“Jack, I’m really looking forward to seeing you. I’m sorry about meeting the friends thing. It will just make things easier for now. Call you later?” Lexy hated this. It wasn’t right that she couldn’t be with the person she truly wanted to be with. Parental obligations sucked. But, in spite of everything she loved her mom and dad, and didn’t want to disappoint them. Lexy saw that coming soon enough.
“Talk with you later Lex.” The tall, chestnut-haired youth set the phone back in the cradle. It was gonna be a long afternoon until he could see the girl of his dreams again.
Seventeen
She leaped up as the front door bell rang. Lexy looked at the door as the ringing persisted. Then, a voice in a low, but deadly tone told her to let him in, or she would be replacing her door. With an elegance and grace she didn’t feel, Lexy opened the door.
Jack stood there shivering, all six foot-one of him. Shaking the rain from his hair, he stepped inside. Lexy swore he looked like a Greek god with that mass of wet, dark hair falling in his face. Not giving her a chance to say a word, he caught her in his arms and kissed her hungrily. “Lexy, Lexy.” He whispered tenderly as she melted into his arms.
God, she tasted good! Jack couldn’t believe how he’d hungered for her kiss those few hours they’d been apart. These were not normal emotions he was feeling. At least not his normal emotions.
Lexy broke the kiss, struggling to get away, but his arms held her so tight she could barely breathe. When he finally released her she took a step back to catch her breath. He just couldn’t do this to her! Especially when he said her name like it was the only one in the world.
“Where is your bedroom?” He started in the right direction.
“What do you think you’re doing? Where do you think you’re going? Jack. I thought you wanted to talk!”
Lexy followed him, still trying to catch her breath from that kiss. Jack walked into her bedroom and spied her bags.
“Good, you haven’t unpacked yet. You are coming back to New York with me for what’s left of our weekend, Lexy. Like I said, we have a weekend to spend together and it hasn’t ended, yet.”
Lexy turned the frost on.
“Oh yes it has! I’m not just another one of your...your bimbos!” She nearly spat that last word out.
“Is that what you think, Lexy?” Jack turned and looked into those eyes that were a pretty good imitation of blue ice at the moment. “Sweetheart, you definitely need a talking to.” He picked up her bags in one hand, gesturing his other toward her closet.
“Get your coat, honey. We have a plane to catch in twenty minutes! You owe me another twenty-four hours and I plan on spending them with you. Come on, be a good girl, Lexy.”
She looked at him in helpless rage, not believing what she was hearing. Dropping her bags, Jack stood there, his arms folded, waiting for her to do as he commanded.
“I release you from your obligation, Jack. I don't owe you a thing. I’m sorry if you came all this way for nothing.”
But Lexy knew he wouldn’t move. He was acting like a little boy having a tantrum. From her own experiences, Lexy knew instantly she’d have to use different tactics with this belligerent boy.
"Please, Lexy. I won't force you to go, if you really don't want to. Let me make it up to you. Give me that at least. Please, angel." He stood there now, looking like a little lost boy, a look of contrition on his face. It was the same look she'd seen many times as a mom. Lexy almost laughed in spite of herself.
Lexy sighed, throwing her hands up in the air. She was a sucker for little lost boys. She turned and marched over to the closet, slipping into an old coat as if she were donning a royal robe. Jack watched her, a smile touching the corners of his now, less than stern mouth.
Lexy spun around. “This is not the end of this matter. I hope you know that. I’m only going because I want to. Not because you are demanding it.” Standing there, hands on her hips, she frowned at him as if he were one of her own children.
“Lexy, you sure look cute when you’re mad. I like your hair up in a ponytail like that.” She didn’t look any older than she had at seventeen at that moment. She was even prettier when she was angry. And, she was definitely angry. Well, he’d take care of that on the way back to New York. By the time he was through, she would welcome him again with open arms. At least he hoped so.
“I said I was coming. You don’t have to try and be so nice.” She marched out the door with Jack following like a little boy.
