“It was the right thing to do,” I say.
“I don’t know if I’m pissed or touched.”
“Let’s go with touched,” I suggest.
“I think I’m pissed.”
“Good thing we agreed to be friends and move past this then, huh?”
“Hmph,” she grunts. I can see the glimpse of a smile at the corners of her mouth.
“Hell, you know I like you. What’s so wrong with the idea of bein’ friends?”
She shrugs.
“You did agree that we could be friends? And put it past us?”
She nods.
“So, if we are to adhere to the wishes of our elders, the way I see it, is we should be friends who are practicing at makin’ babies together.” I smile.
She looks at me with an expression I can’t quite identify. Interest? Disbelief?
“Ohmigod, Lexie, there you are!”
“Holy shit, I can’t believe it!”
“He’s an asshole. A total and complete fucking asshole.”
“Bauer will kill him.”
“Dude, Brad will eat him alive.”
Kat and Remi arrive in a flurry of movement and talking. Each trying to talk over the other to get Lexie’s attention.
“I’m going to kill him,” Lexie says.
“Maybe I should kill him,” I say.
“You know?” Kat asks.
“Of course, I know,” I respond.
“You don’t know,” Remi says narrowing her eyes.
“He knows,” Lexie confirms. Her friends look at her in surprise. Then at me with what I’m guessing is a newfound respect.
“I underestimated you, cowboy,” Kat says. “Nicely done.”
I tip my imaginary hat at her.
“What do I do?” Lexie asks the girls.
“You aren’t doing anything, sweetness. There’s nothing to be done. We can all chip in to finish this event. You can catch your breath in the back and come out when and if you’re ready.”
“I have to talk to him,” Lexie says.
“Why?” Kat asks. “What’s there to know? He’s cheated on his wife, and while she’s pregnant. He’s the scum that gets scraped off the scum, cause even they can’t stand it.”
I second that.
I feel the fury rise in me. One of the things high on my list that I cannot abide by is a cheater of any kind. And to do that to your woman when she’s carrying your baby? It’s unconscionable. I clench my fists at my side.
“Easy, tiger,” Lexie says. She runs her hands up and down my arms. Which, surprisingly, has a very calming effect on me. I look down at her and smile.
“Ah, bubala, there you are. I look so very hard for you. I tell you, he is a putz. Worse than putz. Shmendrick. Dreck. Fercockt. Come. Come. We hug.” Mavis hugs her, then immediately steps back.
“Oh bubala, you smell like the sickness, Oy. And look at you, feh, I think you’ve got a little schmutz on your shirt.”
Lexie looks down. “Oh, God, it’s vomit. I have vomit on my shirt. This day just keeps getting better,” she says. Mavis takes a napkin, licks it then dabs it on Lexie’s shirt, effectively spreading the vomit splatter around. Then she digs around in her bag, pulls out a breath mint of indeterminate age and hands it to her.
“I brushed my teeth,” Lexie hisses.
“Is no good, you smell like dreck.”
“Just what every girl wants to hear, she smells like shit. Thanks, bubbe,” Lexie says.
“I think you smell good,” I tell her.
Mavis makes a tsk noise at me and continues digging in her bag, finally pulling out a small canister.
“No, bubbe, I’m good,” Lexie protests, just as Mavis points the canister at her and sprays everywhere. A cloying floral scent fills the air, reminding me of a flower shop. I turn away to cough, hoping Mavis doesn’t catch me.
“Get yourself together, bubala,” she says to Lexie. “We do not ever let them get the best. We are Strassbergs.” She pounds her chest for emphasis then pulls Lexie into her arms and hugs her fiercely; all the while whispering things in her ear, that eventually make Lexie giggle. They separate, and Lexie gives Mavis a kiss on the cheek. It’s easy to see the love there and how the relationship formed so strongly.
“Cole,” Mavis looks at me. “You fix this, no?”
“Outside of knockin’ his block off, Miss Mavis, I’m not sure how I can fix it.”
