Cancelled by Elizabeth Ann West Page B

walking to the park with Kellie. Now the lack of phone calls last night made perfect sense.
    He had kept hoping Alex would call him last night, but wanted to give her the space she needed. All night he thought her silence meant she was reconsidering their involvement.
    Turning it back on, he listened to two messages from Alexis on his way down the massive concrete stairs to the Metro. The morning was crisp and cool; March was back to normal in DC. Johnathan zipped up the pull-over cable sweater he wore over a dress shirt. Cool air filled the platforms as a Red Line train just left. He waited in queue to board the next one to get off at Chinatown.
    Alexis knocked on Johnathan's door at 9:00 AM. He put down the drawings in his hand.
    “Eric is expecting me.”
    “Eric can wait.” Alex shut the door behind her.
    Johnathan sat on the edge of his desk. He leaned back on his wrists.
    “Who was that girl you left with last night? Why didn't you answer any of my phone calls?”
    Johnathan smiled. He didn't mean to, but the satisfaction of the shoe being on the other foot was too tempting.
    “Girl? What girl?
    “The blonde.”
    “Oh, Kellie. She's nobody.” Johnathan suppressed the guilt flooding his mind. He reminded his conscience that it was only yesterday she played her own games with him, claiming she didn't know what they were and hiding her lunch with Kyle. And until she did know what they were, he didn't owe any explanation about the possibility he was becoming a father.
    “Did you sleep with her, too?”
    “Not last night.”
    “You have before?”
    She was quick. Johnathan crossed his arms in front of him, opposed to giving Alexis full disclosure, but he wasn't going to outright lie to her, either. “Yes. Ages ago.”
    Alexis opened her mouth and then closed it.
    “Why didn't you call me back?”
    Johnathan released his arms from across his chest and stepped away from the desk, closer to Alex.
    “I forgot I turned my phone off.”
    “What did she want?”
    “I'm sorry?
    “Want. Why did she show up at work to see you? Does she want to get back together?” Alex shared her frustration by over-enunciating her words.
    Johnathan flashed her a smile and closed the distance between them until he was standing intimately near.
    “She returned a monogrammed shirt I let her borrow.” He lowered his voice and every utterance tickled the tiny hairs in her ear. “I was jealous about Dr. Perfect yesterday, and had a little fun. I'm not going to just throw away our opportunity on a young blonde who bats her pretty eyes at me. Not when I've waited years for this.”
    Johnathan cupped Alex's face with his hands and pressed every urge and fear of losing her into a lingering kiss. Alex audibly gasped when Johnathan released her for air.
    “Oh. I didn't know–I mean, I thought.”
    “I know exactly what you thought. I did it on purpose. I apologize,” he said, pausing for sincerity. “I don't want to play games, Alexis. Either you're in this with me, right now, or we pretend nothing ever happened. I can't take another night worrying if I have destroyed my company and lost my chance at happiness.” Johnathan's eyes held a piercing gaze, willing an answer of yes.
    Alexis popped her right foot out of her heel and toed the dress shoe. She broke eye contact with Johnathan and rested her head on his shoulder. Sliding her shoe back on, she slid her hands down his back.
    “You don't have to worry. I want to give us a real chance.”
    “That's all I ask.”
    Alexis pulled back from the hug, her face pleading for reprieve. “Can we still keep this between us, just for a little while? My logical side keeps screaming how much an office romance is doomed.”
    Johnathan laughed and spun her on the spot. They stopped with Alexis pressed against his desk, slightly sitting on the edge.
    “Mmmmm, a clandestine office romance? Sounds plenty kinky to me.” Johnathan pressed against her, burning with a need to solidify their recent pact