AKA Lexi Frost (Lexi Frost Series)

by Tori Brooks

  Paul went through his morning routine quickly and arrived at the office early. Tim was setting a report on his desk when he walked into his office.

  “Did you sleep at all?” Paul asked as he looked over Tim and his own tidy desk. He certainly didn’t leave it like that.

  “Tried, didn’t get anywhere. I’ll probably catch a nap later. The balls are in play as far as finding the leak. I can’t see Flynn Peterson being a serious challenge,” Tim said, indicating the report.

  “Assuming Teri will listen to a thing I tell her. Flynn could be the Green River Killer himself and it wouldn’t matter if she won’t listen to me.” Paul sat, picked up the picture on his desk, and stared at it tenderly.

  “Short of being a serial killer, who’s already been caught by the way, I can’t see Flynn being a threat,” Tim gave Paul a tight smile. “He’s his own worst enemy, Paul. He may have his sights set on Teri, but he’d sabotage the relationship if he ever did manage to get her. It’s his pattern of behavior and only a matter of time.”

  “Well, that’s something at least,” Paul sighed. He put the picture down. Maybe there was hope after all. If he couldn’t get Teri to talk to him before Flynn got to her, he’d be there to pick up the pieces later.

  “Paul? I got that email on the designers. Pure genius!” Tyler Wise poked his head into the office.

  “I’m glad you like it. Run with it. Get back to me when it’s done,” Paul waved him away. Tyler didn’t take the hint fast enough and Tim closed the door on him.

  “Don’t let me fire anyone today,” Paul said.

  “Not even Wise? Fine. How about you go home and don’t even talk to anyone today?”

  “I’d just stew. I’m waiting around until it’s a decent hour on the West Coast.” Paul paused. “Or should I send flowers first and call later?”

  “This really shook you up if you’re asking me when you should be asking Kayley.”

  “Kayley’s playing in Europe somewhere. I don’t want to bother her.”

  “I’ll mention it again if it looks like you need it.”

  “Of course you will, Tim,” Paul smiled. “That’s why I keep you around. Time to get some work done.”

  “Hmm, me too.” Tim returned to his own office and Paul moved to the sofa to enjoy his coffee while he read up on Flynn. By the time Paul finished the report, he was convinced Tim was probably right. He’d still prefer to make up with Teri rather than console her after Flynn finished with her.

  He didn’t question Flynn would jump on the opportunity. Teri caught his attention and he went out of his way to meet her a second time. He’d lost her, but Paul doubted Flynn would let that stop him. Flynn had resources too, it was just a matter of using them. Of course he could be overestimating Flynn’s interest. As Tim pointed out, Flynn’s affection tended to wander.

  Paul thought about it as he got up. He walked over to his desk and tucked the report in a drawer under the envelope of pictures Tim cleaned up the night before. Paul deliberately ignored the contents of the envelope and closed the drawer.

  The pictures were from Miami, and several of Teri included Flynn in the background. He didn’t care before, but those bothered him after the disastrous call to Teri. Flynn’s figure seemed to draw his eye every time he looked at the photos. It felt childish, but he ripped up those pictures last night, tossing the pieces a few at a time out the window on the way home. It was therapy.

  He left his cozy informal office for his cold corporate killer one. Literally in this case, there was a temperature drop as he passed through the door. It didn’t matter, he wasn’t staying, but it bothered him. Exiting to the hall, Lia Nguyen, the executive secretary he shared with Tim, turned immediately to see what he needed. Lia noticed the coffee cup in his hand and stood with a smile.

  “You got through your first cup quicker than usual.”

  “It’s an unusual morning.”

  “I gathered that. Tim’s on his third. I just switched him to decaf.”

  Paul considered that for a moment.

  “Same for you then?” Lia smiled knowingly.

  “One more regular first. Now my schedule today,” Paul walked around to the desk.

  “Has already been cleared. I’ll tell you more about that when I bring you your coffee. I suggest your personal office. Your corporate killer one is a bit cool this morning. I would have it checked, but Tim said to wait.”

  “I’ll go wait for my coffee then,” Paul agreed and returned to his office and sat on his sofa. He didn’t have to wait long. Lia walked in shortly with his coffee and the usual papers and memos she handed him every morning.

