by Kwan, Coleen
“You’re too valuable to them. I remember the kind of hours you put in.” He picked up his coffee and joined her at the kitchen counter.
“It’s paid off.” She smiled tentatively. “I was promoted last month. Senior project manager.”
“That’s great.” He blinked, the instinct to pull her into a congratulatory hug clashing with the realization he couldn’t. He cleared his throat and downed some coffee. “You deserve it.”
She gave a deprecating shrug and licked a spot of milk froth off her lips. The sight of her tongue sweeping over her lower lip sent his cock rising.
“Did you speak to Kevin?” he asked as he averted his eyes from her mouth.
“Yup. We’ve emailed his résumé already. He’s so eager to make amends.”
The sight of her pensive expression made him shake his head. “You’re too close to your brother. You coddle him too much.”
Her mouth settled into a familiar stubborn line. “We love each other. Is that such a crime?”
“You love him. I don’t see much quid pro quo happening.”
A trace of color rose in her cheeks. “When I was in college, he worked part-time jobs, looked after all the household chores so I could focus on my studies. We had no one else, but it didn’t matter because we could rely on each other.” She pushed her hair away from her face. “But I guess you can’t understand that, since you don’t trust your own family.”
If he’d had a sibling, maybe that would have made a difference. He didn’t want to admit it, but he envied the bond between Jacinta and her brother, even though she was blind to Kevin’s faults.
“Have you ever considered that you’re hindering Kevin instead of helping him?” he asked. “If you forced him to survive on his own two feet once in a while, it would do him good.”
“Tough love? Is that how you were brought up?”
“I wasn’t cushioned from all my failures, if that’s what you mean.”
When he was twelve, he’d been sent to boarding school. To make a man out of him, his father had said, a man fit to run the Rochester empire. Toughness, yes, he’d gotten a lot of that from the old man. Love, that was debatable—and in any case, irrelevant now, his father being dead this past year and a half.
“Kevin’s not like you or most people.” She toyed with her empty coffee cup. “He’s sensitive, emotional, sometimes irrational.”
“Irrational—you can say that again. Why else did he send those fake emails?” He hadn’t meant to drag that out again. They’d argued so bitterly over it already, but he couldn’t help himself.
But this time, instead of getting riled up, she simply sighed. “Kevin is impressionable and, I hate to say it, a little immature. I think he was trying to impress one of his colleagues, someone who’d bragged about his computer skills. Kevin didn’t mean any real damage. It was an error of judgment, a brain snap.” Her eyes darkened as she regarded him. “You’ve never done anything stupid in your life?”
“I have, and I’ve paid for it.” Like letting himself get carried away with Jacinta. Thinking she was different from everyone else. Being crushed when it turned out she wasn’t.
She pushed to her feet, hands spread wide. “And Kevin’s paid for his mistake. He’s wiser now.”
So they were back to bickering over her brother. But Kevin wasn’t the real problem, just the catalyst to Lex realizing that, like so many other women he’d dated, Jacinta thought she had a hold over him, that she could weasel a concession out of him he’d never normally give to an employee who’d screwed up as badly as Kevin had. She might not be into his wealth or his social connections, but she sure as hell thought she could use him for his CEO position. That was his deal-breaker. He could never compromise his principles, not for anyone. And the fact that even now she was still arguing her brother’s case and not acknowledging his at all meant he’d been right all along to break up with her.
Chilled by the thought, he picked up the two empty coffee cups and moved to the sink. He’d been the ultimate fool over Jacinta. The four months they’d been together had been a wild, hallucinogenic ride. But that was part of the problem—the sex had been so deliriously good and all-consuming that they’d barely had time for anything else. The argument over Kevin had been their first fight, and maybe they hadn’t been equipped to handle such a serious disagreement when they’d never had so much as a petty squabble about leaving the toilet seat up.
Kevin had broken the spell so he could see the harsh truth. There was nothing between him and Jacinta except sexual chemistry. Nothing more than a freakish cocktail of pheromones.