Lexy listened stonily to Jack's explanation of his relationship with Gina. According to him it was a friendship and nothing more, even though Gina wanted it to be more.
He explained that he’d been thinking of calling Lexy as soon as he had received her letter but had been finishing the last leg of a short tour of four cities on the east coast. He had met Gina on the set of his latest and last video, and she’d decided they should become an item for publicity reasons. He did not deny that they had been having something of a relationship, which didn’t include sex.
Jack was trying to stay away from all relationships now that he was close to his dream of retirement, and peace. It had remained a publicity relationship for Jack, but Gina had taken it more seriously. He was going to tell her it was over after Lexy had returned home.
He hadn’t expected to see Gina at all that weekend. He realized that he’d made a big mistake when he had finished the retake and had seen Gina with that cat that ate the canary smile on her face. He had left immediately to find Lexy and explain everything to her, but when he’d reached the hotel, the concierge had told him she had left. He’d gone straight to the airport.
Lexy did not say anything immediately. She just listened quietly to his earnest rationalization of the situation. The frost in her heart and her eyes was melting a little with each mile they flew. She still didn't trust him. And there was the tiny matter of the lines he'd fed her.
“What about the things she told me like.....” She leaned over and whispered things Gina had whispered in her ear.
Jack burst out laughing. “For someone who says she watches all my videos, you should recognize some of the lines in the love songs. I thought you’d like it if I said some of them to you...among other things that were for your ears only.”
With that thought her face turned scarlet thinking about their morning rendezvous. No matter what she had said about having him if only for a weekend, it was not really true. She wanted a real relationship with him. Truly embarrassed now she faced him.
“Jack, it should be me that apologizes. I acted like I was eighteen again when I ran away instead of giving you a chance to explain. I can’t tell you what to do with your life. I certainly don’t have any claims on you. I’m a big girl now. I knew what I was getting into. No, you don’t owe me anything.” She looked away, afraid that he would agree with her.
“Does this mean I have been given a reprieve, Lexy?” Jack reached over to cover her hands with his. “And who says you don’t have any claims on me? I’ll be the judge of that, Lexy angel.” Nice going Wyatt. One more foot in the old man trap.
He could be so exasperating, so demanding, totally in charge one minute, and the next, completely at her mercy. Lexy angel. It been his favorite endearment for her back then next to Sexy Lexy.... well, she’d better take advantage of this while she had the upper hand. She swung around to face him.
“Of course. Things will ah...have to be different for the rest of the weekend. I think I was a little overwhelmed and not very good at saying no. I want our relationship to remain at cooler temperatures for the remainder of the weekend. I...I don’t know what got into me. I don’t jump into...you know...I’m not like that. You...you caught me off guard.”
Lexy looked away, again fearing his reply. She wasn’t ready for a sexual relationship yet. It hadn’t taken her long to find out. Her therapist had told her it would take time. She would know when it was right.
Jack silently thanked God for the pardon and his good fortune. He’d never
known anyone quite like her. He had decided already that he wanted it to be more than just a weekend indulgence. From the moment he’d first seen her again in that smoky bar, he had known. Just what it was he wanted from her, he wasn’t exactly sure of.
In fact, Jack wasn’t really sure anymore what he wanted. Just seeing her again after only a few hours away from her had him thinking all kinds of thoughts like.....no! Not commitment! What then? He sure as hell didn’t know anymore. And he’d just have to keep his hormones under control, which would be difficult because the sight of her made him weak in the knees. He put his arm around her, bringing Lexy around to face him. His dark brown eyes were serious.
“Lexy, we’ll do whatever you like. I’m yours for the next twenty-four hours. Whatever you wanna do, that’s what we’ll do.”
He brushed her lips with his, sending a shiver through her in spite of the warm air on the plane. She wanted him to see her as the person she really was. The thing was, he’d seen the side of her that hadn’t existed since the nights spent with him so long ago. Passions had been awakened in her very soul Lexy had buried deep within her. Now she had to deal with this part of herself also. She hadn’t been prepared for that part of her hidden soul to be laid open again, even to herself.
