by Aimee Laine
“I’m assuming it’s tremendously expensive.” The hint of sarcasm did not go unnoticed.
Tripp raised an eyebrow. “Think I can’t cover it?”
She snorted. “You and I use our gifts in very different ways.”
“I know. There are so many things you could do with it, you know.”
“Did you not see the problems I had at the beach?”
Tripp laughed, squeezing her hand. “Well, yeah, but limiting yourself to that is like telling the expert in nuclear physics he can only teach middle school chemistry.”
Her laugh warmed Tripp right to his middle. “That’s one of the many differences in us, Tripp. You’re the bad boy who does what he wants without care. I’m the good girl who keeps to the simple, mostly uncomplicated, part of life.”
“That’s some of why I love you, Lexi.”
She didn’t look at him, but her smile grew. “I’ve got to say it’s not my favorite … ah … piece about you, though.”
Tripp burst into laughter. “I’m going to let that one go for now. I’ll leave your ‘faves’ to my imagination.”
They talked throughout the rest of the drive, the flight and the limo trip to the hotel in exactly the way Tripp had wanted to the night he’d been shot. Lexi snuggled into him under the soft white down blanket of their bed until she fell asleep against his arm.
Once her chest rose and fell in a consistent rhythm, he slipped away to the hotel bar with his cell.
“It’s one thirty, Tripp.” Jill slid into the booth next to him. “Couldn’t this wait until morning?”
He slid a photo of Jacob Sellers onto the table. “He knows nothing about this, but my plan is to drop him off at your place Friday afternoon. You’ll have a week to decide, though if you opt not to do it, don’t count it against me.”
She brought the image toward her, bobbed her head left and right. “Interesting.” Her gaze met his again. “I want to apologize to you.”
“Me?” Tripp couldn’t remember a time Jill apologized with any sincerity.
One manicured finger rose toward his shoulder. “I found out one of the guys Isabelle kept on staff decided to take you out. He was tired of following me around. Figured if he got you out of the picture, he’d get reassigned. He has been, by the way. To the NYPD.”
“You turned him in?” Tripp’s tone reflected his surprise.
“I did, yes. I figured it was the least I could do, and since he’s already in custody down there in that southern state you seem to want to call home, it worked out well.” She laughed, laying her hand on his. “Greed gets the best of them.”
“What the hell?” Lexi stood at the end of their table.
Tripp patted the seat. “Come here.”
She started to walk away.
“Lexi.” Jill ran a hand behind her neck. “Please.”
Lexi stopped, spun. “Why?”
Jill smiled. “Because I owe you a bit of thanks.”
A quick shiver jostled Lexi’s shoulders. She moved back to the table, sat on the bench, but didn’t get close to Tripp.
“Since you’re going to hold this against him, let me apologize on his behalf.”
Lexi cocked her head.
“I told him to call me as soon as he found something. So this is then.”
“We knew this morning,” Lexi said as if goading or expecting Jill to respond negatively.
“I guess Tripp didn’t want to spoil your day by announcing he needed to meet with an ex lo—friend.”
“I guess.” Lexi rubbed her arms as if she caught a chill.
Tripp drew her into him. “If you’d just stayed in bed, you’d be warm.”
“If you’d still been there, I would’ve, too.”
“You two are made for each other.” She waved at them both. “You took him from me, which I should be downright pissed about, and I do have the means to remain burned and make people pay for it.” She giggled. “But, when Tripp came to me, we chatted like old friends, something we didn’t do before you. I saw myself differently, and honestly, it kinda freaked me out.”
“And now you’re willing to accept a man you think he says is your perfect match? True love? Sight unseen?” Lexi’s surprise had Jill arching her brow with a growing grin.
“Oh, I’ll look him up, of course,” Jill said. “One half of us will be prepared. If it works, great. If it doesn’t, well, I’ll enjoy one hell of a wedding party. You guys should come, too.”
