Scrooge

16. Haylee

16

HAYLEE

“O kay, so what do you need to do today?” I look up to Alex as we walk across the grass to the soccer pitch. My hand is in his as we get closer to the crowd. There are a lot of people, mostly families, but I spot a few photogs pulled up behind us on motorcycles. Clearly, we are still a hot topic. I wouldn’t know; I have stopped looking at my social media and banned my sister from telling me anything.

“I have no idea. Give the trophy or something,” he murmurs, looking around. His frown is deep, his hold on my hand tight and warm. I roll my shoulders back and lift my chin, this act now in full force and feeling less like an act by the day.

“It’s nice to see you out of your suit,” I feel the need to tell him, and he looks at me briefly. I swear I see a quirk of his lips, but maybe that’s wishful thinking.

He looks good. Dark jeans and a navy Henley that is tight on his frame, showcasing his extremely fit physique. He has on a jacket, but it is more casual than his usual suits, with a scarf draped around the back of his neck that finishes what is a very luxurious weekend look. My mind flashes to the memory I have of him naked. Today is the first time I have seen him again since then, my cheeks heating instantly at the thought.

“How did it go with Laurent and Sheridan during the week?” he asks, and I grin.

“So good. I can’t believe you are giving all your staff members' kids toys. They are going to absolutely die when they see what we have organized,” I say enthusiastically. It took Laurent, Sheridan, Jillian, and me all afternoon, but we finally got everything ordered and organized. The Jackson Enterprises holiday party is going to be amazing.

“That sounds expensive…” he murmurs, looking down at me again with lowered eyebrows this time, yet I beam at him.

“It is. Thank you for letting Tucker Toys help.” I’m grateful because, not only will our agreement put a hold on our leasing obligations, but the investment from his company to purchase toys for all the families is an injection of funds that we desperately need. It will really set us up moving into the start of the new year.

“Worth it,” he says quietly, and I tilt my head in question.

“For what?” I ask, wondering how he sees the party. I know he didn’t want to do it. Sheridan and Laurent pretty much told us that when they came to Tucker Toys to discuss their vision and give us their budget.

“To see you smile like that,” he tells me easily, and I almost stumble. My cheeks heat and shock fills my chest. I am about to say something to him, but he is already greeting Sheridan, so I just try to breathe and act like he didn’t just drop a compliment that has me swooning.

“Alexander. Good to see you,” Sheridan interrupts, walking up to us as I try to get into character for this charade. I swallow before I put on my biggest smile. It is an act. People are watching, most likely within hearing distance, maybe even lip-reading our words, and I need to remember that. But I can’t help but wish that those words actually meant something. That maybe I could find a man one day who wants to see me smile, instead of my ex, who just wanted to slap the smile from my face.

“Where do you need us?” he asks, his professional facade back, his hand still holding mine tight.

“Hey, Haylee, you can both just take a seat up on the stands. The game is about to start,” Sheridan confirms, and I look past her, seeing the kids in uniforms on the pitch warming up. They look about sixteen or so, and most seem to be taking it pretty seriously.

“Which one is our team?” I ask her, and Alex looks over at them, somewhat intrigued.

“We are the boys in blue. The Midtown Blues. Today is the final. These teams are evenly matched,” she says, smiling like only a proud mother could.

“Which one is yours?” Alex asks, and I try to hold back the smile that comes to my mouth as I see him softening and asking the right questions.

“Number ten and number twelve,” she says.

“You have two?” I ask.

“Twins.”

“Oh, how fun,” I say, grinning, because I love kids. Having twins would be insanely hectic, but the good kind.

Alex scoffs, and I roll my eyes at him. “Come on. We need to get good seats,” I say, pulling him along, his grip in mine tight as he follows me. We find a couple of seats at the front, the crowd looking at us as a few murmurs move around the group.

“Did you know Sheridan had twins?” I ask him because he didn’t mention it.

“No,” he scoffs. “I didn’t even know she had a kid until a few weeks ago,” he admits, and I nod. That sounds more like the Alex that I am learning about.

“Do you know how many of your staff actually have children?” I ask him, as I watch the teams down below warm up before gathering together for last-minute advice from their respective coaches.

“No. Maybe like twenty percent.” Pulling his cell from his pocket, he eyes it intensely.

“Sixty-five percent,” I tell him, and his head shoots up to look at me.

“Sixty-five percent?” he clarifies, his eyes widening, clearly surprised.

“That was the figure that Sheridan mentioned at our meeting during the week. That is a lot of toys, and a lot of people who earn a living for their entire families from your company. That is a lot of responsibility.”

I admire his business sense. But that is a lot of pressure on him, and I am slowly understanding his need to continue to grow the organization, do more and be more.

He drops his hand to rest on his thigh and sits back. There’s something about his touch resting there that feels so much more intimate than hand-holding. It feels way too good.

“How many toys?” he asks.

“Well, we have worked it out so we can have two toys per child, based on the budget allocation. You have approximately fifteen hundred staff eligible for this gift, with sixty-five percent of those with an average of two children… So, that is…” I grab my ear, wishing I had a calculator.

