Free Dating A Saint by Donna McDonald

Over-indulging with alcohol is really bad for your skin, honey.”
    As Alexa was walking back from the kitchen to the living room with bottles of water for both her and Lauren, the doorbell rang.
    She walked to the door, looked out the security port, and was amazed at who was standing on Lauren’s doorstep. Opening the door wide, Alexa could tell she shocked the man who stood there quietly with a giant bouquet of gorgeous flowers in hand.
    “Flowers for me?” Alexa asked, smiling and teasing. “Jim, how sweet of you.”
    Alexa stepped aside, motioning for Jim to come in. He came in cautiously, his gaze darting around looking for Lauren, making Alexa laugh.
    “Lauren’s in the living room,” Alexa supplied dryly. Jim’s gaze hadn’t even taken her in as he had searched for Lauren.
    And that’s the last straw , Alexa concluded. She’d had enough of playing second string to Lauren McCarthy this evening. She was ready to go home to a man who actually paid attention to her. Lauren and Jim would just have to deal with each other.
    Jim put one hand in his pocket, not sure how to explain his presence there to Alexa. He was surprised when Alexa walked into the living room without him, seemingly unconcerned if he followed or not.
    On the couch, Lauren slept sitting up with her head leaned over the back edge, her long legs spread a little to stabilize her upright position. Black heels lay discarded near her feet. She was wearing a short black dress, the hem riding high enough on her thighs for Jim to see the edge of what looked like thigh-high nylons. The spit dried up in his mouth. The flower bouquet fell to his side.
    For long moments, he could do nothing but stand and stare at Lauren.
    “Is she drunk?” Jim asked finally, relieved to find his voice still worked.
    Alexa took a chair near the couch. She looked at Jim, trying to read what was going on with him. “Yes, thoroughly sloshed. Would you happen to know why?”
    Jim heard the accusation in her tone. “Are you implying this is my fault?” he asked, lifting the hand without the flowers to motion at Lauren.
    “I’m not implying anything. Saint McCarty drank the jumbo margaritas all by herself. But I know for damn sure you’re the reason she almost went home with my stripper,” Alexa said sharply, delighted when Jim’s eyes flew to Lauren’s splayed pose. “You owe me and Regina for stopping her.”
    “Why would I owe you for that?” Jim asked huskily, closing his eyes against the truth.
    “Stop being a coward. Do you really want Lauren McCarthy sleeping with another man and calling your name? Not that Shaun would have cared one way or the other,” she said, looking at her nails to see if her polish was chipped from wrestling with Lauren. “I also doubt Shaun would have bragged about it to everyone the next day, which is better than some of us manage. Most of my lovers were not very discreet either.”
    Jim didn’t answer Alexa. He wasn’t going admit to Alexa what he couldn’t yet admit to Lauren.
    “Look, Jim, I know how Lauren feels about you. What I don’t know is how you feel about her,” Alexa told him. “Neither does she, which I think partially explains the sudden drinking binge of a woman who has never drank more than a couple glasses of wine in front of me the whole time I’ve known her.”
    Chastised to realize he’d upset Lauren enough to push her into drinking, Jim walked to a chair. He set the flowers on the polished ebony side table. Leaning forward, he put his elbows on his knees and hung his hands down in front of them. He stared at the floor for a few seconds before finally raising his head to look at Alexa.
    What was he supposed to say? Alexa’s stare was not friendly or trusting. His thoughts were in turmoil. The idea of Lauren almost going home with another man in her condition threatened to mentally unhinge him if he dwelled too long on it.
    “I never asked you this when we dated, but I damn well want to know now. Did you