by Virna DePaul
Text or phone calls were still fair play, however.
Anyone but the most careful observer would believe they were just friends. If that. Maybe even just work colleagues.
But try as she might, she was having trouble convincing herself of the same thing. The word ‘boyfriend’ was popping up in her head every twenty seconds. Stupid, traitorous brain. It was starting to be annoying.
“Hello? Hello? Is anyone there?” The voice came through the line and Lexi jumped.
Perfect. Just perfect. And now she was spacing out on the line. She could only imagine what Eric’s mom thought of her right now.
“Right. Hi. Yes, sorry. I’m here. You’re looking for Eric?”
“Yes, dear.”
“He’s out back with a delivery. I’ll run out and get him.”
“Hold on one second, dear. Is this Lexi?”
Lexi cleared her throat. “Yes, ma’am.”
“Well, it’s lovely to meet you over the phone. I’ve heard quite a bit about you.”
Lexi had no idea what to say. She had the insane urge to put on an English accent. Instead she fell back on old habits and melted a little further into her drawl. “Is that right?”
“Yes, my son says you’re an extremely gifted screenwriter.”
Her stomach flipped. He’d said that? She knew he’d been impressed by the manuscript she’d shown him a few weeks ago, but she hadn’t figured on him talking to his mom about it. She scrambled for something more to say.
“I try.”
“Now, honey, I’m wondering if you can help me out with something?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“My son seems to be rather taken with you. Which has been like music to my ears considering how hard this past year has been on him.”
Lexi’s hand tightened on the phone and she made a small noise to show she was still listening, but it was about the best she could do.
“It’s very important to me that he make it back to L.A. this weekend for a fundraising gala we’re attending. However, Eric won’t commit. It’s understandable, given his ex Brianne will be there with… Well, Brianne is actually the event planner. But the man throwing the party, Gio Esposito, is a colleague and friend of the family, and while there is no shortage of fundraisers in our business, there are plenty of people who know why Eric left L.A., and I think it’s high time he shows them he’s not running anymore. Which can only truly happen if he returns to L.A. and what better way to return than at a party in which Brianne and Gabe are in attendance? I’m wondering if you can help push Eric in the right direction by agreeing to attend the gala with him. What do you say?”
Lexi blinked. “I—” That was as far as Lexi could get before her brain just up and shorted out. “Um, I don’t think—” she began, but that was all she could say before Eric came in from the back, wiping his forehead with the handkerchief he kept in the back pocket of his jeans.
“It’s hotter than hell out there,” he said, lifting off his sweaty baseball cap and tossing it on the cashier counter. “We got anything to drink around here?”
“Oh, Mrs. Davenport, Eric just walked in. I’ll hand you over now.” Without wasting another second Lexi dropped the phone into Eric’s hand like it was made of hot coals.
Eric’s eyes went wide with surprise and he raised the receiver to his ear. “Mom?”
He listened for a few seconds before his expression fell into one of resigned exasperation. “Yeah. Uh huh. Uh huh.” He turned and looked at Lexi full in the face and she found herself inexplicably blushing. “Well, I wouldn’t exactly describe her that way myself, but yes, she’s really great. One of the good ones.”
Lexi turned away from the laser focus in Eric’s blue eyes. She’d never had a man discuss her with his mother right in front of her before. Especially when that mother had just invited her into said man’s life in a way that completely broke every rule that Lexi herself had set out for them.
“Well, she’s got a life of her own, so I don’t know. Right. You got it. Uh huh. Oh for fuck’s sake, Mom. Beat me to death with it, why don’t you!”
Lexi turned back in complete shock. She surveyed him with her mouth wide open. Did he really just say the f-word to his own mother? To the sweet, sophisticated aristocrat that Lexi had just finished talking to?
But Eric was grinning into the phone affectionately. “You win. You win. Yes, ma’am. Alright. Love you too.”
