His to Love

Chapter Three

Chapter Three

Patton

Alexa had been working at the resort for three weeks when her brother could wait no longer and had to come and check on her. We met for drinks later in the evening, as Luciano had gone to the deacon’s home for dinner. “Ah, there you are.” I stood to greet him.

“It’s good to see you, Patton.” He gave me a hug before we sat down at a small table.

Waving the waitress over, I ordered him a drink. “Scotch—neat. And I’ll take another Guinness.” Turning my attention to my oldest and dearest friend, I asked, “So, how’d dinner with the deacon’s family go?”

The way his brow furrowed told me that it hadn’t gone as well as he would’ve liked. “Their son is home from college. Did Alexa tell you about that?”

“She did.” I didn’t think the guy was anything to worry about. “She said they’re all very nice.”

“I don’t like the way he looks at her.” Luciano shook his head. “I suppose his parents don’t see what I see in their golden boy’s eyes. He’s lusting after her, Patton. He looks at my little princesa with too much interest in his damn eyes. And she seems as oblivious to it as his parents are.”

“Maybe you, being her over-protective big brother, see something that isn’t really there, Luci.” I thought that was more probable. “She hasn’t said anything about him bothering her in any way.”

“You don’t think she’s pretty?” he asked me with wide eyes. “You don’t think a young guy his age would be attracted to her?” The waitress brought our drinks and Luci took his, gulping down a large amount of the scotch. He must’ve felt extremely tense to do such a thing.

“Alexa is gorgeous, you know that.” With her shiny, long, dark hair and doe-like eyes, she was a true beauty. “And I can see any man being attracted to her. She’s a wonderful person on top of being beautiful. But I just think she would’ve said something to me if this guy was hitting on her.”

“See, I don’t think she realizes what he’s doing.” He took another drink before adding, “He’s smooth, Patton. Too damn smooth.”

I could see that. Alexa hadn’t had much experience with men—she might not be able to pick up on any creepy vibes if the guy was smooth about it. “Perhaps you’re right, Luci. She’s lived a very sheltered life so far. Why not just have a talk with this guy and let him know that your sister isn’t available to be his plaything. It wouldn’t be the first time you’ve done that.” I’d witnessed him scaring off a handful of boys who’d had the nerve to come to the door to ask after Alexa.

“If he tells his father that I’ve threatened him in any way, then I’m afraid they’ll no longer want Alexa staying with them. And that would upset my mother, and I don’t want that.” The mention of his mother reminded me that he’d yet to tell me about her heart condition. “Luci, Alexa told me about your mom’s heart problems. Why didn’t you tell me about it when it first happened?”

“You were so busy, Patton. I didn’t want to bother you with my worries. And she wasn’t that bad off. If she’d been worse then I would’ve told you about it.” His smile told me he meant what he’d said. “So, you understand why I don’t want to upset her.”

“I do.” Who wouldn’t want to be careful about upsetting their mother if any bad news might kill her?

Huffing, he shook his head. “I don’t know what to do. I don’t trust that guy. You know he was initially only going to be there for a week? But he changed his plans and is staying for the month now. I think it’s only because Alexa is there.”

I wasn’t so sure of that. “She’s working a lot, Luci. She pretty much goes home and goes to bed then gets up in the mornings and comes back to work. I don’t think she hangs out with him at all.”

“I don’t know.” He looked away, clearly distracted by his thoughts. “I’ve just got this bad feeling.”

“You’re being silly.” He and his parents had always been so over-the-top about Alexa. “You have to trust your sister. She’s a good person. She wouldn’t get involved with a loser.”

“I know that, but you said it yourself—she’s naïve.” He tapped his finger on the tabletop. “That kid is slick. And he’s got those pretty-boy good looks, too. I can tell that he’s used to having his way with women. And if he has his way with my baby sister, I’ll have to kill him.”

“So dramatic,” I said, trying to remind him that he was prone to being that way over Alexa. “Let the girl live a little. Besides, you can’t kill anyone, Luci.”

After taking another drink, he put the now empty glass down on the table with a solid thump. “That’s not entirely true, Patton. I can kill someone. I just can’t get caught.”

I laughed, having seen this side of him more than once where his sister was concerned. But that was when she was a teenager. “You know that your sister is twenty-two now, right? You know that she’s never been out on a date, right? You know that’s pretty sad, right?”

