by Parin, Sonia
“You shouldn’t come any closer. I might be contagious. We can’t both short-circuit. One of us—” She pointed at him, “Needs to stay in control.”
“If you like, we could stop by the café and grab a drink before heading out.” He lifted his broad shoulder into an easy shrug. “You know, something to chase away the nerves.”
“Whose? Yours or mine?” it occurred to ask. “I’m not nervous.” She was merely concerned with everything backfiring.
“You said you’d been rushing around…” He sighed. “There’s no hurry. Take your time.”
“Are you by any chance using delay tactics? Surely the prospect of meeting a new stepsister can’t be that bad?”
“You’ve no idea, but the offer was real. One of my sisters used to rush around in a state of panic, leaving the house only to then return to check she hadn’t left the oven on or the refrigerator door open. Now she has a check list taped to her front door.”
* * *
Jack forgot to breathe so he had to remind himself. He’d seen Lexie wearing the dress before when she’d tried it on in the store but now he realized he’d looked but hadn’t really seen it on her.
Despite the wringing of her hands, she looked elegant and poised. He searched for a more apt description and came up with svelte.
“You’ve done something—” Her skin glowed. In fact, she looked radiant. “Make-up?”
“What about it? Was I heavy handed with it? Are people going to think I look like Raggedy Anne? The blush powder is called Just Peachy but store lights cast everything in a different light and I think the salesgirl was trying to bump up her sales for the day and I was taking too long to select the color and I was trying to decide if it was an impulse purchase or if I really needed—”
“Lexie.”
She made one of her stop and wave gestures with her hand. “I’m cool, calm and glued together collected. Don’t worry. I’ll be fine.”
He hoped so. Someone had to be.
“Don’t twist this around and think there’s something pathologically wrong with me, but the fact is, I haven’t been out on a date in a while.”
“I know that. You’ve told me already. Sort of…” She’d said she was over the whole dating game but she hadn’t explained why. Bad experience or unrelenting disappointments?
“It shouldn’t be such an ordeal but for some reason I feel I’m going to have the spotlight on me and fall under everyone’s close scrutiny.”
“We’ll be doing lots of scrutinizing ourselves. I’ll point out all the members of my family and provide inside intel about them.”
“Something along the lines of, this is Aunt Millie, she collects African tribal masks and was a chorus girl in a can-can show in Las Vegas?”
“Yes, something along those lines and try to act surprised when I do introduce you to my aunt Chrystal who really was a Las Vegas showgirl, at least for a month until she met my uncle.” Lexie’s laughter diffused the tension that had been wrecking havoc inside him. He could deny it until the moon turned into cheese but he had been concerned about tonight. At some point he’d have to thank Mason for suggesting they organize the reception for their dad. It would go a long way toward mending fences with his dad and getting their otherwise steady relationship back on track. “Thank you for doing this. As trite as it sounds, it takes the pressure off meeting my new stepsister.”
“Wouldn’t it be ironic if she turns out to be the love of your life?” She held her hand up and took a deep swallow. “I need a drink of water. Would you like one too?”
“No thanks. I’m fine.” Or he would be as soon as his heart stopped jumping like an over eager puppy at the sight of Lexie in motion.
She strode back holding a glass of water. “By the way, you scrub up well. Are you wearing a new cologne? It smells like freshly squished lemon rind mixed in with a sea breeze.”
As she talked, her eyes skipped around him and the way she kept fidgeting with her hands told him she needed more time to put herself into gear.
“Am I making us late?”
“Take your time.”
She emptied the glass of water and set it down on the coffee table. “I’m as ready as I’ll ever be.”
* * *
“Is this yours?” Lexie didn’t bother pretending she wasn’t impressed by the luxury car. Besides, her reaction covered up the fact she was still tingling with excitement. Dressing up, spending the evening with Jack…
“It’s Mason’s.”
“He has cars to spare?”
“Boys and their toys,” he mocked.
“Hey, you stole my line.” Lexie sank back into the comfortable seat thinking that if privilege had a smell, it would be like the interior of this car. “I feel like I need to sit up straight and put on airs of grandeur.” Giving her mouth a rest, she realized her gaze kept jumping to the steering wheel… to his hands. Jack looked relaxed and confident and she had no reason to worry. Instead, she loosened her limbs and enjoyed the view of the Yarra River, the winding road running alongside it, his profile...
They were headed away from the city and while traffic was busy, the road wasn’t congested with it.
“Did I tell you how great you look tonight?”
“Please, enough with the compliments, you’ll get me all flustered again.” She smiled. “Thank you. I’d forgotten how much fun it is to get dressed up.”
“You should do it more often.”
“I’d have to find myself a sugar daddy to keep me clothed in the manner to which you got me hooked on.”
“I wouldn’t be surprised if we’re roped into attending some other family function, and since you couldn’t be seen in the same dress again, we’d have to go shopping for another one. Would you be up for it?”
“This could turn into a lucrative gig for me. I might even squeeze out a fiftieth anniversary gown from you.”
