Chapter 11
Chapter Eleven
JOSHUA
Melinda waves our way as I step out of my car, then dash around to the passenger side to help Lexi out.
Melinda stops in her tracks when she sees it’s me, confusion crossing her face.
Ever the professional, she recovers quickly.
She’s as pretty as ever in her smart skirt suit and patent black pumps.
I grin. “Fancy seeing you here,” I say as we get closer.
“Joshua Lucas?” she stammers. “You never even told me you were in town.”
“It was an impromptu visit.” I run a hand through my hair. “How the heck are you?”
She beams, leaning in as we hug. “I’m great, how about you? You look as dashing as ever.”
“I’m good, thanks, you look great, too.” I turn to introduce Lexi officially. “This is the lovely Alexis Kennedy from Alison Archer Realty.”
Lexi bites her bottom lip. She looks a little pale, nervous even. I frown.
Still, she thrusts out her hand. “So great to finally meet you,” Lexi says.
Melinda greets her with a shake. “So nice to put a name to a face.” She smiles. “How is Ali? She was very apologetic about getting the flu, poor thing.”
“She’s being made to rest.” Lexi rolls her eyes. “The woman is on death's door, and she’s still trying to make all of her appointments.”
Her face falls. “Please send my best wishes. I wanted to call, but I didn’t want to disturb her and then she’d spring into work mode. Something I’m sure we’re all guilty of.”
“Alison is a workaholic,” Lexi admits. “It takes a lot to keep her down. I can only hope I do as good a job as her, and our client isn’t too difficult today.
She is known to be a bit of a perfectionist when she’s on the hunt for a property.
This will be her vacation home and she’s very particular.
I can’t wait to see inside, but from the photos and footage you sent, I really think she’s going to love it. ”
Melinda claps her hands together. “That sounds perfect. And don’t you worry. We get all kinds of celebrities around here, so her identity will be kept under wraps.”
“So neither of you will tell me who she is?” I groan.
Melinda shares a little smile with Lexi. “We take privacy very seriously around here. Don’t we, Lexi?”
“Yep.” Lexi pops the ‘p’ and I grin behind my hand as I rub my jaw. “Sorry, Josh, but this is the part where we kick you out.”
“Next he’ll try and use his boyish good looks to charm us,” Melinda whispers. She tugs on my tie playfully. “But that isn’t going to work.”
I roll my eyes, noticing Lexi’s gaze wandering to Melinda’s hand clutching my tie for the briefest moment, before she lets it go. She narrows her eyes ever so slightly, and her nose wrinkles.
Wait… Is she jealous?
“You’ll at least let me buy you both lunch after?” I go on. I was hoping to have Lexi all to myself today, but it seems like the right thing to do.
“I’d love to, but I have another appointment right after.” Melinda pouts. “Maybe dinner?”
I glance at Lexi. “We were planning on going out to The Lakes tonight, but I heard a storm’s coming in.” Just as I say it, the wind picks up in a gush. The sky has been looking bleak all morning, like it’s on the verge of erupting.
Lexi’s eyes meet mine, but they don’t linger. “I don’t mind if you two want to catch up,” she says. “Mr. Snuggles probably won’t like it if I leave him with a storm brewing. He’s a big softie that gets scared easily.”
When Melinda looks confused, I say, “Mr. Snuggles is Lexi’s cat.”
Melinda switches her gaze from me to Lexi, then back to me again. “Uh, are you two?—”
“We’re just friends,” Lexi cuts in before I have the chance to reply.
Why does my stomach lurch when I hear her say that?
Just friends.
I don’t want to be her goddamn friend!
“We’re staying up at Hideaway Cove,” I tell Melinda, only adding to the speculation.
“Hideaway Cove is such a quaint little place.” Of course Melinda knows exactly where it is. “And very secluded…” Is it just me, or do her eyebrows jiggle just a little?
“It was an accident,” Lexi blurts. “Neither of us realized the other was coming for the weekend. Then my cat when berserk and got in the shower with Josh, all hell broke loose and poor Josh was left bleeding and Mr. Snuggles confused, as well as wet, and I was going to go to the motel but?—”
I inadvertently tuck a stray lock behind her ear, not meaning to, but I can’t fucking help it. She’s that adorable. Babbling when she’s nervous is the cutest thing I’ve ever heard.But now I may have alerted Melinda’s interested gaze. I always wear my heart on my sleeve, and she knows that.