“You go, right now, you be Lexie’s beau. Treat her with love. Lavish. Kisses. Touches.”
“That’s a good idea,” Kat says, sounding a little too excited. “And then you can give a speech on behalf of Lexie and the winery and then everyone will know you’re a couple.”
“But we’re not a couple,” Lexie says. A little too emphatically for my liking.
“It doesn’t matter. Everyone will think it then,” Kat says. Mavis nods enthusiastically. Remi stays quiet.
“It won’t work,” Lexie says.
“Why?” Mavis asks.
“It’s like, literally, the oldest trick in the book. Take every romance novel, every rom-com that’s—”
“You love rom-coms,” Remi says.
“Not as my life,” Lexie objects.
All three ladies look at her.
“Okay, fine, I want my life to be a rom-com. But that doesn’t mean we have to do this.”
“Yes.” Mavis looks determined.
“Look,” I start. “Sweetness, how about we just go out there, maybe I’ll put my arm around you, and we’ll make a little speech and just see how things go.”
“Yeah?” Lexie asks.
“Yeah.” I smile.
She holds out her hand to me. I take it in mine and we head across the room and enter the main area where the party is being held. But not before hearing Kat say, “Did you hear him call her sweetness? That is fucking adorable. They are SO going to be a couple.”
Chapter 21
Lexie
We walk past the rounders of wine accessories and decorative barrels into the main area and I see Trevor immediately. He looks up and catches my gaze.
“At least he has the decency to look guilty and ashamed,” I mutter.
“That the snake?” Cole asks, tilting his head in Trevor’s direction.
“That’s him.”
Cole drops my hand and smacks me on the ass, causing me to yelp. I turn to glare at him. He gives me a chin raise and wink, then says loud enough for everyone around us to hear, “That right there is for being naughty in all the nice ways, sweetness. Does a man good.” Then leans down and whispers in my ear, “Just breakin’ the tension, baby, loosening you up a bit.” His lips tickle my lobe, a shiver runs through me. But he’s right, I’m not as tense.
Huh. It worked.
I feel a little loose. A little carefree. Even naughty.
I blow Cole a kiss and then head behind the bar. Cole stands at the end of the counter in front of the swinging door, tree trunk arms folded across his massive chest.
He looks like a bouncer.
I smile at the thought.
“Lexie.”
I look up and see Trevor is standing in front of me. “Yes?” I say as though he’s a customer, and not the man who got me off with his fingers inside me just days ago.
“Can we talk?” he asks, nodding toward the rear of the room.
“I’m kinda busy, right now. Can it wait?”
“Please?”
“Trevor—” I start.
“Everything okay here, sweetness?” Cole appears, standing next to Trevor. Dwarfing him, really. And Trevor is not a small man.
“She’s fine,” Trevor says tersely.
“I’ll wait to hear that from her,” Cole says, his voice firm.
“Where’s your wife, Trevor?” I ask him with a phony friendly voice.
“She’s not . . . I didn’t . . . it’s complicated.”
“Isn’t it always?” I say.
“Lexie, please,” Trevor begs.
“Answer
me this,” I say. “Are you married?”
He looks down at the floor. “Technically—”
“Yes or no, Trevor.”
“Yes.” He looks me in the eye and answers, no hesitation.
“Is the baby she’s expecting yours?” I ask.
“Yes.”
I lean over the counter to get in his face. “And did you just tell me you loved me, not two days ago, while your fingers were inside me?” I hiss.
Cole coughs, then clears his throat. Trevor looks over at him, but I just keep looking at Trevor.
Finally, he looks back at me. “Yes.”
I step back and straighten, thoroughly disgusted with him.
“I meant everything I said, Lexie.”
“Don’t, Trevor. Just don’t. Go find your family and don’t ever contact me again.”
“Lexie, please.” Trevor’s voice rises slightly.
I glance around to make sure no one is listening, then lean back over the counter. “Keep your voice down. We aren’t going to talk, Trevor. Period. All you’ve done is hurt me, repeatedly. I mean what did you think was going to happen? I would just go along with being your mistress?”