She glanced at him shyly. “I’d like to do some shopping and go to the Metropolitan Art Museum. You said anywhere. Besides Jack, I bet it is something you have never thought of doing while you are here. I have a feeling that you just might like it.” And keep myself out of danger as far as you are concerned, she added to herself.
“You got it, angel! When we get back we’ll hit the night life and on Sunday you can show me a little class.”
He tightened his arm around her as La Guardia came into view. He leaned over and whispered in her ear.
“This weekend will be yours but the next time will be mine Lexy angel.” Next one? A commitment? Way to go guy. Too late now. Jack swallowed hard. He brought her face around to his.
“I want you to know that I was never with Gina, that way. She wanted it, and you may find this hard to believe, but I didn’t. The publicity is good for the video She lied to you about why I was at her apartment the other night. I was there, but only to go over part of the scene she was having trouble with.”
“Like I said, we’ve been seen together publicly, for the video, but the, ah, relationship was never any more than friendship.”
“She certainly seemed like she was your girlfriend, Jack. Gina was very angry that you were with me. That doesn’t sound like a platonic relationship to me.”
“Yeah, she’s angry because she wants it to be more. Not because she finds me devastatingly handsome either. It looks good for her image. She has a bad habit of falling in love with rock stars. Gina is a barracuda, Lexy. She took one look at you, and knew you were easy prey.” He continued before she could protest.
“You are so vulnerable right now, Lexy. She could see that. And the fact that you weren’t an actress or a model. I let her take advantage of you. I shouldn’t have left you alone on the set with her. I’m sorry.”
Lexy would not look in his direction. She needed to be calm and cool in this situation. It was very difficult, being so close to him that she could feel his breath on her.
“It’s all right, Jack. I’m not angry any more. Let’s just forget it and make the most of what’s left of our time together.” She drew in a deep breath and exhaled slowly to regain her composure.
“I’m glad that you see it my way, Lexy. I promise you we’ll have a great time.”
What was left of their time together. He wasn’t sure he liked the way she had put that. Jack leaned back and gave a silent sigh of relief. He wasn’t ready to let her go. He had to find out what it was that drew him to her like a magnet. If he got stuck, well, he could think of worse things happening to him.
He watched her quietly as she put her head back, eyes closed. She reminded him so much of that ponytailed girl he had fallen for years ago.
Eighteen
Jack and Lexy had agreed to meet under the old willow tree. Lexy had called Jack as soon as she’d gotten home from that god-awful fracas at the Kane’s. Both sets of parents had managed to get plastered by 3:00. Tom, as usual, in front of the parents, was extremely attentive and kind to her. Of course when they were out of mom and dad’s earshot, she heard plenty. Especially about Jack. He had even gripped her shoulder so tightly once that Lexy was sure it would leave a bruise. If the parents only knew the real Tom. Mr. Kane wasn’t much of a role model, so in some ways Lexy didn’t blame Tom. She would find out later that was a big mistake. She had breathed a huge sigh of relief when they left to go home around 6:30. Lexy had insisted on driving.
Jack saw her running toward him. He ran to meet her, picking her up and swinging the slim eighteen year old girl around as if she were a feather. Setting her down leisurely, he bent his face down to hers. “I couldn’t wait to hold you, Angel girl.” His lips met hers, gently at first, then more firmly. One arm slipped around her waist as he gently grasped a handful of hair behind her neck.
Parting her lips, Lexy felt his tongue slip into her waiting mouth, mingling with hers as their breathing became more rapid. Both hearts were pounding to the rhythm of the croaking frogs somewhere in the nearby tall grass that was waving lightly in the evening breeze. They fell to their knees, still embracing one another in a sweet, but urgent kiss. Lexy broke away, putting her head on his shoulder, trying in vain to catch her breath.
“Are you ok, Lex. I didn’t push you too far, did I?” She loved the concern in his voice. A man like Jack was worth everything.
