Chapter Twelve #3
Lexie’s chin snapped around so fast, her neck protested.
Her sister cocked her head as she watched Cam at the bar. “Especially in those jeans.”
“Hey!”
Blaire’s eyes flared triumphantly, and she jabbed a finger at her. “I thought so! You two are together together.”
Lexie caught her soda glass, suddenly thirsty again. Cameron Rowe was hot—too hot for her too-young sister to understand. And in those jeans, he was downright irresistible. “It’s new,” she confessed.
“I’d say. A week ago you couldn’t look him in the eye.”
Yet this morning she’d wrestled him onto the bed. Stripped him down and straddled him…
Lexie took a long, cold drink. “Listen, I don’t know what’s going to happen next or what I want to do, but I don’t think I can go back home. Could you pick up some—?”
“Already done.” Blaire smiled when Cam set her soda on the table in front of her. “Thanks.” She took a sip. “I brought you some clothes, your laptop and your toothbrush.”
There was no disguising that double-entendre. Cam slowed as he sat in his chair, and Lexie felt him watching her like a hawk. He’d made it no secret that he wanted her to move in with him, but she’d been holding him off all day on the subject.
When Blaire continued to beam, he seemed to make up his mind. He dug into his front pocket and pulled out his keychain. He worked one of the keys loose and grabbed the set Roxie had thrown on the table. The apartment key was soon in Lexie’s possession.
As moves went, it wasn’t subtle, but it was clear. His leg bumped against hers, and her thighs clenched. Damn the man. He was making it virtually impossible for her to say no.
“I can get whatever else you need from the house,” Blaire offered, double-teaming her.
Lexie started to decline, but something suddenly occurred to her. She had two sisters and one determined lover watching out for her. As much as they distrusted and fought one another, they were all fighting for her.
She was wanted.
“Okay. Fine,” she said, her throat thick. Wasn’t that all that had ever mattered to her? She swept the peanut shell remainders into a pile in front of her and took the keys. She dropped them into her purse and sat back in her chair. Crossing her legs, she let her calf rub against Cam’s shin.
See how well he handled it.
“So are you all right?” she asked Blaire. Other than her mother, her sister was the most sensitive person she knew. “What happened after we left this morning?”
Blaire’s blue eyes rounded. “Roxie didn’t tell you?”
“Tell us what?” Cam said.
“Oh my God.” Blaire glanced towards the bar. When she turned back, her cheeks were bright pink. “She kissed Landers.”
Cam coughed on his beer, and Lexie nearly fell out of her chair. “She did what?”
Blaire squirmed. “You know how Landers is. He was trying to take control, to be Mr. High and Mighty, but she put him in his place. Honestly, I think he was just trying to protect Daddy.”
“What, exactly, did she do?” Cam said. He was either gritting his teeth or trying not to laugh.
“Landers was telling her to leave, and she marched right up and… Well, she planted one on him.”
Lexie was stunned speechless.
“He turned about that color.” Blaire pointed at the green T-shirt a tattooed biker babe was wearing. “I thought he was going to be sick all over Mother’s bromeliads.”
As rightly he should. Lexie knew her mouth was hanging open, but she couldn’t shut it. She and Roxie were identical. It had to have been like kissing his sister.
Cam coughed. “Score one for the viper.”
“She’s crazy,” Lexie finally managed to spit out. Was there nothing her twin wouldn’t do?
A small smile pulled at Blaire’s lips. “Lowery wanted to come with me tonight, but he was afraid Roxie would shake her butt at him or something.”
A sound came out of Cam, astonishing Lexie. It had been a laugh. She’d never heard him laugh. How could he be laughing about this?
Blaire’s giggle joined in. “It was awesome!”
Lexie squeaked. It came out unexpectedly when her diaphragm squeezed. Blaire pointed at her in glee, and Cam let out another bark. Lexie slapped a hand over her mouth, but that didn’t stop it. Another laugh bubbled up, joyous and free.
After the week she’d had, it was unstoppable. It felt good to let go, to stand aside and view the audacity as it truly was. Once she started, she couldn’t stop. Cam and Blaire joined in, and soon others were staring at their table.
Lexie wiped her eyes and discovered Roxie standing over them. Her gaze was as sharp as her frown. “What’s so funny?”
Lexie pointed at her, her giggling making her finger shake. “You kissed Landers?”
Color stained Roxie’s cheeks. “It’s not like I’m into him or anything.”
“But for God’s sake, why kiss him?” Cam asked.
She shrugged. “I dunno. It was punch him or find another way to wipe that cocky look off his face.”
A high-pitched squeal escaped Blaire. “It worked!”
“Yeah.” Roxie hooked her thumbs in her belt loops. “It certainly did.”
“Shit.” Cam rubbed the back of his neck. “There’s no fixing this.”
Roxie gave him a saucy wink. “If he gives you any trouble, Hatchet, give me a call. I’ll flash my boobs at him.”
Cam gave another uncharacteristic roar of laughter, and Blaire collapsed onto the table. Lexie fought for breath as she looked up at her fearless twin and, simultaneously, they both doubled over in laughter.
Yeah, sometimes actions spoke a lot louder than words.