"Hello"
"Hi. Oh my God the photos don't do you justice. You're like way hotter in real life. Look at those arms. Do you like work out? And that chest" she said fanning her face with her hand.
JR blinked at the girl. She had to be around twenty years old, tall with red hair and brown eyes. He also noticed the suitcases behind her and wondered who she was. "May I help you?" he asked but she just gawked at him like she'd never seen a man in her life before. Deep down though JR was gloating because apparently he still got it. "Hayley" he called for her positive she would know what to do. Okay maybe he just wanted to show off to his wife that even after so long, he could still attract attention from other women. Younger, to be precise. It was just a harmless eye opening experience. Of course he would never look at anyone else because he
"She didn't? Wow I'm wounded Alexis. Why would you try to make this sweet girl hate me? Unless you like me and don't want anyone else to set their eyes on me"Having had enough Alexis stalked to where Marjorie was and pulled her towards the stairs. "My room. Now!""Wow. You women in this house are like super territorial over your men." Marj said stumbling because her attention was still on Ray."What do you mean by 'we women'?""You and your mom of course."Alexis groaned throwing her inside and locking her room. "Tell me you didn't try to hit on my dad""I didn't. I just told him he was hot and that had your mother unleashing her claws o
They stood outside the gates looking for the familiar face among the throng of students filing out of the college. Alexis had taken Marjorie's advice and slipped into a sexy number. A cream off shoulder figure-hugging dress with cut-outs at the waist and a slit that stopped mid-thigh. Paired with red pumps, she looked drop dead gorgeous if the looks people threw their way weren't obvious. She'd taken after her mother when it came to her physique. Well endowed was the term Marj had used that one time. Not that she hadn't tried to change how she looked.Like every teenager out there, Alexis had gone on diets, starved herself, lived on water just to look slim. Attempts that had all gone in vain because the weight always came back, almost immediately. At least that's what she'd thought. After countless times, she had given up and embraced her body. All because of Connor. He'd told her she was
Marjorie wished she had a Vudu doll that looked like Connor so she could stick pins in it and hurt him like how he was about to hurt her friend. Although Alexis couldn't see it, Connor was a lying, cheating, hypocritical, ugly ass bastard. It made her so mad that he was getting away with it. Worse? Alexis believed him. How could she?They'd met at an event and became friends instantly. And when her grandfather had died, Marjorie had been the one that suggested they go abroad to study so she could get away from the place that reminded her so much of Jim. He was a nice guy, who spoiled Alexis giving her whatever it was she wanted. Not that she was complaining. Her parents had bought a ranch just to accommodate all her pets. As kids who grew up in rich families, she knew what it was like to be dotted on. And just like Alexis, she was also the only girl at home with four brothers which is why
Seven years agoThere were people everywhere. Mostly their parents' friends but still, she hadn't known these many people would come to celebrate Ray's birthday. It's not like he had any friends because he just kept to himself. In fact, Alexis would go as far as to say the only friend he had wasJayden, her younger brother.They went around together even though Ray was twice maybe three times older than him. She didn't understand what they talked about but it was none of her business. Boys would always be boys.Walking in she placed her gift next to where the others were. She hadn't known what to buy him so she'd asked her father who had suggested something boyish like a watch or even cufflinks. She didn't understand why boys were so complicated. If this was his sister's birthday
Alexis looked at Ray from beneath her lashes. His eyes were so intense and they made her uncomfortable. She was sure he was taking a trip down Memory Lane just like she was. That day she'd stood there frozen not knowing what to do except kiss him back. He hadn't asked if he could kiss her or if it was alright to do so. But she also hadn't stopped him either. By the time he pulled back, her head had been buzzing and her lips tingling. He sure could kiss. For a while there she'd had a crush on him. He was after all her first kiss.Then two days later she'd seen him making out with another girl. Alexis had felt stupid for even thinking he liked her. He'd ignored her ever since they met so why had she thought that all of a sudden he liked her? She hated him for stealing her first kiss. How she wished it had been Connor or someone else but it was done. She also wasn't sure why Marjorie was bri
