Page 74 of Hollywood Undercover
Chapter 32
ALEXANDRA was relievedwhen Rosa finally arrived to pick her up. It wasn’t long after seeing so much of Sebastian in the kitchen, and the incident had sent her right back up to the guestroom,starving.
I’m such anidiot.
Alex Roberts probably shouldn’t have been all that bothered by seeing a man wrapped in a towel, but to Alexandra, seeing Bash nearly naked, he was too damned sexy to ignore. She decided that for the rest of the day, avoidance was best. Thus, with a little coaxing, Rosa had spent the better part of the day hanging out with her at the hospital so Alexandra wouldn’t have to hurry back to Bash’splace.
This canwork.
All I have to do is stay away from Bash until Dad is released, or when Eva getshere.
Holy crap, I’m such acoward.
Now, after leaving the hospital where Dad was recuperating, Alexandra grimaced. She leaped up into Rosa’s car and stared at her in disbelief. The woman didn’t bat an eyelid as she stared back ather.
“What do you mean I don’t need to be at the hospital all day, every day? I’ve spent the better part of my trip here looking after Dad. This is where I want tobe.”
Rosa had been right there with her through the whole traumatic ordeal of Dad being hospitalized the first time, getting better and then being readmitted after suffering from smoke inhalation during the fire. She had never once tried to overstep Alexandra or to make her feel unwelcome. Today was a differentstory.
What the hell is goingon?
Rosa reached for her hand and squeezed it reassuringly. “Alexandra, I wouldn’t dare ask you not to come and see your own father. You know me better than that. Your being here is what helped him improve when he was admitted the lasttime.”
“So what are you telling me,Rosa?”
“I’m reminding you of this. Before you were aware that Maxwell was ill, you were already making plans to come to Tucson…torelax. This was supposed to be your vacation, wasn’tit?”
“Well…yes, but that wasbefore.”
“You’ve been by his side every day since you got here. Honey, you need abreak.”
Alexandra looked out the window, embarrassed for almost blowing up, now that she realized Rosa was only looking out for her well-being. “I’m sorry, Rosa. I’m worried about Dad. That’s no excuse, but I guess I’m just tired and cranky over this wholesituation.”
“It’s all the more reason to take advantage of some downtime during your last few weeks here. The doctor said he will keep Maxwell hospitalized for observation, and to make sure the smoke he inhaled doesn’t worsen his condition. You heard him yourself. I have every faith that your father will be back to his former health in notime.”
She faced the steering wheel and turned the key in theignition.
Alexandra sulked a bit, but agreed. Rosa was right. She didn’t have to camp out at the hospital like this. While they were there today, Dad was lucid, upbeat, and only coughed once or twice. All he could talk about was how relieved he was that this hospital stay wouldn’t be as long as the last one. He was almost back to his oldself.
“I do need a bit of a break from life in Los Angeles, but I feel like I have to keepbusy.”
“Here’s a thought,” Rosa suggested. “Why don’t you spend some time getting the house together so it’s all repaired when they release yourfather?
“I guess I could dothat.”
“The fire department cleared the house this morning, didn’tthey?”
“Yes.”
“Did you phone the cleanup crew thismorning?”
“Yes, I did. Sebastian said he would let them in if they made it there before he left forphysio.”
“That’s perfect. Why not go ahead and hire a contractor to start the renovations? I’m sure your father trusts you to take care ofit.”
“You know, that’s not a bad idea. It would give me something productive to do, and if they make enough progress on the main floor, Dad won’t have to get a temporaryplace.”
And I’ll be out of Bash’s place that muchsooner.
