Superstars: Irish Courage

Irish Courage - Chapter 22

Rex chuckled and then winced as he touched his lip with a small touch; he could understand Alice when she said that. Ever since she had arrived trouble had stirred up everywhere in the club but Rex didn’t mind too much, she was good for business after-all with people now crowding in every night in hopes of seeing her dance.

“It seemed like a good idea at the time.” He said with a wince as Alice cleaned his bloodied knuckles with medicinal alcohol that made the wounds sting.

"I need the money." She said softly as she carefully started to bandage his swelling knuckles.

"So that you can leave." Rex replied in an ominous tone.

"You have to believe me when I say, I would do anything I could to stay forever...but this isn't my home." She told him as she grasped a hold of his arm.

"Then where is your home, Ali?" He asked questionably, sadness evident.

"Ireland." She stated as she looked up and met his gaze.

"You don't have to leave." He told her, shaking off her mothering hands and clasping both of her dainty hands within his own calloused ones.

"I have to go back eventually. It's been nearly four years, Rex." She stated quietly.

"But you don't have to yet, look there's a job going down at the gym. They need a gymnastics coach and you've done gymnastics right?" Rex asked her enthusiastically as he smiled encouragingly at her.

Alice pondered the idea for a moment, she had left gymnastics in her past for a reason and vowed never to return to it again but things were different now. She was in a whole other country and she was older than she was before, she had matured into a person that could rise above the problems that had plagued her before. She loved the idea of teaching the sport but it was the idea of having to take part in the sport again the swayed her decision.

"I'll think about it." She answered as she finished off cleaning his hands.

"Good, 'coz from tomorrow onwards you don't work here anymore." Rex told her with a wry smile.

"What if I want to stay working here?" Alice questioned as she threw the bloodied cloth she used to clean his knuckles with into the bin.

"You're gonna have to deal with it because I'm not gonna change my mind." He told her as Alice thought for a moment.

"Okay, I'll make a deal with you. I'll go take a look at the job going at the gym but I get to come back here early tomorrow." Alice bargained with a wry smile.

"Well sure ya can but why?" Rex asked as he stood and shook out his wrist.

"I've got my reasons. I've got plans to set in motion but don't worry, vaqueiro. I just need to be allowed in early." She reassured him.

She watched as Rex walked over to the chair behind the desk and retrieved his suit jacket that was hanging from it and slung it over his shoulder before walking over to her as she stood from the sofa. His placed his bandaged hand gently at the small of her back and led her out of the office, closing the door behind him.

"I'm usually in early so the door should be open, just let yourself in." He told her as they took the stairs to the dance floor and walked out across the open space.

Doug was still at his booth, packing up his things for the night. He still had his headphones on his head and was deep into his own thoughts but the warning he had given her earlier on that night was brought back to her. 'They'll hunt you down and hurt you when you least expect it'. It made her wonder what was really going on in this town and what was going on in Rex's club, but whatever it was it seemed like Ali was in for a lot of trouble.

"Ali?" Rex's voice cut into her thoughts, making her jump.

"Of course, just thinking." She said as she gave him a smile to cure his worrying eyes.

"Common, i'll walk you home." He said gently with a matching smile.

She smiled back and nodded before they both walked together out the door, Ali knew it was a calm before a storm.