Page 60 of Hollywood Undercover
Chapter 25
ALEXANDRA trudged backinto the house. She mulled over her mixed feelings about what just went down with Bash. Being Alex Roberts was a temporary measure. It worked—and came with consequences and casualties. Bash was an unfortunate casualty. Trying to keep a friendship going with him would only prolong theinevitable.
The smell of roast beef and buttery mashed potatoes assailed her nostrils as she stepped inside. It distracted her from her worries for a fleeting moment. She followed the scent trail to the dining room, where Rosa had brought up the folding card table from the basement. Dad’s hospital bed was turned at an angle to make room for the table. It was already set with plates andcutlery.
“I don’t know if I’ll ever get used to seeing you in men’s clothes, Alexandra,” Dad said when he saw her. “I don’t think it’s working. Your hair’s all grownout.”
She smiled ruefully. “I don’t know, Dad. It looks like it’s working. I’ve been told I’m a pretty-boy.”
“That’s not encouraging,kiddo.”
Rosa entered the room, bringing out the meat on a large servingdish.
“I can help you with that.” Alexandra rushed over toher.
She placed the pot roast in the middle of the small tabletop, and looked up with a smile. “It was no problem, honey. I can handleit.”
“You should have called me to get the table up from thebasement.”
Rosa waved heraway.
“We wouldn’t dream of interrupting your alone time with Bash,” Dad said, with a wink. His bed was tilted so he could sit up. He looked refreshed from hisnap.
Alexandra stared at him, horrified. “Hold on, Daddy. It’s nothing like that. Not even close!” she said, almost too strongly. “Seriously, Bash is just a friend. There’s nothing romantic going on between us. Here, Rosa, let me get the other dishes for you. Keep this comedian busy for me, wouldyou?”
Alexandra rushed to the kitchen to escape their knowing looks. When she returned with the last of the pots, they were sitting at the table, their questioning expressions still in place as though she had hit the pause button when sheleft.
“Oh, come on youtwo!”
“What? Old folks are notoriously curious,” Dadsaid.
“Too curious…and presumptuoustoo.”
“Seriously, honey. Sebastian is really taken with you, from what Rosa tells me. I hear the two of you have spent a lot of time together over the past few weeks. In my experience, when a guy comes around that often, it’s not just for kicks. Now, I’m not trying to play matchmaker, but I don’t want you to get in the way of your own happiness. That’s exactly what you’re doinghere.”
“Dad, if he was coming over to hang out with Alexandra, I’d say you have a point. But he’s not. He comes to hang with ‘Alex’. Yournephew.” Alexandra tried to change the subject before this became a full-fledged dinner-hour topic. “Now can someone please pass the corn on the cob? Mmmm, this smells delish! I can’t believe you whipped this up in the short time I was gone,Rosa.”
Rosa didn’t let up. They were tag-teaming her now. “I was explaining to your father how you and Bash hit it off right from the beginning. You’ve been in disguise the whole time. Max believes Sebastian sees something in you, despite your boyish cover, and I’m inclined to agree.” She turned to Dad. “He was even bringing her home cooked meals for a while,Max.”
“Hey, whose side are you on,Rosa?”
Dad added, “Mark my words, Alexandra. Bash is interested inyou.”
“I know,” she said without thinking. She covered her mouth, looking up to see their reactions. “It’s not what youthink.”
“Then what is it?” Dadasked.
She couldn’t bring herself to tell them Bash was interested in her because he was gay. They wouldn’t judge him, but it wasn’t her place to tell them. She sighed, shaking herhead.
“It doesn’t matter, anyway. I have to get back to LA soon. My flight is booked for some time nextweek.”
“Did something happen between you and Wilkes?” Dadasked.
She choked on the white wine she was sipping, and turned her face to the side, coughing to catch her breath. “What does that have to do withanything?”
“You tell me. Are you running back to LA to patch things up withhim?”
Rolling her eyes, she set aside her wineglass and steepled her fingers above her plate. “I’m going back to LA to finish my next album, and you know I was already working on it. I don’t have time for relationships right now, and especially not with Wilkes Barracks. I’m through with him, for good reason, but that’s neither here nor there. The point is you won’t see me pairing up with anyone right now. I thought you’d be fine with that, Dad. Didn’t you say I should stop playing the damsel in distress? I’m the knight in this story, and I’m saving myself this round. I don’t need Wilkes or Bash to behappy.”
