Touched by a Phoenix Read Free Page B

finally subsided, she rolled over and stared at the ceiling as her mind began to ponder…what now? How can I make them understand without telling them? How can I have a family without letting someone in? She thought about the advertisement for a minute. Perhaps she should check into it, a contract marriage for a specified amount of time. Her body convulsed at the thought of anyone touching her. Intercourse would be off-limits. It would have to be a marriage of convenience; she could manage that for a little while. A fake marriage would solve one problem but not the other.
    The image of a child drifted into her mind. I could always adopt a baby later. OMG, that’s the answer. I will have a family without the marriage! She had no idea how she would explain it to her parents but maybe, just maybe, they would give up on the husband part if she gave them a grandchild to dote on.
    Swiping the remaining tears from her face, she jumped off the bed with a renewed sense of energy. Furiously she began to pack for tomorrow’s flight to San Diego. She would have plenty of time to research adoption during this final trip. I must remember to grab a book for the flight, she thought.
    A whirlwind of thoughts buzzed around her head. Where and how to begin? How soon could she make it happen? Then she stopped. Did she want a boy or a girl? It didn’t matter, she would be happy with either.
    The ringing phone startled her from the depths of her thoughts, putting the brakes on the freight train speeding through her head.
    “Hello?”
    “Alexandria, it’s Brad. Do you need a ride to the airport?”
    “Thanks but I’ve got a car picking me up.”
    “Cancel it. I’ll pick you up at 4:30 AM.”
    “Why are you always so pushy?” she laughed.
    “Because it annoys you…see you then.”
    “Goodnight.” She tilted her head wondering if he had even heard her.

    As Alexis waited for Brad to arrive, she found it hard to believe that four months had passed since Brad had joined AAS. She was exhausted, mentally and physically, and looking forward to this being the last trip.
    She had come to respect Brad’s intellect and even enjoyed his company during dinner. They had been traveling between D.C., Connecticut, St. Louis, and California for months and Brad had been the perfect gentleman. At times, he definitely qualified as an arrogant prick. Although, a smile crept across her lips as she thought about the number of times she had put him in his place when he assumed she was not versed in the goings-on within the company. Her smile brightened a little more at his shocked expressions. He had made the mistake of putting her in the same class as the bimbos he dated—what a serious mistake that had been!
    As much as she hated to admit it, they made the perfect team, and baiting him had become one of her favorite pastimes.

    “Good morning,” Alexis greeted Brad as she opened the door with her bag in hand.
    “Here, let me take that for you.” He reached for the bag and quickly turned, heading towards the car.
    “My, my, are we a grump this morning or what?”
    He stopped almost mid-stride. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to sound grumpy.”
    “Do we need to stop and get you another cup of coffee?”
    “No, we don’t need to stop for coffee. I’ll grab a cup at the airport,” he replied, shutting the trunk just a little too firmly.
    Wow, I wonder what’s got his shorts in a bunch this morning. Well, let’s see what I can do about his mood. “Exquisite car,” as she slid into the soft double-stitched leather seats. “Phillip must be paying you too much; I’ll have to talk to him about that.”
    Brad chuckled, “The salary is adequate for the job, but if I’m forced to continue putting up with your constant ribbing, I deserve a raise.”
    Ignoring his statement, Alexis simply observed, “I don’t think I’ve ever seen this car. What make is it?” as he revved the engine.
    “She’s an Acura NSX, the only one…at least for