The Love Square by Jessica Calla Page A

fine. I’ll bring my pepper spray in case he tries to kidnap me or something.”
    She kissed Alex on the cheek, and the flowery scent of her perfume overwhelmed his senses. Douchebag was a goner. Fuck , Alex thought as Jenna put on her sunglasses and headed for the door. It’s not supposed to happen this way.
    “Talk to you later. Don’t forget to lock up. You know, with all those mass murderers lurking,” she teased as she walked out.
    Alex stood frozen in her kitchen, staring at the door she’d just left through until his gaze landed on a photo of the two of them held up by a magnet on her fridge. At least I know where I’m having lunch today. No way he’d let Jenna meet Douchebag on her own.
     
    ***
     
    Later that day, Alex wore his baseball cap and sunglasses and staked out the Italian place near Jenna’s office from the coffee shop across the street. Two cups of coffee and an hour of playing with his phone later, he watched her walk down the street toward the restaurant. She didn’t notice how every man she passed turned to look at her.
    Alex slumped in his chair as she entered the restaurant and unsuccessfully tried to watch her through the restaurant windows. When they finally emerged, Alex got a good look at Douchebag, with his yellow Viking hair and giant smile.
    Bastard. Of course he’s smiling. Who wouldn’t smile when your date turned out to be the most beautiful woman in the city? Jenna smiled back at Douchebag, laughing at something he’d said. They walked toward her office.
    Alex’s afternoon of security watch and coffee took its toll as he made his way back to Brooklyn. He couldn’t sit still and longed to punch something. He knew he had no right to be jealous. I’m worried, not jealous , he tried to convince himself.
    On his way to the gym, his phone buzzed with a text from Jenna.
     
    Jenna: Not a mass murderer. I’m perfectly fine. Knew you’d be worried. All is well.
     
    He wrote back:
     
    Good. Thanks for letting me know .
     
    Alex didn’t talk to her for the rest of the day. He couldn’t stomach hearing about her date, so after the gym, he headed for the ballpark.
    Later that night after his game, he returned to his apartment and showered, debating whether or not to call her. Dripping, he wrapped a towel around his waist and walked to the kitchen to grab a beer.
    He jumped about ten feet when he noticed Jenna sitting on his couch. “Stecs! Are you trying to kill me?” He retightened the towel around his waist.
    Jenna looked tired and sweaty. She’d most likely come straight from rehearsal. “I’m sorry,” she said. “I wanted to say good night in person.” Her eyes scanned his bare chest, and his heart palpitated when he remembered he was practically naked.
    “Okay, good night,” she said quickly and got up to leave.
    “No, stay,” Alex heard himself beg. “Let me go put some clothes on. You scared me, that’s all.” He trotted into his bedroom and put on a pair of pajama pants and a T-shirt, then went back out to Jenna.
    She lay on his couch, her head resting on her hands. He stretched out opposite her, his head to her feet. “You okay?” he asked.
    “I’m feeling a little scattered today. I don’t know what I’m doing with my life. I need a plan, but I’m too tired to figure anything out. Why are there only twenty-four hours in a day?”
    “Anything I can help with?”
    “Can I stay with you tonight?”
    “Of course.” He loved when she fell asleep on his couch so he had an excuse to carry her to his bed for the night. Now he didn’t need the excuse.
    “You forgot to ask how my date went,” Jenna murmured sleepily.
    “That was on purpose.” She kicked him in the shoulder, and he scowled. “Ouch! Okay. How’d your date go, Jen?”
    She yawned. “Is it just me, or is there something inherently untrustworthy about stockbrokers?”
    “No love connection with the big blond wolf, then?” Alex asked, his eyelids heavy.
    Jenna jerked up. “How’d