Stunned, Alexis shut her mouth and sat rigidly until Ray stopped the car on 5th Avenue. She got out and followed Marjorie into the store not bothering to know which one it was. Her head was spinning in circles trying to understand why he would say that when he didn't mean it. He couldn't.Before the kiss, he'd ignored her. Once when she was ten she had decided to bother him until he noticed her. Determined she'd gone to Vince's house to spend the weekend and she'd started with parking herself in his room. He had acted like she was invisible until she had started singing at the top of her voice. Then, he'd carried her out of his room and deposited her just outside the door and locked himself in. She had tried everything to make him like her but she'd failed. At least that's what she thought. It was what she was going to keep thinking. What he'd sai
Four hours later they exited the shop. That was after Alexis had argued with Marjorie because apparently they'd decided to buy only four dresses but she'd found six that she really liked and wouldn't let go off until they were paid for. Then there were the shoes and since they hadn't talked about those, they argued for about half an hour until Ray decided to pay for them so they could just leave. But not before putting a reminder on his phone that said'Never take Marjorie shopping'so he never fell into that trap again. Now that they were outside, he could almost hear Alexis' thoughts. She wanted to go with Marjorie but he wasn't going to let her. He had to clear some things up."I'll put those in the car" he snatched the bags she was carrying then walked to where his car was parked without looking back. He opened the back door placing the bags on the seat then turned
Hayley had invited the Lachlan's over for dinner. She wanted to know what Ray's plans were to get Alexis and a dinner seemed like the best place to ask without appearing as one of those nosy moms. She'd serve them dinner then ask for his help to clear the table when they were done. In the kitchen she'd corner him and ask him why he kept staring at Alexis all night. It was a solid plan. In her head. In reality things went sideways the second they stepped through the door.JR was still holding a grudge against Vince for keeping him away from her all those years ago. Every time they were in a room together, they glared at each like teenagers. Not that Vince actually cared. She'd taken him aside on her wedding day and asked him to bury the hatchet with her soon to be husband and surprisingly he'd said he held no grudges. But JR? Sometimes she wo
Five years later "Natalia Catherine Lachlan, what are you doing?"Startled, she gasped and dropped the bowl full of flour, on the floor. "Nothing. I promise I didn't do anything""Then why is your face covered in flour? And what is that in your hair?""It wasn't my fault mommy. Jamie told me to do it"Alexis would have laughed but Talia needed to be taught a lesson. She was always blaming her little brother for everything she did even when it was clear she was the one who'd committed the crime. Ray and her grandfathers had spoiled her rotten. She had been folding the laundry when she
"That doesn't make sense""It is clear how much your boyfriend loves you and no matter how many times I've tried to scare him away, he wouldn't budge. He is so much like his father that I want to punch him every time I see him""You're such a bully. Why do you have to take your anger out on Ray? Your problem is with Vince. Not his son""But I don't want him to marry you even though he really is the right man for you. You're making Vince a part of this family. It's frustrating honey""I think you're getting old since you don't remember that Vince is Jasmine's husband." she didn't even want to understand what he was talking about so she let him be. If they started arguing about Ray, they'd never leave the house. Changing the subject she ask
"Wow you look like a princess""You forget that she is a Princess" Jazz bumped her mother smiling. They'd gone all out with the dress, a dazzling beaded bodice on flounced tulle ball gown that made her feel like the princess they kept calling her and the makeup was kept to a minimum. Her shoes were a pair of embroidered ivory lace heels that completed her look. She couldn't begin to imagine what they'd done with the venue.Ray had insisted on getting married in a church which was funny because normally the brides were the ones who did that. Not the bridegroom. But this was the man who loved her and wanted to make all her dreams come true. To him, that included giving her a church wedding. He really wasn't like any other man she knew, excluding her father of course. Last night he'd insisted on not s
"True" he replied straightening from the bed to stand in front of her. Slowly he took off his clothes, starting with the jacket then the bow tie. As he untucked his shirt, he noticed how her breathing had hitched and decided to give her show. Which was pure torture for him because he could see her glistening center from where he stood. Spread out and ready for him. But he was never one to back down from a challenge, especially if it involved her so he unbuttoned his shirt with trembling fingers. Inwardly rejoicing when he was one less button away from being naked. Then came his belt, pants, and boxers which proved to be difficult since he still had his shoes on. Alexis tried to close her knees together but he knelt between her to stop her, not wanting to lose sight of that wet pussy and kicked his shoes off while cursing because the action was taking too long. He snapped his head up when he heard her giggle.
