Lexie’s POV
The taxi pulled up in front of the modern two-story duplex. “We are here, Miss.” The taxi driver tells me as he pops the trunk and gets out to retrieve my luggage from it. Opening the door, I take in the scent of salt water in the air and as I step out of the taxi the sun beams down on me and I feel rejuvenated. After years of college and living at home with my mother, to save every penny I could. To bust out of the north and head south, where I always dreamed of living. It looks like it has finally paid off. The taxi driver laid my luggage on the sidewalk and got in his taxi and took off to his next fare, leaving me standing alone looking at my new home. The aqua blue door opens and my best friend Emily runs out screaming, “Lexie you are finally here!” and I run to her as we embrace each other in a hug. It had been a year since I had last seen her and the southern life has treated her well. Her skin was no longer a milky color but now replaced with a bronzed natural glow from the sun. She also must have added some lighter highlights in her hair making herself look more like a natural blonde. As we pulled away from the embrace, I complimented her on how amazing she looks and she began to do a few model poses for me. Looking back at the duplex I noticed Tyler, Emily’s older brother, standing in the doorway with his arms crossed over his chest staring at us. It had been years since I have seen Tyler and adulthood has done him wonders. Even though he was just as good looking when he was in school, this Tyler looked more like a man verses the teenage heart throb. Emily turned to look at what I was staring at and yelled for Tyler to get my luggage and she grabbed my hand and pulled me past him and into the duplex. The door led to a small hallway that ran the length of the duplex and a door was open to the right and to the left and Emily pointed to the left and told me that was Tyler’s side and then pulled me to the right through the door and into a living room that was open to the kitchen and dining room area. Emily had already had the space completely furnished and I was thankful that I didn’t have to spend any money to help furnish it. She had decorated it in blues and yellows which gave it the feeling of a beach house. She began to give me a tour of the house and I was in love with every room she showed me. Finally, she took me upstairs and showed me her bedroom first which was the master, and it had a full bathroom and a walk-in closet. Last she took into my bedroom where Tyler was laying my luggage by the dresser on the floor. “Thank you.” I said to Tyler as Emily continued the tour around my room into the smaller bathroom that was connected to it. I was excited to have my own bath whatever size it was. Emily then asked Tyler to start the steaks on the grill that she had gotten especially for today since I was coming. She also was excited to introduce me tonight to her boyfriend that she has been dating for the past four months and I was excited to meet the individual that stole my best friend’s heart. Emily left me to unpack as she went to prep the meal for this evening and I quickly opened my suitcases and began to unpack the only belongings that I own. It didn’t take me long to put all my clothes away and I decided since I had time, I would grab a quick shower. Thankfully Emily had stocked my bathroom with all my favorites before I arrived. I assumed she did this to help me get on my feet since I still didn’t have a job. I had several interviews lined up for next week and since it was Saturday the interviews would start in two days. I had high hopes for a few of the companies since the pay had a great starting out salary along with a signing bonus which will help me give Tyler my share of the rent. Tyler was doing very well for himself and he had bought this duplex a few years ago in hopes of making money off the other side. Never in his wildest dreams did he think he would be renting to his sister and her best friend. Tyler had a soft spot for Emily and he would do anything for his baby sister. I always envied their relationship since I was an only child. Plus, we were also from opposite sides of the tracks. My mother did her best raising me, giving me all the necessities to survive but we never had the extra money to do much of anything. Thankfully our poverty helped getting me grants to attend school and make something of myself, which I fully plan on doing. There was no way I was going back home after making the journey here. I would work two jobs to pay my share of the rent if I had to. After my shower I threw on a sundress that I had gotten at the local thrift store back home that still had the tags on it and a pair of sandals and walked downstairs to join Emily in the kitchen preparing dinner. I asked her if she needed any help but she told me no and to go outside on the deck and enjoy my first day here. Looking out the sliding glass doors I could see Tyler on the back deck at the grill and he had an apron wrapped around him and when he turned to look at me, I read what was written on it and began to giggle. There was no way Tyler had bought an apron that said, “Once you put my meat in your mouth, you’re gonna want to swallow.” Yeah, that would definitely have been an Emily purchase there. After composing myself I opened the door to join him on the back deck and to my surprise you were able to see the ocean from here. Standing at the end of the deck against the railing I leaned my head up at the sun and took in the amazing scent that the ocean breeze brought in. The air was fresh and crisp and I felt like I was being refreshed just by taking the air