Looking Out for Lexy

by Kristine Dalton

  Disengaging himself from the other ladies, he held out his hand.

  Move. Hand. Move. Lexy's brain willed her hand into his much larger one. She took a deep breath to calm herself.

  “It’s nice to see you again, Jack.” Her legs were like jelly. Her stomach was rolling around. Long, thick dark hair strayed over his wide shoulders. A few strands fell across his dusky chestnut eyes. The only differences she observed between the seventeen year old boy she'd loved and the man standing before her now, were a few lines around his eyes and a few pounds that had filled into a perfect body.

  “The pleasure is all mine, I’m sure, Ms. Lat-, Mrs. Kane.” His fingers roamed seductively over her palm. Lexy could barely breathe. Yet she wanted him to hold her hand, no her enflamed body again...forever.

  For a moment, his dark chestnut eyes gazed into hers, nearly penetrating their hazy secrets. Secrets he suddenly yearned, needed to know more about.

  Lexy saw the gentleness of yesterday in his eyes, but only for a moment. It was as if time had stopped and they were alone again on the shores of the great lake, the stars so immense and brilliant, that if Lexy reached up, she’d be able to touch the tip of one.... The bitter resentment she'd seen the first time they'd met suddenly returned with a vengeance.

  “It’s Lexy, Jack.” Her voice was barely a whisper.

  A high squeaky voice suddenly shattered the reverie. “Jack. Jack. I need another drink. Will ya get me one, honey?”

  He stepped back and grinned roguishly down at Lexy, his true feelings masked behind that smile. "Excuse me. Ah, Mrs. Kane. Duty calls.”

  He signaled the bartender and glanced at one of the girls next to him. “Don’t worry, babe. It'll be right here.” He turned to the other woman. “I’ll be along in a while.” One of the girls, fluffy blonde hair and a figure to die for, eyed him with a pout on her face. “Don’t be long, Jack, honey.”

  “Go on. I said I’d be there.” He turned back to Lexy, who'd witnessed that little scene with some embarrassment.

  “So. Where were we?” His tall, lean frame loomed over her in the dusky atmosphere.

  He stared down at the girl he used to love. “You haven’t changed much, Lexy.”

  Lexy. He'd called her Lexy. His crooked smile nearly did her in. "Neither have you, Jack.” She shifted her feet uncomfortably.

  He continued to stare at her. How could she still have the same effect on him? God, he felt like that seventeen year old kid again.

  “Ah, how long are you going to be in town, Lexy.”

  “I’m planning on leaving tomorrow, Jack.” Was that regret she saw in his eyes? Whatever it was, it was gone as quickly as it had come.

  She cleared her throat nervously. “You've done very well for yourself. You know, I’ve seen all your videos. I have a few of your CD's too." A few. That was a joke. She'd bought every album, tape, and now CD he had ever recorded. Attending one of his concerts had been overwhelming. Lexy had even thought about asking to see him afterwards, but nixed the idea when hundreds of female fans had stormed the stage. She spoke in a quiet voice. "I’m very proud of you."

  “Well, Mrs. Kane, I’m glad that you approve. I don’t know how I would have made it otherwise.” His rugged face grew dark with anger. He didn’t need her patronizing him. Or her approval. His reaction surprised and bothered him.

  Lexy was indignant. “I meant it as a compliment, Jack. I really am glad for your success.”

  “I’m sure that everyone we knew is incredibly impressed by the outcast making good. By the way, how is the football hero? Still pushing people around?”

  The silence that followed was deafening. Lexy stood staring at him strangely, saying nothing.

  Jack wasn’t finished with her. The hurt went deep. He was taunting her, his gaze devouring every inch of her, pausing deliberately at her breasts, and then continuing on, taking in the rest of her figure.

  Lexy felt her cheeks get hot. Her body stiffened. No one would ever treat her with disrespect again. “I’m sorry if I bothered you, Jack. I’ll leave now.” She started to turn.

  He reached for her, swinging her around to face him. His deep chestnut eyes were nearly black, his square jaw, slightly darkened with a day's growth, set firmly. He gripped her arms gently, their eyes locked in a struggle of wills.

  “Not so fast, angel. You always liked it when I looked at you that way before, Lexy. Did you like it with Tom, too? You didn’t waste any time marrying him.” He released her just as suddenly.