Eric hung up the phone and dropped his forehead into his hand and rubbed at his temples before he snatched up his hat and jammed it back on his head. He crossed to the other side of the counter where Lexi was resolutely sorting packets of seeds into a revolving stand.
“So…” He leaned back against the counter, one ankle crossed over the other, the ball cap low over his eyes. His T-shirt was sweaty at the neck. He’d never looked less like a billionaire and more like a cowboy. “My mom says you’re ‘sweet as pie.’”
Lexi snorted and raised an eyebrow. “Is that when you told her that’s not the way you’d describe me?”
He grinned and nodded before a different look fell over his face. One she couldn’t even begin to interpret. “You want to go to L.A. this weekend?”
“Wow.” Lexi kept sorting seed packets. “I’m not exactly sure what to say to that.”
“Maybe we should start with what my mother told you on the phone and I’ll correct the fabrications as we go along.”
“Fabrications?” Lexi raised her eyebrows.
“My mother has been known to stretch truths to serve her own reality.”
Lexi smiled tightly. “Ah. Well. She invited me to come to some sort of fundraising gala this weekend. With you. There’s going to be some big-wig businessman slash family friend there. Someone named Gio? Cool name.”
“It is a cool name. And Gio’s a cool guy. I’d actually enjoy seeing him. I’d enjoy seeing quite a few people.”
“So part of you wants to go?”
He hesitated, then shrugged. “Yes.”
“But part of you doesn’t want to?”
When he cocked a brow, Lexi sighed. “Your mom mentioned that Brianne and Gabe would be there, as a couple I presume...” She zipped her eyes up to his. “It’s totally understandable why you wouldn’t want to see them, Eric.”
Eric groaned and dropped his head back, scrubbed his hands over his eyes. “Understandable, sure, but total bullshit.”
“What?”
“I don’t give a fuck about seeing them together, Lexi.”
“Are you kidding?”
“No, I’m not kidding. It really doesn’t bother me anymore. Sure, it doesn’t feel good to think about how much time we wasted, Brianne and I. Or the fact that when I started dating Brianne, I knew Gabe was into her and ignored that. I could have saved us all a lot of heartache if I’d been a better friend to both of them. But they’re together now. So much happier than they were when I was between them. And I’m glad. I really am. Even more than that, I’m happy here. Happier than I’ve ever been. So…”
Even though it broke every single one of her self-preservation rules, even though it was broad daylight and public and their place of work, Lexi couldn’t help herself. She reached forward, took him by the collar of his shirt and kissed him. Hard. It was more of a brand than a sensual moment. And when she finally released him and went back to sorting seeds, she could feel the echo of the kiss on her lips.
“What was that for?” He had one hand to his mouth like he was feeling the same echo she was.
She shrugged. “You’re a good man.”
He let out a long string of air. “So you want to go with this good man to L.A. this weekend?”
Not answering his direct question, she turned to him and crossed her arms over her chest. “If it wasn’t about Brianne and Gabe, then why were you hesitating going in the first place?”
Eric hesitated. “I’m not sure you’ll like the answer.”
“Try me.”
He stared her dead in the eye. “
We’re already halfway through the summer. I didn’t want to waste a whole weekend away from you.”
Lexi’s stomach pulled tight. It was like nerves and elation both had one end of the tug of war rope inside her. “Oh.”
His eyes raced over her face then he shrugged. “Plus, I told you I’m happy here. Montana feels more like home to me than L.A. ever did. So if I’m going to spend a weekend away from my ranch, my friends, you, well… L.A. wouldn’t be my first choice.”
Jesus. She had to step carefully here.
On one hand, traveling together, to see his family and friends no less, was the most couple-ish thing two people could do. On the other hand, she’d be going to L.A., where she’d soon be living anyway. She could get an unexpected preview into what her exciting new life would look like.
“Would we maybe have time to check out places where I could live in August?”
“Of course. The gala is only for a few hours on Saturday night. So we could close the store early Friday and fly back late on Sunday. Take the weekend in between to help you get to know the city a little bit.”
