Alex fluttered her eyes open, staring up at the ceiling, her mind blank. She blinked. Where am I? Her head hurt like hell, and it felt like a hammer was constantly banging on her skull. She searched her brain. Nothing. The harder she tried, the more painful her headache became.
“Hey,” a voice said softly beside her, warm breath fanning her skin.
She turned to her right and came to face a gorgeous man smiling brightly at her. His twinkling blue eyes were deep and intense, which caused her heart to flutter. Deep down she felt as though she had known him all her life, but for the life of her, she couldn’t remember who he was.
Then she realized she was lying in bed beside him, her head resting on his arm and her face snuggled against his chest, which was surprisingly comfy.
Who is he? she asked herself again. And where am I? Where is this place? She gazed up at the ceiling, lost and frustrated.
“Where am I?” she whispered, her throat dry.
“You’re home,” Jayden said, smoothing the strands of dark hair from her face. He knew she was still experiencing the side effects from the drug.
“Where is home?” she asked, turning to her left. She squinted her eyes against the bright sunlight. She tried to think, but there was only blankness and the continuous pounding of a dull pain.
She turned to look at him, her eyes large, as if she were begging him to help her think, to figure out where she was.
Jayden’s heart nearly broke. She looked so vulnerable that it hurt him not being able to help her. At that moment, he knew he loved her more than anything else in the world. He wiped tears from her cheek with his thumb and then kissed her forehead.
“It will all come back, sweetheart,” he said. “It will.”
She gazed into his warm eyes. Instantly, she trusted him even though she couldn’t remember him. A sense of calm settled within her, and she closed her eyes, breathing slowly and deeply. Not long afterward, she fell asleep.
Jayden pulled her close to him, kissing her now and again, stroking her hair and whispering words of love until he fell into another slumber.
It was midday when Jayden woke. He found his arm was numb and sore from pins and needles. He gently removed his arm from under Alex’s head and got up. He had a shower, got dressed, and then went downstairs after making sure Alex was comfortable.
He came into the dining room, tired and hungry. Maggie took one look at him and asked, “What would you like to eat, Master Jayden?”
“Just a toasted sandwich will do, Maggie.”
“Yes, of course. I will tell Chef Leon to prepare it for you.”
“Would you please also tell him to make soup for Alex? She isn’t well, and I don’t think solid food is good for her stomach at the moment.”
“Yes, Master Jayden,” Maggie replied, a smile on her face.
Jay poured himself a cup of black coffee and collapsed in the chair at the head of the table. He took a sip and sighed, his mind a bit more alert.
“Hey there, Jay,” Sam’s voice came in from the door.
Jay glanced up. “Hey.”
“You look like hell. Been up late last night saving a damsel in distress, eh?”
Jay raised a brow. He wasn’t surprised Sam had found out about last night already. Kelly would have told him.
“Yeah.”
“Can’t believe that bastard would do such a thing,” Sam muttered in disgust.
“I got what you asked for,” Jayden said, taking another sip of his coffee. “Join me for lunch, and then I’ll give them to you.”
Sam wasn’t surprised by the complete turn of the subject. “Sure.” He slid into a chair next to Jayden. “An extra toasted sandwich if you please, Maggie?”
Maggie didn’t miss the conversation the two men just had. “Sure thing, Master Sam,” she replied.
Once the two men finished their lunch, Jayden took Sam to his study and gave the man the wedding bands.
“This is better than I expected,” Sam commented, turning the bands over in his fingers.
“Yeah.”
Sam replaced the bands into the blue Tiffany & Co. boxes and said, “Did you know it was Britney’s idea?”
“What?”
“Sorry if I intruded in your affair, man, but I thought I should tell you. Kelly said she saw Kyle and Britney last night. She heard them talking, and it was all Britney’s idea.”
Jayden didn’t know how to respond to that piece of information. He just shook his head in frustration and went out the door.
In the kitchen, Chef Leon was just finishing a lovely chicken soup and Maggie was placing the bowl on a silver tray to take up to Alex, when Kelly poked her head in through the door.
“Maggie!” she called out. “Where’s Mom and Grandma?”
“Out in the rose garden, Miss Kelly,” Maggie replied as she headed to the door.
“Thanks!” Kelly rushed out.
“Take care with that soup, Maggie. Don’t drop it!” Leon muttered as he watched the housekeeper go.
“I won’t. So many things going on in this house,” Maggie said under her breath as she headed for the stairs. Up on the first floor, as she opened the door to Jayden’s room with one hand, she wondered what that horrible groaning noise was. Inside, the bed was a mess, but Alex was nowhere in sight. That sickening groan was getting worse.
“Miss Alex?” Maggie called.
More grunting and groaning.
“Oh dear,” Maggie muttered as she put the tray on the bedside table and rushed over to the bathroom. She saw Alex bending over the toilet bowl.
“Dear me.” She gasped, rushing over to help the girl. “What’s wrong, Miss Alex?”
Alex turned to glance at Maggie, her face ghostly white and her hair a tangled mess. “I’m sick,” she whispered, her voice trembling.
“Yes! Yes! I can see that,” Maggie said, rubbing Alex’s back.
Alex turned her face back to the toilet bowl and began coughing out more bile.
“Oh. You poor thing,” Maggie whispered.
Once Alex felt better, she turned to Maggie. “Can you please help me?”
“Yes, of course.” Maggie was about to help Alex up when the door burst open.
“Alex!” Jayden said. “Are you all right?” He rushed in and took her into his arms. “What’s wrong?”
“She’s sick,” Maggie answered because Alex looked as though she were about to pass out.
“Come on. Let’s get you back to bed.” He scooped her into his arms, carried her back to bed, and made her comfortable. “You want something to eat, sweetheart?”
“I am hungry,” Alex commented weakly, wondering why this handsome man was so nice to her. Who is he? He kept calling her sweetheart. Perhaps he’s my boyfriend? My husband? The thought brought a warm feeling within her body. She couldn’t believe this handsome stranger was her husband. It was simply too good to be true.
Jayden picked up the bowl of soup and brought it to her. “Can you handle this?”
“I’ll try,” she whispered, gazing at him, blushing.
“Good,” he said and started feeding her.
“Well, I should go down and prepare afternoon tea, then,” Maggie said, and when she saw Jayden nod, she left them.
* * * * *