Author's Note: Thank you all for the awesome reviews! I was overwhelmed by the positive response. I was pretty nervous to post the first chapter seeing as how my Alex is so different. I really appreciate each review. Sorry I made you wait so long for the second chapter; I struggled with it a bit. Hope you enjoy!
Alex stood rooted in place watching as the door closed behind Jo. He still couldn't believe he had ended up in a situation like this, didn't know how it had even happened… and was genuinely shocked by the current of electricity that had passed between them during that kiss. He could feel it; he just knew there had to be something drawing them together.
He paced the room trying to wrap his head around the recent events. He should call Jackson, he supposed, and meet up with the other guys, but all he really wanted to do was take a nap. Besides, Jackson was right, Vegas really wasn't his scene. He'd had enough casinos and clubs to last a lifetime over the past two days.
He floppped down on the bed landing on the plastic frame housing his marriage license. He shook his head. What happens now? His future had looked so clear to him, and now suddenly because of one drunken night he had no idea what to expect. He closed his eyes picturing the woman he was supposed to spend the rest of his life with. From the short time they had spent together, he could already tell he had never met someone quite like her. She seemed so strong and confident, but clearly had a playful side too. He sighed rubbing his face, forcing his brain to turn off for just a couple of hours.
Jo was inserting her key card into the lock on her hotel room door when she heard her name called from down the hall. "Dammit," she sighed, briefly leaning her forehead against the cool door, before turning to greet her friends, "April, Matthew, hi."
"Hey Jo," April cheerfully returned. "Where have you… that's the same thing you were wearing last night.." she accused suspiciously.
Matthew shifted on his feet uncomfortably and looked down the hall, "I'm gonna give you two a chance to talk. I'll be in our room." He pressed a quick kiss to April's cheek and hurried off.
Jo pushed the door open. Crossing the room, she tossed her purse on the table and sat down cross-legged in the middle of the bed. She realized just in time that she was still wearing her ring. She discreetly slipped it off her finger and slid it under the pillow.
April pulled a chair over and sat down, a look of concern on her face as she studied her friend. "Just say it, Apes."
"What?" the redhead feigned ignorance.
"I know you want to lecture me about being out all night." Jo had briefly considered trying to make up an excuse for why she was still in last night's clothes, but she gave up, knowing her best friend would see through the lie.
April shook her head, "I don't lecture you," she argued, "I just.. I.. where were you? I thought you were in for the night when we got back to the hotel."
"April, it was barely nine pm when we got back. This was supposed to be our trip, a girls trip, but then Matthew hijacked it coming along because he wouldn't let you come by yourself," she held up her hand stopping April's protest, "It's fine, whatever, but I just wanted to have a little fun. It was nine o'clock; what was I supposed to do in my hotel room alone?"
"But Jo.."
Jo cut her off, "I just wanted a drink, maybe a dance, the bar down the street had a live band playing," she shrugged.
"And how did a drink, and a dance, turn into out all night?" April questioned, her concern evident.
"It's not what you're thinking," Jo argued, "I started talking to this guy and we really hit it off. We're going to stay in touch," she thought it would ease her friend's mind knowing this was more than a one night stand.
"I don't know if that makes it better or worse," April surprised her by saying. "Jo, you just got out of a relationship, a marriage. I don't know that now is the best time to jump back into something."
"We're gonna take it slow; we have to, he's living in Houston right now."
"I just don't want you to get hurt," April said with compassion, "I worry about you."
"I know," Jo got up and moved to April's side leaning over hugging her, "somebody's got to, right Sis?" she used the name she had taken to calling April when the other woman was being protective. The big sister she never had.
"So, tell me about this guy. What's he like?" April said when Jo had settled back on the bed.
"Well, he's hot," Jo wiggled her eyebrows.
"Jo," April groaned.
"I'm kidding. Well, actually, I'm not kidding, he is hot, but I don't know, he seems really nice," she shrugged. "I can just tell he's good. He's a good guy. I think you'd really like him, Ape."
April smiled to herself at Jo's tone and the slight smile that curved her friend's mouth. Maybe this wouldn't be such a bad thing after all.
Alex was jarred from a deep sleep by a loud pounding. "Alex, dude, are you in there?" Jackson called through the door.
