Free Dating A Saint by Donna McDonald Page A

leave a real wife at home tucked in bed waiting for you to return?” Alexa demanded, her direct gaze daring him to lie about it.
    “No. No one waits for me,” Jim admitted, realizing the awful opinion Alexa must have of him to ask the question for Lauren’s sake.
    “Well, Lauren is waiting, Jim. Lauren McCarthy is waiting for you, and you need to appreciate the fact,” Alexa said earnestly. “Lauren didn’t even want to date those guys she dated. Regina and I talked her into it. We don’t think it’s healthy for her to keep pining away for you while you ignore her.”
    “I’m married,” Jim said flatly. “It’s not a normal husband-wife relationship, but I can’t change my situation. That’s all I can tell you. I haven’t even told her this much.”
    “I don’t care if you tell me anything more or not. I’ve known my share of married men, and brother you aren’t one,” Alexa said firmly. “Ben and Regina—that’s married. And that’s how I’m going to be married to Casey. Anything other than a love that complete—well, it’s just not the same thing. You might be legally committed to a relationship for reasons you’re not sharing, but you’re certainly not married. So stop pretending you have a relationship with another woman more important than the one you have with my friend.”
    “I can’t divorce my wife, Alexa. How can I ask Lauren to be satisfied with just an affair with me? Even I don’t want that kind of relationship. Why would she want that?” Jim asked sadly. “You know what her marriage was like.”
    Alexa shrugged in reply. “Why did you show up here tonight with flowers, dressed in an expensive suit, and smelling like a man intent on seduction? Don’t give me that innocent look, Jim. Even Lauren would have figured out your agenda if she’d been awake. You’re purposely trying to put this attraction between you two all on her and make it her fault, but you’re the one sitting in her living room with your gaze glued her legs. The truth is on your face.”
    “You can’t possibly know what I intended tonight,” Jim said quietly.
    Consequences, Alexa thought. Maybe it would be character building for both of them. Wondering if Regina was ever going to be wrong about these things, Alexa steeled herself, ready to deliver the end of her lecture to Jim about doing right by Lauren.
    “You need to stop lying to yourself about how interested you are in Lauren. Then you need to talk to her about your limited situation. She wants you, Jim—not other men, just you. You need to let her decide what’s enough,” Alexa said. A horn blew outside and Alexa stood. “That’s my ride. Do I need to be worried about you staying here alone with her?”
    “I won’t hurt her,” Jim promised, or at least he would try not to do so.
    Alexa nodded. “She might be sick later or maybe just light-headed. The only time I think Lauren had even two glasses of wine was when she found out her mother was having regular lunches with her ex-husband. That was several years ago. Lauren truly is a saint most of the time. We only tease her because it’s mostly true.”
    Jim followed Alexa to the door, surprised when she leaned forward and kissed his cheek.
    “Don’t judge my friend by the one bitch you slept with who was indiscreet. What’s between you and Lauren is a type of connection that doesn’t happen every day. I waited a long damn time to find it for myself. You both got lucky a whole lot sooner. Treat the extra time as a gift.” Alexa tapped his cheek with her the tips of her fingers, turned on her heels, and walked off into the night.
    After Alexa had gotten into the taxi, Jim shut and locked the door.
    He walked back to the living room where Lauren was still sleeping. Having her head lolled back like that had to be uncomfortable, he thought. The narrow couch would be uncomfortable even lying down, plus it wasn’t near a bathroom.
    Thanks to Kaiser’s encouragement, the weight lifting had