Porsche leaned across the table, placed her hands on top of China’s and whispered, “I’m sorry. Can I do anything?”

  China shook her head and used her right hand to wipe away the few tears she couldn’t hold back. She took a deep breath and quickly exhaled it. “I’m fine.” She picked up the binder and handed it to Porsche. “I highlighted a few areas you should double-check.”

  “You sure you’re okay?” Porsche asked, accepting the binder.

  “Absolutely. Alexander and I are both professionals and our friendship means the world to us. We just need a little time and we’ll get past this. Plus, we have the EPA to deal with, and that will keep us very busy these next couple of months. Good luck with that,” she said, pointing at the binder.

  “Thank you.” The concern in Porsche’s voice and on her face was evident.

  China plastered on a smile that she hoped would reassure her friend. “Thanks for the coffee and the talk. Everything’s going to be wonderful. I have my work and hopefully soon the family...the child I’ve always wanted.” China rose from her chair and picked up her things. “That’ll be enough for me.”

  Porsche stood and hugged China. “Call me if you need me.”

  “I will, but as far as this chapter is concerned, I won’t need to.” I pray that I won’t, anyway.

  Chapter 9

  China sat in her chair with her left elbow on the desk and her head resting in the palm of her hand. She was flipping through a book of legal precedents when her cell phone rang. She removed it from its charging stand, read the name that appeared on the screen.

  “Good afternoon, Jackson.”

  “Good afternoon, beautiful. How is your Wednesday going?”

  China sat up, pushed away from her desk and turned her chair so that now she faced her windows. She really enjoyed the view of the city from her forty-eighth-floor office. “Busy as usual.”

  “Well, I won’t keep you long, I just want to confirm that we’re still on for dinner tonight...my place. I’m making pasta,” he sang, slightly off-key.

  China had enjoyed spending the last five weeks really getting to know Jackson and developing their friendship. As expected, they had a great deal in common. What she hadn’t expected was how her changed feelings toward Alexander would affect any potential relationship with Jackson. No matter how hard she tried, China couldn’t get Alexander, their evolving bond and all the intimacy they’d shared out of her mind and heart. China figured that, just like always, once she made the decision to move forward with Jackson, that would be that. Unfortunately, her heart was proving to be pretty stubborn when it came to letting go.

  While Alexander appeared to be accepting China’s choices and had moved beyond what happened between them, her mind and body hadn’t gotten the message that it was time to let go. Just the sight of Alexander, or the sound of his voice, sent her up in flames. Even the thought of another man touching her was literally making her sick.

  China placed her left hand over her chest and took in a couple of quick breaths. “That sounds lovely, but—”

  “I know this is an especially busy time for you, China, but you have to eat.”

  “That’s just it, Jackson, I don’t think I can. It’s that time of the month, and on top of that, I think I got that stupid stomach bug that’s been going around.”

  “Oh, no, that’s a nasty one, too,” he said, his voice full of concern. “You’re weaker now, which brings your resistance down even further, making you more susceptible to a number of viruses.”

  China laughed. “Thanks for the medical diagnosis, Doctor, and here I thought babies and kids were your only specialty.”

  “Soon you will see I’m quite good at a lot of things.” Jackson chuckled.

  China’s stomach flipped and not in a good way.

  “Seriously, I did a few rotations in several specialties before I decided to pursue pediatrics. You need to stay hydrated, and if the nausea continues, have your doctor call you in something for it.”

  “Thanks, Jackson, I’ll keep that in mind.”

  “By the way, did I leave my watch at your place?” he asked. “I don’t remember putting it back on after washing your dishes the other night.”

  China laughed. “Yes, your precious Bulgari Diagono watch is safe and sound on my dresser.”

  “Great. I’ll get it next time I see you.”

  “No problem. I have a meeting to prepare for. Let’s talk later,” she promised.

  “I look forward to it—feel better.”

  China disconnected the call and stared down at the phone for several moments. She still couldn’t believe that she was having such a hard time taking that next step with Jackson. China sighed and turned her chair around, only to find Alexander standing in the middle of her office with his arms folded across his chest and holding a blue file folder. He was wearing jeans and a white shirt with their company logo, a flaming phoenix, placed on the left side of the shirt just above his heart. It was the uniform he’d started wearing over the past several weeks.

  It had been weeks since China and Alexander slept together and had had any type of conversation that went beyond business. China still struggled with the fact that Alexander spent almost three of the five weeks he was gone conducting their business away from the office, working between his family’s and his brother’s ranch without even telling her about it beforehand. This was the second time he’d pulled a disappearing stunt on her, and she still hated it, missing him as much this time as she had then.

  China’s breath caught in her throat. “Alexander, you startled me. I didn’t hear you come in.”

  “I gathered that. No one’s at their desk out front. Are you okay? You don’t look well,” he asked, his face expressionless and his tone even.

