A Powerful Attraction (Quicksand Book 1) Page 8

  Except Alex had no desire to speak to the rich, famous, or, in some cases, both. All he could think about was the fact that Sherry wouldn’t speak to him. Even at work, she refused to give him a minute of her time. He’d managed to corner her in the break room yesterday afternoon and suggest they get together for drinks after work, to talk, but she’d declined.

  “I have plans,” she said woodenly.

  “What about tomorrow?”

  “I have plans then, too.” She refused to look at him. She gripped the tiny bag of chips in her hand, waiting for him to move aside and let her pass.

  “Plans with who?”

  “No one you know.”

  She couldn’t have hurt him more if she’d clawed his skin off and left him to bleed out. Had she gone back on Match.com? The thought sent him into a panic.

  “Sherry.” He reached for her, but she sidestepped him. Jealous anger surged inside him. “It’s been one fucking week and you’re already seeing someone?”

  She glared at him. “What’s your point? I’m not allowed to move on?”

  No! he wanted to shout. He raked hands trembling with frustration through his hair. He needed her. Even if she never let him touch her again, he simply needed her in his life. She had brought light and happiness in the pitch darkness and then cut him off.

  She cleared her throat. “We should probably steer clear of each other. If not, people will talk, and neither of us want there to be any rumors about us. We agreed we didn’t want anyone to know about our relationship.”

  “Then let’s meet outside of work. Are you going to pretend you feel nothing? I don’t buy that. There was too much passion between us. We fit together perfectly. Don’t tell me—”

  He broke off when a male employee walked in. His curious eyes settled on how Alex and Sherry were huddled in the corner. The employee nodded before making his way to the vending machine on the other side of the room.

  Sherry took that moment to slip away.

  “Alex, I have someone you need to meet.”

  Rashad’s voice broke through the memory. He approached with a brown-skinned woman beside him. Her long, thick hair hung in loose waves past her shoulders, and her round face bore a welcoming smile. She was exactly the type of woman Rashad would go for, if it weren’t for the rings on her left hand and the fact that she was visibly pregnant.

  “This is Simone Brooks. She’s the philanthropic ambassador for the Johnson Foundation.”

  They shook hands.

  “Nice to meet you,” she said. “Rashad has been telling me all about Newmark Advisors and the work you do. I’m especially appreciative of the donation the two of you made tonight. That money will go a long way toward meeting the basic needs of food and shelter for children in this country.” She used perfect diction when she spoke.

  Alex concentrated on the conversation at hand, temporarily shoving all thoughts of Sherry from his mind so he could focus.

  “Thank you. It’s our pleasure to donate. Both Rashad and I believe in giving back, and it’s always been our plan to use our company to aid work in areas like this.”

  They chatted for a while, bonding on their shared South American heritage. Simone’s paternal grandmother was Brazilian, and though she’d never visited Colombia, he’d been to Brazil. They discussed a couple of places they were both familiar with in the northern part of the country, and he spoke a few words to her in his limited Portuguese.

  By the time she waved goodbye to network with other guests, he’d secured a promise from her to meet at a later date and discuss investment opportunities for her and her husband.

  Both he and Rashad watched her walk away, one hand resting over her protruding belly.

  “That’s what I’m talking about,” Rashad said enthusiastically. He turned to Alex with dollar signs in his eyes. “I knew you two would connect well.”

  “And how did you know that?”

  “The South American connection, of course. You know my motto. Find common ground, and you can get people to agree to almost anything.”

  Anyone overhearing the conversation would mistake Rashad for a heartless shark. In reality, he cared about his clients but was smart enough to realize that while other advisors saw their clients simply as people they did business with, establishing a rapport encouraged a long-term relationship. In that regard, he and Alex held the same belief.

  Alex took another sip of beer.

  “What’s wrong with you? You haven’t been yourself for quite a while. I thought you’d shake out of it a little bit once we got to the reception.”

  “You know what’s wrong with me.”

