“It’s fine.” In fact, now that the burden had been lifted somewhat, she was starving. “I’m actually hungry,” she admitted.
He grinned and shamelessly watched her eat. She was too ravenous to even care. A little while later, she’d finished off her pasta, and they’d ordered coffee.
“Alex, it’s so good to see you!” A tall older man wearing a chef’s hat and apron strode over to the table. “My Anna told me you were here. And who is this beautiful woman?”
Alex smiled at the man, then rose to shake his hand and pull him into a brief hug. “Emilio, this is Madison Evans. Madison, this is the best chef closest to my apartment,” he said, laughing. “I’m kidding. The best chef in Miami. He’s a well-kept secret, and considering how often I eat here, I’d like to keep it that way.”
“You flatter me.” The chef turned his dark gaze on Madison. “Nice to meet you, Madison.” He looked her over, ending his perusal with a warm smile. “I’m thrilled to finally meet someone special. Alex is always here alone, but he deserves—”
“Your crème brûlée dessert,” Alex said, interrupting him, for which Madison was grateful.
Neither one of them wanted her labeled as someone special in his life.
“I can take a hint. It seems like only yesterday I wanted to be alone with Anna. Now? A full restaurant makes us happy, and going home at night together makes us content.” He strode off toward the kitchen, humming as he walked.
Madison smiled. “He’s a nice man.”
“One of the best,” Alex murmured, his gaze shifting to hers. An unexpected heat darkened his gorgeous eyes.
Madison shifted in her seat. “So what did you mean by your apartment? What happened to your house?”
He shrugged. “I sold it.”
She couldn’t have been more shocked. Alex loved his house. Had decorated it to his exact taste, and he’d been so proud to own it. “What? Why?” She couldn’t believe he’d parted with his gorgeous Star Island home.
“You know that program we’re instituting? Post-football planning? Well, even before Ian asked me to help with it, I knew I had to make some serious decisions. I didn’t want to worry about not being able to afford the mortgage.” He looked away, clearly embarrassed about his change in circumstances.
She blinked, proud of his foresight and the fact that he’d sacrifice. “Alex, I’m sorry. I know how much you loved the place.”
He nodded. “I bought it after I signed my first huge contract, but I didn’t grow up with that kind of wealth. I mean, my father had it—his house with Ian’s mother was a mansion but my mom kept us in the middle-class neighborhood where she felt comfortable. And Dad didn’t push because if he bought another huge place, eventually someone would notice him. I’m cool with living within my means and saving for the future.”
Warmth filled her chest as she listened to the pragmatic side of him she’d never seen before. She was curious about his childhood, but now wasn’t the time to ask. “I think that’s brilliant. I know you’ll miss the place but—”
“Actually, I don’t. It was too big for one person. And it was more for my ego than practical purposes,” he said, flushing at the admission.
His reaction only made her like him more, something she didn’t want or need, not after he’d offered his help with the lawsuit, something personal and important to her.
“What does your agent say about other kinds of offers?” she asked, knowing he still had to be marketable in many ways.
“I’ve been one of those ass**le clients who didn’t want to discuss anything that didn’t include playing ball,” he said with a wry laugh. “I’m over it now, but I haven’t called him since I told him where to shove his last suggestion.”
She burst out laughing. “That sounds a lot like you.”
He grinned and knocked her breath right out of her chest. It wasn’t fair, the effect he had on her. “My agent is a bulldog though. He keeps trying.”
She didn’t envy him dealing with people like that.
“Aren’t you going to ask me about the other thing Emilio said?” Alex asked.
“I don’t know what you’re referring to,” she lied. She knew exactly what he meant. But to talk to him about the women in his life?
No way.
“He said I haven’t brought anyone here, and he’s right. Maybe you should ask yourself why I brought you.”
A frisson of awareness skittered across her skin. “Alex, this is a bad idea. We had our time, and I’m not sleeping with you again.” Even if he seemed to have changed, even if she desperately wanted to, she couldn’t go there again.
Didn’t trust him with her heart. Hell, she didn’t trust anyone, but he’d done the most damage in her adult life. She’d told Daniel all about Alex, and he’d wanted to meet him. Then Alex had broken her heart, Daniel had died, and Franny’s mind had developed even deeper holes that caused her to slide in and out of the present. Lately she had moments where she didn’t recognize Madison at all.
The last few months had consisted of Madison, all alone, dealing with potential loss yet again, and though Alex was the first one she’d thought of for comfort in her darkest moments, he was also the last person she’d ever call. He was back in her life, but if she let him in this time and he reverted to old patterns, she didn’t know how she’d handle that kind of disappointment and pain.
He rose from his seat, coming around to slide into the booth beside her. One strong arm slid behind her as he pulled her close. “Here’s the thing. I get why you’d say we’re a bad idea, but I don’t agree. You need someone in your life, and I intend to be there.”
She narrowed her gaze. “You really think you’ve changed that much?”
“Do you call being celibate changed?”
She blinked at that, surprised he’d been so blunt. Shocked to her toes that he seemed to be serious. “Assuming I believe you, I have to ask why.”
His eyes focused on her in an unsettling way. “Because I couldn’t get you out of my head.” He slid his hand over hers, the warmth giving her a strong sense of security the likes of which she’d never felt before.
One she didn’t trust. She couldn’t. Except the part of her that had always longed for complete acceptance and a place to belong wanted to believe.