Tripp eyed Jill in the hope she’d be careful with her words. Like Ian and Emma, she also had been informed, a bit, of Tripp’s plans.
“Thank you for the invitation, though I’m not sure it would be appropriate for me to attend,” Lexi said.
Tripp breathed a slow sigh of relief.
“Well … I gotta get back. Need my beauty sleep.” Jill pushed up from the table.
Lexi turned to Tripp. “I’m going up. See her out, and I’ll see you in a little while.” She kissed him at the corner of his mouth before she slid out and disappeared.
“You haven’t told me all your plans, but by the look you have, I take it you’ve got something big in the works?” Jill’s grin widened.
“That’s for me to know …”
She laughed. “… and for me to find out.”
• • •
After four days within the boundaries of New York’s cityscape, roaming the streets, sampling the succulent array of foods, and taking in the nightlife, Lexi and Tripp headed north toward Jacob Sellers.
The landscape flew by in a blur as Tripp navigated the rental car out of city proper. The vegetation and pace of New York State reminded Lexi of North Carolina—a little.
“Been this far north before?” Tripp took her hands in his.
“Not on the east coast. I’ve been as far north as possible on the west side of the country, and I’ve been to Canada, but not up here. Only ever made it to New York twice.”
“It’s beautiful, don’t you think?”
“I do. Why do you want to leave?”
Tripp turned to her, his lips curved up in a grin she loved.
Lexi couldn’t help mirroring him. “Okay, so what do we do when we meet this guy? Explain the situation to him calmly? I mean how many people are going to believe we know the person he’s supposed to spend his life with, and she lives an hour and a half away—”
“With good traffic.”
“Okay, but so not the point. They live in separate cities and have never met before.”
“We live states apart, technically, and until a few weeks ago, we’d never met. Remember? You gotta start somewhere.”
“What if they truly aren’t compatible? I could still be wrong. It’s not fair to—”
“Not fair?” Tripp returned his gaze to the road. “Not fair to be helped into finding the love of your life?”
Lexi shook her head. “It’s not—”
“Let’s talk about ‘fair’ for a sec, Lexi. Is it fair that you and I have this massive roadblock in front of us? Is it fair that I know what to do but to tell you would totally negate what needs to happen to make it work? Do I look burdened with the ‘how’ in getting around the myth?”
“I don’t know. I mean, I love you Tripp, but what if … what you ask of me goes against—”
“It won’t, and there you have to trust me. You already know George and Marge had a connection—a truly unique bond which worked for them. We have it, too. You just haven’t picked up on the what of it yet.”
“And you have? Really?”
“Yes, Lexi. I have. You have to trust me.”
“I know.” She focused on the passing landscape as Tripp slowed the car. I keep trying to trust you.
Middletown’s quaint downtown district greeted them with the brilliance of a small town. They drove through the center square by a school and administration buildings until they reached the address Ian gave them.
Lexi turned to Tripp when he parked. “Please tell me what you’re going to do to convince th
is man of our crazy scheme.”
“Talk.”
“And if that doesn’t work?”
“Beg.”
“And if—”
“Whatever it takes, Lexi. I thought you trusted me.”
Lexi pushed out of the car, waiting for Tripp at the trunk. “You going to kidnap him and make him go to New York where you think he’ll magically fall in love with her?”
A couple on the sidewalk stopped with their little terrier mix.
Tripp made his way around and into an embrace. “If you’re worried about getting caught—”
“You know I’m not. It’s the principle of it. Let me do the talking.”
He shifted back as if she stuck him with a pin. “You really can’t get over this, can you?”
“Let me convince him. I can lie—”
He laughed a full sound. “You can’t lie. All these little tells exist.” One finger rang from her ear to her mouth. “Like one where the side of your lips curl up by a millimeter.” He ranged across her lips. “Or where you open your mouth just before you say something and think better of it.”
The touch broke her resolve. Tripp replaced his finger with his lips, pushed her against the side of the car as he tugged at her hair.
