'Rex, I'm fine--' she protested. 'You're not.' 'I don't--' 'You will.'
She set her jaw stubbornly. 'Rex, dammit--' 'Alexi, dammit.' 'I'm not going anywhere. It's been hours now, and I feel just fine.'
Rex leaned back and thought about it for a minute. Independent. She was accustomed to being independent. She really didn't like to be told what to do. Women were like that these days--independent--and they meant it. If he forced her hand, it could stand against him.
But she really needed to go to a hospital. Just as a precautionary measure. She'd be mad at him, but...
'Rex...?'
Alexi didn't like the way he was looking at her as he came toward her. 'Rex!' She screamed out her protest when he scooped her up into his arms. 'Rex, damn you, I said--''
'Yeah, yeah, yeah. I heard you.' 'You can't do this!' 'Apparently I can.'
He stopped by the kitchen table to slip his pinky around the strap of her purse. He hurried through the house, yelling at Samson to get back when the shepherd tried to follow him. Alexi struggled against him, but he didn't give her much leverage. A moment later he deposited her in the car and locked the door. He slid into the driver's seat and revved the car into motion before she could think about hopping out.
She didn't say anything to him. She stared straight ahead, rubbing her wrist where he had gripped it.
Rex put the car into gear and glanced her way. 'Alexi, your face is pale gray!'
She didn't say anything. She just kept staring ahead, watching as they left the peninsula behind and sped on to the highway.
'Gray, mind you--ashen.'
She cast him a rebellious stare, her blue eyes sizzling. 'Sickly, ash gray.'
She sighed and sank into the seat. “You could have at least let me get my toothbrush!'
Rex laughed and turned his attention back to the road. She would, he felt sure, forgive him for this one.
'Maybe they'll say that you're fine and that you can go right home.'
She smiled at that. But when they reached the hospital, the doctor determined that she did have a minor concussion and that she should stay at least overnight for observation.
Alexi cast Rex a definitely malignant stare, but he ignored her--and promised to run down to the gift shop and buy her a toothbrush.
He had no intention of leaving her. From the coffee shop, Rex called Gene and very carefully chose the words to tell him what had happened. Gene was in good health, but Rex was wary, never forgetting that the man was in his nineties and didn't need any shocks in his life.
Rex told Gene that he was wondering if there wasn't a way to get her out of the house. Gene shrewdly warned him that if the danger was directed at Alexi, it wouldn't help to get her out of the house.
Rex asked him harshly, “Then you think that it is John Vinto?'
'I didn't say that,' Gene protested. He paused a moment. 'I don't know what to think.'
“Just for the weekend, then,'' Rex murmured.
'What? What, boy? Speak up there. I can't hear you!'
'Oh. I said just for the weekend. I've got the sloop in berth in town. Maybe we'll take her out for a sail. Just to have a few days without anything else happening. I'll leave Samson at the house to guard it, and Emily can come over to feed him and the kittens.'
Gene was very silent. Rex barely noticed, he was so busy taking flight with his plans in his imagination.
'I'll be there to see you off,' Gene said. 'We'll have lunch.'
'I haven't even mentioned it to Alexi yet,' Rex cautioned Gene.
'You'll figure something out,' Gene said. 'I'm a man of boundless faith.'
Rex stayed at Alexi's side, watching her as she slept, and as the night passed he felt as if more and more of her stole into his soul. It seemed to him that she remained too pale, and yet there was an ethereal quality about her that was beautiful. He was afraid to touch; she was so very fine. Small and fine boned and delicate to look at-- golden, like exquisite porcelain or china. But she wasn't really so delicate, he knew. Despite the battles she had waged and lost in life, she was still fighting, a golden girl, a glittering, shimmering beauty.
He was in love, he realized as he watched the swell of her chest while she breathed. He folded his hands prayer-fashion and tapped his fingers against his chin and wondered how it had happened. He could remember loving Shelley. Vaguely. It had been a different feeling. They had been growing apart, and he hadn't even known it. She'd whispered at night that she had loved him, too.
And then she had been gone.
Alexi was different. Very different. She didn't bother with the lies. She'd never whispered that she loved him, and he'd been careful to guard his own heart. All good things came to an end. He was a fool if he thought that she would stay. Hers was perhaps the face of the century. He couldn't make her stay. He couldn't make her love him.
But, he decided grimly, he could make her get on his boat for a few days. A little time for dreams and the imagination, time enough to savor all the could-havebeens.
When dawn came he stroked a length of her hair and smoothed the golden tendril over her shoulder. A smile curved her lips. He leaned over to kiss her lightly, then stood and tiptoed out of the room, telling the nurse he'd be back soon.
He drove quickly back to the Brandywine house. Samson nearly attacked him. Rex patted the dog absently and hurried upstairs to the bedroom. He found his duffel bag in the closet and hastily chose a few things for himself, then paused, wondering what Alexi would want for a few days on a boat.
Underwear, of course. He looked through her drawers, then paused again, fascinated by the beautiful collection of slips and panties and bras. Then he smiled--and chose his favorites.
Another few minutes and he had found a few short sets, a bathing suit, sneakers, shirts and jeans. Samson barked when he tried to leave the house. Rex paused, knowing that he was seeing Samson's hungry look.
'Okay, boy. Come on. I'll feed you.'
He had just finished feeding Samson and the kittens when he heard the phone ringing. He reached the parlor to answer it--only to hear a breath, then have it go dead.
He swore at the empty line. When it began to ring again, Rex almost chose not to answer it. But when he picked it up that time, Emily's concerned voice came over the phone.
'Oh, Rex! I've been calling and calling. I tried all night. Is everything all right?'
'Emily! Good, good.' He'd needed to talk to her to see that the animals were fed, he remembered. He told her quickly what had happened--and he admitted that he suspected Alexi's ex-husband. Emily was very upset but thought that Rex was right--getting away for a few days might be best for the both of them.
'Samson will be in the house, Emily. I don't think anyone would dare try anything with him around. Think you'd mind coming by to feed him and the kittens? If you're in the least nervous, I'm sure that Mark Eliot will come out with you.'
Emily told him that she wasn't nervous at all when Samson was around and promised to come and feed the dog and the kittens and let them out for exercise and their daily 'constitutionals.' Rex thanked her, then hurried on out, anxious to return before Alexi could awaken.
Alexi wasn't at all fond of the idea. 'Leave? Rex, I don't think that's a good idea at all.' A frown puckered her brow. 'It's like giving up.'
'It's not giving up. It's taking a breather.'
'Or,' Alexi murmured skeptically, 'it's like a rest home for a neurotic.'
Rex swore impatiently and walked over to the window, shoving his hands in his pockets. He spun around to her. “Alexi, I believe you--I believe you a thousand times over. I don't think you're a neurotic--I think you were married to a very dangerous man. I need the break if you don't.'
'A break from what? We live in Eden, remember.'
Rex decided to change his tactics. 'I'm asking you to do it, Alexi. Just for me.'
'What?'
'You're going back soon, right? Summer ends. Beach bunnies go back to their Northern retreats. Helen has to go launch a few more ships. Let's do it for us.'
Alexi looked down quickly, allowing a fall of her hair to shield her face. She braced herself, then looked up again.