Waving at the waitress, he ordered another drink. “I don’t see it as being sad at all. I see it as my parents and I have done an excellent job so far of making sure she doesn’t get taken advantage of or hurt in some way.” He handed his empty glass to the waitress then took the full one. “Thank you, mi amor.”

The pretty waitress blushed as she nodded. “You’re welcome.”

He watched her as she walked away, and the hypocrisy was not lost on me. “So, you can have an active s*x life, but your sister can’t.”

“Don’t mention s*x and my sister in the same sentence, Patton.” He winked at me. “And yes, I can and she can’t. She’s an innocent baby. You know this.”

I didn’t know if he’d ever stop seeing her as anything but his little princesa. “She’s not a baby. I agree that she is innocent, but not a baby. She’s a young woman, Luci. She deserves to get a taste of love—or even just s*x—if she wants that.”

“Love, I can approve of. s*x with a horny womanizer, I will not.” Pointing up toward the ceiling, he went on, “She’s a gift from Heaven, might I remind you. One must be careful with such gifts. So, I will continue to be dramatic, as you say, until she’s found the right man.” He crossed his arms and nodded his head, sure that he was right.

“And that man will love and cherish her the way she deserves,” he continued. “He will not even contemplate s*x before marriage. He will do everything right with her. We’ve brought her up to believe in that.” Nodding again, he looked like he’d talked himself into something. “Perhaps she will thwart this imbecile on her own. She’s been taught well and has done as she was told all this time. Maybe I won’t have to kill this little pest after all.”

“I think you should refrain from saying anything about killing anyone.” I looked at a table not too far from ours where a uniformed policeman sat with what looked to be his girlfriend. “We don’t want anyone to get the wrong idea.”

He followed the direction of my eyes and saw what I did. “Oh, I didn’t see him there. Maybe I should calm down a bit.”

“I think so. And I think Alexa is a smart young woman. I don’t think she’ll want to become a notch on any man’s bedpost—and I don’t think she’d appreciate your attitude about this.” I didn’t look at his sister the way he and his parents did. I saw her for who she really was. “Since Alexa has come to work for us at the resort, I’ve watched how she interacts with the staff and with our clients. She’s every bit the professional, yet she’s personable. Everyone likes her, and they respect her as well. She’s really coming into her own.”

“That’s good to know.” A broad smile and a look of pride told me that he meant it. “Everyone has always loved her. She’s an angel. But that fool Alejandro Soliz doesn’t seem to see her in the right light.” The smile faded into a frown as he pulled his glass to his lips. “If his parents hadn’t been there, I would’ve jumped across that dining table and yanked him up by the collar. I wouldn’t mind kicking his a*s until he promised me he’d never look at my princesa like that ever again for the rest of his life.”

There he goes again, going overboard.

“I tell you what—I’ll talk to Alexa and ask if she’s feeling uncomfortable about staying there if he’s going to be home. I can find her somewhere else to stay until he’s gone if that’s the case. Hell, she can stay with me if she wants to. I’m still in the two-bedroom apartment right now, but the home I’m building is nearly done.” I wanted him to know that I was watching her.

Putting his hand on my shoulder, he patted it. “You are an incredibly good friend. I’m glad you’re looking out for her. My parents and I thank you very much for all you’re doing.”

“She’s great at her job, Luci. It’s a pleasure to have her onboard. You don’t have to worry about her.” And I didn’t think anything was going on between her and the deacon’s son either.

“I will never stop worrying about her. I’ve worried since the day she was born.” His eyes clouded over as he sighed. “You know there’s a reason we call her a miracle. Mamma only told me some of it, but she had no idea she was pregnant until she gained a lot of weight. She was many months along when she went to the doctor and he confirmed it. But she’d never stopped having her period, so she was confused. When she went into labor, Alexa’s heart stopped beating and they had to do an emergency c-section. I know there are far worse stories out there, but that was the worst my mother had ever dealt with.”

I had always figured there must be a story there, but that didn’t mean they had to safeguard her forever. “Well, she might’ve had a hard start to life but she’s strong now—and smart. She’s got her head on straight, too. I do believe it’s time to let her do her own thing and stop trying to protect her from the world and every horny guy out there.”

“I don’t know how to stop,” he admitted.