“Max will finish up the night behind the bar,” Scott told her as he opened the door to the alley. “He’ll appreciate the extra tips. Misty and Tina can cover the floor. You’ve had the rug yanked from under you and my day wasn’t much better. We’re taking the night off. I’m picking up carryout and you can choose the movie.”
She dug in her heels as the door shut behind her. Scott turned.
“You don’t have to do this.”
She squared her shoulders as he studied her. She tried to look brave and tough and unbreakable. All the things she didn’t feel.
“I want to,” he answered softly. “I want to be with you, Lexi. God help us both, because I know I should leave you alone. I knew it that first night I banged on the apartment door. I can’t offer you much, but you deserve your adventure or whatever you call it. Especially if you’re going back to make nice with that nasty old coot you call a father. I’m going to make sure you have some fun before that happens.”
She hated that her lip trembled at his words, that what he said touched some deep, hollow place inside her. It didn’t matter that Scott couldn’t offer her much, because living with her father had made her believe she wasn’t worth anything. She tried to lighten the mood by asking, “How about a Hugh Jackman movie?”
“As long as he’s not singing.”
“Let’s go for the first X-Men, then. It’s my favorite.”
“You like superheroes?” Scott looked doubtful.
“Only on the big screen,” she promised.
He drew her closer, but instead of kissing her he wrapped his arms around her and buried his face in her hair.
“I’m sorry your father is a schmuck.”
She laughed despite the emotion welling in her chest. “That about sums it up. But I stood up to him. That’s something, right? I’m still here whether or not he wants me to be.”
“You are,” Scott agreed. “Now let’s get that food.”
* * *
Hours later, Lexi glanced up into Scott’s sleeping face. His long lashes rested on the smooth skin of his cheek, while a shadow of stubble covered his jaw, making his perfect features more human. With his eyes closed, his face had a sense of vulnerability he made sure to keep hidden most of the time. He was strong and tough and so alone.
She understood that last part. Despite all her plans and pledges about a big adventure, she was scared to death to be by herself. She didn’t know who she was and she wondered if she’d like the person she’d find at the end of her journey.
She was tucked in the crook of his arm, where she’d been through most of the movie. They’d shared Chinese takeout and a couple beers before settling in to watch Professor Xavier and his crew save the world.
If Scott’s intention had been to give her some distance from the pain of her father’s rejection, it worked. She still felt the hurt, but it wasn’t so raw. It was like a prism she could hold out in front of her and study, see the sharp edges and places where feeling unlovable had torn at her soul. But now she could place it on the shelf, add it to her collection of emotional scars.
Maybe that was what someone who’d been physically abandoned by one parent and emotionally rejected by the other did. Lexi was a pro at compartmentalizing her feelings, on tamping them down until she could be in control enough to do what everyone around her expected.
Scott was different. He bulldozed through his emotions, trying to run fast enough that they couldn’t touch him with their demanding tendrils. The two of them were so different and yet alike in many ways. That could explain the connection she felt for him. She didn’t have to polish herself to a glossy shine for Scott. He’d take her as she was, broken parts and all.
That final thought gave her the courage to lean up and trace his face with her fingers, then press her mouth to his. After a moment he stirred, moaning softly.
She lost her nerve at the sound of his voice. This was stupid. Women like her weren’t meant for seduction. But when she would have scrambled away, his arms came around her, grabbing her tight to him and pulling her across his lap. His hands wound through her hair, his mouth devouring hers. She couldn’t get enough of him and she pressed herself along the length of his body, straddling him so she could feel his desire for her. She needed him so badly. He made her feel whole and right. She wanted to capture that feeling and carry it with her all her life.
He gripped her face until she looked into his eyes. “I want you, Lexi. I want this. Now.”
“Now,” she agreed with a soft intake of breath.
He lifted her easily and she clung to him, ripping at his shirt as he made his way down the hall to her bedroom. He tore away the quilt and lowered her gently onto the bed. She lifted her blouse over her head, then watched as he stripped away his shirt. His jeans and boxers followed a minute later. She felt her mouth drop open at the sight of him. Muscles bunched and rippled across his chest, and her eyes caught on the tattoo banding one firm biceps. His whole body was strong, hard and ready. The breath whooshed out of her lungs as desire pooled low in her belly.
She’d had a couple boyfriends over the years, but nothing had prepared her for the sight of Scott Callahan.
A hint of a smile played around his mouth as he watched her watching him. “You can’t leave me standing here all alone like this. Aren’t you going to join me?”
She reached for the waistband of her pants, then stilled. “I don’t know... I’m not you—”
“Thank the Lord for small favors,” he said with a laugh and came toward her. The look in his eyes could only be described as predatory.
Slowly, he moved his hands up her legs to the top of her cotton pants, then bent forward to kiss the tip of one nipple through the lace fabric of her bra as he slid her slacks down her legs. He leaned back as he reached her knees. “Each part of you is perfect,” he whispered. “And I plan to become intimately familiar with every inch.”