Judging from last night, one sip of that cocktail could still go straight to his head. Was it the same for Jacinta? Or was it possible she’d put on an act? Damn, that was hard to believe. He was almost 100 percent convinced she hadn’t faked her reaction to his kisses last night, but then again, she’d pretended so easily in front of Carl, telling him that bullshit story about how they’d reconciled. She’d fooled his friend, so maybe all that kissing and sighing and moaning in the bushes had been fake too. To get him hooked again.
He didn’t really know her, and he should be more careful around her. Because playing with fire was liable to get him burned.
Chapter Five
“Love Through the Ages” was the kind of art exhibition Jacinta would once have looked forward to seeing, but now the huge advertising banners fluttering outside the Museum of Modern Art made her wince. Tonight had nothing to do with love—it was only another opportunity to be seen in public with Lex. The Rochester Foundation was a major sponsor of the exhibition, and Lex’s uncle Ralph was bound to be here at the opening party, which was all the more reason to attend the opening that Saturday night, Lex had said.
As they approached the entrance to the art gallery, Jacinta spotted a couple of photographers and stopped in her tracks. “Are they going to take pictures of us?”
“Why not?” Lex replied.
“What will they do with the pictures?”
“I don’t know. Put them on the internet, publish them in a newspaper.”
When she and Lex had been together before, they hadn’t attended these big, public events, and she hadn’t minded because she wasn’t into upscale receptions. But tonight’s event was a reminder that Lex came from a very different world than hers, a world of billionaires and socialites where the Rochester name was prominent, whereas she was a nobody. She was usually comfortable with her status in life, but this swanky exhibition only highlighted the gulf between her and Lex.
She drew in a breath and patted down her skirt. At least she looked her best in a minimalist black shift dress adorned with just a chunky silver necklace. “Okay, then. Here goes nothing.”
As they walked within range of the cameras, Lex took ahold of her hand, threading his fingers through hers so there was no escape. Her heart jolted, and a split second tug-of-war ensued in her head. The feel of his hand was so seductive, but could she touch him again? Hang on, she reasoned this was all for the cameras’ sake.
Lex drew her next to him and the camera flashes went off. “Smile,” he murmured, grinning suavely at the photographers.
Through her daze, she pushed her lips into a semblance of a smile. She was Lex’s girlfriend. She was crazy in love with him. She was overjoyed to be seen in public with him.
And then they were past the photographers, but Lex didn’t let go of her hand. He tugged her forward into the melee, and she followed obediently. The first gallery was filled with pictures from different periods and countries, all linked by the common theme of love. She craned her neck, catching glimpses of the paintings, but there were too many people around them, all intent on talking to Lex. They circulated through the first gallery before moving on to another, which was less crowded.
“Oh, at least I can see a few pictures here,” Jacinta said. “And look, there’re some art installations.” She gestured to several art pieces dotted around the room and moved toward the nearest one.
&nbs
p; Lex strolled after her. “Go on, knock yourself out. Maybe you can teach me the finer points of art appreciation.”
She smiled at him. “Me teach you? I’m not used to you being modest.”
“I know my limits—computer printers and art. So what does this one say to you?”
She examined the installation. It was a polystyrene sculpture of an unmade bed with toy figurines scattered over the rumpled sheets and pillows.
She tilted her head. “Um, it’s a metaphor for something...like, lost youth, maybe.” She really had no idea what it was about, but she liked it.
“Or it could be they’re into role-playing in bed. He’s Batman to her My Little Pony?”
She couldn’t help chuckling. “Or maybe they’re both Transformers.”
Grinning, he nudged her shoulder. “With interchangeable parts.”
His wink had her smothering a giggle. Who’d have thought Lex could be absurd and funny over a piece of art? But then, they’d never really had a chance to discover these things before.
“Lex,” a voice spoke up from behind them. “I didn’t think you’d be coming tonight.” A tall, spare man dressed in a gray suit and mauve bow tie strolled up to them, his gloomy face not exactly welcoming. “Not really your thing, I’d have thought.”
