Chapter Ten #2
Lexi chuckled. “I suppose you could say that.” Not that she was ever worried to the contrary. Wasn’t it Franklin D. Roosevelt who coined the phrase, nothing to fear but fear itself? She was sure that Cooper could see right from the start that there was not a bribery-involved bone in her body.
“Figured as much.” Pamela laughed. “But apart from his investigation—what a great get-to-know-you starter.”
Lexi grinned. “It turned out that way.”
Pamela cast her eyes on her in earnest. “Just so you know, Lexi, I’m happy for you and hope this works out. You’ve been on your own way too long. You deserve to have someone in your life again.”
“Thanks.” Lexi appreciated the support from her friend, who had been there in both good times and bad. And vice versa. “You deserve the same thing,” she pointed out sincerely.
“Yeah, well, about that—” Pamela gazed down into her nearly empty goblet. “Actually, I’ve started seeing someone too.”
“Really?” Lexi looked at her with curiosity. “Who? Anyone I know?”
“Yes—sort of.” She finished off her wine and met Lexi’s gaze. “It’s Jarrod Inzunza.”
“The managing partner at Wolftyn Senmoore Developments?” Lexi asked, as if she had misheard the name. Or it had been someone other than the married man who was twenty years Pamela’s senior.
“Yes,” Pamela confirmed, coloring. “I know what you’re thinking.
Why an older, married man with a lovely wife and three children?
” She drew a breath. “It just happened—notwithstanding those factors—significant as they are… Like with you and Cooper, Jarrod and I just struck up a conversation one day and found that we had more in common than architecture. I know it sounds crazy, but we made a connection.”
“I would certainly never judge you, Pamela, for whomever you choose to start a romance with,” Lexi told her honestly. “That’s between you and him.”
“I’m sensing a but there,” Pamela said, peering at her.
“The but is only that I don’t want to see you get hurt.” Lexi could only hope she didn’t take this the wrong way. “Jarrod’s interests may not line up with yours.”
Pamela’s brow creased. “He’s unhappy in his marriage,” she argued, “and is planning to divorce his wife. Jarrod wants to be with me.” She paused. “The other obstacles can work themselves out.”
“If you say so.” Lexi reached out and touched her shoulder. “Just promise me you’ll be careful as you move into this relationship.” Or out of it, if it goes in that direction, she thought.
Pamela flashed her a thin smile. “I promise.” She waited a beat, then added, “I know it’s not quite the same, but I could say that as well for you. Do what feels right and maybe things will happen as they’re meant to.”
Lexi nodded and sipped the wine, thoughtful, as she considered where things were going for her and Cooper. At the same time, she chose to step back from micromanaging Pamela’s life—preferring to trust her friend’s judgment, for better or worse, just as Pamela was hers.
THAT EVENING, COOPER WENT with Lexi to the Christmas festival in downtown Phoenix.
It was his first time attending the holiday celebration—which included a spectacular light show, Christmas carolers, live entertainment, Santa Claus and vendors offering plenty of tasty food choices to whet the appetite—since losing his wife.
He had purposely chosen to limit his festive frolicking out of respect to her no longer being there to share in it.
But now, Cooper felt it was the right moment to participate in the annual holiday tradition with Lexi—as a show of support and his growing feelings for the amazing architect, who had managed to embrace the Christmas season ceremonies, in spite of being widowed herself.
He wanted to do the same as they moved forward in what he sensed could be a very rewarding way to get the year ahead off to a promising start.
I have to do what’s right to make this work between me and Lexi, Cooper told himself as they walked around holding hands. He loved the entirely natural feeling of their palms pressed together and fingers entangled.
Lexi broke his reverie as they watched the lights display, when she said cheerfully, “Let’s go check out the carolers—maybe even join in with them.”
“I’m all for listening to them,” Cooper agreed, and then warned her, “but I’m not much of a singer.”
“No problem,” she insisted. “Even if you’re a little off-key, it’s all about the effort, strength in numbers and immersing yourself in the holiday spirit.”
“Okay, got it.” He gave in, grinning, as he seemed to find himself doing more often than not in her presence these days. It obviously meant something and he was committed to seeing that through—whatever it took.
“Good.” Lexi showed her teeth, offering a beautiful smile and making him all the more willing to follow her lead in building this new romance.
THE TWO MEN kept their distance as they followed Lexi De La Garza and the man she was with around the Christmas festival.
While both men would have preferred to do something else with their time this night—such as have some shots at their favorite watering hole—they were still being paid to keep tabs on the pretty architect.
It left them little choice but to do as they were told for the money they gained outside of their other activities.
But soon this gig would be over and they could move on with their lives.
The same likely wouldn’t be true for Lexi De La Garza. From where they stood, their employer’s plans for her were not too good for the architect. Her days were numbered and there was nothing she could do about it. Other than beat them to the punch and end her own life.
But they didn’t see that happening. Not while Lexi had the man she was with standing guard over her as though her knight in shining armor.
Even that, though, could only go so far in keeping her out of harm’s way.
After all, he could be brought down by a bullet or two just like the building inspector.
If Lexi De La Garza’s protector got in their way, his life would be worthless too.
Just as hers would be at the end of the day when her precious number was up.
Only a matter of time and place, the way the two men saw it.
For now, the men continued to lie low and fit in as if simply there for the festival, while inconspicuously trailing Lexi and Cooper as they took in the Christmas carolers, not suspecting that targets had been placed on their backs.