CHAPTER 34

Alexa's POV

"Have you ever gone Kayaking?" I blurt, absentminded as I gaze out in the open. I don't hear Xander reply so I turn to him. My eyes double at the casual clothes he has on.

"No work?" I ask.

"Not today." He shakes his head. "We are going shopping. It should have been sooner." He mutters.

"Oh," I smile. Eyeing him the muscular T-shirt he has on paired with some dark jeans that he pulls off effortlessly, I can't help noticing how different he looks. Different in a good way, I mean.

"What was your question?" He asks, reminding me.

"Kayaking. Have you ever gone kayaking?" I ask.

He stares at me for a second before shaking his head. "No, and the thought never occurred to me. Why? You love kayaking?" He asks.

"I've never gone kayaking too. I just wondered what it would feel or look like kayaking before sunrise. It must be a sight." I exhaled, picturing it in my mind.

"We can go if you want," he offers in a heartbeat.

"Nah, I'm good." I decline. "I'm not a morning person." I groan.

He chuckles softly but nods anyway. I walk toward the table and put down my cup. I went for orange juice this morning rather than coffee and it was a nice choice. Taking a sizable sausage, I shove it into my mouth and chew.

"Sofia already texted me. She is helping me out with the whole dinner preparations." I tell him.

"Really?" He asks.

"Yup."

"Well, Sofia can wait. Today is our day off. Our day together. I will suggest you go up and change. There's a lot on my list today." He tells me.

I open my mouth to argue but the stubborn look on his face tells me that won't be a good choice. Speechless, I nod quietly and finish up my breakfast. I head to my room after where I change into one of my old jeans and a nice chiffon top. It is one of the nicest things I own. I consider throwing on the heels Xander bought me the night before for a few seconds over some old sneakers I own. I don't know how long we will be out but I also want to feel good. Look good.

"Beauty is pain, Alexa." I drone my mother's favorite words as I slip on the heels.

I walk over to the mirror to check myself out. I almost broke down in front of the mirror when I checked the night before but I'm good. I look good with the minimal make up on my face. Not bothering with a bag, I grab my phone and head out.

Xander is already waiting for me when I climb down the stairs. His eyes light up and I smile. Doris and a few other maids smile at me, complimenting me as I walk up to him.

"Ready?" He breathes when I get to him.

"Yeah," I nod.

Without a word, Xander takes my hand and leads me out of the house to the car. He helps me get into the passenger seat, holding the door for me. Such a gentleman. I don't see Stanley in sight so I'm not surprised when Xander settles into the passenger seat. I notice a car following us as we drive out of the estate and I frown.

"There is something I haven't told you," Xander starts. I lean back in my seat to stare at him.

"Go on," I urge him, quietly.

"My stepmother came by my office yesterday." He tells me and I freeze for a second. "After you left. She put on quite a show, asking one of her guards who is doomed by the way, to touch Carly. He almost choked her to death."

I gasped, anger immediately rolling down my veins. I like Carly. The bubbly assistant had received me well when I stopped by the office with Sofia.

"Is she okay?" I ask, worriedly.

"She will be. My point is, Eva is unrelenting. She won't stop until she gets what she wants. She is feeling really threatened now so I have to bring her to her downfall before she is one step ahead of me. She was pretty mad that I restricted her from building our home." He explains.

I turn to him in surprise. "You did that?"

"Of course. After what she did to you last time, I don't want her anywhere near you or us." He tells me with a frown on his face. "The men tailing our cars now are the guards Dave disposed to us for security. They will follow you everywhere till everything rolls over." He explains.

I don't like the sound of that but I do understand it. "I can live with that." Xander smiles at my response. I reached over and wrap my hand around his, the one not on the steering wheel. "Thank you."

His eyes glimmer with relief. "Anytime, pretty woman."

The ride is quiet after that till we arrive at one of the designer stores Xander wants us to shop at. The moment we walk in, everyone at the store is at our beck and call. No other customer comes in and I realize from the brief discussion that ensues between the store manager, Tina, that Xander rented out the whole store for our shopping.

"Come with me, Mrs. Gold. We will start with the dresses." Tina beckons me to come with her.