God that sounded good. Eric knew L.A. It would be really nice to be introduced to it by somebody she could trust.
She bit her lip. “People would assume I’m your girlfriend, wouldn’t they?”
“It’s inevitable that some people would assume it. But we can introduce you however you want. My friend, colleague, or kick ass screenwriter who I think is brilliant.”
Lexi flushed and turned away. She did some quick calculations. Just as the trip would be an unexpected treat, it would also be an unexpected expense. The airline ticket would probably drain half the money in her bank account. Then there would be the expense of the hotel…
“Look, it sounds cool. And I don’t want to make you go alone. But I should save the money for when I move.”
Eric opened his mouth and Lexi instantly raised a threatening finger.
Her eyes narrowed into slits. “Don’t you dare offer to pay for my plane ticket.”
Eric raised his hands in surrender. “I would never do such a horrible thing.” He cleared his throat. “But, um, as I was going to fly myself down there, I just thought you wouldn’t mind riding in my plane with me.”
Lexi’s mind went blank. “Your plane?”
“I’m a registered pilot. I keep a plane over at the airport in Bozeman.”
“You’re a pilot. Of your own plane.”
He rubbed the back of his neck. “It’s no big deal. You’d like it, I swear. It’s fun.”
“And me coming along wouldn’t be an added expense for you? You know, extra fuel because the plane will weigh more?”
“I assure you, you coming along would not increase my flight expenses. And I’d really love your company, Lexi. So what do you say?”
What could she say? She wanted to go with him. So she took a deep breath and braced herself to jump. “Well, I guess I better find myself a fancy dress, huh?”
* * *
Two hours later, Eric let her leave work early in order to get ready for the trip. As soon as she walked through the front door, she took a moment to scratch a wagging Tulip on the chin and called to Marina. When she heard something in the kitchen she headed that way.
“Marina! Can I try on that fancy dress you have and maybe borrow it for the—”
Lexi came up short. Marina was up on the kitchen counter, a spilled vase of flowers behind her, and her legs wrapped around Dylan’s waist. His hand was up her blouse and his mouth latched onto her throat.
As soon as he realized they had company, Dylan straightened Marina’s clothes and quickly turned around, blocking her from Lexi’s view to give Marina a second to compose herself.
Lexi’s eyes couldn’t help but scan up and down Dylan. He was a very attractive man currently sporting a humongous bulge in his pants. She tucked her tongue in her cheek.
“Whatcha doin?” she asked innocently.
“Oh god,” Marina groaned, hopping down from the counter and stepping around Dylan. “I’m sorry you had to see that.”
“I’m not.” Lexi leaned against the door jamb and patted Tulip as he sauntered past. “That was hot as hell.”
Marina blushed furiously and Dylan let out a low chuckle. “I knew I liked you.”
Lexi grinned. “Sorry to interrupt something that looked extremely beneficial for all parties involved.”
Marina blushed and pulled her hair back into a ponytail. “You, uh, said you needed to borrow something of mine?”
“Yeah. If it fits, and if it’s alright with you, I wanted to borrow that dress of yours this weekend.”
“What dress?”
“You know that fancy black one that you bought for your friend’s art show?”
Marina’s eyes whipped to Dylan and back to Lexi. She went beet red. “Oh, right.”
Dylan frowned, then crossed his arms over his chest.
“Art show?” Dylan asked. “What friend had an art show?”
“Oh, um, no one. It was nothing. Maybe we could talk about it later.” Marina seriously looked as if she was about to catch on fire from embarrassment.
She darted away, and Dylan seemed about to go after her. To Lexi’s surprise, Tulip darted around him and sat on his haunches, planting himself in between Marina and Dylan and Lexi. He didn’t look unfriendly, but the dog was definitely sending a message.
Dylan looked down at the dog and stepped back. “Good boy,” he murmured.