The humor disappeared from Lex’s expression. “I thought it would be interesting.” He drew Jacinta forward, keeping his arm linked with hers. “Ralph, this is Jacinta Greene. Jacinta, this is my uncle Ralph.”
“Hello there.” Ralph barely cracked a smile as he acknowledged Jacinta, his cold gaze traveling over her in a manner that felt vaguely insulting. Was she not dressed appropriately?
“What do you think of the exhibition?” Ralph fixed her with a beady stare.
“We were just looking at this piece.” She gestured toward the polystyrene sculpture. “It’s quite, um, entertaining.”
“Entertaining?” Ralph grunted derisively. “Not very entertaining to see a piece of throwaway plastic foam masquerading as serious work.”
Lex frowned. “It’s not going to be everyone’s taste, I agree, but it has its merits.”
“Can’t see it myself.” His uncle sniffed. “Amazing what passes for art these days. Most of the stuff here is just populist trash.”
Jacinta felt Lex’s arm stiffen against hers. “The curator and the director seem happy with the public’s response so far,” he said.
“Waste of good money pandering to the masses’ bland taste.” Ralph straightened his bow tie. “For the same price, I could have bought something truly spectacular for the Rochester Foundation gallery.”
“Our gallery doesn’t have the space for more acquisitions,” Lex said, still frowning.
His uncle wrinkled his lips in a disdainful grimace. “Then we should expand. I’d rather spend money on our gallery than subsidize these lowbrow events.”
Lex’s arm vibrated again; she could practically feel his patience running out. “Ralph, we’ve been through this already. We agreed that a certain percentage of the foundation’s budget should be set aside for modern exhibitions to highlight new artists.”
“I agreed only under duress. You know I don’t approve.” With an indignant harrumph, Ralph stalked off.
Jacinta glanced at Lex. A muscle ticked in the wall of his cheek. “What was that all about?”
Lex made an impatient gesture with his hand. “My uncle is something of a purist when it comes to art. He thinks anyone who disagrees with his taste must be a hillbilly. The Rochester Foundation has its own gallery and collection, which Ralph oversees, and he’d rather pour all the money there than support up-and-coming artists.”
“Why is he here at all, if he hates this sort of art?”
“Because he’s the head of the Rochester Foundation. It wouldn’t look good if he didn’t put in an appearance.”
“But if he’s in charge of the foundation, why did he make it sound as if you’d forced him to sponsor this exhibition?”
“It’s a long story.” He pushed his hands into the pockets of his pants, his expression closing up.
For a second she considered pressing him, but quickly changed her mind. If he didn’t want to talk about his problems with his uncle, she wouldn’t pry. But as they moved around the gallery, her uneasiness wouldn’t go away. Whatever the cause for the rift between Lex and his uncle, was it deep enough to make Ralph betray Lex?
Lex appeared unaffected by his uncle’s brusqueness. They moved into the main lobby where drinks and canapés were circulated. A glass of wine helped to ease the kinks from Jacinta’s back. The tension generated from standing at Lex’s side and smiling at everyone, all the while conscious of his arm around her waist, had left the muscles in her back in a permanent knot.
In the whirl of cameras and people, she’d lost sight of what exactly she was supposed to be faking—was she pretending she liked him, or was she trying to feign the pretense itself? Because regardless of what she thought of Lex, being in his company was as intoxicating as ever, and at times it was difficult to remember why she’d broken up with him. Each time she spoke or smiled at Lex, she had to weigh in her mind whether she was giving herself away, and each time he touched her bare arm or leaned in to murmur in her ear, his lips caressing her cheek, she had to remind herself that he was just doing it for effect.
As the evening wound down, a slender young woman with a short, elfish haircut pushed her way toward them. By this time Jacinta was used to women approaching Lex, but unlike the others, this woman’s smile was tight and her eyes were guarded.
“Hello, Lex,” she said, her voice cool.
Lex nodded at her. “Hi, Holly. Good to see you.”
So this was Lex’s cousin Holly, Ralph’s daughter. With her petite frame and strawberry blond hair, she didn’t resemble her father, but the aloof manner was familiar. Her expression grew curious as Lex introduced her to Jacinta.