  “Your morning routine,” she handed him the stack. “Nothing unusual or pressing that I noticed. Also, I have numbers for florists in Seattle, although Tim told me officially I don’t. So officially I’ll ask ‘what’s the occasion?’ with the unofficial meaning of ‘what did you do and/or how bad is it?’ Talk to me.” She sat beside him on the sofa as comfortably as if he were a neighbor instead of her boss.

  “Oh, I didn’t give full disclosure as early as I should have and it came back to bite me on the ass. It’s my own fault. Now I need to humble myself and beg a woman to allow me to explain. In person.”

  “Ah.”

  “And I had a difficult time just convincing her to have lunch with me in the first place.”

  “If I can ask, how did you?”

  “I ambushed her. I waited until she went on a business trip to Miami and showed up there at an event to plead my case in person.”

  “Okay, worst case scenario you can arrange another business trip for her and do the same, although a heartfelt letter would be a better start. FedEx does same day, you know.”

  “That’s a good start.”

  “Handwritten is better,” Lia stood up. “Well, it is in your case. Your handwriting suits you. You’ll need to get it done soon or we’ll have to use a personal courier.” With that, she left Paul to consider the letter he needed to write.

  Kenny hardly slept. He heard Teri and Nicholas moving around all night, so it wasn’t a surprise to see Nicholas still there the next morning.

  Since Nicholas and Teri were preoccupied, Kenny got up and made breakfast. He made a breakfast tray for Teri. Nicholas took it from him at the door, which was a relief. Kenny hated to see his own mom cry and knowing Teri was upset proved to be just as unnerving.

  “What’s with Mom?” Dev asked when Kenny came back downstairs.

  He gave a noncommittal shrug in response. He was just a teenager; he wasn’t expected to actually know anything. The guys didn’t expect it of him any more than he expected it of them. Adults didn’t expect much because of his age. Teenage girls were a problem. For some reason they felt he should be observant, but Cassie and Tiff weren’t here so it didn’t matter.

  Kenny hoped he could disappear or Nicholas could get this cleared up before Cassie got home. She got bitchy and unreasonable when he was expected to know something and didn’t, so he didn’t want to think about what she was going to be like when he knew something he shouldn’t.

  He didn’t have a cover story. Kenny did the dishes as he tried to process his thoughts. That he had an audience now made thinking a little harder. He tried to ignore Dev, and now Jess, staring at him made it worse. Kenny considered Jess for a moment; maybe he could be useful. Jess thought Kenny had a problem, which wasn’t entirely false. He wasn’t curious enough to rock the boat though, so Jess just stood there beside Dev.

  “Jess, take a walk. Why don’t you go see when Bryan’s coming over.” Dev’s comment wasn’t really a request or even a suggestion, it was an order. Jess didn’t pick up on that and wandered off to call Bryan. Kenny noticed the unusual undertone to Dev’s voice. He continued washing dishes and waited to see what the kid genius was going to do next. Something to make his life difficult no doubt.

  “Kenny, why are you acting guilty?”

  “What do you mean?”

  “You hardly ever cook, but you mad
e breakfast. And you never do dishes. Okay, fine, you’re taking a load off Mom. But when I asked what’s up with Mom, you didn’t say she was tired or sick or anything, you shrugged. That’s a non-answer. So, I repeat, what’s up with Mom?”

  Kenny looked at Dev for a moment. He looked like his sister, and yet he didn’t. They were obviously siblings with the same dark hair and green eyes, but Dev had a little boy look to him that he didn’t seem to be able to shake. Even now when he was glaring, almost trying to will Kenny to tell him something that he knew Kenny didn’t want to.

  “I suggest you let her tell you in her own time and way,” Kenny said, returning his attention back to loading the dishwasher.

  “Because she’s upset?”

  “Because asking would upset her more.”

  “Answering my questions keeps me from asking her.”

  “So does waiting.”

  “What are the odds?”

  Kenny closed the dishwasher. Drying his hands, he leaned over the counter opposite the boy on the other side. Four years younger than Kenny and Jess, at barely fifteen Dev was already uncomfortably smart. Kenny kept hoping Dev would turn that brilliance toward his music, but without success so far.

