“What in the hell are you talking about?” Flex hissed back. “Why are you here?”
Lincoln frowned. “What do you mean, why?”
“Hey, Flex, is this one yours?” Frankie asked, grabbing a bag.
“Yep,” Marlin answered for his son. “That’s one of the pieces I gave him before he left.”
Flex returned his attention and his angry face to Lincoln. “I mean, why? What’s going on?”
Scratching his head, Lincoln tried to discern whether he’d been cast in an episode of the Twilight Zone. “I’m here for the same reason you are,” he answered.
“I highly doubt it. I’m here for my sister’s wedding.”
“I know. So am I.”
“Why in the hell would you—”
“How about this one, Flex?” Frankie asked.
“Check the name tag,” he said, without casting a glance in their direction.
“Peyton invited me,” Lincoln said. “Didn’t you guys just say that you knew about us?”
Flex’s face lost even more color. “You…and Peyton?”
“I thought you knew?”
“How in the hell would I know?” he barked.
Lincoln jerked in reaction and then glanced around.
Marlin approached. “Is everything okay with you two?”
Flex’s scowl was quickly replaced by a shellacked grin. “Never better,” he assured his father. “We’re just having a private discussion.”
“Well, that’s going to have to wait. Sheldon and Michael have us on a tight schedule. They’re cooking dinner for you boys, and you know how they can get when things don’t go according to plan.” Marlin winked at Lincoln. “You’ll find out soon enough if we don’t hurry.”
“You got it,” Lincoln said, and moved to search for his bags.
A few minutes later, everyone had their things and headed out of the airport. It was Lincoln’s first time out to the West Coast and when he stepped out into the blaze of the July sunshine, he could already see why so many people flocked to the state of nirvana.
While Lincoln followed Frankie and Marlin to an impressive silver Lexus LX, he couldn’t help but wonder why the two seemed to know why he was there and Flex didn’t. Had Peyton figured everything out, but hadn’t told her brother? But then why had he initially pretended to be in the loop?
After all the bags were packed, Lincoln and Flex climbed into the backseats and waited until their escorts climbed in, as well.
“Linc, I don’t know what’s going on, but you have to play along with this until we reach my father’s house.”
“Play along with what?”
Flex closed his eyes and wrung his hands. “Please. I’ll explain everything once we get to the house. I swear.”
Lincoln had never seen him like this. “All right. Hey, we’re dogs, right?”
“Thanks.” Flex heaved a heavy sigh, but he didn’t look too relieved.
“Is everybody ready?” Marlin asked, taking his place behind the steering wheel.
Frankie lowered herself into her seat and strapped on her seat belt.
“Ready when you are,” Lincoln announced.
She turned in her seat and flashed him another smile. “We have a guest room all prepared for you,” she said. “We want to make your stay as comfortable as possible.”
“I’m going to be staying at your father’s house?” Lincoln swallowed. Was he being set up for an ambush interrogation? Did the older man always come off as a sweet, affectionate guy in the beginning only to become a CIA operative when no one was looking?
“I hope you don’t mind, Flex. But I think you and Daddy probably need some time alone.”
“I think we’ll just stay at a hotel or something,” Flex said. There was no mistaking the hint of annoyance laced in his voice.
When Marlin’s eyes lifted to the rearview mirror to stare back at his son, Lincoln saw the hurt in the elder’s gaze.
Frankie cleared her throat. “There’s no reason to be like this, Flex. This is a time for celebration and we should all work to make bygones be bygones.”
Flex huffed out a breath, but he still refused to look at his father. “You know how much I hate it when you guys do things without checking with me first.”
“Then let me ask you now,” Marlin said. “Do you want to stay with me?”
Still Flex didn’t look up and he didn’t answer, either.
“Of course we will,” Lincoln said. “We would be happy to.” Apparently it was the wrong answer, judging by the glare Flex shifted in his direction.
Lincoln leaned over to whisper. “What’s the matter with you? This is your father.”
“Good.” Frankie clasped her hands together. “It’s settled. Trey, I can already tell why you two—”
“Frankie, can’t we talk about something else?” Flex said, tersely.
“What? I was just going to say—”
“Please?”
“All right, all right.” She shrugged, and then turned back into her seat. “I can take a hint.”
Lincoln frowned during the layering tension. At the airport everyone was happy-go-lucky and now it seemed some invisible lines had been drawn.
Marlin cleared his throat and cast a glance over his shoulder at Lincoln. “So tell us a little about yourself, Trey. Flex hasn’t told us too much about you.”
Lincoln cleared his throat. “Well, there’s not much to tell. I’m a retired firefighter—”
“I say there’s no greater profession. Don’t you agree, Francis?” Marlin’s face blossomed into a smile.
“Dad, please call me Flex.” Flex rubbed at his temples.
“Yeah, sure. I forgot.” Marlin’s smile cracked.
