Really? “Thanks for letting me know. Good luck at the dentist.”
Jessica waved on her way out the door and Lexi went to gather her gear, wondering what Veronica wanted to see her about. She found the older woman in her office adjacent to the practice room. The office was good-sized with a huge old-fashioned teacher’s desk, a chaise longue in the corner and two plum-colored visitor chairs.
Lexi knocked on the open door.
“Give me a minute.” Gray head bent, Veronica’s hands and fingers moved to unheard music as she flipped through a document on the tablet in front of her. She shook her head once, made a change then nodded and set the tablet aside. Only then did she look up.
“Lexi,” the choreographer exclaimed, “come in. Thanks for coming by.” She rose and indicated for Lexi to take one of the visitor chairs. “Sorry about that.” She waved at the desk as she sat in the second chair. “I’m working on a new dance and I had to get the sequence down while it was fresh in my head.”
“No problem. We have to respect the process, don’t we?”
“Exactly.” Veronica clapped her hands and beamed at Lexi as if she’d performed a wondrous feat. “That’s one of the things I like most about you, Lexi, you respect the process and it shows. You take what’s given to you and make it your own, bringing a refinement to the work so it appears effortless no matter how grueling the piece is.”
Lexi flushed with pleasure. “That’s quite a compliment coming from you.”
“Believe me, I’m not the only one to notice.” Veronica turned in the chair to face Lexi, leaning forward solicitously. “It’s the very reason I want to talk to you.”
“Really?” Curiosity drew Lexi to the edge of her seat.
“Yes. I’d like for you to consult with me on this new dance.”
“Consult?” The word came out as a squeal. Shock could do that to a woman. Lexi felt her eyes pop wide and blinked to gain control. “Me?”
“Don’t be so surprised. As I said, your talent has been noticed. I’ve also seen the improvement in Jessica’s dancing since you’ve been working with her. You’ve earned this.”
“Wow, thank you. I would absolutely love to work with you. Please know that right up front. But what kind of time commitment would you want? I have Jazi to care for.” She’d come too close to losing her daughter not to put her needs first, no matter how fabulous the offer.
“Of course.” Veronica reached out and patted Lexi’s hand. “It shouldn’t require more than a few hours a day a couple of times a week. Frankly, at this point that’s all the time I have to put into it. It’ll pick up once we start practice, but I’m willing to work with you.”
“This is such a surprise.” Lexi shook with excitement. She’d have been happy to dance for the woman, having the opportunity to work with her blew Lexi’s mind. “Let me talk to Jethro.” Okay, she never thought she’d say those words. But he was her partner, of sorts, for the time being. “If he has no objections, I’m in a hundred percent.”
“Wonderful. I can’t expect he will.” Veronica stood. When Lexi also stood, the other woman enveloped her in a fragrant hug. “I’m so excited to be working with you. Call me after you talk to Jethro and we’ll set up a schedule.”
* * *
Lexi’s head was still reeling when she reached the penthouse. The unexpected sound of voices coming from the living room drew her in that direction. She blinked at the crowd of strangers sprawled throughout the room. Several held instruments and everyone seemed to be talking at the same time.
A shrill whistle cut through the din and one voice drawled, “Well, hello, sweet thing, who might you be?”
The man had warm brown eyes, dark hair and a trim beard. He looked familiar.
Warm hands cupped her shoulders. “This is Lexi Malone.” Jethro stood from behind her. “She lives with me.” The message was clearly a hands-off warning. Lexi wasn’t sure how she felt about that. But he went on. “Lexi, this is—”
“Jack Rabbits,” she finished for him. The crowd turned out to be two men and two women and one of country music’s up-and-coming bands. This was turning out to be quite a day.
“Yes. Pinnacle has just signed them to our label and they were going to show me their new song. I thought you might enjoy sitting in. We can go somewhere else if you prefer.”
“No, no. I’d love to sit in.” She faced their company. “If it’s okay with you? I love your music.”
“It’s fine with us.” The bearded man flashed a friendly grin.