“I hope you’re not disappointed,” she said, then shut her eyes, embarrassed that he might think she was fishing for a compliment.
“Nothing you do could disappoint me, Lexi. I want to touch you. All of you. But only if you’re sure.” He bent toward her once more, his kiss soft and exploratory, as if giving her time to change her mind.
“Open your eyes,” he said against her mouth.
He sat back and she couldn’t help reaching out to run her palm across his taut stomach muscles and up the hard planes of his chest. She could feel his heartbeat, strong and steady under her hand. A small grin curved her lips as she watched his blue eyes darken with desire the longer she touched him.
He swallowed and let out a ragged breath that was almost a groan as she grazed her fingernails along his skin. He was giving her time, she knew, to get her bearings...to take control of this moment between them. His ability to understand her needs, even at a time like this, melted her heart. The knowledge that he wanted her as much as she did him gave her the courage she needed to pull him to her again.
But when the tip of her tongue touched his and her legs wrapped around his body, his mouth turned hot and demanding.
She put out her hand to pull the sheet over them, but Scott ripped it away. “We don’t need that.”
He trailed his mouth down her neck, along her collarbone and over the swell of her breast. At the same time his hand traced a path up her thigh until his fingers found her core. He teased her until she almost lost control.
“Wait,” he whispered into her ear. “Not yet.”
He grabbed his jeans from beside the bed and pulled out a condom, ripping it open with his teeth. A moment later he balanced above her once more, and his mouth captured hers at the same time as he entered her. She couldn’t tell if the groan of pleasure came from her lips or his.
As if their bodies were made for each other, they moved together. A sensation built low in her
stomach as the rhythm intensified. For the moment, they were one, and she reveled in the feel of his body over hers, the sparks of pleasure firing through every part of her. After several minutes, she couldn’t hold back any longer and her release echoed through her, followed by Scott’s harsh intake of breath. He whispered her name and then his head fell to the pillow next to her, nuzzling against her ear as he said words of endearment.
She’d never known anything like what she and Scott had just experienced together. She knew now what true freedom meant. And that no matter what her future held, she’d hold this night close to her heart for the rest of her life.
Chapter Nine
Lexi was able to keep her feelings about her father at bay for the next week. Her feelings for Scott were another story. Things seemed to speed up, both at the bar and between them. They worked to finish renovations, then spent every night together.
As much as she loved being in Scott’s arms, her favorite times were the morning. They’d take turns making breakfast, then walk Freddy through the park, talking about everything and nothing. Scott told her about his mother’s death, his stint in the army and the work he’d done for the Marshals Service. His life had been an adventure already. He’d seen so much of the world and had to take care of himself in a way she couldn’t imagine. Her life up until now had been so structured.
But he seemed just as fascinated with her life as she was with his. She realized, for all the moving around and excitement, what Scott lacked was a sense of being grounded. She thought maybe the bar did that for him, gave him a sense of purpose. She hoped their time together gave him a sense of home. But if she delved too far into sticky emotions, she could feel him pull away. It didn’t matter, she told herself. Her time was ticking, anyway, and she’d have to make a decision about her life.
It was becoming clear that going back to the way things had been wasn’t enough for her anymore. She didn’t want to give up her law career, but working for her father would suck her down the same black hole she’d finally clawed her way out of. She put together a résumé and began to send it out, using contacts she had from the law community and law school. She applied for positions both in big cities and smaller towns, although nothing in her hometown of Columbus, Ohio. She was too afraid of her father finding out and sabotaging her plans. Several of the openings were in D.C. And Charlotte. She knew it was stupid, but hoped that being in one of those cities might enable her to continue to see Scott after her time in Brevia was done.
She also continued to advise locals, despite Frank Davis’s not wanting her to. She couldn’t turn away people who needed her help, and she was learning which aspects of the law were most appealing to her. She liked the variety that being a general counsel in a small town afforded her, liked using her skills to help people with their problems.
Scott told her she was being taken advantage of again, since all the work she’d done so far was pro bono. But she didn’t care. It was important for her to believe she was making a difference.
She’d just finished up a meeting with Ida Garvey in one of the back booths at the bar when the front door opened and Julia, her mother and her sister, Lainey, walked in.
It was late afternoon, so other than Lexi, Ida and Scott, the place was almost empty. The reception to celebrate the two weddings was only a couple weeks away, so Lexi expected they’d come in to discuss that. She sank down in her chair a little. Scott had asked her to help with the plans for the reception from a logistical end, and she’d actually enjoyed discussing everything with Julia. But she’d managed not to be around when Vera had come by previously. While Lexi had made amends with Julia, she had a pretty good idea how the rest of the family felt about her, and it sure wasn’t friendly.
“Don’t let Vera scare you,” Ida said with a knowing smile. “She’s mostly bluster.”
Lexi looked at her client. She’d come to enjoy her weekly meeting with the older woman. Sometimes they discussed her estate, but often Ida filled her in on local gossip. She knew everything that was going on in Brevia. Julia had warned her that Ida was a busybody, but Lexi liked hearing her stories.