“I think everyone would become suspicious if we didn’t tie the knot well before then. The it’s-still-early-days excuse would wear thin, don’t you think?”
“We could set a new trend.”
He brushed his hand across his chin. “We’d also have to renegotiate the rules.”
“By then I might have revamped my outlook and decided I want love with all the frills and fireworks.”
“I should have you over for another hot chocolate to remind you of the good thing you’re onto with me.”
“You don’t need a reason to have me over for that. Feel free to make it a regular date. That way you keep your skills honed and you might even improve them.” Lexie was about to bite into her lower lip when she remembered her freshly applied lipstick. She stole a glance at Jack. She couldn’t wait to see how she’d react when he put his hand on her elbow and moved it to her waist.
* * *
“Here we are.” Jack pulled into the exclusive golf club overlooking the Yarra River and found a parking spot.
“Any last minute instructions?”
“Be good, be loving, be charming.”
“I promise I won’t dance on a table top. As for the rest…” She glanced at him. “Charm is my natural state of being when I’m not stressed about putting my foot in my mouth or twisting my ankle and falling flat on my face… and I’ll remember to gaze at you longingly, if not lovingly… well, admiringly might have to do for starters, but I could work up to lovingly.” She drew in a shaky breath. “I get the feeling we’re going to blow this. Or at least, I am. I’m bound to. It’s all I’ve thinking about.”
“Nonsense.” They’d be fine and he’d prove it by sliding his hand to her waist as soon as he could. “Have a little faith.”
“Say it with more conviction, and I’ll believe you.” She emerged from the car, her face lit up with a big, happy to see him, smile.
“See, you’re already doing great. You’re smiling.”
“I’m smiling because I managed to get out of the car without tripping or tearing my dress.”
Following his mental prompts, he reste
d his fingertips on her elbow, and then slid his hand to her waist.
He didn’t get a chance to enjoy his body’s response. Two steps along the path leading to the clubhouse, Lexie turned, her hands flying up to his chest.
Jack braced for the push he could see coming. Instead, Lexie smiled.
“I’m going to lean in and pretend I’m fixing your tie.”
“Because…”
“There are people pressed up against the window and watching us approach. This is our chance to leave them in no doubt. And stop looking so surprised.”
He tore his gaze away from her and looked over her head. Sure enough, he could see several of his stepsisters and one-time stepmothers looking out the window.
“That was fast thinking.”
“I just gave myself a mental ‘snap out of it’ slap on the cheek.” She tilted her head. “It might actually be a family trait. A couple of days ago I saw my sister do something similar. One moment she appeared to be falling apart and the next, she was her old self again.”
He frowned even as he told himself he had nothing to worry about. Lexie had stepped up to the plate. She’d shaken off her doubt and had replaced it with vampish self-assurance. He couldn’t stop noticing how she looked, but it didn’t mean he’d do something about it.
“What’s wrong? Afraid I’ll do something crazy like kiss you?”
Had she purred the words? “That would send a clear message.”
She gave a throaty laughter. “It would also smudge my lipstick.”
“I’m glad to see you taking this seriously, but I don’t get how you can go from jittery to take over confident.”
“I have a lot of practice. I pictured my parents standing by the window. It always has the same instant, pull up my socks and straighten my back effect. I think we’re ready to resume our grand entrance. And this time, you should hold my hand.”
Chapter Fifteen
“Why are you frowning?”
Jack took a deep breath and looked at Lexie. “I’m thinking that if I had a choice, I’d rather have my teeth pulled out than spend an evening warding off questions.” He unlocked his jaw as he scanned the crowd for his father. The sooner he arrived, the sooner they could leave. Lexie had used humor to fend off most questions, but there had been a couple that had sent a rush of crimson to her cheeks.
“You’d pick a tooth extraction over an evening spent with family and friends? Why?”
“You’ve seen for yourself. They ask too many questions.” When a waiter approached, he took two glasses of champagne and offered one to Lexie.
“I really shouldn’t.”
“I think you need to. Your hand’s shaking.”
“Right along with my insides.” She smiled and took the glass from him. “Sorry, I’ve never had so many people looking at me.”
“So your brave front is a sham?” He took a long drink.
“Ever since I put on the dress I’ve been on a rollercoaster ride. I’m me but I’m not… While I know I can get through this night without making the front-page news, I still have reservations. Just in case I stuff up, I did my best and I’m sorry.”
“You’re doing very well. If anyone’s going to stuff up, it’ll be me. I’m about to bite someone’s head off.” He took another sip of his drink. “I’m curious to know how you still manage to look so calm.”
“Diversionary tactics.”
“Come again?”
“I’m distracting myself by doing a mental survey. So far, the stickiest questions have come from women wearing pastel colors. If I’d had to take a wild stab before, I would have said the most intrusive questions were going to be fired at me by someone wearing a bright colored gown, but it seems to be playing out in reverse. I’m calling it the meek and mild camouflage.”
“Otherwise referred to as wolves in sheep clothing.”
