Then Came Alexandra (Southern Love #1) by E. L. Todd Page A

remember?” His smile was wider than it was a second before.
    “You have a point.”
    “I’m just teasing. I prefer the pleasant company.”
    The bartender placed two drinks on the counter.
    Blaise eyed it. “Thirsty?”
    “This one is for my friend.” She nodded to her them at the table. They weren’t paying attention to her, lost in their conversation.
    Blaise studied them. “Is it for Gabe?” He eyes weren’t as bright as they were a moment before. Alexandra noticed the sudden change.
    “For Hannah, actually.”
    He nodded.
    “You know them?”
    He chuckled. “Everyone knows everyone around here.”
    “I’m starting to realize that.”
    Blaise nodded to the bartender and ordered a beer. He drank half of it with a single gulp.
    “Now look who’s thirsty,” she teased.
    “Beer is my water.”
    “That doesn’t sound healthy.”
    His fingers wrapped around the cool glass. Alexandra noticed how large his hands were. A single one could completely cover her stomach. If he grabbed her by the ribs, he could crush her. She studied the callous on his fingers, noting the hard patches of skin. It was obvious he used his hands everyday.
    “So, how were your classes today?” he asked.
    She shrugged. “They were okay.”
    “What’s your major?”
    “English.”
    “Are you a writer?” He drank from his glass while he studied her face.
    “No.”
    “Do you want to be a teacher?”
    She glared at him. “There are other things you can do besides writing and teaching.”
    He smiled. “Like what?”
    “Research.”
    Blaise rolled his eyes. “Name one more.”
    She drank from her glass, taking a longer drink than normal.
    “That’s what I thought,” he said with a smile.
    “Well, not all of us inherit lucrative businesses.”
    “You say that like it’s a blessing.”
    “Isn’t it?” she asked.
    He turned his gaze away. “I can’t say that I’m not grateful, but it’s not as glamorous as everyone thinks.”
    Alexandra studied him for a moment, noting the change in his eyes. They seemed darker, more ominous. “Why do you dislike it?”
    He played with the coaster on the table. “Well, everyone is waiting for me to mess up. I’m the youngest cotton grower in the state. There’s more pressure. I have to delegate other people, hire and fire them. And I have to watch my money, making sure no one is taking more than they should. I’m always looking over my shoulder, trying to protect my back because no one else is watching it. It’s difficult having something everyone else wants.”
    She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “It sounds like you don’t have any passion for it.”
    “I can’t say that I do.”
    “Then why do you do it, Blaise?”
    “It’s a long story…”
    “I don’t have anywhere to be.”
    He smiled. “My parents passed away, leaving me and my brother as the heirs of the fields. My brother is lazy and doesn’t do anything for the business. He literally takes his paycheck and that’s it. My uncle is upset he didn’t get it since he’s the next of kin. I always have to deal with his taunts. And I’ve never wanted to be a farmer.”
    “What did you want to do?”
    He shook his head, staring at the counter. “It’s stupid.”
    “I doubt it.”
    Blaise drank from his glass again. “I wanted to be a lawyer.”
    “Why is that stupid?” She smiled at him, admiring the shyness behind that confident exterior.
    “I have an empire in my hands. Why throw that away for more work and less pay?”
    “Money isn’t the most important thing in the world.”
    “I couldn’t agree more. But family is.”
    “Now I’m not following,” she said.
    He sighed. “I’m not sure why I’m telling you this…”
    She turned away, feeling like she had overstepped her boundary. “Life is too short to live for someone else. If you want to do something else with your life, you should just do it. Who cares what other people think?”
    He looked at her. “You really believe