  Lexy's voice was composed, her tone even. "You didn't waste any time getting out of town, Jack." She hugged herself protectively. She knew that she wasn’t being fair to him. She wasn’t there to fight with him. What was in the past was over. Drawing a breath, Lexy began again, her tone calmer, compassionate.

  “I never minded the way you looked at me, Jack. It was always....kind of, you know, sweet. I never felt like you were undressing me, like the others.” And you never came for me like you promised you would.

  Jack bowed slightly, mocking her. “I’m deeply honored by your continued faith in the good for nothing bad boy.” Why did she have to be so nice? As he straightened his lean body, their eyes met again, briefly. Averting his eyes, he didn't want her to see the loneliness, the longing in them. She'd always been good at seeing through his tough guy image. Especially when she looked in his eyes. She certainly didn't deserve his scorn. That had always been reserved for people he didn’t care about.....

  Lexy swallowed, her breath all but gone. She’d already forgiven him. “I never thought about you that way, Jack. I really have seen all of your videos. I...I like them.”

  “You don’t seem like the type that would enjoy my kind of music, Mrs. Kane. What is it you like best, the music, the sexy videos, or...me.” His grin was unmistakably wicked, and bold again.

  She let out her breath with a whoosh. A scarlet flush covered her cheeks again. “You have a lot of nerve, Mister Wyatt. I...I like them because...” Lexy averted her gaze. The nerve! And the worst part was...he was right! And the fact that he always treated the video dollies with respect and dignity in the love scenes on film. Like he had treated her. And the fact that she'd never fallen out of love with him, even though she'd married Tom. But she wasn’t about to tell him that now.

  “Uh-huh. I caught you, didn’t I, Lexy. You watch my videos because of me. Because you like my.....” He smiled that killer smile he projected on screen. “Me.” Jack Wyatt was the consummate rock star now. It was the only way he could be comfortable around the only girl, make that woman now, he'd ever cared about...OK, loved. Wanted to marry. They'd never had the chance to find out.

  Lexy drew herself up, the deep flush on her cheeks still flaming.

  “You think you are pretty hot stuff, don’t you, Jack Wyatt. Thea warned me that you were like this, but I didn’t believe her. And, I think it’s all a big put-on too. You don’t want anyone to know that a real heart beats beneath that tough guy image.”

  Jack looked amused. Lexy had always had a lot of spunk. And she hadn’t answered his question.

  "Ahhh, Lexy. Maybe you are just the woman to find out what’s beneath this uh, image. Maybe I’ll call you in the morning. I’ve got Thea’s number.”

  He had his nerve! Maybe he'd call. Maybe indeed! Lexy lifted her chin proudly and looked directly at him. "I’ll be gone tomorrow, or did you forget so soon?”

  “Salave`." He shrugged his shoulders. "Well ladies, I have a couple of anxious, young wannabe’s waiting for me. Maybe some other time, angel." Jack cast a sidelong look at Lexy. A slight smile flickered at the corners of her perfect mouth.

  Angel. The former endearment had slipped out again before he could stop it. Or had it? Jack Wyatt had never called anyone else before or after Lexy angel. Intending to say something else, he quickly snapped his mouth shut. Saluting them, the handsome singer did an about face, sauntering over to the two young women eagerly awaiting his presence. Jack had to get away from Lexy before he took her in his
arms, crushing her luscious body to his. He groaned inwardly, remembering the sensuous lips that tasted of pure honey.

  The pleasure was all mine, Jack I’m sure. Lexy watched him as he walked away. Out of her life. Again.

  Thea turned to Lexy. “I’m sorry, Lexy. I knew he was like this. I didn't mean for this to happen."

  Quietly, Lexy placed her hand on Thea’s shoulder. Her anger already dissipating. She understood his facade well. And he'd slipped badly, calling her angel-twice. She recalled him telling her as teenagers that he had never called anyone else by that particular endearment. Lexy had believed him then.....

  “Oh no Thea, I’m not disappointed. He’s just hurting, that’s all. I could see the pain and uncertainty behind that masquerade. He’s a very unsettled man.”

  “You always find something good in everyone, Lexy. To me, he is a total jerk, with a capital J. From what I’ve heard, Jack Wyatt has been with every one of his video dollies and probably more groupies than you can count.”