  China reached for the bottle of ginger ale that Joyce had placed on her desk earlier in the day, taking several sips, hoping to calm her stomach. She couldn’t be sure if it was the illness or Alexander creating such waves in her body. “I’ll be fine. You know how I get when it’s that time of month. Not to mention that I think I’ve caught that bug that’s hitting everyone so hard.”

  “That sucks. Maybe you should go home and get some rest,” he recommended.

  “Maybe you should just show me whatever you’re holding in your hands.” China offered him her right palm.

  “Stubborn as always.” Alexander dropped his arms and walked up to China’s desk. “This is a whittled-down version of the list of so-called potential whistle-blowers.”

  China accepted the folder and read the list. “This is considerably smaller than our initial listing. You sure this is it?”

  “Excluding you and the rest of my family, those five people—” he pointed at the list with his right index finger “—either handled or had direct access to the EPA’s disposal guidelines and the final approved policy and procedures. Now what? It’s not like we can walk up to each of these people and ask if they went to the EPA and lied about us.”

  “Actually, we can. We have every right to interview anyone we deem appropriate in our own investigation, as long as we don’t infringe on anyone’s rights and they can choose to decline an interview. It’s part of the employee handbook that everyone received upon being hired,” China explained.

  Alexander smirked and nodded. “I have a better idea. We can have them investigated, even put them under surveillance.” Alexander leaned against China’s desk.

  “Surveillance?” China frowned.

  “Yes. Maybe we can find out who they’re working for.”

  “What makes you think they’re working with someone?” China gave him a questioning look.

  “Look at the lists. None of those people could pull this off by themselves,” he said confidently.

  “I’m finding it hard to believe any one of these people would turn on us like that,” she said, rubbing her temples with the index fingers of both hands.

  Alexander leaned forward. “You sure you’re okay, China?”

  China dropped her hands and met his gaze. She could feel the warmth of his breath on her face. Alexander’s all-consuming gaze had softened; she could see his concern and it had her heart and stomach doing backflips. Before she could respond to his question, there was a small knock on the door. “Come in,” China called out.

  Alexander straightened to his full height.

  “Excuse me, China.” Joyce walked into the office with her right hand holding her stomach. “I’m sorry, Alexander. I didn’t realize you were in here.”

  “No one was at their desk when I arrived.”

  “My apologies, the interns are in the research department and I was in the ladies’ room...again,” Joyce explained, lowering her head.

  “It’s fine,” Alexander and China echoed.

  “What’s up, Joyce?” China asked, taking another sip of her ginger ale.

  “I’m not feeling well. This bug has got me really messed up. Do you mind if I go home?” she asked.

  “Not at all, I know exactly how you feel.” China could see how green her friend looked, and she could certainly empathize with her.

  “Thank you.” Joyce gave them a weak smile of appreciation. “It seems to be a twenty-four to forty-eight-hour thing, so I should be able to come back to work by Friday.”

  “No problem, just take care of yourself,” China insisted, with Alexander nodding his agreement.

  Joyce exited the office.

  “You should take your own advice. You don’t look much better,” Alexander said.

  “Thank you very much, Mr. Sensitive.” A small smile spread across her face.

  A corner of Alexander’s mouth twitched. It was the first time in weeks that they’d shared any type of exchange that brought them back to the closeness they’d once shared and it actually made China feel better...complete. She missed it; she missed him.

  “About this surveillance, what do you have in mind?” she murmured.

  Alexander placed his hands in his pockets. “I was thinking we could bring in Meeks Montgomery from the security firm of Blake & Montgomery to handle the investigation and the surveillance. We could have them run a detailed background check on all the employees, too, just in case we missed something.”

  “You know him?” China questioned, her voice weak.

  “I know who his father-in-law is—he did some work for my mother several years ago before he retired, turning the business over to his eldest daughter.”

  “What kind of work?” she asked, her curiosity piqued.

  “It had something to do with the deaths of my father and uncle. Before they died they’d been working on some big deal, and the negotiations were intense. In fact, according to my mother, my dad and uncle were prepared to walk away from the deal altogether, and that would have cost others nearly a billion dollars.”

  China’s eyes grew wide. “What kind of deal was that?”

  “It was our company’s first big foreign oil contract.”

  “That’s definitely motive for foul play.”

  “Hence all the security we had to endure and why we ended up being raised and homeschooled on the ranch until we went off to a private high school,” he explained.

  “You said it was the company’s first big deal. Who completed it after your father died?”

  “My mother, at the same time she was having the accident investigated. I think she thought if anyone could find out if something went wrong with the initial investigation, Blake & Montgomery could. Even back then they were considered one of the best security and investigative firms in the country.”

  “So, did they find anything wrong?” Her eyebrows rose.

  “Nope, the plane crash was due to a mechanical problem.”

  China’s heart hurt for Alexander. “I’m sorry.”