“Fans are always welcome. Hi, Lexi.” A slim redhead stepped forward to shake her hand. “I’m Holly. And this is Nathan, Roy and Kate. We’re never happier than when we have an audience.”
“Goody.” She clapped her hands, not even caring she was acting like a teenage girl. Still she made an effort to pull herself together. “Did Jethro offer you refreshments?
“Thank you. We just came from lunch.” Holly spoke for the group. “Now we’re eager to sing our song for Jethro.”
“Then let’s get started.” Jethro took charge.
Soon the band was situated on the sofa, with Roy in a dining room chair at the end to give him more room to play his guitar. Jethro offered her the chair but she dropped to the carpet next to him and sat cross-legged. She’d left her phone with her gear in the foyer so she glanced up at Jethro. “Can you let the nursery know I’ll be late picking up Jazi?”
In response, he pulled out his phone and sent a text. Then he nodded to Roy. “Whenever you’re ready.”
“We’ll start with a couple of our hits if you don’t mind.” Roy strummed the strings of his guitar. “Singing something familiar helps to warm us up.”
He began the chords to “Sunshine and Roses,” one of Lexi’s favorites. She started to sing along and covered her mouth to stop herself, but a nod from Kate told her it was okay. With a grin she joined in.
For all Lexi’s years of studying music, she’d never participated in a jam session. She rocked to the beat as the music flowed through her. This felt like a rite of passage in some ways. So much fun, she couldn’t stop smiling.
After a couple of songs, Roy began to pick a slower tune.
“We’re still working out some of the harmonies,” Holly warned them. “But we think this has the potential to go to number one on the charts.”
Lexi hugged her knees as the band began to sing. The song portrayed a single mother learning to trust in love again. It was a lovely ballad with a heartfelt chorus.
When the band finished, they started discussing the harmony changes they were considering. Lexi heard the same stresses they did and she longed to share her ideas, but it wasn’t her place. She pressed her lips together and listened.
Jethro sat back and observed. The song was good. He agreed with the potential the band predicted. It sounded fine to him, but the band all agreed something in the chorus needed fixing, they just didn’t agree on what.
The corner of his mouth ticked up when his gaze moved to Lexi. She sat at his feet practically vibrating with the need to join the conversation. He appreciated her discretion—the band probably wouldn’t appreciate her unsolicited advice. On the other hand as one of the owners, he had more leeway.
“Lexi, what do you think?”
All chatter stopped and five sets of eyes landed on him.
“She has a doctorate in music,” he said easily. “I’ve never met anyone with a finer ear.”
The band members looked at each other and then at Lexi. She sent him a glance that was half accusation half gratitude.
“I do have a couple of suggestions, if you’re interested,” she offered.
“Sure.” Nathan spoke for the group. “We don’t promise to use them, but we’re willing to listen.”
“The transition you’re stumbling over might benefit from a ch
ange of a two-syllable word over a three-syllable word, maybe tough instead of difficult. Something that simple can give you the extra beat you’re missing. I also thought it might add a spark of interest to speed the chorus up a few of beats.”
The band’s reaction was a mix of thoughtful and skeptical. To demonstrate Lexi began to sing. She had a few pitch problems but overall she recalled the lyrics of the first refrain and nailed the chorus. Before she finished, the band was nodding and they jumped in and continued the song.
At the end they all started talking at once, excitedly drawing Lexi into the conversation. Holly whipped out a tablet and noted changes. She passed the device along and each member of the band nodded.
“Let’s try it one more time.” Roy played the opening chords.
At Jethro’s feet Lexi closed her eyes, her fingers tapping to the beat. A serene smile lifted the corners of her mouth. He heard the difference too, and nodded. He preferred not to contemplate the fact he took almost as much satisfaction in her joy as in the betterment of the song.
As the last verse faded away, a hushed silence filled the room.
Nathan jumped to his feet with a whoop, his fist punched to the ceiling in triumph. “That was sweet, sweet music.” He stepped around the coffee table and swept Lexi up into a big hug. “Now it’s a number one.”
