Unexpected Chance by Joanne Schwehm

kind. Leah and the
others I see him with are fake and nasty. I can tell you like him and he seems
to like you. Maybe you should tell him about the book and bag your research. He’d
probably give you chapters of romantic notions.” She winked and giggled.
    I didn’t giggle. I didn’t find that remotely funny. “No way! How will
I know what romantic gestures he does for me are real? Not to mention I don’t want
to know what romantic things he has done for, with, and to other women. The
thought is nauseating, so I say again . . . no way!”
    Julie nodded. “Just be careful. I can’t imagine him being happy
about it if he thinks you’re using him once you tell him about the book. It looks
like I could have been wrong and he could be the real deal, Aubrey. He already
knows how you feel about other women. Your journal is like the other man!”
    Well, I’d never thought of it that way. “I’ll tell him . . . soon.
Let me see what all of this is before I mention it.”
    Julie took a sip from the glass of water she just poured for
herself. “Suit yourself; just remember everything we talked about.”
    I nodded, and we walked back to the balcony to rejoin the guys. The
rest of the afternoon was great, but I felt this tremendous weight on my chest.
We were all comfortable together. It was as if the four of us had been hanging
out forever rather than for hours. Alex stood up and extended his hand to me. “Ready
to go?”
    I easily put my hand in his and still felt the connection that we
shared. “Yes.” I stood and gave Julie and Brett a hug and thanked Brett for
having us over.
    We took the elevator down. This time we weren’t alone, so there
was no hugging. The others looked at us as though they knew there was something
going on. It felt as if I had a sign on my forehead that read, “I want this
man!”
    We walked to his car when it dawned on me that he was already
home. “Alex, I can call a cab. It’s silly for you to drive me home when you’re
already at yours.”
    “I’ll drive you. It isn’t a problem really.” Another note . . . chivalry
is still alive and well.
    “Okay, well then you need to come in for coffee; it’s the least I
can do.”
    He looked over at me and smiled. “You got it.” Then he drove to my
place.
    We walked in, and I started toward the kitchen to make the
coffee. I looked back, and he was surveying my place. He had a smile on his
face, so I guess it wasn’t too bad. I mean in comparison to his it wasn’t grand
or palatial, but I wasn’t a millionaire and my parents had paid for the
apartment.
    I turned back to start the coffee. As I was counting the scoops
and putting them in the filter, Alex came up behind me, put his arms around my
waist, and rested his chin on my shoulder. “Do you think it’s weird that I feel
this comfortable with you already?” I didn’t know if it was the smell of the
coffee, the drinks I had earlier or just Alex, but I was beyond the feeling of
comfortable.
    I turned around so I was facing him and brought my hands up
around his neck, rubbing my fingers and nails through his hair. “No, it’s not
weird. I feel the same way.” Book or no book, it was true. “What’s weird is
that you feel this way about me .”
    He leaned back still holding me and dipped down so we could be
eye to eye. “Why?”
    His look seared me. It was as if he could see into my soul. I
felt flush and prayed my eyes didn’t fill with moisture. “Well, I’ve seen your
type, and since I’m not like them at all, it’s surprising. I’m not a blonde, I
don’t have the body of a model, and I don’t throw myself at you.”
    He stared into my eyes, making me feel as if I could take on the
latest cover girl. “Did you ever think you are the type I like—what I want?”
    Actually, no, I didn’t. Was this guy for real? It was as if he was
in my head and was writing my book for me. If I hadn’t known better, I would’ve
thought Julie told him everything. It was as if he knew