She accepted the kiss and the caress. “I do the talking or—”
“Or what?” His raised eyebrow and the crooked smile did her in.
“Just let me do it. Please.” She tapped against his chest.
“Fine. You get one shot. But if he won’t agree, we do it my way.”
Lexi breathed in deep, stared into the depths of Tripp’s eyes, and reminded herself of her vow to trust him. “Fine.”
• • •
Before Tripp and Lexi had walked into the two-story building, Lexi caught sight of a sign with a thermometer graphic for documenting a fundraising goal. The number at the top read $100,000, and according to the colored-in red line, they’d reached a whopping ten thousand.
“I’m sorry, who are you again?” Jacob moved from the visitor side of his desk to his chair.
“I’m representing an anonymous potential benefactor,” Lexi said.
As Tripp and Lexi had passed the entrance, a call had arrived from Jill to remind Tripp of his deadline, and in the process, Tripp asked her if she’d heard of the Orange County Kids Connection and their current fundraising activities. She hadn’t, but said if he thought it a worthwhile cause, she’d donate ten thousand dollars to them.
Jacob ran a hand through his hair. “For my foundation.”
“That’s right.” Lexi clasped her hand with Tripp’s over the side of the leather visitor chair. “We heard you were fundraising and want to make an anonymous donation.”
“Of ninety thousand dollars,” Tripp said.
Lexi’s jaw dropped; her attention switched from Tripp to Jacob and back. What?
“Ninety thousand dollars?” He blew out a breath. “I’m sorry if I sound surprised or disbelieving, we’ve just … well, that’s our remaining goal for our current development program, and to be given it outright should excite me beyond belief. I’ve just never had anyone stop in and offer me so much money.” He leaned forward, his hands on his desktop. “This isn’t some scam, is it?”
“No,” Tripp said.
“What’s the catch? There has to be one.” Jacob’s eyes flitted between interest and wariness.
Lexi shifted her weight. “One of the benefactors requests your presence in New York city today by nine p.m.”
Jacob shook his head. “I can’t.”
“Then we can’t donate any of it. That’s the only requirement,” Tripp said. “We find the causes, our third partner chips in, but in this case, she absolutely must meet you.”
“Why?” Jacob ran a hand over his head.
“It’s her rule.” Lexi softened her tone, hoping Tripp’s more gruff demand could be downplayed.
“Look.” Jacob’s knuckles paled with his grip on the chair. “I appreciate the offer, and while I’d love the money, I can’t entertain prospective donors on a whim. I can’t fly off, or in this case, drive away, at the promise of funding from an unknown source. You haven’t even backed up the claim.” Jacob’s hair stood on end thanks to the number of times he ran a hand through it. “I appreciate the offer, but until there’s proof in the pudding, so to speak, I just can’t accept the offer.”
Tripp nudged Lexi up and to the door. “We’ll be in touch.”
After quick handshakes among the three, Lexi and Tripp walked out.
“Didn’t go so well, eh?” he asked.
Lexi glared at him. “No. Who’s going to donate the other eighty thousand dollars?”
“Anonymous donor.” The smile suggested he knew exactly who, and so did Lexi. “And now, it’s my turn.”
She slipped her hands from his. “What’re you going to do? Please tell me.”
“Watch and learn.”
They sat in the car for three hours, chatting about nothing and everything. Tripp glanced up every once in a while until the moment he reached for the key and brought the engine to life.
“We’re leaving?” Lexi spun in her seat.
Behind them, Jacob strolled to his car. Tripp drove off as Jacob did and trailed a few car lengths behind, turning wherever the red Honda went. “How can you even see where he is?” Lexi peered into the space between the two vehicles in front of them.
Tripp tapped his temple.
“I’d roll my eyes, but the effort would be a wasted use of energy.”
They followed Jacob to a modest two-story brick home. He parked in the driveway, next to a green Honda of a similar make and model to his own car. With a bounce in his step, he jumped up onto the porch and knelt in front of the door as he pushed it open.
