Lifeless (Book II)

Attraction

Chapter Eleven

Grace failed to hide her smile when being asked where she had gone with Alex. She couldn't help but remember about the nice lunch they had. Carefully she went about trying to cover the vanilla cake in pink frosting as Jenny and Rebecca urged her to speak.

"So what did he want?" Jenny asked. Grace smiled at Jenny. Behind those shy brown eyes Grace could vaguely make out a lonely girl. She felt connected to Jenny in a weird way. There was something more to her, she wasn't anyone to judge or nose in on people's affairs, but she could see just how lost in thought Jenny often drifted to and the numerous sighs Jenny let out during the day.

"Just wanted to have lunch," Grace replied, forcing herself to concentrate in her work.

"That grin on your face tells me that you did more than have lunch," Rebecca chimed in. Rebecca blue eyes lit up as she elbowed Grace while walking past her.

"Seriously, it was just lunch...he took me to the first bakery ever built, you know where he met V-Vicky," she stuttered. Her stomach coiled and she cursed inwardly.

"Weird, why would he take you there? In all honesty that's kind of creepy." Rebecca lastly said before slipping away.

"I thought it was nice," Grace retorted, feeling her hands tremble a little. In all honesty thinking about it, it was a bit odd. Why on earth would he take her to see the place where he had met Victoria Elven?

"It seems to me that he's trying to move forward, he's probably facing his past like his therapist told him to do. He might just need a little support and that's why he chose to take you there." Jenny encouraged.

"He...goes to therapy for it?" Grace asked.

"He's become quite the celebrity ever since his romance tale broke all over town. The newspaper never misses a beat on every move he makes. We are all pretty much informed in whatever he does." Jenny replied.

Grace looked down to her pink frosted covered fingers and furrowed her brow as she thought about it. Alex was clearly missing a screw, or better yet he was missing his heart's other half and Victoria Elven had taken that to the grave. Maybe Alex was lonely; maybe he needed to talk to someone, anyone. His therapist must have put him up to it.

She felt a little used but deep down couldn't hate Alex but pity him. He was still in love with Victoria, but at least he was trying to seek help. Part of her felt content that he was trying to reach out to anyone to help him heal. A smile slowly lifted the corners of her lips as she went back to work. She had no idea what direction this friendship was heading towards, she only hoped that it wasn't towards a dead end.

*****

Grace finally made it out of work and hurried to cross the street but not before being stopped by Jenny.

"Grace! Hold up!" she called.

Grace waited for Jenny to cross the street and then finally began to walk once she had caught up.

"So I was wondering if you are free this Friday night," Jenny went on.

"Uh...sure," she replied uncertain of where Jenny was taking this.

"I...I was wondering if you'd like to come over. I haven't had any company since my mother passed and it get's kind of lonely in that big old house." she said. A blush reached her cheeks as she looked away. Jenny was clearly shy about asking Grace to come over. It was clear to see that she didn't do this often.

"I would love that," Grace replied thrilled with the idea.

"Really? You aren't yanking my chain are you?" She asked. Her eyes squinted in a doubtful manner as she stared at Grace, waiting for her reply.

"Of course not, I'd love to come over for a visit." She replied, to reassure Jenny she wasn't joking.

"Thank you, Grace. I appreciate it." Jenny replied with a friendly smile.

Jenny dismissed herself and Grace watched as the brave poor lonely girl walked home. She understood Jenny, she was as lonely as her. Grace felt overjoyed to finally be making friends. She continued on the sidewalk tucking her hands into her brown coat ready to be home and eat a great meal.

"Grace," someone else called.

Turning over her shoulder she came to find Alex near the sidewalk in his BMW. She felt her throat grow dry as he grinned that crooked grin she was quickly becoming fond of.

"Is there a problem, Boss?" She asked.

"Alex," he said giving her another smile.

"I'm sorry, it's still weird to be addressing you by first name basis." She joked.

Grace couldn't help but laugh some more and feel his strong gaze on her as she looked down to her little flats feeling her face blush.

Is there something that you needed?" she asked.

"I was wondering if you'd like a ride home." He replied.

Grace bit her lip and looked up at him not certain how to answer. Becca and Jenny had said he was using her but she couldn't help but think that maybe it was something else he sought.

"I would like that...Alex." She said, feeling her stomach knot.

She walked over to the other side and slipped inside the car. The air smelled fresh and the warm heater provided her with some comfort as she settled in.  Silence followed for a while as he drove. There was something she wanted to ask but feared Alex growing bothered by the question. Nevertheless, the curiosity to know overruled her cautious mind.

"Alex...what did your Vicky look like?" Grace asked. She had meant to look her up on the web but that night Lacy had crawled into bed with her.

"Grace, what she looked like didn't matter to me; it was her personality that captured me. Vicky was as simple as they came, brown hair, brown eyes, glasses and retainers." He chuckled.

"So it was her hear that captured you," Grace whispered mostly to herself.

"Without trying she showed me who she was and it was with her inner beauty that I fell in love with. When I saw that I couldn't help but notice just how beautiful she was on the outside. No pair of brown eyes had ever captured me like hers did." He confessed.

"Do you still...l-love her," Grace asked. Of course he does idiot! She thought.

"I will always lover her, Grace, she has a big part of me with her, and without it I cannot find myself moving on."

Grace fell silent and decided not to ask anymore question, deep within her it was hurting that Alex refused to move on. Maybe being around him wasn't such a good idea, if it bothered her this much; it meant she was falling for him. She squeezed her eyes shut and gripped the seat belt mentally kicking herself. How was it possible to feel so much attraction to him, she had no clue who he was. All she knew about him was what Jenny and Rebecca had told her.

"Are you okay?" Alex asked placing a hand to her forehead.

Grace opened her eyes and quickly nodded; in reality she was too intrigued by his skin touching hers.

"Fine," she whispered.

****

Alex cleared his throat and removed his hand gripping the steering wheel, he had like the simple gesture too much. The idea of suddenly wanting to hold Vicky in his arms once again flooded into him like a craving. He let out a silent sigh and stole small glances at her, had she felt bothered by the touch or better yet had she remembered anything?

"So I was wondering if you are free this Friday night." He asked.

"How about Saturday?"

"Okay," she whispered fiddling with her hands.

"Then it's settled, I'll be at your house to pick you up at seven," he replied.

Finally he parked outside of her house and watched as she pulled out of the car and walked up to her porch steps waving goodbye. Saturday night felt like years from now as he smiled and waved to her. He missed her like crazy, but in his frustration to have her back he knew he had to take things slow. Making her remember wasn't going to happen in a day, although he somehow hoped it did.