Alex sat up rubbing the sleep from his eyes and squinted at his watch. Man, where had the day gone? The knocking returned and Alex spoke up before Jackson could shout again, "I'm coming, geeze, give me a second." Before stumbling out of bed, he snatched up the marriage license that he had dropped beside him on the mattress and stuffed it, along with his wedding ring, deep in his bag underneath all of his clothes. "What?" he pulled the door open.
"You've been holed up in your room all day. What is wrong with you?" Jackson asked slapping Alex on the back as he moved into the room. "I almost hoped to find you in here with a girl," he teased with a smirk.
"Haha," Alex deadpanned not willing to let the other man know how close he had come to finding exactly that. For as much as Jackson teased him, Alex knew his best friend really did care about him and respected his values, even if he didn't hold the same ones. "I was asleep."
"All day?" Jackson countered doubtfully, "I thought you were going to catch up with us."
"I just needed some time," Alex offered with a shrug.
"Yeah, okay, fine. I know you're kinda over Vegas. But you're coming out with us tonight, right? We're leaving tomorrow; it's your last chance."
"You know what, I would, but I have a date tonight," at least he hoped he did.
"A date?" Jackson's eyebrows shot up.
"What? It's not like I've never been on dates before," Alex rolled his eyes.
"No, it's not that. It's just, how?"
"Last night, at the bar, I met a girl. We talked and hit it off. I'd like to see her again before we go."
"You, met a girl, in a bar, in Vegas. Do not tell your parents I had anything to do with this," Jackson chuckled affectionately patting Alex on the back, proud of his friend.
"Yeah right," Alex chuckled with him, "I'm not telling my parents any of this."
"Well, dude, you gotta do what you gotta do. I'd probably rather hang out with a chick too," he winked, "Go have your date, and you can tell me all about it tomorrow on the flight home."
As the door clicked shut behind Jackson, Alex picked up his phone and tapped out a message to Jo: I know it's last minute and you said it was your last night in Vegas so you probably want to spend it with your friends but I thought maybe you'd have dinner with me. He hesitated for a moment before hitting the send button. Taking a deep breath he dropped his phone beside him on the bed and waited.
Jo was curling her hair for dinner when her phone chimed. A smile tugged at her lips when she saw it was a message from Alex. What was wrong with her? She didn't get this way with guys, especially a guy she barely knew. Shaking her head she tapped on the message. She was surprised by the amount of disappointment she felt that she already had specific plans for dinner with April and Matthew. They had tickets to a dinner theater; yeah it was cheesy, but her friends really wanted to go.
Jo thought for a minute before returning his text: sorry we do have dinner plans but I could meet up with you after for a drink or coffee…
Alex grinned: it's a date
That evening, Alex ordered a cheeseburger and fries from room service, on Jackson, as the whole trip had been. He tried to stay calm and be patient as he paced his room alternately looking at his watch and his phone waiting to hear from Jo. They had decided to meet in the lobby of his hotel.
His heart started to pound when his phone rang. He picked it up and answered it smoothly, "Hello?" He waited to hear her voice on the other end grabbing his wallet.
"Hey, little bro, what's up?" his big sister, Arizona's, voice came over the line instead.
He groaned, "I can't talk right now, Zona. I'm getting ready to go out."
"Oh that's right, Vegas with the boys," she laughed. "Have fun, don't do anything I wouldn't do, oh and remember what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas. Love you little bro." And with that she hung up leaving Alex chuckling and shaking his head. As he was still staring down at his phone Jo's text came through.
When Alex stepped off the elevator and caught sight of Jo, he stopped in his tracks. She was breathtaking. She was in a strappy black dress that clung to her torso, but not too much, and flared out just a little at the waist coming to rest mid-thigh. She had on a pair of black heels that accentuated her legs, and her hair was softly curled and framing her face.
Jo glanced up and saw him, not unaware of the way he was staring, and raised her hand in a wave. He shook his head regaining his senses and closed the distance between them. "Jo," he breathed bending to place a kiss on her cheek, "you look stunning."
"Thank you," she replied taking his arm as he led her out the sliding glass doors.
"I was going to bring you flowers," Alex said as they walked, "but I didn't know how you would get them home on the plane."
Touched by his gesture Jo said, "It's okay; there's no need to give me flowers."
"Of course there is," he argued, "A beautiful woman deserves beautiful flowers." Jo squeezed the arm she was holding, swooning. "I thought we could go for some coffee, or ice cream if you didn't have dessert."