Lexie, if you keep asking him questions, then technically you are talking now.
Shut-up.
“She wasn’t supposed to be here already.”
“Excuse me?” Because, did he really just say what I think he said.
“She was supposed to stay in New York until after the baby was born, and then make the move out here. But when I got back to New York, she was suddenly packed and ready to go. She’s not even supposed to be flying this late in her term. There was nothing I could do.”
I shut my eyes and shake my head. “Trevor, I can’t . . . you’re just . . . nothing you just said made it any better. You made it worse. So, you would have continued pretending your entire family didn’t exist for another month or two? And that would have accomplished what exactly?”
He takes a deep breath and lets it out slowly, then runs his fingers through his hair. For the first time ever, I don’t have the urge to mimic the movement.
“I would have had more time,” he says.
“More time. For what?” I ask.
“A solution. One that would make everyone happy.”
“Trevor, I will never, ever be happy in second place. Or sharing.”
“That’s what I mean, I could have figured that all out. Elise and I have been having troubles anyway.”
“So, what? You thought you’d just skip out on your wife and kid, with another kid on the way, and make a new life for yourself in California? You’re sick, Trevor. I’m done.”
“Lexie . . .”
“You heard the lady,” Cole says.
“Who ARE you?” Trevor asks him.
“Cole Mason,” Cole says. “I’d shake your hand, but I just washed mine and don’t feel like touchin’ trash.”
I have to stop myself from laughing aloud. Cole keeps talking, his voice low and calm. “Now, it’s clear you keep trying to piss on Lexie’s leg and convince her it’s rainin’, but it’s not gonna float, not no more, got me?”
“No, I don’t got you,” Trevor says to Cole. Then he turns to me and says, “Lexie, can we please just go talk. Just for a minute. I need to explain.”
“Trevor,” I say. “Your wife is about twenty feet behind you and advancing quickly. I suggest you back off and try to get your shit together.” Trevor steps back and puts his hands in his pockets. I grab a towel and wipe down the bar.
Elise taps Trevor on the shoulder. “Hey, babe, Paisley is falling asleep while standing and I can’t carry her. Do you want us to call a cab or are you ready to go?”
“Absolutely,” Trevor says smiling at her, but not really answering her question. He turns to glare at me one last time, then leaves to follow his wife.
I hear soft clapping and turn to see Kat and Remi standing off to the side.
“Were you guys there the whole time?” I ask.
“Of course!” Kat says.
“It was riveting,” Remi adds.
“It would have been better with popcorn,” Kat says with a smile.
“And gummies,” Remi agrees. “But we were also here because we had to make sure no one came to listen in.”
“That would have caused a scandal for sure,” Kat says. “Especially when you said the part about him fingering you. That was awesome!”
“That took some serious balls, girl,” Remi says.
I shrug. “Well, I felt empowered tonight, you know?”
“It doesn’t hurt that we had the incredible hulky cowboy here to rescue us if anything happened,” Kat says.
I turn to Cole. “She’s right. In some weird way you made me feel stronger tonight. Thank you.”
“Well, sweetness, I gotta say that makes me real happy to hear,” Cole says.
My tummy does a little flutter when he calls me sweetness.
I like it.
Shit. Abort feelings, Lexie. Abort.
Trust no one. Especially not men.
Daddy was a good man. Stone was a good man. Cole seems like a good man.
Shut up.
“Okay, well.” I feel awkward all the sudden. “I gotta get back to work. Especially since I’m almost certain Mavis has been pouring freely.” I turn and head to the middle of the bar where the bulk of the people have collected.
Chapter 22
Cole
I watch her as she walks away. She looks good from behind.
“You like her,” Kat says in a sing-songy voice, drawing out the word ‘like’. “You really like her.”
“I do,” I admit. “That girls got a fire in her belly that she don’t let out too often, but when she does, it’s right nice to see.”
“It doesn’t hurt that she’s hot,” Kat says.