  Rashad sighed. “Sherry still won’t talk to you?”

  “No.” Alex tilted back his head and drained the bottle.

  “I’m sorry, man. I don’t know what to tell you.”

  “I need to get out of here. I need to go see her.”

  “Are you sure that’s a good idea?” Rashad’s brow furrowed.

  “I think it’s a terrible idea, but I can’t just do nothing.”

  Rashad nodded. “Go. Fix the problem between the two of you, because I don’t need your personal problems affecting my money.”

  Alex couldn’t believe he’d heard him correctly. “You’re sure?”

  “Yes, I’m sure. I got this.”

  “Thanks.” He clapped Rashad on the shoulder. He was a good friend, and no doubt he could handle the reception without Alex. But what made him an even better friend was the fact that he didn’t say I told you so. He’d warned Alex about telling Sherry everything, and Alex hadn’t listened.

  Now he needed to fix the mess he’d made.

  “Darn. That’s what you get for moving around in the dark,” Sherry muttered to herself. She flipped on the lamp and sighed at all the popcorn she’d accidentally spilled on the carpet.

  She set the bowl on the table beside the sofa and paused the TV. Quickly, she cleaned up the mess and turned out the light again. She pulled the blanket around her body, set the bowl of popcorn on her lap, and resumed binge-watching the comedy show.

  She needed the escape and the ability to laugh. She hadn’t laughed much in the past week ever since she learned about Alex’s deception.

  She understood his desire to help his friend but found it hard to forgive that he’d kept such an important aspect of his life from her, and he’d had ample opportunity to tell everything. She was hurt and disappointed that he hadn’t lived up to her expectations, and embarrassed because of how much she’d gushed to her friends about him.

  She’d been better off by herself, stress-free, and needed to get back to that state.

  A loud knock sounded on the door. “Sherry!”

  Her heart jumped. Alex. She muted the TV and sat frozen, as if he could see through the walls, but wouldn’t notice her if she remained still.

  “I know you’re in there. I saw the light in your window from downstairs. Open the door. I don’t care who you have in there. Tell him to come the door. Tell him to face me!” His words slurred slightly and his accent sounded thicker.

  “Go away, Alex!”

  “I will not. I will not leave until you open the door.”

  Sherry didn’t move, listening to him assault the door multiple times. At that rate, one of her neighbors would call the police and have him arrested.

  “Go home. Please,” she whispered.

  “Sherry! Sherry!” The pounding became so loud and continuous that she worried he’d break down the door.

  She set aside the bowl of popcorn and jumped up from the sofa. Swinging open the door, she caught Alex mid-knock, and his face reflected surprise. She caught the faint scent of gin on him, and he didn’t look like himself. His bleary eyes narrowed on her. His hair was a mess and the tie on his tux askew.

  “How did you get over here? Please tell me you didn’t drive,” Sherry said. She may be angry at him, but she didn’t want him to do something foolish like hurt himself or anyone else.

  “I didn’t drive
here like this. I’ve been drinking in the car, waiting for you. I thought you were out. I didn’t know your ‘plans’ meant staying in.” He peeped over her head. “Where is he? Is he not man enough to face me?”

  He tried to come in, but Sherry pressed a hand to his chest. “Stop.”

  “Tell him to come face me like a man!” Alex bellowed, pounding his chest.

  “Would you stop yelling?” Sherry glanced down the empty hallway. “There’s no one here.”

  His brow furrowed. “What do you mean there’s no one here? You said you had plans with someone.”

  “There’s no one here but me. I lied, okay? I lied to keep you away, but you showed up anyway.”

  He cursed and swiped a tired hand down his face. “I know I shouldn’t have come. I just… Forgive me. Forgive me for what I did.”

  She couldn’t look at him. The vague ache that resided in her chest blossomed into pain at the sight of him and the tortured sound of his voice. She didn’t want to hurt him but didn’t know what else to do.

  “I need time.”