“But we decided it was a bad idea that both of us should have a screwed-up weekend because of a mistake. So I slept on the couch, and for the record I was barely bleeding.” My eyes never leave Lexi’s as I recall the last sixteen or so hours. “Anways, it’s pretty… overlooking the lake.”
Melinda clears her throat. “I’ll bet it is.”
I snatch my hand away and palm the back of my neck. What the fuck am I doing?
Lexi’s cheeks look a little pink as she looks down at her feet.
Shit. I’ve embarrassed her, but can one blame me when she’s wearing that get up?
Her curves fill in every line of the pant suit she’s wearing. It’s light gray with a puffy blouse, matching jacket and she’s sporting heels that could double as a weapon.Sexy doesn’t even cut it.
Her hair is loose in those curls I love, and she has glasses tucked into the top of her blouse. I wish I could be the arm on those glasses right this very minute. Holy hell, I’d bury my face between those beauties and..
Lexi’s voice is soft when she finally speaks. “If it’s okay, I’ll call you when we’redone? Our client could be here for five minutes, or five hours, it’s hard to say until she arrives.”
I nod. “Take your time, no rush.” I turn back to Melinda. “I best be off, that’s if the heavens haven’t opened already.”
Melinda smiles. “We are forecasted for bad weather. I hope you shut all your windows in the cabin.”
Damn it. I didn’t even think to check. “I think we’ll be back before—” I glance up. Right on cue, it starts to rain.
The girls shriek and I pull the sweater wrapped around my waist to cover Lexi’s head as she and Melinda begin to run toward the house. I don’t give a fuck about getting wet, but I know she does.
When we make it to the front doors, the girls dive inside the huge foyer.
“Oh my god!” Melinda shrieks. She has drops of water on the top of her blazer, and her hair is a little wet, but I’m glad to see my sweater kept Lexi nice and dry.
“That was insane,” Lexi agrees. She looks up at me. “Thanks, Josh, but now you’re soaking wet, too.”
“Don’t worry about it. I’ll live.” I run a hand through my hair, refraining from shaking the droplets on her. I glance around the expansive space and whistle low. This place is amazing. Even from the foyer I can see right through the house. The lake is right there with the most breathtaking view.
“You always were a gentleman.” Melinda smiles, then she blatantly darts her eyes toward Lexi, not hiding her amusement. She was always very perceptive, and it seems time hasn’t dulled that little skill.
“I think I need to fix my makeup,” Lexi groans.
I shake my head. “You’re perfect.” I clear my throat. “I mean, you look fine. I think my sweater caught most of the rain.”
Get the fuck out of here, idiot.
Both women are staring at me.
“Anyway, I better get out of here before your mystery client arrives and we all get into trouble,” I add. Man, oh man, I really should start day drinking. Since when have I been tongue tied around a woman? I guess Alexis Kennedy really does know how to push all my buttons. The right ones that is.
“He really is the sweetest.” Melinda sighs, shrugging her jacket off her shoulders.
I give her a lopsided grin. “You’re gonna make me blush.”
Melinda snorts. “From what I remember, it takes a lot for you to blush.”
Is it just me, or does Lexi bristle again subtly?
Wait. Does she think… that me and Melinda still have a thing? I told her we were just friends and I meant it. But her actions, and her body language, speak a different language.
“Crap!” Lexi says, snapping me out of my reverie. “Monica’s here!”
I start for the door. “I got a first name.” I give her a wink. “I knew I’d get something out of you eventually.”
Why does everything I say sound dirty?
Lexi’s eyes meet mine. “Goodbye, Joshua.”
I salute them both. “Good luck.” I let myself out, dashing out of the house and down the drive.
I almost bowl over the woman with the umbrella coming my way.
Our eyes meet for a moment as I pass. I tip my head, giving her my best shit-eating grin.
She doesn’t smile back, well, her lips quirk in an almost-smile, so I guess that counts.
Monica Chase?
Oh, holy fuck.
If my girl can pull off this sale, it’ll make headlines. Monica Chase has just been cast in a blockbuster movie as the lead actress. It’ll be all over the news if she buys a property in Lake Haven.
If anyone can pull off a deal on a dreary, shitty day like today, it’s Lexi. I’m counting down the minutes until I see her again because this woman has me running around like a fucking lap dog, and I don’t mind one little bit.