Lost in Paradise (Paradise Club #2)(91)

The doorbell rings, so I look down at my watch—it’s late, about seven o’clock at night. I’ve only just said goodbye to Liv and Axel. Perhaps they have forgotten something. I pull open the door, and I’m shocked at who I see standing before me.

“Hey, babe,” Alex says, with his suitcase in his hand. He looks exhausted, the dark circles under his eyes let me know everything I need to know. And in that moment, I know he’s sitting on rock bottom, and all I want to do is wrap my arms around him and tell him everything’s going to be okay.

So, I do.

Taking a couple of steps forward, I wrap my arms around his neck and hug him tightly.

His entire body sags with relief as he hugs me back just as tightly. “Fuck, I’ve missed you,” he declares, nuzzling his face into my hair as he inhales the scent of my shampoo.

Having him here for the first time in over a month, it’s now I realize how much I’ve truly missed him. The ache that has been in my chest since he left has completely disappeared. Alex truly is the missing part from my soul.

I move out of the hug but stay connected to him by our hands, while we stare at each other not quite believing the other is there.

“Come in,” I say, breaking the tension between us. Alex follows me, leaving his suitcase at the front door and joins me in the kitchen. “Would you like a tea, coffee … whiskey?”

“You. All I want is you, Ivy,” he states seriously as he stalks into the kitchen and pins me against the counter, placing a hand on either side of me. “I need to know if you’re still all in with me? After everything that has happened on the island, I can’t lose you.”

I bite my bottom lip as I stare up into his handsome face. This is the moment, Ivy, where you’re standing on the edge of the cliff and you either jump or back away. So I tell him, “I’m all in, Alex.”

“Thank fuck,” he declares as he grabs my face with his hands and kisses me as if I am the air he needs. “I’m never giving you up, you hear me?” he mumbles against my lips. “You’re stuck with me.”

I smile against his kisses. “And you’re stuck with me. Can you handle all that baggage?”

Alex moves his hand from my face to my ass and picks me up, then deposits me onto the kitchen counter. “I like your baggage.” He chuckles as I wrap my legs around his waist.

“I like your junk too,” I joke as I cup him through his jeans which pulls a guttural moan from him.

“Are we good, though? I know everything that’s happened between my brother and your sister is all kinds of fucked-up. But are we okay?” he asks seriously.

“Now I have the full story with regards to what happened that night, I know none of this is Nate’s fault. Cam is still traumatized, and not ready to hear what he has to say,” I explain to him.

“My brother truly loves your sister. I’ve never seen him like this before,” Alex adds.

“Us Starr girls retreat and runaway to process, and I know that hurts the people we love, but it’s our coping mechanism. Once Camryn’s processed what she needs to, I’m sure she will think clearer about it all.”

“Nate won’t give up on her,” Alex states.

“I hope he doesn’t. We both need someone who won’t,” I confess, wrapping my arms around Alex’s neck. “A lot has happened recently, and you and I haven’t had time to talk about our own trauma. I’m sorry I pushed you away, Alex. Like my sister, I run away or hide my head in the sand when things happen to me. Thankfully, my therapist has helped me work through the things I’ve needed to work through. Not saying I’m fixed, but I now understand what’s happened to me.

“Steve hasn’t violated the restraining order that I have in place, no more flowers have been delivered to my home or office since he was served with it. And he has blocked me on all social sites.”

Alex looks relieved by my news.

“Things are going to be bumpy while we help our siblings sort through their stuff, but I’m here for the ride with you,” I say, leaning forward and kissing Alex again. “Oh … and I love you,” I add with a giggle.

Alex growls before launching himself at me again.





35





ALEX





Things have been wild since returning from the opening of The Paradise Club. Ivy and I watched on as Harris and his father were led away in handcuffs by the FBI, who’d been investigating over the past two years an elaborate underage child trafficking ring.

Jackson Connolly picked the thread, and the entire operation was exposed quickly. He, of course, handed over everything he’d found to the FBI, and justice for my brother and Camryn was served.

Nate flew to Australia to try to get Camryn to come back to him. The trip was not as successful as he would have liked, but at least Camryn spoke to him and heard him out. I know he’s brokenhearted that Camryn isn’t coming home, but he understands and is willing to give the woman he loves whatever she wants.

Just like I am.

As I sign the last of the bank’s papers that give me full ownership of all Holdsworth’s investments, I smile. I paid whatever was left owing to the bank, I’ve wiped the Holdsworth debt clean, and received one hundred million dollars’ worth of real estate for a mere twenty million.