  “How much?”

  “I don’t know.”

  He sighed and fell silent. Sherry continued to stare at the floor.

  “I love her. She’s family and I was willing to do anything to help her. What would you do for the people you love?”

  Sherry lifted her teary gaze to his. “Anything.”

  “Then you understand.”

  “I do. I understand why you did it. I don’t understand why you didn’t tell me.”

  “Because I love you too, and was willing to do anything to hold on to you. It’s not an excuse, amor. Just an explanation.”

  Seconds ticked by, and finally, Sherry said in a soft voice, “You can’t drive in your condition.”

  “What do you suggest I do?”

  “You can stay here,” she answered. “On the couch,” she added hastily.

  A hint of a smile touched his beautiful face and made her ache. She missed him. Dammit, she was so weak.

  Alex came forward and cupped the back of her neck. Heat splayed across her skin. Common sense told her to keep her distance, but she was starved for the feel of him and welcomed almost any contact.

  She hated and loved him at the same time. Because that was what this torturous state meant—that she’d fallen in love with him and didn’t know how to proceed now that she knew the whole truth.

  His lips touched hers. She backed up until the doorframe dug into her spine. His other arm circled her waist and brought her flush against his body. Alex pushed his lips more firmly against hers, and she tasted the gin. Her fingers splayed out against his hard chest, and she trembled.

  He moved his hips in a circular grind against hers, and for a moment she considered giving in, just throwing caution to the wind and allowing him to sweep her away with his intoxicating kiss. Fortunately, common sense prevailed.

  She dragged her mouth away from his. “Don’t.” She kept a hand against his chest to keep from fisting his shirt and pulling him closer. Seeing him was painful enough. She couldn’t afford intimacy, no matter how much her body craved him.

  “I couldn’t help it,” he said.

  “This isn’t a reconciliation.”

  “I know, amor. Right now, I’ll take whatever I can get.”

  He didn’t sleep on the sofa. She let him into her bed because Alex wanted her to lay down with him. She muttered a half-hearted refusal at first, but when he looped an arm around her waist and whispered to her temple, “Don’t make me beg,” she caved.

  They slept in the spoon position, Alex curved behind her back, his face buried in her hair and one leg thrown over her legs, as if to keep her from getting away.

  It was the best sleep she’d had in a week.

  14

  “Hello, may I speak to Sherry Westbrook, please?”

  The unfamiliar female voice on the other end of the line was rather faint.

  “This is she.”

  “Hello, you don’t know me, although you may know my name. I’m Heather, Alex’s wife.”

  Sherry had no idea what to say. The call had completely taken her by surprise. Why would Alex’s wife be calling her? She didn’t need any more surprises.

  “Please don’t worry. I’m not calling because I’m angry or because I want to yell at you. I’m calling because I was hoping you and I could talk, for a little while, so that I could explain some things to you. Do you think it would be possible for you to come see me in the hospital?”

  Sherry paced over to the window and looked out onto the street below her apartment. Her first inclination was to say no.

  “Please. I won’t take a lot of your time, but what I have to say to you…I think it needs to be said in person.”

  There was no animosity in her voice. Just a sort of pleading that broke down Sherry’s wall of self-preservation. She heard herself answer, “Yes, I could come to the hospital.”

  “Thank you.” Heather sounded relieved. “Are you available to come by today?”

  “Sure.”

  “When?”

  “Uh, I could be there in the next forty-five minutes, maybe less.”

  “Perfect. Thank you very much.”

  “Do you mind telling me what this is about? So that I can prepare for the conversation?”

  “I don’t want to say too much. Like I told you, it’s better that we speak in person. But I wanted to explain my relationship with Alex. I promise not to keep you too long.”

  “All right. I’ll be there.”

  After they hung up, Sherry second-guessed her decision. She paced the floor and wondered if she’d made a mistake. Or had Alex somehow convinced his wife to plead his case?