Holly nodded after they’d exchanged greetings. “Oh yeah, I heard you two were at Carl’s party.”
Jacinta’s eyebrows shot up. “But that was only last night. How did you...?”
Holly shrugged. “Facebook, how else? Saw some interesting photos too.”
Her smirk jarred Jacinta’s nerves. What had Holly seen? As her irritation simmered, Lex rubbed her back, as if he could sense her annoyance and wanted to soothe it.
“We had a good time,” he said smoothly.
“So I heard.” Holly pushed the bangs out of her bold eyes. “You know, I also heard you and Jacinta were an item a while back.”
Lex didn’t blink an eyelid as he replied, “We were, yes, and now we are again. Is that what you wanted to know?”
Holly shrugged. “Hey, whatever floats your boat. I never realized you were that committed to recycling, Lex.”
“And I never knew my personal life was so fascinating to you.”
Holly stuck her chin in the air. “I don’t care, but you’ve heard that old saying—fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice...”
He leaned toward Jacinta and murmured, “As you can see, Holly doesn’t believe in pulling her punches.”
Holly’s face tightened. “Neither do you, cousin.”
“Must be a family failing,” Jacinta chipped in, uneasily aware of the antagonism pulsating out of his cousin. Were all the Rochesters this intense?
“Oh, absolutely. Things are always fiercely discussed in our family.” Holly eyed Jacinta with growing speculation. “You haven’t met my brother Kirk, have you?”
“No, I’ve only met you and your father tonight.”
“Well, he’ll be at Nana’s birthday party next weekend.” Holly paused, darting a calculating look at Lex. “You are bringing Jacinta to Nana’s shindig, aren’t you? Nana would never forgive you if you didn’t.”
“Of course Jacinta’s coming to the party.” He gave Jacinta a blank stare. “Aren’t you, hon?”
Her mind worked furiously as she tried to figure out what he expected her to say. “Yes, I can’
t wait,” she eventually replied. “I’m just—I’m still working out what to wear.”
“I’m sure Lex wouldn’t mind if you gave his credit card a workout,” Holly purred. “After all, he wouldn’t want you to feel out of place.”
Jacinta blinked at the catty remark but, after a moment’s reflection, realized that most of Holly’s prickliness was directed at Lex, not her.
“Don’t worry about Jacinta,” Lex said. “She looks like dynamite whatever she wears.” He laid his arm loosely around her waist and gave her a squeeze. “She’s got the figure to carry off anything.”
She started to blush before she remembered he was only saying that for the benefit of his cousin.
Holly folded her arms across her meager chest and directed her frown at Lex. “Have you read my report on the Marsden project yet?”
“Sure. It all seems reasonable,” Lex said evenly.
His cousin narrowed her eyes. “Yeah? It’s going to cost you a lot of extra money to fulfill my recommendations.”
“Yes, well, you have to spend money to make money.”
Looking taken aback, Holly darted a glance at Jacinta. “Wow, you must be packing some serious girl power there. Usually he’d be grilling me over every last detail. I’ll go while he’s still being a pussycat.”
She gave them a brisk nod before moving off. As soon as she was gone, Jacinta pointedly raised her eyebrows at Lex. “Your nana’s birthday party. When were you planning on dropping that bomb?”
“I was going to tell you, it just slipped my mind.” He slanted his eyes at her. “It’s a weekend party at my nana’s place up in Napa Valley. She’s turning ninety. Three hundred guests are invited. Alex Connelly is going to sing for her.”
The mention of the world-famous crooner made her do a double take. “The Alex Connelly? He’s coming all the way from wherever just to sing at your grandmother’s party?”
“She loves his singing.” He shrugged, as if hiring an international singing superstar was an everyday occurrence. “And we can afford it.”
The Rochesters could afford anything. Meanwhile, it hadn’t been too long ago that she and Kevin had existed on ramen noodles. Then her brain backtracked a few seconds. “Wait a minute. Did you say ‘weekend party’?”