She watched Scott greet the three women, then his gaze met hers and he motioned her over.
She groaned softly. “I’ve got to be a part of this. It was good to see you, Mrs. Garvey. I’ll get those motions filed, but you should really talk to Frank. I know he doesn’t want me working with his clients.”
“He’ll deal with it,” Ida said with a scoff. “He’s gotten plenty of my business and more of my money. If his practice was so important, he’d spend more time on it.”
“He’s a good attorney,” Lexi offered. “I still think you should talk to him.”
“Too nice for your own good,” Ida mumbled. “Go see to those Morgan women, dear.”
Lexi stood and walked toward them. Vera was talking to Scott, pointing to something in a file she’d laid across the bar. Julia smiled, but her sister, Lainey Daniels, narrowed her eyes as Lexi came closer. She’d met Lainey only once, when she and her husband, Ethan, had come in for dinner. Lexi had seen some promotional photos Lainey had taken of the bar for a marketing campaign focusing on the tourist season in Brevia.
“Everything looks good for the reception,” Lexi said to Julia. “I confirmed the time with the band yesterday and asked Scott to order the champagne you wanted for the toast.”
“Thanks, Lexi.” Julia smiled again and turned to her sister. “She’s making me look totally on top of things with Mom.”
“I still don’t understand why she’s in charge,” Lainey answered, keeping her eyes trained on Lexi. “We all want to trust her but are you sure about this?”
“It’s different now.” Julia gave Lainey a pointed look. “You should know people can change.”
“I agree with your sister,” Vera interjected, taking a sip from the glass of water Scott had placed on the bar. “Julia, you’ve always been too trusting of people. It’s gotten you into trouble in the past.”
Lexi shook her head. “I’m not here to cause trouble, Mrs. Callahan. I want everything to be perfect for your celebration.”
“Besides,” Julia added, “I trust her a lot more than I do Scott.”
“He’s making changes to this place that are going to help the local economy for years to come.” Lexi looked at Julia. “You know bringing more people into downtown is good for all the businesses here, including your salon.”
“He’s a loose cannon.” Julia crossed her arms over her chest. “I don’t trust him.”
Scott cleared his throat. “I’m standing right here.”
“I see you,” she said. The look she threw him made Lexi smile. “I’m hoping you’ll leave.”
He tossed down the towel he’d been holding. “Gladly.” His gaze met Lexi’s, warming her from her toes up. Good luck, he mouthed to her before disappearing into the back.
“If you do anything to hurt my daughter, you’ll have to answer to me,” Vera said, turning her full attention on Lexi.
Before she could sputter out an answer, Ida Garvey’s shrill voice rang out. “Vera Morgan, give the girl a break. It wasn’t too long ago that your daughters were practically duking it out in the middle of town. Everyone deserves a second chance.”
“Since when did you become anyone’s champion, Ida?” Vera asked.
Lexi felt like repeating Scott’s comment that she was standing right in front of them. But Julia caught her gaze and shook her head slightly.
“She’s been helping me with changes I’m making to my estate plan. You know Frank Davis hasn’t been up to snuff for a while now. That’s what makes me her champion,” the older woman said with a smirk. “I’m in it for what’s best for me.”
“Same old Ida,” Vera muttered.
“But she’s working for you, too,” Ida retorted. “You’d see that if you weren’t so hardheaded.
She’s got a whole file with the details of your reception. She’s put a lot of thought into it. Half the town is going to be here to celebrate with you. Lexi’s the one making sure it will be a night everyone will remember. Give her a chance, Vera.”
With a small pat on Lainey’s back, Ida shuffled out the front door. Lexi wasn’t sure why it meant so much to her to have a woman she’d known for only a few weeks come to her defense, but it did.
Vera’s gaze moved to Lexi. “Is this true?”
She nodded. “Yes, ma’am. I hope so.”
Julia’s mother motioned her forward. “Let’s see what you’ve got then.”
Lexi opened up the file where she kept her plans for the Callahan and Callahan reception. She’d never put together a party of this size before, but the organizing and details appealed to her analytical side. Plus, the busier she kept, the less time she had to spend worrying about her future. So when Scott had asked her to handle the celebration, she’d jumped at the chance.
As she pulled out her notes, her excitement overtook her nervousness regarding Vera’s reaction. Most of what she was showing her Julia had already approved, so Lexi felt a bit more confident. “Julia told me your favorite color is yellow and hers is blue, so that’s what I went for with the color scheme.” She took out samples of fabric from the tablecloths and napkins. “Obviously, we’re in a bar, and the whole event is a casual, homey family affair, but I still wanted it to be elegant.” She glanced at Vera from under her lashes. “Because you seem like a very elegant lady.”
“Agreed,” she answered.
Julia and Lainey both laughed.
“There will be fresh flowers and candles at every table—understated, but they should look beautiful in the light. I contacted the microbrewery over in Asheville, and they’re supplying beer for us. They’ve agreed to brew a special Amazing Animal Ale for the event and donate a portion of their profits back to your shelter.”
A Brevia Beginning Page 12