  “He’s just searching Thea, that’s all. But you’re right, he is kinda cocky. But I still like him anyway.” Still loved him was more like it.

  “Always the incurable romantic. Come on, Lexy, let’s get out of here and go get some real food. I know a place not far from here. By the way, how are things going now? Tom isn’t bothering you anymore, is he?” A distasteful look crossed her face as his name passed her lips.

  “Same old, same old. And...no.” Lexy clamed up suddenly. Thea put her arm around Lexy's shoulder, as if she could shield her from any harm that might come her way. She remembered how crazy Tom would get when he was drunk.

  “I am hungry. The place sounds heavenly, Thea.” Lexy glanced around once more as they walked toward the door. Laughter filtered out of the darkened corner. He was nowhere in sight, but she felt his presence as strongly as if he was walking beside her. A shiver ran up and down her spine as the last thing she thought of were his dark, mysterious eyes.

  But Lexy Kane wasn't a quitter. She refused to let it end like this. There was too much at stake. They would be seeing each other again. He could bet on that, even though he didn't know it yet.

  Jack Wyatt, head bent, nursing his drink, was oblivious to the chatter around him. His stomach was still tied in knots. Sexy Lexy. Lexy Latton. Correction, Kane. Calling Lexy Mrs. Kane left a bitter taste in his mouth. She'd married the moron even though he had told her he'd be back for her.

  He shook his dark head, as if trying to shake away the vision of the woman who'd just left. Besides, what chance had he ever really had? Although now....something didn’t seem quite right when he'd mentioned Tom Kane. She’d stiffened, changing the subject immediately.

  Still, something stirred inside of him that he hadn’t felt in a long, long time. A long time ago, with her. She'd given her love freely to him then. He let his mind drift back in time.

  There had been some trouble the beginning of his senior year. Jack had been caught in the middle. To get rid of him and trouble, his single dad had sent him to live with his Aunt Isabel in a small city in Wisconsin. He'd finished his senior year there without getting into too much trouble.

  Except for falling in love with the captain of the football team’s girlfriend. She was the opposite of everything he stood for. Lexy Latton was one of those good girls, a cheerleader, in the band and starring in the school musical. She'd captured his heart from the moment he saw her on the stage and heard the sweet voice of an angel.

  Her nickname was Sexy Lexy. The big joke on campus was Lexy Latton was the sexiest girl around, but was still a virgin. She was an honest to goodness prude. It drove the guys wild, including Jack Wyatt.

  The bad boy had scoped her for a long time before approaching her after school one day. To his surprise, she'd agreed to see him. And she wasn't the prude everyone said she was. Warm and friendly, she'd stolen his heart before he realized it had happened. And the rebel had fallen madly in love with the cheerleader. The funny thing was, she seemed to feel the same way. She was good for him. Jack even had thoughts of settling down someday. Until the night her ex-boyfriend found them together in a rather uncompromising situation. He'd paid dearly for that, and he suspected she had too.

  They had been lying on a blanket under the stars on the beach along the shore of Lake Michigan. Jack was making love to Lexy when the carload of boys had driven up. The scene that followed hadn’t been pretty. He’d sported two black eyes for a while. He had noticed that she had a lot of make-up on one side of her face, her long golden red hair covering it. She'd worn long sleeved blouses with high collars for a while, too.

  They had not talked again in person. When he was getting ready to leave after school got out, he had planned on asking her to secretly elope before college, but he couldn’t get near her during school or otherwise. He had watched her, worshipped her, from a distance, waiting until they were together again.

  Jack could never quite forget her, no matter how hard he tried. Even after he had finally called just before he left-her mother had told him her daughter never wanted to see him again. Apparently she’d chosen Tom, not him.

  Jack Wyatt still remembered the moment when they’d gotten into her father’s car for the first time. They had started kissing, Holding her beautiful, soft face in his hands, tasting the sweetness of her mouth, seeing the look of surrender in her eyes, noticing her full rounded breasts had given him the shivers. He couldn’t recall a first exchange so vividly. Lexy had looked almost too magnificent to touch. Jack had wanted to enjoy the exploration of her, savoring every precious advance toward realizing the fullness in his hungry hands. Visions of brushing his forearm just below the tender skin of her neck, feeling the softness of her cleavage against his arm, nearly drove him nuts imagining the enjoyment that she was going to bring him. When Lexy allowed him to further caress her, feeling all the wonders of her bosom, he’d known then that he would never feel anything so extraordinary again....except with her.