“No, no. I just need to clear my head. Mmmmm. It was really nice though.” Lexy lifted her head and glanced around. They were out in the open, not quite to the monkey bars. She loosened her hug and stood up quickly. “This isn’t the best place to be....um, so affectionate. It’s kind a public, Jack.” Lexy glanced around again. She was relieved that no one was around. After all, it was Sunday night and almost already dark. Fall had come very rapidly this year.
Jack put his arm around her shoulder and squeezed it. Lexy winced and he noticed immediately. “Did I hurt you, Lex?” Enormous anxiety panned across his face.
“No, it’s ok. I hurt my shoulder this afternoon at the cook out playing football.” She wasn’t about to tell him about Tom. Jack wouldn’t hesitate to go after the big football player and that would be the end of them.
“Let’s take a walk down by the lake, it’s only a few blocks away. I know a place that is really nice to sit and watch the waves come in.” Lexy grabbed his hand.
“It’s good for me if it’s good for you.” Any chance Jack had to be with Lexy was fine with him.
The two followed a worn path down to the lake front. As they sat on the rocks moonrise was huge and orange, the perfect, romantic orb. They sat with their arms around each other, dark head against a red one.
“I have to say this Lexy before I lose my nerve. I’ve never met a girl like you. You’re beautiful, but so sweet and kind.” He turned his head so they were forehead to forehead. “And sexy too. You do know what your nickname is, don’t you?”
Lexy gazed into his eyes. “Do tell.”
“Awe, come on. You know it’s Sexy Lexy.” Jack leaned in and stole a kiss. Lexy kissed him back and then smiled.
“I know what the guys say. They have a name for everyone.”
“Yeah. But I wouldn’t want some of the nicknames they give the girls. Like your friend Mandy.” He flashed a grin in the moonlight.
“Don’t say it. I already know. And it isn’t true, you know. Boys make up the worst lies about us girls. It’s ridiculous. I can understand how they came up with mine, but it’s not true in the least. I’m just plain old Lexy Latton from the East side. Years from now people will look at me and wonder how I ever got that nickname.” Lexy gave him a solemn look.
Jack laughed and hugged her tightly. “You just don’t see what everyone else does. That’s what I lo.
..like most about you.” Geez. He’d nearly slipped and told the girl he loved her. That had never happened before. He loosed his grip and searched her face. She didn’t seen to notice the slip.
Lexy snuggled into his shoulder. It was getting chilly and she’d forgotten a jacket. Jack felt her shiver and took his off, putting around her shoulders. He took her face in his hands. “Do you mind if I kiss you again?”
Lexy closed her eyes in anticipation. Once again his lips settled on hers, warm against the night. He continued to kiss her deeply, his arms slipping under the jacket, around her waist. Jack leaned her back against the smooth boulder next to the one they were sitting on. Lexy felt her heart race as the kiss became more intense.
A low groan escaped Jack’s lips. Hands caressed her t-shirt, then slipped slowly towards her breasts. Lexy moaned softly as one hand cupped a breast and squeezed gently. She felt her nipples get hard as he thumbed first one and then the other. That place between her thighs ached terribly. “Baby, angel. I want you so much.” Jack continued to stroke her.
“I can’t. We have to stop Jack. This is too fast for me.” Lexy could hardly breath he had her so aroused.
“Ok, baby. Lexy. I’m sorry if I pushed you too far.” Jack pulled her shirt down and put his arms around her. “ I would never do anything you didn’t want to do. Everything will be up to you. Always. If you say no, then no it is. I...I care too much to lose you for any reason.” The dark-haired youth held himself in check. His loins ached and he willed his vital part back to normal size. It wouldn’t do to scare her with that. Lexy was a virgin and he didn’t want anything to spoil their first time together. And he was sure there would be that first time. He knew the girl cared about him. Or should he say young woman. After all, they were both eighteen.
“Jack. I...I haven’t been with anyone. Ever. But, I guess you can already tell that. I’m just not ready yet.” Lexy stared at her feet. She was feeling too weird and somewhat embarrassed. Lexy tightened his jacket around her although she was no longer cold. The heat from inside her body made it feel like it was glowing for the whole world to see.
Looking Out for Lexy Page 10