“I don’t expect aggressive tactics from someone dressed in vintage pink, that last stepsister I met wanted to know if we were...” She cleared her throat and tilted the glass until she’d drank the last drop. “Never mind.”
Catching her slanted gaze, he smiled and when she looked away, he took a deep swallow. Why were people so fixated with what went on behind closed doors? “Mercy is barely old enough to ask those sort of questions.”
“Mercy? I thought I heard wrong when she introduced herself.”
“Short for Mercedes.” He pushed out a breath. “Incoming.” He steered her toward a corner.
“Incoming? As in missiles?”
“My grandmother is headed our way. We should keep moving. Standing in the one spot for too long makes us sitting targets.”
“I should’ve worn a striped red and white dress, that way people could have played Where’s Lexie.”
“They’re like homing pigeons. Trust me, they’d find you in no time.” He’d even say the same about himself. He hadn’t left her side since setting foot inside the golf club’s function room, but if he wandered off it wouldn’t take him long to find her because whatever she sparked off was enough to draw him to her.
“Did I tell you how good you look tonight?”
She tilted her head and gave him one of her speculative looks. Jack knew he could expect just about anything to come out of her mouth.
“Thank you.” She leaned closer and smiled. “So… all the other times you saw me didn’t do it for you?”
If he didn’t know better, he’d think she was flirting with him. Her eyes filled with laughter and danced around his face. She looked relaxed standing next to him, closer than she’d ever been, her attention focused on him as if no one else existed or mattered. Playing the role of besotted girlfriend to the hilt?
“I’m trying to decide if there’s a right or wrong answer for that.” In truth, she always looked good in his eyes. Even dressed in a robe that had seen better days.
“Are you one of those men who thrive on treating a woman mean and keeping her keen?”
“I’m playing it safe. If I start complimenting you, I’m afraid you’ll think I’m up to no good and run for your life.”
“No sane woman would run away from you.”
He cocked an eyebrow. “Am I supposed to question your sanity?”
“That, Jack Riley, deserves a jab in the ribs but I promised to be good and stick to public displays of affection.”
“Don’t skimp on the affection bit.”
“Aren’t you afraid of what I’ll ask in return?”
“Hot chocolate. We’ve already discussed it.”
“Did we shake on it?” She tilted her head as if in deep thought. “I think we might have left it open-ended.”
“No, I’d never work myself into that corner. Who knows what you might ask of me.”
“Anything from attending a Christmas party wearing a reindeer jumper to meeting my parents and pretending to be my fiancé. I’ve read a lot of books where people in desperate situations do that—”
“You mean fiction.”
“Well... yes, but life can resemble fiction.”
“Rarely, if ever.” He bit the inside of his lip.
“I’d hate to burst your bubble, but there are scores of books written about fake relationships, and here we are—”
“All with happy endings, I presume?”
“Of course. The heroes always wake up to the fact they were onto a good thing and were too foolish to see it or appreciate it.”
“You read romances?”
“I read everything from the back of milk cartons to... Well, anything.”
“But mostly you read romances. You do the dreamy look really well.”
She speared a lifted eyebrow look at him. “You made it sound as if there’s something wrong with reading romances.”
“Don’t they offer warped—” He couldn’t hold his laughter back. “Your eyebrow nearly disappeared behind your hairline and you’re aiming the pointy end of your shoe toward me—”
“Men could benefit from reading romances, especially the men who c
omplain women don’t know what they want. But this is neither the time or place to re-educate you.” She brushed her hand along the lapel of his jacket and smiled. “At least we agree you owe me one. By the way, this is a lovely venue. Who chose it?”
Instead of worrying about the change of subject, he welcomed it. Owing Lexie a favor went a long way toward establishing a connection with her. He followed the thought with a swift reminder that one false move, one out of place remark could risk the connection and he didn’t want to do that.
“Mason’s a member of the golf club.”
“Is everyone here?”
He nodded.
“It’s wonderful they could all make it at such short notice.”
“You sound wistful.”
Her gaze swept over the crowd. “My folks live three hours away from Melbourne, my sister’s been living in Sydney. I have cousins and other relatives spread across the country. Getting together would take weeks if not months of organizing. The last time was for my grandmother’s seventieth birthday and that was planned a year in advance.”
“So you don’t mind getting together with your family?”
“Not really. I’m used to skating around uncomfortable conversations.”
“Such as why you’re not married with two point five children?” Something he wouldn’t mind knowing. “What’s your usual response?”
She looked up at him and held his gaze without answering. A twinkle lit up her hazel-green eyes, a half smile appeared on her lips. Jack stood there gazing back at her without speaking, not breaking eye contact, not even when his stepsister, Steph, strode up and put her arm around his shoulder.
“Okay, enough of that. Break it up you two. You’re making the rest of us nauseous.”
“Steph, you made it after all. This is Lexie—”
“We’ve already met. Jack, you need to do the rounds. I’ll look after Lexie.”
“Why would I do that?” Being with Lexie gave him the perfect excuse to avoid spending too much time with anyone else.