Dear Sexy Lexie Page 8
“Yeah. Of course. I guess we’ll have to wait and see.”
He nodded, then gestured to a chair. “Here. Sit down and try to relax.”
She lowered herself to the chair.
“Can I get you a cup of coffee?”
“Yes, that would be great.”
As he walked away, she called out, “Hey, Gabe, put some whiskey in it if you can find any.”
* * * * *
She stood next to Tyler’s bed and gazed down at his sleeping form. Gabe had to go off-duty and return the squad car but said he was glad she was there—that Tyler would be happy to see her when he woke up.
She hoped that was true.
A padded area on his left abdomen made a slight lump under the sheet and it got her thinking. Whether he could function sexually or not, it wouldn’t change her feelings for him. She loved having sex with him but there were other ways. Being with the man she loved was more important than anything.
His warm arms cuddling her, his soft voice in her ear—she’d trade the best job in the world for that alone. She hoped her boss would understand the hysterical message she’d left on her voicemail telling her she’d quit and why. His eyes drifted open. He blinked a couple of times and glanced around the room, appearing confused. Then he focused on her face. “Lexie?”
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She reached over and took his hand. “Yeah, Tyler. I’m here.”
“I thought you were going away for a month. How long have I been lying here?”
She chuckled. “Only a couple of hours. I heard what happened and came home early. For good. I quit.”
He squinted. “Because of me?”
She nodded, unable to talk around the lump in her throat.
“But I thought—”
Lexie put a finger to his lips. “Shh… Don’t say anything. I’m sorry. So sorry. I need to tell you that before anything else.”
“Sorry for what?”
“For leaving things between us so screwed up. For not realizing how important you are to me.” Her eyes began to blur and tears threatened to fall.
“Lexie…” He reached for her.
She took his hand and kissed his knuckles.
He glanced at the rail. “Do you know how to push this thing down?”
“Why don’t I get the nurse? They’ll want to know you’re awake.”
“No, not yet.”
She stroked his jaw as she bent over him, stretching as far as she could to plant a kiss on his lips.
The door flew open and three cops walked in, grinning. One was Gabe but she didn’t know the other two.
One of them said, “What happened, Black? Hell, we thought bullets bounced off you!”
“Nah. I usually catch ’em in my teeth but I caught this one with my spleen.”
“Lexie. Nice to see you,” Gabe said and winked. The other two echoed his sentiments.
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She was happy to see them too. Maybe she was just happy to see how glad Tyler was to see them. He’d be pleasantly occupied for a while, so Lexie decided it was time to go. As she tried to walk away, Tyler reached out and caught her hand.
“Are you leaving already?”
“I should get home, shower and change clothes. I look awful.”
He squeezed her hand. “You look absolutely gorgeous.”
She laughed and shook her head. “Yeah, that’s the drugs talking. I’d better clean up before they wear off. Enjoy your visit with the guys.” She leaned over, kissed him and whispered, “Don’t worry. I’ll come back.”
“You’d better.”
Lexie managed to get out of the room before reacting to her swirling emotions. She leaned against the corridor wall next to his room, closed her eyes and took in a few deep breaths. The elevator doors whirred open and Jolie stepped off. She carried a vase of daisies. She grinned when she saw Lexie, then the smile disappeared and was replaced by a concerned expression.
“What are you doing out in the hallway? Is everything okay in there?”
“Yes. He’s fine. Some buddies of his are visiting and I needed to catch my breath.”
“You look pale. Are you okay?”
“Better now that I’ve seen him and know he’s going to be all right. You should have seen me before when I was trying to get here from Kansas City in five minutes or less.”
“I heard. Bella called. She thought you might need me but when I tried your phone I kept getting her voice mail.”
“I came straight here from the airport. I need to go home, shower and change, then I’ll be back.”
“Want me to come with you?”
“No, I’ll be fine. But thanks.” She gave her friend a hug and stepped toward the elevators. Her stomach growled.
