five
The next morning, after a night of tossing and turning, Alexis made her way downstairs feeling as if her head was going to split in half. She hadn’t been able to stop thinking about the sexy Italian that she had met the day before and for some reason that was disturbing to her on both a physical and emotional level.
When she made her way into the kitchen for some juice it was to find her brother seated at the table with a huge plate of pancakes and a cup of steaming coffee in front of him. There was a heavy looking medical book open in front of him and he looked up from reading it to give her a welcoming smile. “Lex! How are you feeling this morning, baby doll?”
She offered him a small smile. “I have a bad headache,” she admitted. “It’s going to make therapy really fun today.”
“About that. I’m going to drop you off for your session because Lis had a few things to do this morning. But she will pick you up around eleven.” He took a bite of his pancakes. “Want some?”
She shook her head as she took a seat at the kitchen table. “No, thanks. Could you get me some juice though?” She hated having to ask people to do even little things like that but it would have been impossible to carry her juice and walk with her crutches at the same time.
“Sure, baby doll. Anything else you need?” he asked over his shoulder as he moved toward the fridge and extracted the juice. “I think there are some muffins. Or I could get you some cereal? But if you want eggs or something hot you’re out of luck. I am pretty useless with a stove.”
Her small smile turned into a grin. “No. I’m fine. Just the juice please.” He sat a tall glass of juice in front of her and dropped a kiss on her forehead. “Thanks, Vince.”
He dropped back into his seat and began shoveling food into his mouth. Every now and then he would stop, take a big swallow of his coffee then go back to eating and studying. While he was busy she took a moment to study her brother.
His hair was lighter than her darker locks, but just as short. His big green eyes were just like their father’s as was his smile. She looked hardly nothing like either her brother and father. She was only Vince’s half-sister, and to look at them both one would never even know that they were actually siblings. Vince was six foot three while she was barely five foot seven. Females flocked to Vince Shepard in droves, and when they found out that he was almost a doctor they literally melted on the spot.
To look at Vince one would automatically assume that he was a body builder or athlete, with his wide set shoulders and massive arms. Being in the healthcare field had made him a freak when it came to staying healthy and working out. Alexis was sure that even the pancakes he was still inhaling were whole grain with sugar free syrup.
Finally, he stood and took his plate and coffee mug to the sink. But his domestic skills only extended to rinsing them both and leaving them in the sink for either Melissa to deal with or the housekeeper who came in for a few hours every other day. He helped her into his Bentley Super-sport and drove much like their father did to the UCLA Medical Center.
Once they were there he assisted her out of his car and asked if she needed anything. She had her purse, money, cellphone. She was set. But Alexis knew that wasn’t what Vince meant. He wanted to know if she wanted him to go in with her. She knew that he would have blown off anything and anyone if she so much as hinted that she needed him with her. But she was a big girl. If anything the effects of the accident had shown her just how tough she could be.
“Thanks for the ride, Vin.” He dropped a tender kiss on her forehead and waited until she was inside the building before getting back in his car.
Forty-five minutes later, Alexis was silently cursing the beefy man who was basically torturing her. Her entire body was one big throbbing pain, but she did everything he instructed her to do without so much as a whimper as she continued to fight through the pain. He didn’t praise her, but she saw the respect he had for her in his eyes.
“Alright, Lex. Take a few minutes to catch your breath.” Dragon Man, at least that was what she had secretly nicknamed him within the first ten minutes of meeting him, handed her a cold bottle of water. “Then we will start all over again.”
Wiping the sweat that had beaded on her upper lip, she took a long swallow of the water. Alexis sank down onto the exercise ball that she had been kicking and hung her head, trying to catch her breath. Dr. Bradford was right. The New York therapists had really taken it easy on her compared to Dragon Man.
As she sat there, she got the oddest feeling that she was being watched. Tiny hairs on the back of her neck stood to attention and Alexis slowly raised her head to glance around. But everyone else in the room was either doing their workout or deep in conversation with their own therapists. Frowning she looked over at the double doors that she had come through earlier.
There was a man who was already turning away, but she was sure that she knew who it was. The only question was … Why?
Why would Jared Giordano be there?
Her heart started racing at the possibilities and she had to chastise herself for being so ridiculous as to think that she was the reason for his appearance there that morning. Really, why would someone like Jared be interested in her therapy session? She didn’t even know the guy, had only met him the day before and spent less than a few hours in his company.
Dragon Man returned and began his torture all over again as promised. With ten minutes to go until her session was over she was drenched in sweat and in so much pain her body was trembling. Dragon Man caught the heavy exercise ball as she kicked it to him. “Okay, Lex. I think we can call it a day. I’ll see you tomorrow.” He tossed her another bottle of water, which she barely caught. “Make sure that you ice down before going to bed tonight.”
She nodded and reached for her crutches. Body aching, but pleased with herself for not crying from the pure torture she had been put through for the last two hours, she slowly made her way through the double doors and started down the hall to the elevator. As she neared, the doors opened and out walked Jared Giordano.