Speechless as the whole thing is still new to me, I follow her. She pulls off an array of dresses from clothing racks as we walk past. When she has enough, she hands one of the dresses to me and asks me to go in and get changed. I don't enjoy having to pull off my jeans and heels to change but I do that anyway.

I stare down at the body hugging dress that hugs my curves and reveals my long toned legs. It is without sleeves too and the sweetheart neckline reveals a bit of my breast but I love the dress. When I step out of the dressing room, Xander is there, along with a handful of the other shop workers.

"What do you think, Mr. Gold?" Tina asks after fawning over me in the dress. I avert my gaze from hers and meet Xander's. He is already staring at me, a tortured, speechless look on his face that makes the whole of me heat up.

"Beautiful," he croaks when he finds his voice.

"Perfect!" Tina claps excitedly. She brings the accessories that she thinks will go along with the dress and asks me to put them on. They all fit perfectly well including the red bottoms that I know cost a lifetime.

For a few hours more, we continue the motion, picking dresses or outfits and accessories to go alongside with. It started out interesting at first but before long, I got tired and bored. When we finish and they tell us my bill, it takes the whole of me not to gasp out loud. But Xander doesn't even flinch at the ridiculous price. He just reaches into his pocket and whips out a black Amex card which he hands to them. With a swipe, he pays for everything.

The assistants help with the numerous shopping bags we come out with. After dumping them all in the back seat, we get on our merry way. Xander stretches one of his black Amex cards toward me and I stare, aghast.

"I can't take that," I say, shaking my head.

"Sure, you can. It's easy. All you have to do is wrap your fingers around it."

I glare at him and he laughs. "Pretty woman, what would it speak of me if my wife doesn't have a card like this which she can use to purchase whatever she wants whenever she wants?"

"Xander..."

He thrusts it into my hand without hesitation and I stare at the card. "Thank you." I breathe. "And for the shopping top." I add.

"Hold your appreciation, pretty woman." He says as he pulls up in front of an apple store. My eyes bulge and I look at him. "I'm getting you a new phone."

When I try to protest, he glares hard at me and I clamp my mouth shut. We go into the store and Xander gets me the latest. It only takes a few minutes to set it up. And I have a new phone. I didn't think of having one before.

"I'm going to get you a car but in the meantime, feel free to use any from my collection. Larry will drive you wherever you want to go."

"I can drive. I used to own a car but it just felt better to take the trains and buses than to drive most of the time. So, I sold my car to pay my rent." I explain.

He is quiet for a few seconds before he turns to look at me. "Well, you don't have to do that anymore. You have me now."

Those words reach my heart, softening what I will call a dead spot. I don't know how to thank him enough for all this.

"What is your dream restaurant?" He suddenly ask.

I sit up with a grin knowing we are going for lunch. I'm starting to get hungry anyway. "Somewhere cozy. Top notch cuisine, the best customer service, exquisite decor..." I launch into the description as I close my eyes, telling him everything. If I ever own a restaurant one day, that's how it will look like.

"That's an in-depth description." He says when I finish.

I chuckle. "Sorry. I got carried away."

Xander just shrugs lazily and keeps on driving. "Which place in the world is at the top of your bucket list?" He suddenly asks again.

I frown at him suspiciously. "Why?"

"Nothing," he answers too quickly. "Just wondering."

I lean over and throw him a punch that makes him laugh out loud. I smile at the relaxed, boyish look on his face. "Woman, I'm driving."

Satisfied with myself, I lean back in my seat.

"Just tell me," he pleads.

I take a moment to think about it. I don't really hope or dream of places or things like that knowing I can't afford it. I have only ever lived realistically. But with Xander looking at me, I know I have to say something.

"I can't decide so I will tell you three. Santorini, Greece, New Zealand and Rome, Italy." I tell him.

"Wow," he smiles, nodding. "Those are beautiful places you've mentioned."

"Yeah, well, I've never been to any. I've not even been out of the country." I don't know why I disclosed that.

"And that's why we are going to change that." He smiles at me. When I narrow my eyes at him, he smiles. "For our honeymoon."

"Oh," I mouth.

"You didn't think I forgot, did you?" He frowns like the thought wants to make him gag.

"Nope," I lie. He knows I'm lying so when he meets my gaze, we burst out laughing in sync.

I can get used to this.

I can totally get used to this.