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“Have a good visit and tell him I’ll be back after dinner. I haven’t eaten all day and didn’t notice it until now.”
“I’ll be sure to tell him.”
* * * * *
Lexie felt a hundred and ten percent better after she showered. She had found the perfect outfit to wear when she returned to the hospital—a red Ann Taylor dress with a low neckline that draped nicely over her curves. And, of course, the red stilettos. On her way to the hospital she stopped to buy a red rose.
He was gazing off in the direction of the windows but when her heels clicked on his floor he whipped his head around and gave her an ear-to-ear grin.
“Lexie! I was beginning to get worried.”
“You didn’t believe me when I said I’d be back?”
Lexie came around to the other side of the bed and set the rose on his nightstand. She reached for the rail. “So how do I get this thing down?”
“I think there’s a latch at the top.”
Lexie found it and lowered the rail, then she jumped up and sat on the edge of the bed so she could touch and stroke Tyler’s hips with both of her hands. His hospital gown turned into a tent.
“Need a blanket?”
“Yeah, if that’s the best you can do.”
Lexie giggled and closed the door. When she returned to him, she slipped her hand under the sheet and stroked his hard-on. “I love you, Tyler Black. Don’t ever get in the way of another bullet, please.”
“I love you too—and not just because you turn me on even when I’m laid up.”
She moved her hand under his hospital gown and stroked him harder. He moaned with what sounded like pleasure and then winced in pain.
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She stopped and sighed. “If I thought we wouldn’t get caught and it wouldn’t hurt you, I’d take care of you in some creative way.”
“When I get out of here, we’ll find a way.” He grinned.
She took his hand. “You know, there’s something else I need to talk to you about.”
“What’s that?”
She smiled. “I got my job back.”
“That’s great!”
“Yeah but I said I couldn’t go on the road again.”
Tyler nodded. “That’s good if you don’t have to. I won’t lie, I’d sure enjoy the extra time with you.”
“I was thinking the same thing. Maybe you and I can spend a little quality time together. Someone is going to have to look after you until you’re fully recovered.”
“You’d do that for me?”
“Absolutely.”
“Mmm. I’m a lucky man.”
“You’ll be getting lucky all right. As soon as the ecstasy outweighs the agony.”
* * * * *
A few days later Tyler was discharged from the hospital and Lexie drove him to his apartment.
As he unlocked and opened the door, she said, “So I’m finally going to see your bedroom? I’m sorry I didn’t stay long enough for the tour last time I was here.”
He laughed. “There’s not much to see I’m afraid.”
She walked in, turned took in the entire small but ne
at studio in one second and said, “Where’s the rest of it?”
“Like I said…”
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She gazed around in disbelief. “Where’s the big waterbed, the mirrored ceiling, the trapeze?”
He shook his head and chuckled, then pointed. “It’s all right there.”
She stared at the sleeper sofa. “I had no idea this is where you slept.”
Then she glanced around at the rest of it. A chair, sound system, books and TV in a media cabinet, a dresser, a tiny kitchen and a dining area smaller than hers. Her mouth hung open. “Just where do you plan to recover?”
“Where I sleep.”
Lexie shook her head. “Oh, no. No, no, no. That’s a terrible idea. Besides, you’ll go stir crazy in here.”
“Not if you visit me a lot.” He came up behind her and slipped his arms around her waist. She whirled around and held onto him.
“You’re moving in with me.” She said it more as a fact than an invitation. He was speechless for a moment. “What about the age difference and your boss?”
“When I apologized for my behavior a few days ago, she said that all people are only human—even me. She went so far as to say the age difference might be a good thing. Love it or hate it, controversy sells newspapers. And if I’m too squeaky clean, some people will hold that against me too. Basically, you can’t please everyone, so you might as well live your life the way you want to. I’m sure she’ll understand. I can’t leave you here.”
He shrugged. “I’d love to stay at your place but maybe you should talk to her first. I can stay here tonight.”