  “Odds are Teri will tell you what’s up before your curiosity overcomes your good sense.”

  “Except she hasn’t come out of her room and when I went up there a minute ago, she was crying. I heard it through the door,” Dev countered. His face sobered. “She’s been crying and she hasn’t called Paul.”

  “How do you know?”

  “Because Nicholas has been up there all morning. Mom wouldn’t need Nicholas if she had Paul. So if she’s crying and not talking to Paul, she’s crying because of Paul. And you know why. Spill.”

  “Dev, I shouldn’t be involved in this. I don’t want to be involved in this.”

  “But you are, so spill it.”

  “No. Just wait.”

  “Did Paul break up with Mom?”

  “I’m not telling you anything. Quit trying to guess.” Kenny moved around the end of the bar and out of the kitchen. Dev followed him through the dining room.

  “Did Mom break up with Paul? Why?”

  “Nicholas!” Kenny yelled and started up the stairs with Dev on his heels. The door upstairs opened and Nicholas appeared at the top of the stairs before Kenny and Dev made it halfway up.

  “Make him stop guessing,” Kenny pleaded.

  “What’s wrong with Mom?” Dev demanded.

  “I make breakfast and he immediately starts jumping to conclusions,” Kenny said.

  “You were doing dishes. You never do dishes,” Dev glared at him.

  Nicholas swore under his breath. “Listen, Dev, leave Kenny alone. He doesn’t know as much as you seem to think he does. Go call the girls home. Now scoot.”

  Dev reluctantly headed back down the stairs to call his sister.

  “Kenny, I’m not sure how to ask this,” Nicholas said.

  “Whatever you come up with in the way of explanation I’ll go along with,” Kenny volunteered. “Dev doesn’t know anything.”

  “Teri’s still upset, obviously. I know she’d try to explain what really happened, but . . . I think that may be a bit too much information.”

  “You’re spinning it?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Okay, do it.”

  Nicholas patted him on the shoulder. “I’ll be down in a bit. I gave her something to help her sleep. I just want to make sure she’s comfortable.”

  Kenny nodded and turned to go back downstairs.

  An hour later, Bryan, Cassie, and Tiffany were back and they played cards in the dining room while they waited for Nicholas to come make a statement.

  “In the future, I think it’d be better to pair Dev with Jess when we’re playing teams,” Tiffany said.

  “Why?” Jess asked.

  “Well, when you’re paired with Bryan, you two always lose by almost as much as Kenny and Dev win by. I think putting Jess and Dev together would help even things out.”

  “What?” Jess asked.

  “She means I’ll make up for your mistakes,” Dev explained, playing a card with a pointed expression.

  “Whatever.”

  “Fine, next game we’ll switch. I’ll pair with Bryan and Jess and Dev will be together,” Kenny announced. Tiffany nodded in satisfaction.

  “Would you still say that if I told you it was my idea?” Cassie asked Kenny sweetly.

  “Wouldn’t have to. If you’d suggested it, Jess would have agreed immediately,” Kenny answered, almost wishing Cassie wasn’t such a pain in the ass. Having her on his side to control Jess and stop annoying Dev would be handy.

  “It’s nice to see you kids all playing nicely, I almost don’t want to disturb you.”

  Kenny turned to see Nicholas standing in the doorway to the dining room smiling at them all. “I take it Kenny and Dev are winning again?”

  “Yeah,” Kenny answered.

  “Of course you are. I’m not sure who to bet on if you switch around like I heard you discussing. Cassie and Tiffany I think. Anyway, the reason I wanted to talk to you together today, boys and girls, is that plans have changed. Paul will not be joining us this week as planned. Yes, I caught that frown, Tiffany, I’m sorry. Teri and Paul had a bit of a falling out and I’m afraid it looks like they won’t be making up.”

  “You can’t say that this soon! Lovers have fights all the time and make up again,” Cassie argued.

  “I can’t go into details, Cassie, it’s not my place. And it’s not your place to ask. Your mom’s having a rough time, so I’d appreciate it if you were all supportive. It was hard for her to get back into the dating game again. It’s really too bad that it didn’t work out. Maybe next time.”