“And really smart,” Remi adds.
“Are y’all trying to sell her to me or are we just makin’ conversation?”
Kat shrugs her shoulders and makes a little frown. “Just making conversation.”
“Gah, I just got a text from Chance,” Remi says looking down at her phone. “He’s going to want me home soon. We need to drink now while we still can.”
“Such. A. Baby,” Kat says.
“Tell me about it,” Remi smiles.
“This is the same man y’all were calling a baby before?” I ask.
“One and the same,” Kat says.
“May I ask why?”
Remi rolls her eyes. Kat backhands her in the arm. “I know, I know,” Remi says. I raise an eyebrow at them in question.
“I roll my eyes way too much,” Remi explains. “And I’m trying to stop. So, whenever Kat or Lexie see me do it, they have to call my attention to it.”
“Makes sense,” I say.
“Anyway,” Remi continues, “his ex shot him, and he jumped out of a moving car to get away from her. Lost a bunch of blood. Shattered his femur. Blah. Blah. I felt bad for him at first, but he’s clearly fine. And since I quit my job, I’m at his beck and call. It’s driving me a little crazy.”
“This happened after she was held hostage by the same crazy ex,” Kat adds. “Who we later found out drove into a fire and killed herself.”
“Pretty much,” Remi says. “Though, I quit my job before all that happened.”
“True,” Kat agrees.
Who in the ever lovin’ hell are these people?
“All y’all seem pretty nonchalant about it.” I’m not sure what to say about something like that.
Kat links her arm through mine and leads me toward the bar. “That ain’t the half of it, cowboy. If you are thinking of joining the family, there’s a lot more you need to know. For instance, I’ve got metastatic breast cancer, that just resurfaced again. And I’ll probably die soon. After which, Lexie is going to need a lot of love and care.”
We take seats at the bar.
“I am sorry to hear that, Miss Kat,” I say.
“Shit happens,�
� she says. “I did, however, recently get engaged for the second time to the same guy.”
“Congratulations,” I say tentatively, not sure where she’s going with this.
“Thank you. This is the ring.” She holds up a ring tied around her neck from what looks a shoelace.
“That’s a beautiful piece of jewelry there,” I say.
“And Remi is in love for the first time,” Kat continues. “With the big baby.”
“What, are you telling him our whole lives stories?” Remi asks.
“She tells the stories, I tell the secrets.” Mavis’ little head appears, from behind the bar. “Here, first wine.” She pours herself a large glass, the sets the bottle near us on the bar, and takes a long drink from her glass, finishing half before taking a breath. I think I’m impressed.
“Glasses, Mavis,” Remi says.
“Oy. Such terrible service, this place. But beautiful, no?” Mavis sets out three more glasses and pours wine in each of them.
“The remodel is amazing. Even better than I could have hoped. I can’t wait to see it during the day,” Kat says.
“Is Mavis helping you guys?” Lexie asks as she walks by behind the bar to grab something.
She’s so composed back there. So sure of herself. Looking almost regal even with her pink hair.
I take a sip of whatever Mavis poured in my glass. Pleasantly surprised to find that I like it. I’ll be the first to tell you that I am not a wine drinker, I’m a whiskey guy through and through. But whatever I’ve got here is right nice. Smells good too. Different. Fruity.
“What do you think?” I look up to see Lexie standing in front of me. Practically bouncing on her toes. Her eyes wide with anticipation. “I know you aren’t much of a wine drinker. Especially since you drink Jack and Coke with a steak. Sacrilege by California standards.”
“That right? Well, I gotta tell you, darlin’, this is damn good.”
“Wow, have I been downgraded from sweetness already?” Her voice lowers slightly, and she looks down at the counter.
Get on that, buddy.
“Nope. No way.”
Good start. Keep talking.
“You most definitely have not been downgraded, sweetness,” I say.
She looks back up, eyes sparkling. “Good, I kinda like it when you call me that.”
Love Unforgettable: Love in San Soloman - Book Three Page 13