Lexie shook her head. “Your stitches will be ruptured by morning.”
He smiled and pulled her into a hug. “You worry about me too much. I’m a tough guy, remember?”
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“Yeah. I’m sure you looked real tough when you were bleeding to death.” She stepped back and pleaded. “Seriously, Tyler. You wanted us to spend some quality time together, right?”
“I still do.”
“Why don’t we pack what you need and I’ll talk to her before she leaves the office this afternoon. She’s a good person. She’ll probably insist that you stay with me.”
“What can I say? As long as she doesn’t give you a hard time, I’d love to stay.” He walked over to his closet took out a duffle bag and looked over at Lexie. “How much should I pack?”
“How about a lot?” She moved in front of him and slipped her arms around his neck. He dropped the duffle bag and held her close. “I love you, Tyler. I want you to stay as long as it’s working out for us.”
He kissed her long and deep. When he pulled back enough to look in her eyes, he whispered, “Let’s do this right.” He dropped down on one knee. “Shit!” He held his side and gasped a few times until he was able to speak. “I shouldn’t have moved like that.”
She was stunned and tears sprung to her eyes. Before she could respond, Tyler added, “I know what you’re thinking. It’s too soon but listen…” He slowly tried to stand and winced in pain.
“Oh, Tyler, let me help.” She held him under his left arm while he braced his right hand against the closet door. Together they heaved him to his feet and he groaned.
“Don’t do that again.”
“Get down on one knee or try to propose?”
“Either,” she chuckled.
“Lexie, I don’t think I could ever love any woman as much as I love you and I don’t want to settle for second best. You’re the one. And even though I’m not your first great love, I want to be your last.”
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She bit her lower lip, smiled and nodded.
“You can have as long an engagement as you want. Just let me show you what our life can be like if we’re together. I know we’ll both be happy.”
Finally finding her voice she asked, “What if it doesn’t work out?”
“It will. I told you once before that I wouldn’t hurt you and I won’t.”
“But I can be moody and stubborn.”
“I know and I love you anyway. I’d rather face another bullet than lose you.”
“Me too.”
“So, yes?”
“Yes. I don’t deserve you but if you still want me, yes.”
Tyler held her tightly and kissed Lexie all over her face while she laughed. 86
About the Author
Kidnapped by gypsies as an infant, Ashlyn Chase was left on the doorstep of the Massachusetts home in which she grew up—at least that’s what her older siblings told her. It seems that storytelling runs in the family.
Ashlyn worked as a psychiatric nurse for several years, holds a degree in behavioral sciences and has been trained as a fine artist, registered nurse, hypnotherapist, and interior designer. Writing is one career she wasn’t formally educated in, yet by sheer determination she’s become a multi-published, award-winning author. Most writers, whether they’re aware of it or not, have a “theme”, some sort of thread that runs through all of their books, uniting the whole mishmash into an identifiable signature. Ashlyn’s identified her theme as involving characters who reinvent themselves. It’s no wonder, since she has reinvented herself numerous times. Finally content with her life, she lives in beautiful New Hampshire with her true-life hero husband and a spoiled brat cat.
Ashlyn welcomes comments from readers. You can find her website and e-mail
address on her author bio page at www.ellorascave.com.
Tell Us What You Think
We appreciate hearing reader opinions about our books. You can e-mail us at
Comments@EllorasCave.com.
Also by Ashlyn Chase
Being Randy
Death by Delilah
Demolishing Mr. Perfect
Djinn and Tonic
Giggles by Gabby
Kayla’s Birthday Present
Love Cuffs with Dalton Diaz
Quivering Thighs
Vampire Vintage
Wonder Witch
If you’re interested in other stories by Ashlyn Chase, check out her book at
Cerridwen Press (www.cerridwenpress.com ).
Heaving Bosoms
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on the web at www.ellorascave.com for an erotic reading experience that will leave you breathless.
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