  She shook her head. No point in trying to guess. She would simply have to go to the hospital and find out what Heather had to say.

  Heather was sitting up on the bed watching television when Sherry arrived at the room. She stood uncertainly in the open door.

  The minute she saw Sherry, Heather smiled, as if they were old friends. “Sherry?”

  “Yes.”

  Heather waved her in. “Please, come in.” She appeared to be as pleasant now as she had been on the phone. That was a good sign.

  Heather’s gaunt, sickly appearance reminded Sherry of the gravity of the illness that ravaged her body. She looked very much like someone knocking on death’s door.

  Heather turned off the television and set the remote on the bedside table. “You can pull that chair over there next to the bed.” She spoke faintly but with a warmth that made Sherry relax and believe her reservations were unfounded. She dragged the chair over to the bed and sat down.

  “Thank you for coming. I wasn’t sure if you would. Alex refused to give me any information about you, so I had to get your full name from Rashad, and he found your cell phone number. I hope you don’t mind.”

  Sherry clutched the purse on her lap. “No, I don’t mind.”

  “I have to tell you, I wasn’t even sure if I should do this. It’s hard to explain my relationship with Alex and Rashad. The thing is, I don’t have long to live, but they both like to pretend—especially Alex—that it’s not true.” Pain flitted across her features, and Sherry resisted the urge to reach out and hug her. “But I know it’s true.” Her voice became hoarse, and she took a wavering breath, as if speaking drained her.

  “Can I get you anything? Water?” Sherry asked gently.

  “No, I’m fine.” Heather smiled bravely. “I’ve known them since college. As I’m sure you know, Alex doesn’t have any family to speak of. Rashad has a similar situation, and I lost both of my parents when I was very young. I grew up in foster care, and when I started college, I was on my own. It was scary at first, and then I met them, by chance. One night I went on a late food run, but I didn’t have enough to cover the meal on my card. I thought I did, but I didn’t, so the card declined.”

  She took another deep breath to bolster her strength. Sherry hung on her every word.

 
“Rashad was standing behind me in line, and he offered to pay for my meal. I was embarrassed, of course, but he insisted. Then he and Alex invited me to sit with them, and that’s how we became friends. Three people from different walks of life, with no one else in the world, happened to find each other on a campus of almost twenty thousand students.

  “We became more than friends. We became siblings, the three of us, because none of us had any. I gave them advice on women. They gave me advice on men. We became roommates, and that only made our bond stronger, and the guys constantly looked out for me because we were family. Some people didn’t understand it, but we clicked because of our similar situations. An odd ensemble of the three musketeers—the Colombian, the white chick, and the Black guy.”

  She smiled, and Sherry couldn’t help but smile as well.

  “Eventually we graduated, and they were hired into the same firm in Atlanta. I moved to Austin and worked as a contractor for a graphic design firm. It wasn’t easy, but I made a living. Except I didn’t have health insurance. About two years ago, I got sick, and Alex and Rashad went into protective mode.”

  She fell silent, plucking at the sheet with her fingers. “Alex offered to marry me, and at first I refused. I assumed that eventually I would feel better or one of the doctors would figure out what was wrong. But when I kept getting sick, he and Rashad didn’t have to work as hard to talk me into it.” She lifted her gaze to Sherry’s. “I accepted his proposal, and we were married at the courthouse. Any expenses the insurance doesn’t cover, he and Rashad take care of. They take care of me, their sister, because I have no one. They feel responsible for me, and I’m grateful, but…” She shook her head. “I no longer hold out much hope. The doctors can’t fix me. I’ve been in and out of the hospital constantly, and this last episode has been the longest. I’m not going to make it.” Her voice quivered.

  “You don’t know that,” Sherry said.

  Heather nodded. “I do. And I’ve made peace with it. That’s why I wanted to see you, Sherry. Because of Alex, my brother.” She smiled brightly. “He loves you. I understand your reservations and your concerns. But Alex and I are not your typical married couple.”