Alexis stopped. Her entire body locking up at the sight of the man that was walking toward her. The day before he had been deliciously devastating in his expensive Italian suit and handcrafted leather shoes. But today, in something as simple as a pair of faded old jeans and a dark T-shirt he made her heart actually skip a beat. The closer he came the more breathless she became.
His dark molasses eyes were even darker than they had been the day before. She thought that maybe he was trying to hide his emotions, but she could see right through it. The set of his jaw said that he was determined. His pace, growing quicker with each inch his long legs brought him closer to her, suggested that he was fighting to not run.
“Lexis.”
The way he had dropped the ‘A’ on her name did something to her. She felt like he had physically touched her, it was such a powerful response she had to him saying her name in his deep, rough, ever so slightly accented voice. Her jaw clenched. “Hello Jared.”
He stopped just inches from her and she suddenly felt overwhelmed. How was it that she was standing in a long, open corridor but still felt like she had no room to breathe now that he was standing so close? “Wow.” He thrust his hands into his pockets. “I’m surprised you’re even speaking to me. And yesterday? What the hell was that about? You don’t want you father to know about us or something?”
“What are you talking about?” she demanded. Was he delusional?
“Look, I know that you are still pissed at me. I’m not too happy with me, either. But if you would just give me ten minutes to explain everything to you…” He broke off when he saw her start to sway and reached for her. “Jesus, Lexis. Are you alright?”
She dropped one of her crutches and grasped her forehead. She felt dizzy and the most excruciating headache was beginning to pound right behind her eyes. “I…” She licked her parched lips. “I have been having really bad headaches since the accident. I guess I just over did it with my phys
ical therapy today.”
Yeah, Alexis. And the huge bomb this guy just dropped in your lap had nothing to do with it, a voice muttered in the back of her mind.
six
Somehow she ended up in the front seat of his car. He was driving, where she had no idea. Not that she really cared. Her head was pounding and all she wanted to do was close her eyes and wait for the meds she had swallowed just a few minutes before to kick in and ease some of the throbbing behind her eyes.
But she could feel how tense he was, could actually taste it in the air. It was bitter on her tongue and she reached for the button on her door to open the window. As fresh air flooded in, filling her lungs with the taste of LA’s version of fresh air, she breathed a small sigh of relief.
“Are you going to be sick? Do I need to stop?”
“No, I’m not feeling sick. I just need some air.” She didn’t even open her eyes as she spoke.
“Tell me what you need, Lexis. Please, baby … how can I help you?” There was such emotion in his voice that she had to open her eyes and look at him. His fingers had gone white they were clenching the steering wheel so hard. His shoulders where tense and his jaw clenched so hard she feared he would break his teeth. It bothered her that he was so upset. She wanted to cup his face until his jaw relaxed, stroke his shoulders and neck until they released some of their tension.
She did neither. Whatever was going on between the two of them was freaking her out, and scaring the ever loving hell out of her. It wasn’t natural to feel this strongly about a stranger. “I took some of my pain medication. This headache will be gone soon,” she assured him, her voice barely above a whisper.
At the next red light, he released his death grip on the steering wheel and leaned his head back against the head rest. His face was pale under his naturally golden complexion. “It kills me that you’re hurting and I can’t do anything to help you.”
“Why do you care so much?” she demanded, so confused by him it was only making her head ache more.
His head snapped up. “How can you even ask me that? I’ve always told you what you mean to me, Lexis. Always! Even if you are angry with me, you should remember that at least.” His hand smacked the steering wheel and he turned his angry gaze back to the busy road in front of him.
Alexis just set there, too stunned to move, to even breathe.
Oh. My. God! Her heart started racing.
Jared continued to drive in angry silence. She was too distraught to speak so just closed her eyes once more and prayed that the meds would soon kick in so she could focus her full attention on the conversation that she had to have with the man sitting beside of her. There were so many questions running through her mind. So many things that she needed to know. But the biggest one was ripping her heart to shreds and she didn’t think she could handle asking it.
“I saw your stepmother and told her that you were having lunch with me.” He suddenly informed her and she felt guilty because she hadn’t even thought about Melissa. “I told her that I would take care of you and make sure that you got home safely. Where would you like to eat?”
“I’m not hungry,” she told him and he shot her a glare. “Really. My head is still throbbing, Jared. I couldn’t eat even if I wanted to.”
Concern once more darkened his face and she noticed that he was in need of a shave. That little bit of dark scruff on his jaw was mouthwateringly sexy. After a moment he turned his attention back to the road. “Okay then.” At the next light he made a right turn and she closed her eyes.
Twenty minutes or more passed. The pain medication was starting to ease some of her pain, thankfully. Jared brought the car to a stop and she glanced around. “Wait…What? Where are we?” He had parked in a long driveway right in front of a three story house. The place was beautiful on the outside with its dark siding trimmed in a lighter brown. Floor to ceiling windows from every angle on each floor gave it an open look even from the outside. She could still hear the ocean in the distance, but had no clue if they were still in Malibu or not.