“One thousand, nine hundred, and fifty toys…” he says, leaning over and grabbing my hand, pulling it from my ear and entwining my fingers with his, resting our hands together on his other knee. My cheeks feel hot, and my breathing is shallow. I look around quickly, seeing way too many eyes on us before swallowing and getting back into character.

“Yes. That sounds right. I know it must be a small part of your overall event budget. I mean, you have food trucks and live music planned, not to mention the fees you would have to pay to run an event in that part of the park, but it is a big deal to my family that Tucker Toys can be a part of something so amazing.” I grin, wanting him to know I appreciate it. I am sure he could have gone to Macy’s or Saks or any other large department store to organize the children's gifts, but Jillian and I were excited to put through a special order this week, and we are looking forward to receiving the shipment. Mom and Dad had to sit down when I told them. The shock on their faces was evident enough at the large purchase of toys.

“I can’t believe I let them talk me into it,” he mumbles, almost sulking like a kid, and I grin.

“I am glad they did. It’ll make so many people happy. Ohh, look, hot dogs!” I say, pointing to the food stand off to the side.

“It’s ten o'clock in the morning,” Alex says, looking at me like I am crazy.

“I never met a corn dog I didn’t love.” I smile at him, and he shakes his head as the whistle blows and the game begins. I spot a group of homeless people over to the side, sitting in the sun, and can’t help but frown.

“What’s wrong?” Alex asks, clearly observant today.

“Nothing. It’s just, I haven’t seen Deloris in a while,” I admit. Now that I am not taking the train as much, and my social life has changed somewhat with dates and media, I don’t get to see her in our usual spots.

“Maybe she is just staying somewhere new.”

“It’s possible, but Jillian hasn’t seen her either,” I say, thinking about it. “Last time I saw her was that night in the park.”

“Maybe she is just busy, you know, with her bag of supplies she found that night,” he says way too casually, and I try to hold in my laugh, but I can’t. It comes out in a half laugh, half snort, making people around us look our way.

“Stop it. Since when are you making jokes?” I say through a chuckle, slapping my hand across my eyes, not wanting to think about that bag of dildos and vibrators we found.

“Hiding your eyes won’t stop the vision…” he teases, nudging my shoulder with his. I drop my hand, smiling wide, and I open my eyes to see his face leaning closer.

“Oh,” I say, surprised as his eyes hook on to mine. A silent look passes between us that I can’t decipher, yet it feels charged. He lifts his hand that is holding mine to his lips and kisses my knuckles.

“Does it make you embarrassed?” he asks, his head tilting as he watches me carefully.

“What? The contents of the bag?” I clarify, and he nods.

“No…” I say, a little unsure. I mean, I am a single female with needs. “It’s usually the men who feel uncomfortable around them, is it not?” If my ex ever caught me with such a thing, he would have gone nuclear.

“Only ones who are insecure. The rest of us have no issues using a partner to pleasure our women.”

Even though it is a cold winter morning, my body temperature just escalated, as did my heart rate.

“Good to know,” I say in barely a whisper. My throat is suddenly dry, and I squeeze my hand in his so I don’t rip it from his grip and pull my ear from my head.

“Did you sleep well in my t-shirt the other night?” His voice is low, his eyes searching. Shit, shit, shit. He knows I saw him.

“Yes…” I clear my throat. “It was very comfortable.”

“Glad to hear it. You know, I didn’t hear you come into my room to get it.” He is enjoying this. I realize he is teasing, clearly comfortable in his nakedness.

“I didn’t want to interrupt,” I reply, deciding to tease right back. Even if it feels like my heart might fly from my chest and land before me.

It’s in that moment my cell vibrates in my bag, grabbing my attention, and I dive into my handbag to grab it as Alex leans back, giving us some space. It is a number I don’t know, and I usually don’t answer, but I think about Deloris and where she might be and if she is in trouble.

“Hello?” I ask, before mouthing sorry to Alex. He just nods and looks back at the game.

“Haylee,” Jaryd barks, and my stomach sinks. Pulling the phone from my ear, I end the call quickly as my pulse whooshes in my ears.

“Everything alright?” Alex asks, looking at me with a pinched brow, and I give him a forced smile.

“Fine. Everything's fine. Just the wrong number,” I tell him as I block that number from my phone immediately, like I have every other time he calls. Jaryd isn’t a nice man, and for some reason, he still likes to make my life hell. I toss my cell back in my bag and look up to watch the game, my blood now gone cold.

* * *

“This is intense,” I say as we’re now into the last half and the score is tied.

“The game or the corn dog?” Alex asks.

“The corn dog was delicious. Thank you,” I say, smiling. He went down in the middle of the first half to buy me one, my mouth watering watching all the kids eat theirs.

“That kid is going to go pro,” Alex says, pointing to a kid from the opposition, and I nod.

“He has already kicked two goals, plus he did that amazing kick from the corner,” I add, the two of us hunched together.

