Topaz hid her smile.
“I’d be happy to help you work on your swing. Maybe show you some putting techniques I’ve picked up.”
Topaz had no desire to spend her morning “benefiting” from Greg’s golf lessons, but decided it would be far better than wondering when or if Alex would decide to really talk to her.
“Why don’t we meet outside after breakfast?” she suggested, fixing the man with a dazzling smile.
Greg appeared stunned for a moment, looking as though he couldn’t believe she’d accepted his offer. “Okay, um, why don’t I get you a plate of something to eat?”
Topaz smiled and nodded. When Greg hurried off, she strolled over to stare out at the gorgeous view past the French doors leading to the patio. She hadn’t been there two minutes when she sensed him behind her.
“Good morning,” Alex greeted, one hand patting her waist while the other rested on her hip.
“Morning,” she whispered, happy he’d approached.
“Thank you for last night—our talk,” he clarified, resisting the urge to pull her back against him. “You gave me a lot to think about.”
Topaz nodded, her gaze still focused past the large windowpanes. “I’m here to talk whenever you’re ready.”
“I appreciate it,” he said, before chewing on his bottom lip as he debated. “Um, Topaz? ... Who was that guy?” he finally asked, looking and sounding every bit like an uncertain little boy.
“I’m having a golf lesson with him later,” she shared, reading nothing into the question.
Alex smirked, smoothing one hand across his cobalt-blue sweatshirt. “Doesn’t look like prime terrain for golfing this morning.”
“It’s not a game or anything. He’s just helping me with my stance.”
I’ll bet he can’t wait, Alex silently remarked.
“I’d better get going,” she decided, turning then to smile up at him before she hurried from his side.
Alex clenched his jaw, his eyes narrowing in agitation. Topaz met Greg Vickers toward the back of the room. She accepted a plate he offered as well as a mug of cocoa. Greg kept his arm around her waist as they strolled from the living room. Alex wasn’t far behind.
“Now you want to keep your shoulders and feet in perfect alignment. Your stance is the most important aspect of your swing.”
“All right ...” Topaz breathed, her mind focused as she prepared to swing the iron.
She accepted Greg Vickers’s instruction like an apt pupil, enjoying the lesson far more than she’d expected. She was happy that something had managed to shift her every waking thought from Alex Rice.
Alex’s attention, however, was completely centered on Topaz Emerson. He stood watching the lesson from his position against one of the trees in the distance. He appeared cool, but a closer look showed the steely frustration dwelling in his startling blue-green eyes. A muscle danced wickedly beneath his square jaw as he witnessed Greg Vickers’s hands cup Topaz’s hips as he guided her movements.
Topaz made a perfect putt and laughed in glee. Greg laughed as well, both hands patting her hips before smoothing across the waistband of her denims. He pressed a kiss to her cheek, then another to her shoulder covered by the chic, embroidered quarter-length sweater coat.
Alex lost the feather hold on his temper and stormed across the yard. Topaz was still laughing over her newfound skills when she felt a hand around her arm.
“I need to talk to you,” Alex said, without acknowledging the man at Topaz’s side.
Greg moved to intervene. “Hey, brotha—”
“Um, Greg, it’s okay. I need to talk to Alex anyway,” Topaz explained, desperate to reassure the man lest he be the victim of a painful fate. “I’ll catch up with you later!”
“Are you gonna tell me what’s goin’ on now?” Topaz inquired, once they’d walked in silence almost three minutes. “Alex?” she called, when he shared no response. Finally, she focused on keeping up with his long strides as they made their way to a remote area of the property. Topaz felt her heart fly to her throat when she noticed the tiny isolated structure where they were headed.
“Alex?” she whispered.
Still silent, Alex continued to walk on. Approaching the small, stone cottage, he pulled open the heavy oak door and tugged Topaz inside behind him.
“What the hell are you doing?” he asked at last, once the door was shut tight.
Topaz blinked, her sparkling gaze dimming with confusion.
Alex grimaced, looking down at the carpeted floor while massaging his neck in hopes of cooling his temper. “How could you stand there and let that nigga feel all over you like that?” he asked, the question directed toward the floor.
Topaz uttered a short, surprised laugh. “It wasn’t like that. We—he was giving me a golf lesson. I told you that.”
“Goodness, you can’t possibly be this clueless,” he hissed, his stare narrowing sharply when he looked at her.
“Damn it, Alex, he only offered to help me with my swing!”
“Hell, Topaz, the fool looked like he was ready to screw you right there. You had to know that,” he whispered.
“I don’t have to take this from you,” she decided with a flippant wave.
Alex caught her arm when she stomped past. “I’m not done,” he told her.
