”

Reese purposely sat down in a chair next to the couch so they’d be separated. “If you want to stretch out, make yourself comfortable.”

He eyed her intently. “You don’t mind?”

“Of course not. After working so hard in my kitchen, you deserve a rest before you have to go home.”

“Then I’ll take you up on your offer.”

TONIGHT the Japanese chefs were having some kind of contest. Though it was entertaining, Reese couldn’t possibly concentrate. Her eyes kept straying to the sight of Alex’s hard-muscled physique lying on his side. He’d propped his dark head on one of the cushions, the picture of virile male contentment.

They made desultory conversation and chuckled over some of the chefs’ antics. At one point she made another comment, but Alex didn’t answer.

He’d fallen asleep. The problem was, Reese had never been more wide awake.

Too restless, she went to the kitchen for the fabulous dessert he’d made. While she ate it, she switched channels to a movie classic made in the forties. One her aunt had particularly loved. But it didn’t hold her interest. When it was over and the ten o’clock news started, she realized this situation couldn’t go on any longer.

After turning off the TV, she got up from the chair and walked over to the couch.

“Alex?”

There was no answer.

“Alex?” She bent down and nudged him gently.

His eyes suddenly opened. “Reese?”

“Yes. You’ve been asleep for the last hour. It’s getting late.”

“You want me to leave?”

What a question. “I need to go to bed. If you’re too tired to get up, you’re welcome to stay on the couch tonight. I’ll bring you a blanket and a pillow.”