Page 37 of Hollywood Undercover
Chapter 16
SEBASTIAN gothome from another full day of fire safety chats with multiple classes at yet another elementary school. He unlocked the door, and noticed a folded piece of paper glide to the floor when he pushed the door open. He picked it up and smiled as he read the feminine script. It was from Alexandra. She was asking him to come by. He smiledbroadly.
Stepping into his house, he closed the door behind him and turned the lock. He took the note with him as he walked to the kitchen to grab a beer and start dinner. After a full day on his feet, the knee was pounding. He needed to unwind, but at the same time, the idea of spending more time with Alexandra tookpriority.
Staying away for a while felt like such a good idea, after seeing Max being wheeled in by the medics that night. He reread the note after his first swig of beer. She missed him. That was a good sign. Feeling satisfied, he went upstairs to take a shower and change out of his work clothes. As the days were getting warmer, he put on a pair of cargo shorts, a ribbed tank and a button-down short-sleeved shirt after hisshower.
After he sprayed on some cologne, he checked himself out in the mirror. The shadow of stubble gave him the look he wanted, so he left shaving for another day. Alexandra Storme had a hard time hiding her attraction to him, and he would make it damn near impossible for her to ignore theirchemistry.
Thinking what she needed was a home cooked meal, he returned to the kitchen to prepare some food. After forty-five minutes, he finished cooking. He put some dishes and cutlery together to throw into the large lunch pack container he had in a drawer, and picked up a six-pack of beer to takealong.
By the time the sun was setting, he was climbing Max’s front steps to ring the doorbell. Lost in thought, he was caught off guard when the door swung wide open. There stood Alexandra, looking close to tears…or spitting mad…maybeboth.
“Are you okay?” he asked, immediately concerned. He stepped inside and set down the container and beer. Without thinking, he clutched her shoulders and peered down into herface.
“Yeah. I’m fine,” she said, voice roughened. “You got my message, Isee.”
He released her shoulders and stepped back, ignoring the strong urge to pull her in, possess her with a long kiss, and tell her he was there for her. She had been crying. He looked past her into the dining room, listening to the beeps of the monitor hooked up toMax.
“Is your uncle okay?” heasked.
It was part of the reason he hadn’t visited in a while. He thought their decision to bring Max home meant his health had taken a turn for theworse.
“You can come see him if you want,” sheanswered.
She straightened up and pointed to the doorway, looking back at him. He moved to her side. Mr. Storme looked to be resting. Alexandra stepped into the room and told him he had a visitor. Sebastian stepped closer to say a polite hello and offered him wishes for a speedyrecovery.
Nothingmore.
Alexandra was still under the impression he and Max had only known each other for the three years he had owned his parents’ house. She had no idea Max knew him his entire life, and she had known him for at least sixteen years. He was still a little shocked she didn’t recognize him. He had been her neighbor since before he could remember. Except for the two-year age difference, they had gone all the way through kindergarten, elementary school and high school. It wasn’t good for his ego—not atall.
When he turned back to the dining room entrance, Alexandra was gone from the open archway. It must have been difficult for her, seeing her father slip away little by little everyday.
Swallowing thickly, he leaned down and whispered to the old man, “Hi Max. I’m doing my best to take care of Alexandra. She’s making it a little difficult, but I’m here for her if she needs anything atall…”
Suddenly, Max shifted around. He lifted a hand to reach out to him. Startled, Sebastian gave him his hand, and Max opened his eyes and turned his head to look athim.
“Max,” he said insurprise.
“Little…Sullivan…boy,” he gurgled with somedifficulty.
“Yes,Sir.”
“Alexandra…is sheokay?”
“Yes.”
Max nodded and relaxed his head at the center of the pillow. His eyes closed, and he began to drift back tosleep.
Sebastian left Max to rest. He found Alexandra sitting on the living room couch. “Hey,you.”
She looked up lazily. She must have been tired. He sat next to her, studying herface.
“So, Mr. Storme’s doing a lot better, I see. You look like you had a rough day,Alex.”
“You could call it that. I woke up ready to take on the world, bro. Somewhere between then and now, I think the world dished out a few suckerpunches.”
She smiled and pulled back when he ruffled her unruly hair, hoping to get her out of the mood she wasin.