  “So that’s it? No second chances?” Cassie pleaded.

  “No.”

  “But Nicholas -”

  “Drop it, Cassie.”

  “But -”

  Kenny started flicking cards at Cassie. “He said drop it. Leave Teri alone.”

  Cassie held up her hands to try to protect her face while Tiffany and Jess batted cards out of the air.

  “Gonna drop it? I want to hear you promise,” Kenny continued flicking cards.

  Dev grabbed the deck from the middle of the table and joined Kenny.

  “Are you offering support or just tormenting your sister?” Kenny asked.

  “The latter.” Dev flicked another card at Cassie with uncanny accuracy.

  “Whatever. Cassie? I’m waiting,” Kenny prompted.

  “Stop it!” Cassie snapped, but Kenny and Dev continued on mercilessly.

  “Kenny, you’re a jerk,” Tiffany defended her friend.

  “Well,” Nicholas said, “since it seems I’ve made my point and Kenny is punctuating the part about not bothering Teri, I think I’ll go back upstairs and let you kids continue your fun. Bryan, you’re the referee, let me know if bloodshed ensues.”

  Bryan gave a lazy salute and Nicholas left the war zone.

  “I didn’t lie to them. I just told them you had a fight and wouldn’t be making up. What the disagreement was about is irrelevant,” Nicholas explained later as he laid another cold washcloth on Teri’s forehead. She had a monster of a headache from the crying and the tension over what to tell the kids.

  “Nicholas, I want them to be forgiving.”

  “So you’re going to set the example by forgiving Paul and welcoming him back into your life and bed with open arms? Way to stand by a childhood concept.”

  “Allen and I wanted to raise the kids with morals. Honesty, charity, forgiveness,” Teri paused briefly, “chastity. I don’t want them too be judgmental, but I don’t want them thinking what society thinks is acceptable is necessarily right.”

  “I know, Teri. I’ve been here for awhile, remember? Allen and I have gone rounds on some of it, but they’re your kids.”

  “Rounds on what?”

  “Responsible sex versus abstinence. I
think you’re really reaching a little high with that for teens in today’s world.”

  “Cassie and Dev already know how I feel about it and they’re good kids. The other kids are following along with my rules as far as I can tell.”

  “You know Jess isn’t.”

  “He’s not bringing it home. Neither is Kenny if he’s breaking the rule.”

  “He’s not. Bryan is.”

  “I don’t want to hear that.”

  “So are you.”

  “And I’m paying for it. Maybe I should just show them what happens. You trust someone . . .” Teri sniffled and tried to hold back tears. Nicholas handed her a glass of orange juice still on the nightstand from the breakfast tray.

  “You don’t want to give them trust issues. Besides, your bedroom decisions are not their business. They’re kids, it’s over their heads.”

  “Is it? I bet Cassie and Tiffany could grasp the basic concept of make sure your boyfriend isn’t married before you hop in bed with him.”

  “You could ask. I’d give you credit for redefining the boundaries for mother-daughter bonding and girl-talk. Dev wouldn’t be interested. Anything labeled ‘girl-talk’ is distasteful and unintelligible in his book. Anyway, I wouldn’t worry too much. They’re under firm instructions not to ask, so you don’t have to tell.”

  “And you think Paul’s going to let it drop?” Teri asked, taking a drink. She was surprised he hadn’t called already.

  “Probably not, you’re right. I’ll add a note to the receptionist desk you’re not doing any on-location shoots for a while if anyone calls.”

  “Yes, please. Do I have any already set up?” Teri asked nervously. She couldn’t remember any, but she wasn’t thinking clearly.

  “I don’t think so, but I’ll check.” Nicholas used the phone on the nightstand to call the office.

  Teri retreated back into her thoughts. Paul never gave any indication he was hiding a wife in the background. The time she spent with him, smiling, laughing, so easily putting on a show of being . . . being what? Who was Paul Lovett? She saw his elaborate offices and his business executives at work. Kayley was willing to pose nude for him and give him to another woman without regret. He had pictures of his children in his office and freely offered that they hated him.