Lincoln popped his friend on the shoulder and whispered, “Get a grip.” He didn’t care if he was being out of line. Where he grew up, a child always talked to parents or any elders with respect. The way he saw it, Flex’s behavior was just plain inexcusable.
“I agree with you, Mr. Adams,” Lincoln said. “I’ll miss being with the department, but I’m hoping that becoming an inspector will fill me with the same sense of accomplishment.”
Marlin’s smile returned to its previous brilliance. “You know, I’ve been in the game for nearly forty years.”
“Yes, I heard you had quite an impressive career.”
“Well, I’m glad my son hasn’t just told you the bad things about me.”
Lincoln frowned. “Well, both Flex and Peyton have told me quite a bit.”
“Peyton?” Flex whispered.
Lincoln met his friend’s stare and shrugged. “Yeah, she talks of little else.”
In an instant, Flex’s strong hand clamped onto his arm. Lincoln even spotted a lightning bolt flash in Flex’s eyes.
Frankie laughed. “Don’t tell me that Peyton’s been talking to Trey behind your back, Flex.”
Now Lincoln was really confused.
“Apparently,” Flex seethed.
“Don’t get too angry, Fran…Flex. I’m sure she was just looking out for you. You know how your sisters are. They mean well.”
Lincoln scratched his head. It was clear now that Flex didn’t know about him and Peyton, and most assuredly he would pay for that later; but if Frankie and Marlin also didn’t know about them, then what the hell was going on?
“Play along,” Flex warned, with a note of desperation, and then released his hold on Lincoln’s arm.
How could he play when he didn�
�t even know the name of the game?
For the rest of the ride, the conversation was kept to a minimum after Flex kept cutting people off or changing the subject. By the time they arrived at the Adams family home, Lincoln didn’t know what to make of anything. Not to mention, he wasn’t in the door for more than a few seconds before two more women wrenched him into their embrace.
“Oh, look at you. You sure are a cutie—and tall.”
Lincoln instantly liked her. “You must be Sheldon,” he guessed. “Mind if I feel if junior is kicking today?”
Sheldon took his hand and placed it on her belly.
“What the heck is he doing in there?” he asked. “Feels like he’s doing a few layups in there.”
“My bladder and I are well aware of that,” she said, and then wobbled away to find a chair.
“Hi. I’m Michael. I’d say cute is an understatement,” she said, grinning up at him. “They always say that the good ones are either taken or gay.” She tweaked his cheek.
“In a couple of days, you’ll be off the market, too,” Lincoln reminded her.
She blushed. “Trust me. It’s been a long time coming.” She turned toward her brother. “I’m glad you kept your word. I was expecting some kind of excuse.”
Flex smiled, but didn’t meet her gaze. “Where’s Joey?” he asked.
“L.A. She’s attending some screenwriters conference. She’ll be back tomorrow.”
“No husbands?”
“Working. Though my Phil promised to swing by in time for dinner.”
“So where do our bags go?” Lincoln asked.
“Oh, I’ll show you.” Michael turned toward the stairs.
“That’s okay, I’ll show him where the guest room is,” Flex said.
“Now, let me do my job as hostess,” Michael said, and then took Lincoln by the hand. “You two follow me.”
Lincoln followed. It was a nice two-story brick house with all the comforts of home.
“Here we are,” Michael announced. “You two will be staying in here.”
Lincoln entered the room and then glanced around. “There’s only one bed.”
“I know,” Michael said, reaching over to pat Flex on the arm. “It wasn’t easy to convince Dad to put a king-size bed in here.” She turned back to Lincoln. “Now you guys get settled. Sheldon can’t stay long, so we’re having an early dinner. We’re having Flex’s favorite dish.” She tweaked Lincoln’s cheeks again. “You’re sure a cutie.”
Lincoln watched her as she left the room and then his eyes traveled back to the king-size bed.
Flex closed the door.
“I think you need to start talking,” Lincoln said, trying to keep his panic to just a mild heart attack.
Flex shifted his weight nervously. “Maybe you should sit down.”
The only place to sit was the bed. “I’d rather stand.”
“Okay, um. My family, uh, are under the impression that, uh…that you and I are…a couple.”
Chapter 21
Lincoln stared at him.
Flex held up his hands and tried to defuse the situation. “I know you’re upset, but—”
“They think that I’m—”
“I shouldn’t have lied to them, but—”
“They think that we’re—”
“I never dreamed they’d ever meet you. I just wanted them to think I was over Morgan.”
“Morgan…is a guy?”
“I know this is coming as a complete shock, but what are the chances of something like this happening? I mean, I just picked your name off the top of my head. I don’t think of you in that way. No offense.”
“None taken.”
“This mess, which by the way could’ve been avoided if you’d told me you were dating my sister—”
“This is my fault?” Lincoln thundered. “I was just following your lousy advice.”
“My advice?”
“Yeah. You said for A and B to sit down with the brother and talk to him about their relationship. Remember? So, I thought this was the perfect time to do that.”