"Ray" Alexis breathed, letting out air she hadn't known she'd been holding. It took a lot of effort on her part to keep a neutral expression on her face. A few minutes passed as she just stood there staring at him, afraid of blinking in case he was an apparition. When she was convinced that he was real, she let her shoulders sagged in relief. At that moment she wanted to do a lot of things like hugging him or kiss him or slap him but her body wouldn't move. She was frozen in place not actually believing her eyes. It was him. He was there, standing in front of her looking dashing in a tuxedo suit. Her breath caught in her throat and she wondered if this is the same man she'd seen in that orange jumpsuit. There was no trace of that man at all. The beard he'd had from days of not shaving was gone. The Ray standing in front of her was different and dare she say happy? But why would he be happy? Shouldn't he still be mad at her? And when did h
"Lexi you have an hour to get ready. Red or black?" Jayden barged into her room announcing. He had two gowns on either hand, holding them up for her to see."Did I miss something?""Yeah. Dad needs you to accompany him to this event he has to attend so hurry up""Really? Why can't mom go with him? I don't feel like going anywhere" she grunted letting her head fall back on the pillow. The police had told her that Copeland was the killer but it would take them a few days to let Ray go due to the amount of paperwork that needed to be signed. Add the fact that most government officials were on holidays, they'd said a week at most. She didn't know if he would come to see her or if he'd keep being mad at her. God forbid he went to see Odessa first. The thought of them together made her pull the
"We found photos of you and your girlfriend, together and apart. It looked like he had been stalking you for a while. We also found the clothes he had worn when he'd killed ConnorGrey. They were hidden in his closet and the DNA matched. We're still investigating but all I can say for now is that your business partner was obsessed with your girlfriend. It happens when people think they're in love but by killing Mr. Grey, Duke Copeland had taken his obsession to the next level. There's no saying what he would have done to Miss Rutherford hadn't she ran from him. These kinds of cases are a bit hard to solve because we never really know when the perpetrator's behavior escalates. Most stalkers start out innocently. It's always to keep someone they love safe or just wanting to know the person's every move. Until they feel betrayed or something snaps inside them. Then they s
She swallowed. How did he know about her apartment? Did Ray tell him? "Thank you. That was really nice of you""Anything for you my little bird," he said taking a bite of the bagel. It was the second time he'd called her that. She didn't want to know why he kept calling her 'little bird'. If she asked too many questions, she'd spook him. So she kept her mouth and ate her breakfast. Alexis was so busy trying to find a way out instead of actually eating, that she missed her mouth and spilled coffee on herself."Crap," she said standing up. Copeland did too."Don't worry. I'll get you something to clean the mess with" he said hurrying to the kitchen. She couldn't stop him this time so she did the only thing she could think of. Ran out the door barefoot. There was an elevator but she kn
Alexis paced back and forth in front of her bed fuming. She should have taken her mother's advice and pulled Odessa's hair. That damn woman was everywhere. She'd left home willing to give Ray a chance to explain himself. She was so ready to listen until she saw Odessa, sitting there and talking to him like she had every right to. But then again it was her fault, wasn't it? She'd served Ray on a silver platter when she'd told Odessa she could have him.Even so, she didn't think Ray would fall for her tricks. They'd signed the divorce papers. So then why did he keep seeing her? Wasn't there a rule about not keeping in touch with exes or something? Dammit. Why was she letting that woman get to her? Her intention hadn't been to fight with Ray. She had carried the ring in the hopes that he'd get down on one knee and propose the right away after th