A Headstrong Woman(116)

“I know Elijah is dead but Jonathon isn’t,” she all but squeaked as she struggled against his grasp on her.

Lane stilled; his grip still tight, as her words registered.

“What?” he barked.

“Jonathon and I are married,” Alexandria replied.

Lane felt rage, hot as molten metal wash through him. “How hard was it for him to seduce you, Alexandria?” his hands tightened on her arms. “How many others have you given your favors to in return for their help?” he asked.

Alexandria flinched.

“I never took you for the type. I put you on a pedestal; now I find that I’m not good enough for you.”

“Lane stop, you’re being unreasonable. I’m not the type…” her words were cut short when Lane back handed her. She stumbled into a wingback chair and then into the floor. Alexandria’s hand came to her stinging cheek and burning lip; her eyes were wide and frightened.



Jonathon stood in the parlor doorway for a split second before he crossed the room and grabbed Lane by his collar. Jonathon dragged the man into the yard, released him and watched Lane stumble for his footing.

“You want to hit someone?” his eyes snapped with anger. “Go on,” he invited. Lane never landed his punch before he went sprawling into the dirt. Lane scrambled to his feet.

“If you ever touch my wife or insult her again…”

Lane barreled into Jonathon cutting the sentence short. Alexandria watched helplessly as the two men exchanged blows.

Drawn by the commotion, Ted came spilling onto the porch and Rusty around the corner of the house and intervened. Ted grabbed his brother, and Rusty grabbed Lane; they pulled the two men apart.

“Calm down, Jonathon,” Ted urged his brother.

“Enough!” Rusty barked; both men stilled. “What is going on here?”

“He insulted; then hit my wife,” Jonathon’s eyes still drilled into Lane.

Rusty’s hold tightened on Lane as he worked to bring his own anger into check.

“Are you crazy?” Rusty asked Lane. “I assure you, had Ted and I not intervened that he would have beaten you to a pulp,” Rusty informed Lane before releasing him.

Alexandria took in Lane’s busted lip, bruised cheek, black eye, bloody nose, and a small gash on his forehead and winced. He was also holding his side. How much more damage could her husband have done? She had only seen him this angry twice. Both times on her account and it frightened her.

“I’d suggest that you leave,” Ted said before releasing his brother. Lane quickly scanned the angry faces of those around him before leaving.

Alexandria stood, her arms wrapped around herself as her husband approached and shrank back from the anger in his eyes; it was with amazing gentleness, however, that he gently wiped blood from the corner of her busted lip.

“Are you okay?” his eyes were dark with emotion.

Alexandria felt a shiver run through her as she swallowed hard and nodded. “I’m okay.”

“What happened?” Ted asked as he joined them on the porch.

“I didn’t want to let him in, but I didn’t know how to handle it and… then when I told him that I had married Jonathon…” Alexandria shuddered.

“Don’t let any former suitors in this house unless I’m here,” Jonathon instructed.

Alexandria nodded her agreement as they moved into the house just as Lilly started down the stairs from her nap. Ted scooped her up and tickled her.

Alexandria moved to the window, her gaze trained on nothing in particular.

“Come on, let’s raid Millie’s cookie jar,” Ted suggested to his new niece. He had a feeling Jonathon and Alexandria needed a few moments of privacy.

Jonathon continued to watch his wife as she reached back and dragged her fingers through her hair. She pulled it straight; then released it to spring back into curls. He couldn’t blame Lane, and Tristan, or Moody for being attracted to her. He could not however, excuse their treatment of her, or in Tristan’s case help questioning motives. He moved to stand behind her, turned her to face him and pulled a lock of her hair over her shoulder to run his fingers through it.

“Are you sure you’re okay?” he asked her. She nodded. “I can’t blame him for being attracted to you,” his gaze held her wide, trusting green eyes. He pulled her into his arms, thrilled that she came willingly, and kissed her.

“I’m glad you came in when you did,” Alexandria admitted as she laid her head on his shoulder. Jonathon held her until Lilly came bouncing into the room with her cookie in hand and demanded her mother’s attention.