  “It’s cool. I’ll see how soon I can get them to schedule a meeting with everyone.”

  “What date do you have in mind?” China turned her chair toward her computer and calendar. “Whoa...” She was hit with a wave of nausea and became very dizzy. China gripped the arms of the chair and closed her eyes.

  Alexander removed his hands from his pockets, came around China’s desk and knelt at her side. “Are you okay? Maybe we should get you to a doctor.”

  China slowly opened her eyes and looked down into a grave set of brown-and-gold orbs gazing back at her. She cupped his face with her right hand and said, “I don’t need a doctor. I’ll be fine, Alex, I promise.”

  “In all the years I’ve known you, your woman issues have never done you like this. It’s made you grouchy as hell, but not this.”

  China gave him a playful punch in the chest. “In all the years you’ve known me, you’ve never known me to have woman issues, as you put it, at the same time as a stomach virus.”

  Alexander held her gaze intently for several moments before standing and reaching for China’s office phone. He dialed and said, “Bring my car up to the elevator.” Alexander hung up the phone and lifted China out of the chair.

  “What are you doing?” she whispered, her voice frail.

  “I’m getting you out of here and taking you home,” Alexander explained.

  China was too weak to argue, so she laid her head on his chest. “Okay. Can you please grab my phone and bag?”

  Alexander collected China’s things, cradled her in his arms and carried her down the hall, past several inquisitive onlookers, to a private elevator. They got on and descended in silence. The doors opened to his waiting, custom-designed Aston Martin. Alexander placed China in the front passenger seat, secured her with the seat belt and closed the door. He quickly made his way around the car and got behind the wheel. China turned her head and faced Alexander. “Thank you,” she whispered.

  Alexander turned his head and fixed his eyes on hers. “I’m going to take care of you no matter what. You should know that by now.” China offered him a weak smile. “I’d do anything for you, China.”

  Alexander put the car in Drive and maneuvered his way out of the parking garage. China closed her eyes. Oh, how I wish that were true.

  Chapter 10

  After using his key to open China’s front door, Alexander disarmed her alarm, returned to his car and carried her into the house. Alexander knew he was going overboard by continuing to carry China into and around her house like he was but he didn’t care; he missed their closeness. “I could’ve walked in on my own, you know,” China said.

  “I know.” After Alexander entered the house, closing the door behind him, he climbed the stairs and took China into her bedroom, where he gently placed her on the bed. “How do you feel?”

  “A little better, actually, but I do need to take a shower.”

  From the moment China had cupped his face, Alexander had been fighting to keep his desire for her under control. The thought of her naked body being pelted with water wasn’t helping in his effort. “A shower. Need any help?” China’s eyebrows came to attention. “What I meant to ask was, can I get you anything?” Alexander’s phone rang and he pulled it out of his pocket.

  “Saved by the bell,” she teased.

  He looked at the name on the screen before sending the caller to voice mail and pocketing his phone. “Hardly.”

  “Look, you can go. I’ll be fine,” China reassured him, rising from the bed and heading into her bathroom.

  Alexander watched as China disappeared behind the double doors. Travis is right; control is highly overrated. Alexander thought back to the advice his cousin had given him several weeks ago.

  * * *

  Alexander stood shirtless with sweat rolling down his chest, his arm muscles expanding with each swing of the large ax he held, splitting the log in two parts with one blow.

  “Hey,” Travis called as he approached his cousin.

  “What’s up?” Alexander replied, wiping the sweat from his brow with his left hand while holding the ax low at his right side.

  “You tell me. You’ve been here for nearly a week and I have more wood than we could use in multiple Houston winters. Not to mention your insistence on joining us on our cattle roundup last night.”

  “What, you don’t enjoy my company?”

  “Of course I do, but I also know you. You prefer your suits and office on the fiftieth floor of the Kingsley building to my hundred acres any day. At least, you used to,” Travis said.

  “I still do,” Alexander admitted, dropping the ax. “I just needed a break.” He walked over to a water station that had been placed next to a long bench.

  Travis followed his cousin and stood, watching, as Alexander poured himself a large cup of water. “Talk to me, man.”

  Alexander finished off two cups of water and looked around the busy ranch before he spoke. He sat down and said, “This could take a minute.”

  “I’m the boss, remember?” Travis took a seat on the bench next to Alexander. He stretched out his legs and said, “I have all the time you need.”

  Alexander spent nearly an hour explaining the complicated current state of his relationship with China, including the advice his brother had given. He leaned forward with his elbows resting on his knees and his hands clasped together, holding up his chin.

  “Now I’m here trying to rein in all these crazy emotions before I have to go back home and work side by side with her.”

  Travis slapped Alexander on the shoulder with his right hand. “I understand. The last thing you need is to be seen as out of control, especially with everything that’s been going on and all these eyes on you lately.”

  “I know, and the press is relentless, too.” Alexander ran his right hand back and forth through his hair.