Two

He was talking to another cop holding a glass of coffee. It looked like the guys here knew who he was and were fond of him judging by how they laughed together. He'd filled out his T-shirt in the two years she was gone. The black V-neck molded his body, stretching across his chest. His hands looked like they wanted to rip the material because of how big they were. As if feeling her gaze on her, he turned their eyes colliding. She should have looked away but Alexis wasn't one to shy away. She stared back at him not willing to look away first. Why the hell was he looking at her like that? As if..... His eyes shifted looking behind her before she could decipher what that look meant. Then he smirked shrugging his shoulders and Alexis turned to see who he was looking at. Vince. And he was furious his eyes on his son. He hadn't seen her yet so she looked back at Ray who gestured to her with his eyebrows.

"Alexis?" Vince asked from above her. She would deal with that idiot later.

"Hey Vince" she got up walking to his outstretched arms that went around her squeezing the life out of her.

"When did you get back? How are you, princess?"

"She's a lawbreaker now. What do ya know?" Ray said his voice sounding like he was beside his father. When had he walked over?

"Quiet. What did you make her do Raymond?"

"It's not always my fault you know. It's not like she's perfect"

"Alexis would never break the law unless you coerced her. She's an upstanding citizen unlike some people I know" Vince said his arm now around her shoulders. Alexis stuck her tongue out at Ray who just shook his disapprovingly. "Are you okay? Why didn't you tell me you were back?"

"I haven't told anyone."

"Did you just get here? Where's your luggage?"

"It's at.... "

"Princess! You're back" Nick said walking in with JR hot on his heels. He pulled her from Vince and hugged her for a second before JR pushed him aside, to get to her. "Hey I wasn't done yet"

"You have two daughters Nick. Leave mine alone" he said pushing her hair out of her face. "Hey"

"Hey dad." she tightened her arms around him and he did the same, resting his chin on top of her head. She hadn't realized how much she missed him until he hugged her.

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And just like that, they'd forgotten he was there with them. Alexis had that effect on people. Everyone loved and adored her. She stole the spotlight wherever she went. That's why she was known as America's Princess. Ray stood aside looking on as his father and his friends doted on her, fighting for her attention. The second they saw her, they all forgot they were in a police station or why they were there in the first place. He remembered how he used to envy her when they were kids. Everyone had worshiped her and he couldn't see why since she was like every other kid out there. Nothing about her was special. That was until he'd seen her walk down the stairs on her fifteenth birthday. Then he had understood why everyone wanted to be her friend or even talk to her for a minute. She was so beautiful and had made him forget how to breathe. She still was. Only she wasn't a child anymore. She'd grown up to a stunning woman.

Ray had almost fallen off his bike when she took off the black wig and cap she had on. Yes, he'd goaded her into racing with him but she would have ignored him if she wanted to. He hadn't known it was her. All he saw was a nice ass he wanted to get himself acquainted with. If he'd known it was her, he would have stopped to race her officially and ask for a prize if he won. Which he would have made sure to because the kind of prize he would have asked for would have been worth a night in jail for breaking all speed limits. Running his gaze from her head to toe, he wondered if she'd finally seen him. The way she looked at him before his father walked in had made everything around him stand to a halt. Had the Rutherford Princess finally seen him?

"I know that look," Nick said from beside him startling him.

"What look?" Ray said sipping the already cold coffee he was still holding. It tasted like shit and that made it even better. He liked to remember that even though he was a Lachlan, he hadn't always been. Once upon a time, he had been a normal person living in a one bedroom house with his mother.

"The one that says you're smitten."

He scoffed "I don't know what you're talking about Nick. Go fuss over the Princess."

"Let me give you some advice my boy...."

"I didn't ask for one" he cut him off but Nick just continued ignoring him.

"As someone who's watched Alexis grow up, I'd say she's way out of your league. Even if you were the King of England, she'd still be out your league. That's how special she is. But as a hopeless romantic I'm telling you to make a move before someone else snatches her up. You might never be good enough for her but you can still try"

Turning to face him Ray glared at him "Gee thanks for your useless advice. I'm leaving" he said the last part loud enough for his father and JR to hear him.

"Where are you going?"

"Home dad. I promise to break any laws but I can't guarantee it" he retorted feeling annoyed. Who the hell did Nick think he was telling him he wasn't good enough for Alexis? And why the hell was he mad about it? He didn't care what anyone said. If he wanted Alexis..... He stopped beside his bike. He did want her dammit. He'd wanted her for years but he never had the courage to tell her. So he'd settled to watching her from a distance. When she left, he thought that was his chance to move on. Find someone who could make him forget her but he'd come empty. No one could replace her. There was only one Princess. Alexandra Barret Rutherford.

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"What did you say to him?" Vince asked Nick who just shrugged.

"I gave some advice."

"What kind of advice?"

"The kind uncles give their nephews. Do you have a problem?" Vince shook his head. He knew his son. He also knew what was bothering him and he was going to have a sit down with him soon. He wanted his boy to be happy and if he kept acting the way he did, he was never going to be happy. Not everyone was lucky enough to find love.

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