into my lungs. Turning I looked at Tyler who was watching me as he stood in front of the grill. Tyler had always been the quiet type when it came to me. I could probably count on my fingers how many times he had actually said more than one word to me. He put the spatula down and walked over to a cooler opening it and then held a beer up towards me. I walked over and grabbed the beer and said, “Thanks Tyler.” As I took it and took a seat at one of the chairs that sat around a rectangle glass table. Tyler went back to the grill and started to move the steaks to the upper rack and then shut the lid and turned off the grill and joined me at the table sitting at the head of it and to my right. He took a drink of his beer and then sat it down on the table. “Your interview at my company is on Monday?” Tyler asks me and I was shocked he was actual talking and in full sentences to me. “Yes, first thing in the morning.” I respond to him. “You can ride with me if you want to.” He now says and that is now two complete sentences and I am wondering if moving here has done something to him. “That would be great. Thank you, Tyler.” I tell him and add, “I also appreciate you renting to me.” Tyler then nods like the Tyler I use to know and takes a drink of his beer and then the back door opens and Emily is carrying food out along with who I presume is her boyfriend. Emily formally introduces me to her boyfriend, Eric, as Tyler moves to the grill to retrieve the steaks. Dinner tonight was amazing as we ate, drank and reminisced about the past. Emily’s boyfriend seemed really nice, and she looked very happy with him. I just hope he gives me a year to get established here before he puts a ring on it and I have to pay rent on my own. Tyler on the other hand remained quiet throughout the night and I caught him multiple time staring at me and I hoped that he wasn’t upset that I had moved in with his sister. It didn’t dawn on me till now that he may see me as another burden but then why would he have told Emily about the job at his company if he wasn’t okay with me moving in. Emily and Eric decided to go for a dip in the hot tub that was on the lower deck, and she asked me to join but I felt like I would be a third wheel until Tyler got up and said he would join them too. Running up the stairs to my room, I pulled out the new two-piece swimsuit that I had gotten especially for the move. I pulled my hair up in a high ponytail and looked at myself in the mirror to make sure I looked alright before I headed down to join them. Everyone had already made it in the hot tub, and I was the last one to join them. Tyler’s eyes were glued on me as I unwrapped the towel from around my body. It was only a four-seater hot tub so that left me seated beside Tyler and as I got into the water my leg brushed against Tyler’s and goosebumps appeared on my skin from his touch. Emily handed me another beer and I relaxed back into the jet and closed my eyes as Tyler moved his leg against mine and I wondered if he was doing this on purpose of if the jets had just carried it there. Thirty minutes later the two love birds were making out and Emily excused herself and Eric and went to go in the house and I am sure to her bedroom. The other side of the hot tub was now available to move to but neither Tyler nor I moved to it as we sat alone in the hot tub together staring at the night stars in silence.Lexie’s POV As my eyes fluttered open and the beam of sunlight came through the window hitting me straight in the face. I quickly rolled over and pulled the pillow over my head. Nothing was worse than a hang over and I am sure that is what I am feeling now, the after effects of last night. After Emily and Eric left the hot tub I found myself alone with Tyler and what did we do, we drank half the night away in silence. Although I don’t remember coming back to my room and as I look under the covers I noticed I am buck naked and somehow, I had gotten this way and the question is how. A knock came from my bedroom door and the door opened slightly as Emily peaked her head in and asked if I was awake. I mumbled that I was awake and she opened the door and walked in and sat on the corner of my bed. “Thought you might need this.” Emily said holding up a glass of orange juice and a bottle of aspirin. Slowly I sat up holding the blanket around my naked body as I took the aspirin bottl
Lexie’s POV Emily’s BMW came to a stop in the front of a Country Club and the doors were opened by a valet parking attendant. As I stepped out of her sleek black car, I took in the grand entrance to the club and swallowed hard knowing that I couldn’t afford to eat here. Maybe it was a bad idea moving here so soon. Maybe I should have found a job back home, made some money and saved it for a few years before I moved down here so I at least was able to not worry about money every place we went. At this rate the money I had saved from waitressing back home while I was in school was going to be gone by the week’s end. Emily then appeared by my side and she could always read me so well and said, “Don’t worry it’s my brother’s treat. He always pays when we go out to eat.” I began to relax a little but I wasn’t Tyler’s sister, I was his sister’s best friend and I’m not so sure that applies to me nor do I think he should be paying for my meals. Regardless this was happening as Emily took