Jo smiled up at him, he was a man after her own heart, "Well, I did have just a bite of dessert but I will never turn down ice cream."
He brought her to an old fashioned soda shop and they both ordered sundaes. As they sat across from each other enjoying their sweet treats, Alex asked, "What do you remember from last night?"
"I remember being at the bar and noticing a cute guy looking my way," she smirked as he blushed at the compliment. "And I was watching him watching me wondering when he was going to get the nerve up to come talk to me. After the third or fourth drink his buddies got him, I was getting up off my stool to go talk to him when I saw him coming my way." She paused, "Do you remember any of this?" she asked seeing no hint of recollection in his eyes.
"No, I really don't," he admitted sheepishly, "I remember seeing you there at the bar and being intrigued by you."
"Well," she picked up her story, "you came over and we started talking. You bought me a drink and I asked you to dance and everything after that gets fuzzy. The next thing I clearly remember was waking up in your bed."
"How do I not remember any of this?" Alex said ashamed.
"You had a lot to drink. Your friends kept plying you with alcohol."
"Why would they do that? I don't drink," he was quick to correct himself, "I do drink an occasional beer or glass of wine, but not like that. Why did I let them?"
"Because it was boys night. You were out with your friends to have fun. And hey," she teased with a wink, "it gave you the courage to come and talk to me."
"That it did," he agreed with the hint of a smile.
They left the ice cream parlor and strolled hand in hand down the strip. Alex told Jo about his parents and sister describing the fairly strict upbringing they had had. He told her tales of Arizona's teenage and early adulthood rebellions. How she had truly embodied the stereotype of the wild preacher's daughter. And how he was pretty much just the opposite.
Jo laughed at his stories and asked questions about his family. But she was conspicuously silent about her own family and childhood Alex noticed. As they were getting on the elevator to take Jo back to her room, Alex mentioned, "You haven't told me about yourself. I've done all the talking."
She looked down to the floor, "My past is ugly Alex; I don't fit into your perfect world. Maybe this isn't such a good idea." She fled the elevator quickly as soon as the doors slid open.
Alex hurried after her and caught her by the arm gently turning her toward him, "Don't say that Jo. I don't care about your past. I know you are an amazing woman. Whatever you have been through has made you this strong confident woman standing here in front of me. Whatever is behind you, we can make a future. You don't have to tell me about it now, but someday, I'd like it if you let me in."
Damn him. How did he do that? He tugged at her heart and made her feel things she had never felt before. No man had ever treated her with so much compassion and respect. Just like earlier in the day that place in her heart was beginning to stir again.
She looked up into his eyes, cupped his face, and pressed her lips to his. He immediately responded placing his hands at her waist and drawing her closer. She snaked her hand around his neck and tangled her fingers in his hair as they deepened the kiss.
When they broke apart panting slightly, Alex looked up and down the hallway embarrassed by their very public display. Jo took his hand and led him to her room. Opening the door she invited him in. "Maybe I can make you remember a few things you forgot about last night," she said seductively.
"Ugh Jo," Alex groaned low, "I wish I could, but I just don't think now is the right time."
"We are technically married," Jo pushed, running her hand up his chest and leaning in for another kiss.
He melted into the kiss for a moment before pulling back regretfully, "I'm sorry, Jo. I just.. I want to," he blushed, "but I really think we should get to know each other better first, date awhile, fall in love…" he stuck his hands in his pockets and looked down to the floor. She was going to think he was an idiot. She'd probably never want to see him again.
"Okay," she sighed stepping back putting a little breathing room between them. "We'll do it your way.. at least for now," she said with a flirty grin.
"Thank you," he murmured. He gave her one last peck moving away quickly so as not to get caught up in passion once again. "Goodnight, Jo," he said quietly.
She sighed dreamily as she watched him walk away down the hall closing the door only when he had rounded the corner out of sight. He may be old fashioned, but maybe there was something to that. She had never been with a man who wanted to fall in love with her before he 'made love' to her. And she couldn't explain it, but somehow that made her feel cherished.
The next morning as Jo was boarding her flight back to Seattle, her phone chimed. Looking at the screen she saw a message from Alex: I'm sorry I couldn't be at the airport to see you off. I had a really great time with you last night. Have a safe flight. Talk to you soon… Alex. Jo sighed with a smile. She was sure this man was one of a kind, and she was sure she was very lucky to have met him.