“This is my West Coast house,” he informed her. “I prefer it to the penthouse back in New York, or the house in Connecticut. I think my father even likes it better than his own house back in Rome.” He shrugged. “We need to talk, Lexis. And you said you weren’t hungry. So I thought we could have this conversation in private where I know we won’t be disturbed.”
She didn’t answer. The conversation he needed to have was something that she was anxious to hear. Maybe it would answer some of her questions. Perhaps even make it easier to accept the truth about what her parents and the doctors had told her six months ago. He helped her out of his car and led her inside.
The inside of the house was just as beautiful as the outside. With the floor to ceiling windows she felt like she was still standing outside. All the natural light coming in made it bright enough inside that no lights had to be turned on. It was a great way to save energy and she asked him if he was into the whole green thing, something she was a strong believer in.
He gave her a pained look. “Lexis, are you trying to hurt me?”
She blushed and turned away, admiring a painting over his fireplace. The artist was superb with the use of colors adding to natural light that gave the room a warm feeling. “I love this painting.”
“I know.” He put his hand on her shoulder and turned her to face him. “Let’s sit down, baby. You must be tired.” He urged her over to a long sofa and helped her sit before leaving her crutches against the table beside of it. Once she was settled, he sat beside of her. He turned to face her and his knee brushed against her bare thigh making her ache deep inside in a way she never had before. “How’s the headache?”
Alexis offered him a small, tight smile as she carefully tugged her dress down to cover her thigh. “It’s easing off now.”
Jared reached for her left hand and clasped it in both of his, his thumb caressing across her knuckles. “I can’t begin to tell you how much I’ve missed you, Lexis.”
She pulled her hand away, wishing she could just get up and pace. Her mind was racing, her heart hurtling away making her chest actually shake. But she couldn’t do that without her crutches. “Look Jared…” she began.
He captured her hands again, kissing the backs of them. “Please tell me you missed me too, baby. Tell me that you still feel something, even if it is more hate than love.”
“Jared…” She swallowed hard, her palm tingling from the brush of his lips against her skin. “I…”
“These past seven months have been hell, dolcezza. I haven’t been able to eat, sleep eludes me. If Gabriella had told me that you were hurt, I would have been back in a heartbeat.” He shook his head, anger and frustration pouring off of him.
She jerked away from him. “Gabriella? My cousin Gabriella Moreitti?” she demanded in a whisper.
“Of course Gabriella Moreitti.” He raked a hand through his hair, messing the short dark curls. “Who else would I be talking about? And why did you never tell me that Max Shepard is your father? I nearly fell over when you walked into his office yesterday.”
Gabriella. Jared knew Gabriella. She stood and used the furniture around her to get away from him as quickly as possible. She and Gabriella were as close as sisters, the very best of friends. Gabriella’s mother had died shortly after she was born, and then ten years ago her father had fallen from a horse and been stomped to death. Their grandfather had taken over as her guardian and Alexis’s mother had helped to raise the other girl.
Gabriella Moreitti had always been a prodigy when it came to music and especially string instruments. She had gone to Julliard and was top of her class. Her favorite instrument was the electric violin and people raved about her. But three years ago, Alexis’s cousin had found that classical music alone was not working for her. She now had her own band had been on tour across Europe and Australia with two of the most popular rock groups on the charts. As far as Alexis knew Gabriella had no idea about the accident that had n
early taken her cousin’s life. Her mother had thought it best not to upset the other girl with it all and Alexis’s emotions had been so jumbled up that she hadn’t protested.
“Lexis…” He was standing, coming toward her and she raised a hand to stop him, still unable to form words. Jared frowned. “Baby what is it? You are starting to scare me here.”
She sucked in a deep breath. “I don’t know you,” she told him, her voice shaking. “I don’t remember you.”
His head snapped back as if she had slapped him. “You…” He cleared his throat. “Look I know that you’re still upset. I understand that, and you have every right to be. But don’t play games with me, Lexis.”
She shook her head. “I’m not, I swear. The accident … I fractured my skull.” She lifted a trembling hand and touched the small scar now hidden under her short hair. “I had a little brain damage…” she cringed at saying those words aloud, “…I lost all memory of the months leading up to the accident.”
seven
Jared froze at her words, his knees threatening to give out on him at the very thought of her hurt so badly. Shaking he reached for the edge of the sofa and held on.
All day yesterday he had been angry that she hadn’t even acknowledged the fact that she so much as knew him. Treating him like a stranger the entire time they’d had lunch with her father and stepmother. Then today she had said such off hand things that had wounded him. Like the fact that they had met at a charity for GreenPlanet her cousin had been giving a free concert for. But know he knew the truth, and it was killing him.
She didn’t remember him!
To Alexis Moreitti he was a complete stranger. Since her accident she hadn’t even known he existed. Their time together was wiped from her mind. Permanently? He swallowed hard. “Are … is the damage permanent?”