“Come on, Midtown!!” I shout, and Alex’s gaze whips to me.

“What? I get too involved. I need to cheer,” I say without apology. Everyone else is cheering.

“You know a lot about soccer?”

“I played on the girls’ team in high school,” I admit.

“Of course you did,” he says, shaking his head.

“What about you? What did you play?” I ask him, wondering if he was into sports as a kid.

“I was quarterback on the football team.”

“Of course you were,” I say right back, smirking. “I bet the cheerleaders loved you.”

“Hmmm, I prefer the soccer girls…” His eyes sweep over me quickly. I almost swoon for the second time with him today and try to loosen the neck of my top because I am starting to feel warm.

“Hmmm, I am sure you had an endless supply of options.” He would have certainly been the best-looking guy on campus.

“Maybe. I didn’t always indulge, though.”

“No? Couldn’t fit them all in your calendar?” I tease some more, and the corners of his mouth lift like I was hoping they would.

“I was a teenager, too excited about getting to play the sport I loved to even really think about girls.” Shaking his head a little, I think I see a slight pink on his cheeks. Another indicator that he is soft underneath the layer of Scrooge he cloaks himself in.

“What about college? Did you play football then too?” I ask, happy to learn more about him that I can’t read online.

“No, I gave it up to focus on my studies and the business. My father was adamant that all my time be allocated to learning the ropes so right after I graduated I could run the European office.”

“Wow, that's a lot of pressure,” I comment, and he just shrugs. I decide not to push that subject, not wanting to ruin his mood. It seems like it could be a touchy subject.

“So, what do you do to keep so fit?” I ask instead, my cheeks heating, immediately thinking about his naked shower.

“You think I am fit?” He gives me a knowing look. “Run. Weights. I use my gym at home, mostly. What about you?” he asks, and I huff a laugh.

“The only weightlifting I do is with the ice cream from the tub,” I admit, laughing to myself. Sure, I’m on my feet all day, running around the shop and unpacking boxes, but in terms of formal exercise, that is not something I do. Alex’s eyes travel down my frame and back up again.

“You look good. Don't change,” he says, voice dipping low, and for the second time today, he takes my breath away. He clears his throat before he continues.

“So you are sure you are okay with me coming to Thanksgiving this weekend?” he asks, almost sounding unsure, not that he’d show it.

“Of course. The more the merrier. Although Dan might need a bigger car to take you home afterward. My mom, Jillian, and I literally cook for days. It is a feast,” I tell him, smiling proudly. “Did you celebrate Thanksgiving when your dad was alive?” I ask.

“Not really. We were too busy running the business.”

“So you just worked on Thanksgiving Day?” I can’t help the frown tugging at my lips, wondering if he did anything fun as a kid, and he only nods. “Well, sorry in advance for the experience you are going to have at my parents’ place on the weekend. We aren’t exactly subtle with celebrations.”

“I’m actually looking forward to it,” he says as he looks at me, a small grin playing on his face that makes my stomach flutter. “And I’ll be driving. Dan needs the day for his family.”

“Oh, so you do actually drive yourself at times?” I ask playfully. Our conversation today is friendly, and I am enjoying it.

“On occasion. Dan makes the workweek a little easier for me, though. What about you? Do you have a car, or do you use public transport all the time?” he asks, and I sigh.

“I have taken the train most of my life. I don’t really need a car in New York,” I tell him.

“What about at night? You can’t be too careful.” He watches me with the same worry he showed before we went to the gallery. He really doesn’t seem to like the fact that I take public transport after the sun goes down. The fact that he has even a flicker of worry for me shouldn’t give me butterflies like it does.

“Usually, Dad will pick us up if we finish at the shop too late. But Jillian and I travel together, plus there is Deloris usually as well.”

He nods, but still doesn’t appear to be happy about it.

“Deloris…” he mutters, like he’s thinking out loud.

“She is one in a million,” I tell him, smiling, and he looks at me appreciatively.

“I have never met anyone quite like you,” he says quietly, his eyes searching mine. We are close, our shoulders touching, our heads turned to face each other, the soccer game long forgotten. My heart stutters, and I swallow. The way he says exactly how he is feeling is like a breath of fresh air.

“I know. I’m one of a kind.” Laughing at myself, I try to shake off how strongly he’s making me feel. It’s then it happens. It starts small, almost like it’s happening in slow motion, and I blink a few times to ensure I am not imagining it. My heart races with joy and my smile is wide as I watch his lips quirk at the sides, but instead of lowering straightaway like I have seen them do a few times now, they continue to rise.

“Oh… my… God…” I whisper as I see his full-blown smile appear. “You’re smiling.” I’m gobsmacked by the sight, the feeling of genuine happiness filling my bones as I look at him in wonder.

“Yes. Yes, I am, Sunflower,” he says, before he leans forward and kisses my forehead. I’m glad I’m sitting down, because if I was standing, I would fall at his feet. I was right. Alex with a full-blown smile is devastatingly handsome and one for the record books.