Lexie’s POV After lunch was over, Tyler pulled my chair out and grabbed my hand once again leading me out of the restaurant part of the Country Club following Emily and Eric. When we got to the grand entrance Emily turned and noticed once again that Tyler had ahold of my hand but she still did not say a word but looked at her brother and asked, “Is Lexie riding with you or me?” I thought the question was odd because I assumed I was riding with her. “She’s riding with me.” Tyler said and Emily looked at me and said, “I’ll see you when you get home.” “Okay.” I said to her not knowing what else to say because I have no clue what is going on today between Tyler and me. Once Emily and Eric left, Tyler said, “Wait here.” As he let go of my hand and headed in the opposite direction that we came from. As I waited for Tyler to return, I watched as people came in and went out of the club and realized I was out of place in this establishment. The ladies were decked out in designer clothes a
Lexie’s POV My alarm beeps waking me to a new day and hopefully the start of a new career. As I get ready I make sure to take extra time on my appearance wanting to make a good first impression. After seeing the woman at the Country Club yesterday I knew I needed to step up my game so instead of my normal light makeup I went heavier with the eye makeup and my hazel eyes now looked more dominate on the green side making them look catlike. My hair was a chore in itself and I know now why I never took the time before to curl it out in waves. Thankfully I set my alarm for two hours in advance of the time we needed to leave and as I pulled on the stockings that Emily had left for me to go with her pumps, which were more like stilettos, I could see the whole look I was going for coming together. Looking in the mirror after sliding my feet into the stilettos, I didn’t recognize the girl looking back at me. The dress hugged my figure leaving none of my curves to the imagination and the
Tyler’s POV The look on Lexie’s face told me that I was in for an earful but a part of me was dying to see her mad. The sweet innocent Lexie has been the torment of my existence and I have never hungered for someone like I do her. It has taken every ounce of my self control from making her mine and that dress she is wearing is leaving nothing to my imagination. Being away from her for the last eight years I thought I would have been over her but the moment she stepped out of that taxi the fire that once burned for her ignited into a blaze of hungry fury. I had told Emily that I would hire Lexie because I knew once the vultures smelled her innocence that they would make her one of their slaves and Lexie deserved so much more than that. Chase was a prime example of what was in store for her if I didn’t keep her under my wing and safe from the underground activities that happen in our city. Why my sister insisted on letting Lexie come here to live is beyond me. The past two months
Lexie’s POV Looking out the window in my new office I couldn’t believe what transpired today. I was in shock and in pure disbelief that Tyler owned this company and that I agreed to work for him. I wondered if I was in over my head agreeing to work for him. Emily had kept crucial information from me about this job, especially leaving the part out that Tyler owned the company. When did this even happen? Never once in the conversations that we have had over the years did she tell me that Tyler had made it this successful. She only told me he was doing very well for himself here. I thought maybe that meant he was an executor or something of a sort, not that he was the owner and boss. My mind went back to this morning and how he reacted when he saw me for the first time today in this dress and how he looked like he couldn’t contain himself. There obviously was an attraction between the two of us but why was he fighting it? Was it because I wasn’t good enough for him? Even though he tol
Tyler’s POV As soon as Lexie left the room, I lost all control and as I cleared my desk with one swipe of my hand. Organized papers and documents went flying across my office and I watched as they fluttered to the floor. “Shit.” I said to myself. My self-control around Lexie was starting to diminish and I was scared that I may hurt her. The look on her face and the fear that showed in her eyes as I grabbed her arm was unsettling and I hated myself knowing that I caused that fear. How the hell was this ever going to work having her so close to me all the time. The undying hunger within me began to throb and I knew I needed a fix soon before I lose all self-control with Lexie. Quickly I pulled my cell phone out and place the call. I left the other person on the other end of the line know I needed someone sent to my office stat, because this couldn’t wait till tonight. My body needed its fix now if I was ever going to be able to ride in an enclosed car with Lexie on the way home.
Lexie’s POV Sitting at my desk I began to prepare the documents that Connie had given to me for tomorrows in house meeting and I sent them over to the printer so that I can prepare the packets needed. Looking down at my arm I touched the spot where Tyler hand had grabbed my arm. It didn’t hurt but it felt like I could still feel his hand on me, and I thought that it had to be a figment of my imagination. Did I desire him that much that I was hallucinating that I could still feel his hand around my arm? The printer was done printing and I stood at my desk putting the packets together when my phone rang and I answered it, “Hello.” “Hey girlfriend. If you don’t care I’d like to pick you up after work and show you around the city.” Emily says on the other end of the line, and I know that Tyler had probably called her after the incident and didn’t want to drive me home. “You don’t have to.” I start to tell her, but she stops me and says, “I insist. Plus, I have been so wanting to check