Alice had seen some grainy footage of him on the internet while he was competing in the ring, but none of those distant shots had done him justice. She leaned back in her chair, mind screaming to start the video again and move past this segment, yet she continued to inspect his frame, admiring his tall and perfectly proportioned form. With the way she nearly salivated, one would think her sex-deprived. Richard and she had a normal sex life, normal enough for two busy people who lived on opposite sides of the country.
It had been days since she’d last spoken to him and three months since she’d seen him. Some sex life.
Alice pushed aside the rush of guilt at the reminder. They had a call scheduled for later that morning. She’d been dodging Richard for days in the hopes of circumventing the inevitable argument over her work. Coward. She owed him an explanation for why she was avoiding the holiday but somehow, she couldn’t bring herself to share that part of her life with anyone. Keeping secrets isn’t conducive to a strong relationship.
“Are you watching porn?” Grace asked from behind Alice.
The chair dipped and Alice dug in her heels to keep herself upright, hand flying to the mouse.
Grace’s fingers settled over hers. “Oh no you don’t, I want to see. Is that Niko?”
Her face grew hot and she put cool hands to warm cheeks. “Yes, it’s from our interview yesterday.”
“He did the interview in boxers and socks? He didn’t offer to do that for me,” Grace said.
Alice suppressed the rush of embarrassed laughter. She was a grown woman, not a giggling teenager. “It wasn’t intentional. I asked him about renting the room and he came out half-dressed.”
“Or ninety percent naked, I’d prefer the latter. So what did you say?” Grace leaned against the desk; sparkling eyes pinned to the computer screen.
“I didn’t say anything. I just stared like an idiot and from what I see in this shot, I turned red as a lobster. Thankfully, Ronan had it together. Niko apologized and then we filmed.”
“Hmmm, does he look as good leaving as he does coming?” Grace said with a tongue-in-cheek grin. “Or did you get that far?”
“You’re so bad.” Laughing, Alice started the footage again. Video Niko turned around to go back into the locker room and Grace hit the stop button on the touchscreen.
“Hey, what are you doing?” Alice wiggled the mouse to take back control. She needed to fast forward past this part, yet she hovered the pointer over the button and didn’t click.
“I want to see the view. Nice tattoo work. I think you need to hit that thing,” Grace said in an exaggerated southern drawl.
“I’m engaged.” Richard was nice looking and fit too, but there was something primal about Niko that appealed to her sexuality. When she was around him, she was extremely aware of being a woman. Too aware.
“Have you told Richard about the adoption?” Grace asked,
“No. I’ve told very few people outside of you and Lance.” Over the years, she’d learned to keep it close to her chest, guarding against the inevitable judgment that accompanied the act. People were quick to give verbal praise for the concept of a birth mother giving her child up for adoption, yet when it came to the reality of the situation, she’d been secretly shamed by more than a few of her friends and colleagues. That somehow doing the right thing was a sign of weak moral character on her part. Perhaps it was.
“Not all guys are like Lance. He was a real asshole and you know it. Would Richard judge you?” Grace asked.
“He’s a bit of a traditionalist and on the conservative side for an academic but he’s also practical.” She’d been afraid to tell him, not because of his answer but because she’d have to explain her reasons to him.
Alice’s phone vibrated and she looked down at the screen. Niko. Will be at your place in an hour. Dress warm.
“Niko’s texting you? Hmmm.” Grace said, wiggling her eyebrows.
“No, hmmm. It’s work and I’m engaged.” Alice sent out a text to Ronan, apprising him of the situation. What kind of interview with Niko would require her to dress warmly? Did it matter why? She’d promised him she’d work around his schedule. She noted the time and tried to keep her racing heart under control for a different reason entirely. “Geez, I forgot to call Richard.”
Grace settled her hands on her hips, frowning. “Is there trouble in paradise?”
“I’ve been busy and he isn’t happy about it.”
“Hmmm,” Grace said again but she didn’t elaborate and Alice didn’t want to press her for an explanation. “I have to leave for work. Have fun with Niko and don’t let Richard give you shit. He knew what he signed up for.”
Alice hit the facetime app and accepted Richard’s request, his face appearing. With his angular features, gorgeous brown eyes, and an aristocratic nose, he was an attractive man. He was also intellectual, and from the rigid set of his square jaw, very upset at the moment.
“I’m so sorry I’m late. I’ve been busy with this special and I’ve been running into roadblocks left and right. I’m sorry, it’s been crazy, I’m stuck here through Christmas and I…” I’m running out of excuses. She had no legitimate justification not to climb on a plane Christmas Eve night and spend Christmas with Richard and his family. Except for one important reason that had become more blatantly obvious as the days passed. Her throat tightened and she twisted in her chair, fighting the need to stand and pace.
“And that answers my next question. We’ve been engaged for a year, and you have managed to evade every single event my family has asked you to attend,” his voice broke and he licked his lips, adjusting the computer screen.
Guilt reared its ugly head and she considered lying. What was the point? She rested her forearms on the desk, ready to take whatever heat he threw at her. “I’m sorry, I don’t like Christmas. It’s overhyped and everybody gets anxious, tempers flare. We rarely argue and look what we’re doing?”
