Lost Heartbeats (Alexander & Maya Book 2) by Ella Maise Read Free Book Online Page A

like that, but it didn’t. All I could do was be there for him when he reached out for someone to hold, when the pain became unbearable, just as he’d been there for me when I’d so desperately needed to feel close to someone.
    When I got into my car and started driving, I was still having trouble believing that he had actually come after me. Yet, whenever I glanced at the mirror, he was on my tail, following me. To say that I was overwhelmed would be an understatement.
    If he is here, does it mean that he is over Claire?
    Would it be naive of me to think that he might actually feel something for me?
    But the most important question of all…
    After all this time, how could it possibly feel so right to have his skin on mine again?
    Countless questions swirling unanswered in my mind, I slowly parked my car, turned off the ignition, and waited for him to slip into the spot next to mine.
    When he did, he got out of his car, opened his trunk, and retrieved a small piece of luggage before coming to my door.
    Seeing my hesitation to get out, he opened my door for me and extended his hand, his palm up.
    “Come on, Maya.”
    Not getting out of the car, I looked up at him.
    “I think you being here is starting to scare me, Alexander.”
    Setting his luggage down, he crouched next to my open door and reached for my hand, the heavy weight of our hands resting on my thigh.
    “I’m not here to hurt you, baby.”
    “I know you think that, but I believe I’m still gonna end up hurt, whether you intend it or not.”
    “It doesn’t have to be that way.”
    “I don’t think there is a possibility of another way for us, Alexander. Don’t you see that?”
    For a few moments, a thick silence hung between us, and I looked straight ahead—seeing a vivid image of a painful separation when the time came for him to leave again.
    “Do you remember what you wrote to me in that letter?”
    “I do.” I remembered every word.
    “You told me that you wished there was a possibility for us where we could’ve been something more. Do you remember that?”
    I nodded.
    “This is our possibility, Maya. Don’t take this away from us just because you are feeling overwhelmed. I came here because ever since you left, you are all I can think about. You were the only one I wanted to see when I went through possibly the worst day of my life. We’ll take it one step at a time, I promise. Let’s just go in and take it from there, okay?”
    “One step at a time?” I repeated his words back to him as he pulled me out of my seat, his hand warm in mine.
    “Exactly like that,” he murmured, taking the keys and locking up my car.
    Hand in hand we started walking, and just as we neared my house, I heard a dog start barking in a frenzy.
    “What the hell is going on?” Alexander asked, looking around to find where the noise was coming from.
    “Shit! I completely forgot.”
    Before I could open my mouth to explain, Ester opened her door and Max came running out as if the devil himself was on his heels and I was his only chance of escape.
    “Hey, buddy,” I grunted, my hand falling from Alexander’s as I was forced to take a step back when the ball of fur hit me and started to lick my face.
    Scrunching my face, I laughed. “Okay, I missed you too, you handsome devil. Can I get in a kiss too?” I asked and as if he knew what I was saying, he stopped licking me enough to give me an opening to plant a small kiss on his moist little nose.
    He gave me a happy little bark and started to run in circles around me and Alexander, eager for us to get in on his game.
    “Sorry,” I murmured sheepishly to Alexander, only to find him staring back at me with a soft expression on his face.
    His lips tipped up. “Please, don’t mind me. I see that I already have competition. I’ll have to up my game.”
    “Yeah, we are kind of in love,” I said, laughing as Max tried to jump on me again.
    Lifting my head, I saw Ester waiting for me silently. I waved and