  Jack had felt like a young kid in a candy store that night with Lexy. And she had given him a permanent sweet tooth...for Lexy Latton Kane. No one had even come close to turning him on like she had.

  He looked up suddenly and stared at the dark eyes reflected in the mirror behind the bar. Suddenly he felt old, ancient. Those azure eyes of hers, veiled by long, velvety lashes, hid shadowy secrets. He hadn't imagined it, he was sure. For the short moments she'd gazed at him with those blue eyes that still haunted his dreams every so often, a hint of sadness so immense had been very apparent, if only for a instant. For some reason it made him morose to see it. Now that was something, wasn’t it. Jack Wyatt caring about anything.

  Why had she married that big dumb idiot anyway? Maybe because she knew from the start that there was no future with a scoundrel like him. Yet, she’d given herself without reservation to him that night, long ago. She’d told him she loved him.

  But could he tell her back? Oh, no. Not Mr. Macho man. He didn’t need to tell her. She was his for the taking. And she’d taken someone else. Lexy Latton had made it plain that her choice was that overgrown, muscle bound moron, and that she didn’t want to see him again.

  His eyes came into focus again. The laughter slowly invaded his senses again. Yeah. Maybe someday, he’d see her again. But not yet. He would choose the time. He would be in charge. This time.

  “Jack. Let’s dance honey.” The stunning blonde wrapped her arms around his waist, bringing him back.

  Jack glanced at her, not really seeing anything. He brushed her arms aside. “I'm not in the mood anymore." Before she could utter another word, he slammed a wad of bills on the counter and strode out the door.

  Unlocking the door to his suite, Jack Wyatt slammed the door behind him in frustration. Why had she reappeared just as his hectic life was about to wind down and he was finally going to get some down time himself. Wyatt glanced around the sparsely decorated room, just the way he liked it. Damn! That woman still stuck in his craw. She hadn’t wanted him then, so why now?
Did she need money? Was his star status a turn on?

  Ripping off his jacket, the darkly handsome man fell onto the huge, king size bed, shutting his eyes tightly trying to fight off long ago memories.

  Two

  Her laughter filled the hallowed halls as the taffy haired girl swished along chatting with her girlfriends. Jack Wyatt stared as she passed him by, smiling directly at him as she continued to chat with friends. The smell of lilacs drifted in his mind as he watched Lexy Latton disappear around the corner of the poorly lit hallway. She was the only thing that made his new school tolerable. His aunt thought he would be safer here with her, rather than in the slums of New York where he had lived with his alcoholic father. Never in a million did he think he would like anything about this small Wisconsin town, but that all changed the moment he laid eyes on her.

  Lexy wasn’t like the girls he knew back home. She had smiled and said hello the first day he had walked into Biology class. One of the few who didn’t make fun of his New York twang, Lexy was always kind to him. Jack had been determined to get to know her better. Word was that she had just broken up with Tom Kane, the star quarterback for the high school football team. Jack had seen Tom around. He was a bully and didn’t care who knew it. Rumor had it that Kane was as rough with Lexy as he was on the field. Jack didn’t like him the moment he laid eyes on the tall, slim athlete.

  The young man from New York wasn’t interested in sports much. He was into his motorcycle, his guitar, and like to have a smoke now and then. The New York girls had found him attractive because of his dark moodiness, an air of mystery about him. Jack had few friends back east because he preferred it that way. He hadn’t dated much, the girls in his neck of the concrete woods were not the type that you took home to meet the parents, or in his case, the lush he called “Pop”. So, falling for Lexy Latton had stunned him. The thing was, he had no idea how to approach her. Maybe she wouldn’t even like his type. All that didn’t matter because the boy knew he had to try. Later that day, in Bio class he was going to get up the guts to ask her if she wanted to take a ride on his cycle sometime. He had seen how she and her group of friends had admired his bike as he parked it every day in the same spot. Yeah, today was the day he would either get rejected or embark on a new adventure. Jack Wyatt grabbed his books out of his locker and sauntered off to his least favorite subject, English with Miss Collins, a grey old spinster who was in love with the buxom, blonde typing teacher, Miss Jones.