Scorching to the Touch by Ofelia Martinez

Author:Ofelia Martinez
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Ofelia Martinez

26

ERICA

Determined to make better memories in Vallarta so this city I once loved stops haunting me, I invite Alejandro to visit while Dad is away filming for the week.

Happily, Alex agrees and shows up the day after I leave Fritz’s hotel room.

“I wanted to thank you,” I tell Alex over a chess game. “For making me face Marisol.”

Alex takes a deep breath, stealing one of my rooks with his knight. “I was worried you’d send me to hell when you found out we’ve stayed in touch. And for the record, it’s not like we’re best friends. We only meet up occasionally, and usually for milestones and such. She was there to tell me about the baby and ask me to be godfather.”

“You don’t have to defend yourself to me. I trust you. If there’s one person in this world I know would never hurt me, it’s you.” The words ring true because I feel them in my bones.

Alex leans back in his chair, pausing the game to sip his whiskey on the rocks. “Then marry me,” he says coolly.

“Alex,” I whine.

“How many times are you going to make me ask, Eri? You know it’s us, don’t you? That you and me . . . we make a family together. That the life I want to give you is exactly the life you want.”

“You don’t know that, Alex.”

“Don’t I?”

I shake my head. “I don’t want to be in the public eye forever. I’ve seen what it’s done to my father and his private life. When I do start a family, I want to retire from acting. I’ll miss acting itself, but not everything else that comes with it.” That makes him pause like I knew it would.

Though he’s never admitted it, I know Alex values both the money and the fame he receives from his acting career.

“So, you see?” I ask. “We might not be as suited as you think.”

“I’d give it up,” he says so quickly, I wonder if he stopped to think about it at all.

“I wouldn’t ask you. You love acting.”

“I do. But I love you more. I’d say we’ve both had amazing careers. We can stop when we’re at the top of our game. Retreat from the cameras and make babies. Lots and lots of babies. And lots and lots of practice at making babies.” He waggles his brows.

With a drink halfway to my mouth, when he says this, I laugh. “Alex!”

He leans forward and palms my hand in his. “I mean it, Eri. I’d give it up happily if it meant we could make a family together.”

My eyes sting at his words. Why can’t I just fucking force myself to love this perfect, kind, handsome man?

Maybe he is right, though, and many successful marriages started with far less than friendship.

Fritz is likely very well on his way to repairing things with Esmeralda, moving on. I want to do the same, but my heart needs time. If I intend to make a go of it with Alex, I need to do it right, when my head is clear.

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