Free Then Came Alexandra (Southern Love #1) by E. L. Todd

Alexandra didn’t feel that way at all. When she stared at his chest and his shoulders, she thought of other things that weren’t family friendly.
    “Is everything okay?” Gabe asked.
    “Huh?”
    They were sitting in the library, tucked in a corner. She had her textbook open but she wasn’t reading. She had been staring at the wall for half an hour, thinking about Blaise the entire time.
    Gabe stared at her. “You seem distracted.”
    “Oh. I’m just stressed.”
    “About your new job?” he asked.
    “Sure,” she said.
    “I wouldn’t worry about it. It’s only one day a week.”
    “Yeah…”
    He turned back to his textbook and made his notes.
    Alexandra couldn’t stop thinking about Blaise. The only good thing about it was the fact that she wasn’t thinking about Paul, her life in New York, or what happened at the hospital. That was something to be grateful for.
    When she went home that night, she showered and did her hair, curling it so it hung around her shoulders. She wore jean shorts and a t-shirt. Since she wasn’t in the city anymore, she didn’t wear most of her clothes, thinking they were too dressy. She stuck to casual wear and waited for him on the porch. She moved in her rocking chair, staring into the distance of the fields.
    Dirt billowed in the air as his truck moved down the dirt path. She felt her heart race like it always did when he was near. She kept her face straight when he parked and got out.
    “Beautiful evening,” he said as Bane followed behind him. The dog turned to the two Rottweilers and they ran off together, fighting over old tennis balls and demolished toys.
    “That’s why I’m sitting out here.”
    He took the seat next to her. “What were you thinking about?”
    She flinched at the question. “School.”
    Blaise smiled. “You’re staring at something so beautiful, and you’re thinking about school?”
    “I guess I’m a bit odd.”
    “It’s okay. I’m odd too.” He looked at her. “Are you ready to get down to work?”
    She nodded.
    They walked inside and moved to the kitchen.
    “Where’s Martha?” he asked.
    “She went to bed early. She just wasn’t feeling well.”
    Blaise looked concerned. “Does she need anything?”
    “No, I think she’s already asleep.”
    “Okay.” He sat down and pulled out his laptop. “I sent everything to your email.”
    She pulled it up. “I got it.”
    Blaise explained everything she was responsible for. Alexandra wrote down his directions in a separate word document just in case she forgot. He watched her and nodded slightly.
    “I want detailed reports every evening, saying our gross profit for the day.”
    “Okay,” she said.
    “Do you have any questions?”
    “No, it’s pretty simple.”
    “Well, you’re a better receptionist than a cotton grower.”
    She glared at him.
    “You know I’m teasing,” he said with a smile. “I’ll pay you a salary rather than hourly since I don’t when you’ll be working and I can’t measure it.”
    “That’s fine.”
    He nodded then closed his laptop.
    Alexandra knew he would leave, and she didn’t want him to go. “Have you had dinner?”
    “No.”
    “Would you like to stay for dinner?”
    “That depends. Do you cook better than you grow cotton?”
    She glared at him again.
    “I would love to stay for dinner,” he said quickly.
    “Good answer.” She went into the kitchen and started working.
    He stayed at the table and watched her. “What are we having?”
    “Sloppy Joes.”
    “Excellent,” he said as he nodded. “I like it.”
    “Martha used to make it for me when I was little. I’ve been hooked ever since.”
    He smiled at her. “Most girls wouldn’t be caught dead eating that.”
    “Why?” she asked.
    “Because it’s messy.”
    “I don’t care about that,” she said quickly.
    “Even better.”
    She placed the dishes on the table and they ate across from each other.
    He stared at her. “Do you judge me if I get it all over my