His smirk widened at her apparent shock. “I guess surprise doesn’t really cover it, does it?” he asked her, bending forward and retrieving the loose pieces of her cell phone that had scattered across the cool tile floor.

“Not...not exactly,” she warbled. She watched as he slid the battery back into place, secured the backing, and switched it on. Lexi felt a chill run down her spine when his gaze returned to her. Reaching out, he handed her back the cell phone letting their hands brush briefly. Lexi commended herself for not flinching. “So,” she began clearing her throat, “what are you doing here?”

“I live here,” he said smiling down on her.

Lexi rolled her eyes. “Jack, come on. What are you doing here? You weren’t supposed to get in until tomorrow.”

“Wow, Lex,” he said using her pet name as if it had been only yesterday when he had been in New York City with her, “no, hello how are you? No, oh my God, I’ve missed you? Not even a hug? What the hell?”

Lexi couldn’t help herself. She giggled. This was the Jack she knew and loved. “Hello. How are you? Oh my God, I’ve missed you,” she said tossing her phone onto the counter. She swung her arms around him in earnest, knocking her body against his. He pulled her into him, gently wrapping his arms around her slight waist. What she had intended to just be a short, almost dismissive hug had instantly changed as she felt him breathe her in.

“I know you were just joking, but it really is good to see you,” he whispered into her ear.

When they pulled away, she watched as Jack took an extra step farther from her. His eyes had gone crystal clear blue, and seemed to be looking straight through her. She knew what that look meant, and every muscle in her body willed her to step forward into him. It was with great effort that she broke his determined stare and took another step backwards.

Lexi reached up and brushed her hair behind her ears several times anxiously. It was a habit she had never been able to kick. Even as she did it, she knew she was giving herself away, but she really couldn’t help it. As if saved by the bell, her phone began to buzz noisily on the countertop. She glanced down at the screen groaning as she saw the hairline fracture across the surface. “Hey,” she said answering the line.

“What the fuck happened, Alexa?” Chyna screamed into the other line. “I’ve been trying your cell for five minutes. Are you okay? Did something happen? Were you robbed?”

Lexi could hear the concern evident in her voice. Suddenly, Chyna sounded sober, and very serious. Not one ounce of her previous whimsical attitude showed through. Zero thoughts of Chyna or really anything considered to be coherent had filtered through her head after Jack had entered the room. She was ashamed that she hadn’t called Chyna back right away. She felt even worse knowing that without her phone call she wouldn’t have remembered at all.

“No, no, nothing like that. I was just surprised, and I dropped my phone.”

“What could possibly surprise you to the point of not calling me back?” she asked. Lexi contemplated answering that, but didn’t get the chance as Chyna gasped on the other line. “You said he wasn’t going to be there.”

Lexi glanced up at Jack who eyed her humorously. She could practically read his thoughts. Ha. Ha. You’re in some shit now. A blush crept up her neck and landed a light pink hue on her cheeks. Chyna was practically screaming through the other line, and Lexi wasn’t sure if Jack was able to hear her. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” she said lying through her teeth.

Jack raised an eyebrow and mouthed to her, “I thought we were over that.”

He meant the lying, but Lexi just shrugged her shoulders ignoring his penetrating gaze. She had no desire whatsoever to talk to Chyna about Jack’s unexpected arrival, especially not while he was standing directly in front of her listening to every word. “Alexa, you know exactly what I am talking about! You cannot be alone with him under any circumstances. We talked about this. Remember?”

Chyna was speaking so loudly that, Lexi had to pull the phone away from her ear. “Yes, I know we talked about this. But your concerns are completely irrelevant,” she stated sharply.

“Don’t bullshit me, Alexa Mae Walsh!” Lexi couldn’t help laughing. The only time Chyna ever called her by her full name was when she was absolutely livid, which made the whole situation even funnier to Lexi.

“Calm down. Calm down,” Lexi shushed her, feeling self-conscious as Jack continued to watch the stand-off intently. She tried to avert her eyes as he effortlessly stripped his jacket off and held it in his arms. He just looked so good it was hard to resist staring.

“I’m not calm, damn it!”

“I realize that. But I have to go,” Lexi said abruptly, already wanting out of the conversation.

“No, you need to leave. Go catch a cab. On me,” she added hastily.

“Love ya, chica,” Lexi said closing the phone lightly.

Her phone lit up in her hand again, but she switched it to silent, and turned the screen face down. No more interruptions. The stillness in the room was disconcerting. Last time she had been alone with Jack, she had been in a state of hysterics. Life with Jack in general was a state of hysterics. The rollercoaster her emotions rode when in his presence sent her stomach rolling and every nerve standing at full attention. The strange euphoria that had settled over her at the familiar touch of his hands encircling her had dissipated with Chyna’s urgent cautionary reminder.

He was not supposed to be here.

Even more important, Lexi had sworn she would not be entrapped by him again, and that included finding herself alone with him.

“Well, it was nice seeing you.” Lexi began edging towards the doorframe. Unfortunately, he didn’t move a single inch. She felt her breasts, covered only by a thin piece of flimsy material, brush against his arm as she passed. Holding in a gasp, she walked as quickly as possible towards the guest bedroom.

“Nice seeing you?” he questioned following her down the hallway. “We haven’t spoken in two years, I surprise you, and all you have to say is nice seeing you?” Lexi let her nails dig into her palm. The jolt of pain was the only thing holding her back from snapping at him. “Well, it’s nice seeing you too,” Jack retorted, his tone resolving to calm neutral.

She forced a half smile in his direction. Clicking the tiny button at the rear of her suitcase, Lexi felt the arm release. Her hand extended forward retrieving the rest of her luggage.

“What are you doing?”

The earnest in his voice surprised her, and she looked up into those clear blue eyes in surprise. Something had changed. A flicker of doubt cast across her features; her mouth formed a circle with a question hanging off her delicate lips.

“You can’t leave,” he stated simply; a command not a request.

Lexi shook her head. This was so typical. “I can and I will.”

“Lex, please, I don’t want you to leave.”

“I know this might come as a surprise to you, but it’s not always about you. And contrary to what you may think you know, I don’t care what you want,” Lexi said fighting to keep her cool.

He repositioned himself in a similar fashion in the doorframe. “You wouldn’t be here if you didn’t.”

“I didn’t come here for you,” she spat.

He nodded his head in mock agreement. “Then why did you come?”

“I came here for your lousy fiancé. I came here,” she paused, slowly walking towards him, “to help her not make the same mistake that I did.” Anger continued to well up inside her especially since his expression had yet to change at her remarks.

“That’s nice, except for the part about my fiancé. I don’t have one.” A smart-ass smirk made its way onto his face.

“Oh details,” she said waving her hand in the air dismissively.