“You’re supposed to be dating Henry’s sister.”
“Spoken like a man who’s never met Henry’s sister.”
Flex drew a deep breath. “Okay, there has to be a way that we can get through this.”
“Yeah, you can go down there and tell them I’m not gay,” Lincoln said in a near shout.
“Will you lower your voice?” Flex hissed. “Do you want everyone to hear you?”
“As a matter of fact, I do.” Lincoln paced. “It’s not that I have a problem with you being gay. Whatever floats your boat, but there’s no way in hell I’m going to let your family keep believing that I’m your boyfriend.”
“I can’t tell them the truth now.”
“Then I’ll do it.” Lincoln moved toward the door, but was stopped when Flex’s iron grip closed around his arm.
“Wait. Do you have any idea what this is going to do to me? Have you ever had five women throw you a pity party? And Michael is never going to forget me lying to her.”
“What it’s going to do to you? What about me?”
“You can’t do me this one favor? I did, after all, save your life.”
Lincoln’s eyes rounded with incredulity. “I can’t believe you brought that up.”
“I’m desperate,” Flex said. “And I would do it for you.”
“Do what for me—pretend to be my boyfriend?” he asked. “You can file that in the ‘never going to happen’ column. Besides, what are you going to do when Peyton or Joey gets here?”
“You met Joey, too?”
“In New York.”
Understanding dawned in Flex’s eyes. “The art agent.” He smacked his head.
“Look, man,” Lincoln said. “I’m sorry about this. I truly am, but I can’t help you. You have to go down there and tell your family the truth.”
Flex continued to shake off the logical solution. “I’ll never hear the end of this.”
A phone’s shrill filled the room.
Lincoln pulled out the cell from his pocket. When he read the screen ID, he looked at Flex. “It’s Peyton.”
Flex rolled his eyes.
“Hey, sweetheart,” he answered. “No, I got a ride from the airport. I, uh, didn’t think you received my message. Uh, where am I?” He looked up at his buddy.
Flex frantically shook his head and waved his hands.
“Hold on a sec.” Lincoln covered the receiver with his hands. “What do you expect for me to tell her? She’s at the airport looking for me.”
“Tell her you’re anywhere but here,” Flex snapped. “I need more time to figure this out.”
Lincoln’s shoulders deflated.
“Please,” Flex added. “I’ll figure something out.”
“This is insane,” Lincoln hissed and then brought the phone back to his ear. “I, uh, got a rental car and I’m headed out to your place. Uh-huh. I’m sorry I had you driving all over the state. I promise I’ll make it up to you tonight.”
Flex winced.
“You want to go to your father’s house tonight?” His gaze returned to his friend to see the same frantic shaking and waving. “You have to meet your brother’s new boyfriend?” He wanted to laugh. “No, no. I don’t think that you told me that he was gay.”
Lincoln covered the receiver again. “I’m going to kill you.”
“Uh, baby, do we have to g
o tonight? Can’t we meet this, uh, guy tomorrow? I mean I’m going to be here for a full week, after all. Uh-huh. Well, call your sisters and then I’ll meet you at your place. How about that? All right, see you then. Bye.”
“Thank you, Linc.” Flex exhaled. “I owe you one.”
Lincoln had to sit down. “Trust me, buddy. You can’t begin to pay this back.”
* * *
All of Peyton’s plans had been blown out of the water. Now, how was she going to tell Michael that she wasn’t going to be able to come over and show off her new man? Michael was a stickler when it came to schedules.
She waited until she made it back to her car before she dialed her father’s number and held her breath. “Hey, Mike. It’s me.”
“Me who?”
“P.J.” She rolled her eyes. “Look, something has come up. Lincoln and I aren’t going to be able to come for dinner.”
“I’m going to pretend that you didn’t say that.”
“I’m serious, Mike. We aren’t going to make it. Lincoln missed his flight.” She closed her eyes and crossed her fingers. “He’s coming in later.”
A long silence trailed after her lie.
“What time is he landing? Maybe you can come alone.”
“Can’t. I’m already here in San Francisco. I’ll never make it there and then come back in time.”
Michael exhaled. “I’m already not liking this boyfriend of yours. How the heck did he miss his flight?”
“It doesn’t matter. All is not lost. You can meet him tomorrow. What’s the big deal?”
“Well, I wanted you to meet Trey.” Michael lowered her voice. “I mean this guy is a real looker. It’s the first guy Flex has dated that has gotten me a little hot and bothered myself.”
“Hey, hey. You’re practically a married woman,” Peyton joked.
“I haven’t walked down the aisle yet.”
Peyton laughed as she started her car. “You’re a little disturbed if you’re thinking about jumping our brother’s boyfriend. Pull yourself together.”
“I’m telling you, girl, when you meet Trey you’ll probably want to dump this Lincoln character and try to sway this brother onto the straight and narrow.”
Measure of a Man Page 15
