Chapter 8
Chapter Eight
LEXI
This man.
He can’t even be real, and yet he is real. Better still? I’m stuck with him for the weekend.
As he heads out to the car, I quickly pull out my phone to text Megan.
Me
I made it to the lake, you’ll never guess what happened…
It doesn’t take long for a message to bounce back.
Megs
Please tell me you’re okay first?
Me
I’m okay. Better than okay. Josh Lucas is at the cabin. His dad said he could stay for the weekend without telling Ali, and Ali didn’t tell him I was coming. Then I walked in on him in the shower
Okay, I realize those emojis are juvenile, but I can’t help myself.
Megs
Oh. My. God. Tell me more
Me
I have to be quick, he’s gone outside to get my bags
Megs
Swoon! Soooo the shower, you obviously saw him naked?
Me
Buck naked. EVERYTHING
Megs
Oh, shit, is he big?
Me
HUGE. I thought I was going to die or hyperventilate. Then Mr. Snuggles jumped in the shower and ran up his leg. I had to jump in there with him to get him back
Megs
OMG stop it. That did not happen!!!
Me
Pinkie promise, it happened. I’m humiliated. I also accidentally touched it trying to grab my cat off him
Megs
Holy fuck balls. What did he do?
Me
He’s spent the last hour apologizing, pouring wine, making me snacks and being overly helpful with my luggage
Megs
You need to do him. Like now
Me
Hush, I don’t think he thinks of me like that
Megs
So he didn’t kick you out?
Me
Nope. He was going to get an Airbnb, but there aren’t any available. I said he could stay, but there’s only one bed
Megs
Oh, this just gets better
Me
He’s so freaking hot, Megs. I thought I was going to have a heart attack. His body is insane, and he has tattoos…
Megs
This is fate. I’m telling you
Me
It’s a misunderstanding
Megs
So don’t be your usual self. Relax. Do not drink too much, you blurt shit out when you have two sniffs of wine
Oops, busted.
Me
My usual self can’t be all that bad since he said he’ll take the couch and we can both enjoy the weekend
Megs
This is so romantic! See and you said you’d never have the guts to ask Joshie out
Me
I’m not asking him out, I just didn’t want him to leave. Oops, he’s coming back now, gtg, message you later
Megs
I want updates!
I don’t quite know where to put myself when Joshua walks back in with two more of my bags, and the cat carrier. I still think his leg may need medical attention, so I’ll make sure he checks on it later, just to be sure the wounds don’t get infected.
Speaking of Mr. Snuggles. He hops onto the couch, circles, then plops down on his paws and goes to sleep like butter wouldn’t melt in his mouth.
“I think your cat likes it here,” Josh says.
“I’m so sorry about before,” I go on, but Josh waves me away.
“Don’t even worry about it. He seems like a sweet little guy.”
Now I know he’s just being nice. I snort. “I don’t know how you got that impression. Most of the time he’s a real pain in the ass.”
“I’ll put these bags in the bedroom.” He doesn’t wait for my answer, and my eyes definitely do not drop to his ass in those sweatpants…
“Thank you,” I say, wringing my hands, trying to follow Meg’s ever-so-helpful advice about not being my usual self . I wait for him to come back before adding; “So, I have a little bit of work to do for my showing tomorrow.”
“Oh, you’re here for business?”
Crap. I haven’t even had a second to elaborate too much on that.
“Yes, our client is interested in a property that hasn’t hit the market yet.
I’m here to take Ali’s place since she’s sick,” I say.
“Our client is on a grueling schedule, so we couldn’t move it, plus, as I’m sure you’re aware, the inventory here is few and far between so we have to act quick. ”
He snorts. “How come she got a special showing? Is she famous or something?”
“Actually, yes, but don’t tell anyone I said that.”
“You’re kidding?”
“I also can’t tell you who, client privilege and all of that, but she’s a very popular soap actress.”
“Who’s the realtor? I know someone here.”
“Oh, it’s Melinda Malone,” I say. When his eyebrows shoot up and his face flickers to something I’m not privy to, it prompts me to ask, “Do you know her?”
Dread fills every fiber of my being. I’ve never met Melinda before, but I’ve seen her face from the photo on the bottom of her emails; she’s basically a supermodel in a bottle. Of course Josh knows her.
“She’s my ex-girlfriend.”
My jaw drops the moment his words are out of his mouth.
Of course she is. I know it’s silly to feel jealous, but I can’t compete with her.
In photos she’s got these long, tanned legs, poker straight black hair with a gorgeous face and big, brown eyes.
She’d turn any man's head at any time, any place, I’m sure.
I swallow hard. “You don’t say?”
“We’re still friends,” he goes on, further twisting the knife in the wound I didn’t know I had until now. My face must drop because he quickly adds, “ Just friends.”
“That’s, uh, great that you’re still close.” That's all I can think of to say. Pathetic, I know.
He clears his throat. “I wouldn’t say we’re close, but we ended things amicably. It was years ago, we were both so young.”
The pain stabs me in the heart. I know I’m a solid six, maybe a seven on a really good day. I’m totally okay with that. But I’m not a ten, and I’m never gonna be a ten.
Melinda Malone is an eleven. Drop dead gorgeous, smart, wealthy, and has her own firm in Lake Haven.
I spoke to her on the phone and she’s Susie Creamcheese to boot.
More than willing to accommodate our request for a private showing.
Well, she was the one scouting with Ali in case anything came up.
Monica won’t deal with any other realtor, and Melinda was okay with that.
She didn’t make a big fuss about it, even though the commission will be shared.
She’s a professional. Which is more than I can say for other realtors who just want the whole cake to themselves.
And her ex is Joshua Lucas. She’s probably perfect at everything, and never walks in on anyone naked in the shower where she doesn’t belong or have a crazy assed moggy with sharp claws. Okay, that’s bitchy, but since it’s only in my own head, I don’t care.
“Melinda seems very nice,” I feel the need to add. “I’ve spoken with her a few times. She’s been very accommodating considering some of the assholes in town won’t sign a co-brokerage agreement.”
“Some realtors are asshats.” Josh shrugs. “The main thing is the client loving the property, at the end of the day, that’s all that matters.”
I smile. “I agree. I’m hoping for that tomorrow, too. The property is stunning, but you never really know until you’re there, looking at it in person.”
“Touché.” A few moments pass by. “I heard there could be some rain tonight, so I’m going to check all the windows, bring in anything on the patio that could get wet.”
He’s so conscientious. It’s mindboggling, and sexy as fuck.
The only thing getting wet when he talks like that is my pussy. Jesus. I didn’t know how hot I could get when men took charge around the home. And it’s not even his home.
I just nod like an imbecile.“I’ll unpack my things. I might hang a few things up if you don't mind sharing the closet?”
He smiles. “Sure. I only hung up a few things myself, I didn’t bring much.”
No need for clothes at all when you’re that hot…
“Fantastic.”
He hesitates, then blurts out, “I was gonna fire up the grill later, if you’d like to join me for dinner?”
Oh, wow. This got freaking intimate real fast, and who am I to complain?
“That would be great, thanks for the invite.” I smile. “I bought some fresh fish. I can make a salad, too.”
The grin that splits his perfect face is enough to make my knees buckle. “It’s settled then.”
“I guess it is.”
This weekend might have just gotten a little more perfect by each passing second.