And if Lexi had ever had a single reservation about Dylan pursuing Marina, it completely evaporated in that second. He was praising Tulip for protecting Marina, even if it was from himself. That was a good man. That was a really good man.
Marina returned a second later holding the black silk dress. She handed it right to Lexi but Dylan intercepted it, rubbed the silk between his fingers and held it up in the air for a better look.
“This is a really nice dress, Mari.” His eyes bored into hers. If Lexi hadn’t been quite so curious as to what was going to happen next, she might have given them a little more privacy.
“You bought this for the opening of my furniture show in Portland, didn’t you?”
Lexi knew from Eric that Dylan designed and made furniture. He made a lot of utilitarian furniture for people around here. But he also made some of the loveliest pieces she’d ever seen that he shipped off to be sold in galleries in the bigger cities.
Marina, still looking at the ground, nodded her head.
“But you didn’t come,” Dylan said, his voice low and insistent. “I waited for you that night. But you never showed.”
Lexi gently tugged the dress out of Dylan’s hand and stepped back. She didn’t need to be here for this. It was too invasive. But she froze when she saw tears shining in Marina’s eyes. She couldn’t leave while her friend was crying.
“I was there, Dylan. I went inside for a minute. But I hid. I hid behind that big staircase in the middle of that room. And then I left.”
“Why did you leave?”
Lexi started inching away again, not wanting to break the spell between them by making any abrupt movements.
“Because I knew that if we saw each other, all dressed up like that, in the middle of that fancy room, with the champagne and so far from home. I knew that everything would have changed between us.”
Dylan stepped closer to Marina, wrapped his hand around the back of her neck. “You were right,” he growled and kissed her. Marina whimpered, threw her arms around Dylan, and wholeheartedly returned the kiss.
Lexi finally left the kitchen and headed into her room, where she let out a big gasp of air.
Wow.
Would they be together now? Would they finally be able to get out of their own way and just make it work? Somehow, Lexi wasn’t quite so sure. She knew all about being in your own way.
She laid the dress across her bed. So simple, so beautiful. Such a perfect illusion. She knew, as she looked at it, that while she was wearing it, she’d feel li
ke a different person. But the minute she took it off, she’d go back to being plain old Lexi Fischer. Broke. Determined. Tough. Loner.
She sat next to the dress on her bed and stroked one hand over it. She repeated that last word out loud. Just in case she’d been fool enough to ignore it the first time.
“Loner.”
Chapter Eleven
Eric hadn’t thought there was much that could surprise him anymore. He’d been to almost every country in the world. Tasted thousands of the most expensive foods. Played poker at tables with five figure buy-ins. He’d climbed mountains, scuba dived, jumped out of planes, and even swum with sharks.
But nothing, absolutely nothing, prepared him for the experience of flying with Lexi. She’d told him she’d never been in a plane before, but seeing her now, hands clasped to her chest as if she were praying, staring out the window as they kissed the outer edge of a cumulous cloud, tears in her gorgeous dark eyes…
He hadn’t been prepared for how it would feel to give her something like this.
He hadn’t been prepared for the realization that slammed into him in that moment. He loved her.
Despite the fact they were so different. Despite the fact they’d only known each other for a few weeks. Despite the fact she was so damn determined to leave him behind in August to pursue her dreams in L.A.
He loved her.
And he wanted her to know it.
I love you. The words strained at the edge of his tongue like pit bulls at the end of their leashes. He’d never wanted to say it so badly in his life. But he knew how it would make her feel. He knew how it would put a pin in her balloon. And more than anything in his life, he didn’t want to deflate her right now. Not when she was looking at him like he’d hung the fucking moon.
So he swallowed the words down.
She squeaked as the sun caught the right angle over a river in the distance and it lit up like a snake on fire. Her pointing finger was the only thing that indicated to him what she was seeing.
“Lexi, baby, you gotta speak,” he said as he grinned at her. “I don’t know what you mean unless you speak.”