A runt of a little girl launched herself into his arms. Behind her, a woman, with a huge smile across her face appeared.
“Oh, shit,” Lexi said. “He is married.”
Tripp motioned her to wait. A moment later, the woman stepped out, to her car and drove away.
“Babysitter. Or nanny or something.” Tripp grabbed his cell.
“Who’re you calling?”
“Ian.” No sooner had he said the name, his attention returned to the phone. “Did you find any marriage records or just no active ones?” Tripp paused. “Well, why didn’t you say so? Would’ve helped a lot.”
“What would have?” Lexi tugged on his arm.
“Thanks, man.” He pocketed the phone again.
“He’s a widower.”
“Then that’s his kid. Dammit, Tripp, we can’t separate them.” She flicked his bicep.
“Then we convince him they both go with us.”
“And how the hell do you propose we do that? He was willing to give up his entire fundraising goal for her.” Lexi thought of Casey and how attached to Janine she always seemed—the way she hung on her legs and hands, helping in the restaurant as well as a four year old could. “What is Jill going to think when the guy comes with an entire family?”
Tripp smiled, an I-win-you-lose expression that made Lexi want to smack him, before she kissed him. “Alrighty then, babysitter nanny person is gone,” Tripp said. “So, let’s go.”
“What? Where are we going?” The words reached no one as Tripp got out of the car and headed up the sidewalk.
Lexi ran after him, pulling at him to stop. “You can’t just walk up here and—”
He rang the doorbell as she sighed.
Jacob’s eyes grew wide when he opened the door. “I’m sorry, but this is not appropriate.” He started to close the door, but Tripp stopped him with a hand to the flat of the surface.
He reached into his pocket and grabbed his phone, turning and holding it to Jacob.
“Jill Sloan?” Jacob asked. “What does the heiress of New York have to do with this?”
Jacob smacked the phone to the side, as Lexi backed down a step. “Is she your third party? She’s like one of the most influential donors around.”
Since Tripp remained silent, Lexi did as well.
“And she wants to donate to us and meet with me first.” Jacob ran a hand through his hair again. “I’ll have to get a babysitter, but god I hate leaving my daughter alone for more time than I need too.”
Lexi looked to Tripp, a smile on her face as well as his.
“Miss Sloan is expecting both of you,” Tripp said.
“Our bags aren’t packed or anything. She’s only four. She’ll need her things—”
Lexi stepped around Tripp. “How about I help you get her ready, and we’ll all drive together. We’ll put you up in a hotel since Miss Sloan really does want to meet you tonight, and the little one can either hang with me or with you both.”
“Um, yeah, that’s good. I can—” He spun back around to his living room. “Ah, let me just get my things.”
Tripp grinned and caught Lexi’s arm. “Told ya so.”
29
Tripp and Lexi dropped Jacob and his daughter at Jill’s exactly on time Friday night. On Saturday, Lexi took over babysitting duties for the cute little redhead Jacob had come with. By that evening, she and Tripp returned the darling to her father along with a check for Tripp’s part of the donation.
Jill tore it up, claiming she would contribute to the fundraiser and there would be no further threat to Tripp’s manhood.
“Do you think we should stay and wait out the ruling on Jill’s wedding?” Lexi asked.
Tripp eyed her from his spot on the bed. “To see if the fireworks actually fly?”
“Just in case?” Lexi gave him a wink.
“I imagine we’d have heard if they hadn’t already gelled, right?”
“Right,” she said. “Let’s stay a little while longer, though. Just in case.”
“Anything you want, Lex.”
• • •
Lexi and Tripp spent the rest of the week in New York, much of the time at the indoor pool, thanks to bad weather and a keen interest in each other. With Emma’s reassurance that she had everything under control, Lexi gave in and took a much needed break.
She and Tripp, though, still hadn’t talked about their own next steps—had even avoided the subject when conversation steered its way there. Lexi figured if she stuck her head in the sand long enough, she could pretend it didn’t matter and just enjoy.