Jethro tensed, ready to intercede. But he was the only one uncomfortable. She laughed and hugged the big, barrel-chested man. Then she went on to hug the rest of the band. Jethro relaxed back in his chair until Holly came over and demanded a hug. Maybe he was the one who needed saving.
He survived it, barely, egged on by Lexi’s teasing smile. Still he breathed easier when the band announced they needed to leave for their next engagement. “I’ll walk you out.”
Unsettled with himself—he never got jealous—he wandered back into the room and suddenly found his arms full of warm woman.
“Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.” She nearly strangled him in her enthusiasm and still he pulled her closer. It had been too long since he’d felt a woman’s curves against his body. Too soon she pulled away. He suffered a kiss on the cheek.
“It was so sweet of you to include me.” She hooked her elbow around his and led him back to the living room. “This has been the best day ever. Let me get you a drink and I’ll tell you about the offer Veronica made me.”
“Don’t tell me you’re joining the troupe?” Now there was a temptation he’d find hard to resist.
“Even better, she wants me to choreograph a dance with her.”
* * *
Lexi poured a glass of chardonnay and carried it along with the baby monitor to a comfortable chair in the living room. She set down the baby monitor and used a remote to open the drapes to the fabulous view. She put on an album by one of her all-time-favorite female artists and turned the volume down low. With a sigh, she sank into the soft cushions and took her first sip. Nice. Peace at last.
Jazi finally slept. She’d been a handful tonight as she’d been cranky from the lack of a nap. Jethro was out at a dinner meeting.
Another week down. That made three.
A second sip made it easy to admit it hadn’t been that bad.
In fact, time flew by. She loved all the Jazi time. And after the first week, she’d settled into a rhythm. Unless he had an early meeting, Jethro ate breakfast with them. He joined them for dinner three or four times a week though he checked in with her several times a day.
In the morning she taught Jazi baby yoga and read to her or they played songs on Lexi’s electric piano. Mostly that meant she made up songs while Jazi played with her toys. She’d actually started composing a lullaby she really liked. Jazi liked it too. It put her to sleep almost every time. Tonight was the first time it had failed.
Jazi liked to go to the nursery in the afternoon. Time Lexi took advantage of to get in a dance workout or work with Jess or Veronica. Then it was back to the suite where Lexi put Jazi down for a nap while she started dinner.
Something she never expected from this arrangement was a resurgence of her dancing career. She loved working with Veronica choreographing a piece with multiple dancers. It was bigger and more challenging than anything she’d done to date.
And it was all due to Jethro.
She didn’t know how to feel about that, so she didn’t dwell on it. Surprisingly, he managed to be present without being obtrusive.
The one thing they clashed on was Jazi’s bedtime. Lexi had a more open policy. She put Jazi down between eight and eight thirty every night, but if she didn’t stay down, Lexi let her stay up until she’d tired herself out. Part of that was fear of the screaming fits coming back and part came from Lexi’s determination not to force the restrictions on Jazi that she’d had forced on her.
Jethro believed Jazi should have a set bedtime that was enforced. He stated children craved structure and discipline and that required a set schedule.
She didn’t totally disagree—she felt love, affection and a semiset schedule provided a sound foundation for Jazi without stifling her creativity and individuality. It wouldn’t be an issue except for Jazi’s little jaunts in the middle of the night. So Lexi was trying to set a schedule. Obviously there’d be a learning curve.
The only true blot so far was having to be escorted anytime she went out with Jazi. Clay generally took her wherever she needed to go. He never rushed her or acted as if the trip was unwarranted. And still she felt diminished and claustrophobic.
She felt like she was a teenager again and back under her mother’s control. Mother never let Lexi have any independence. She always had to have friends, classmates, teachers or someone with her wherever she went, as if she didn’t have the intelligence to be let out alone.
The lack of freedom and refusal to let her have dance in her life was what drove Lexi to leave home as soon as she turned eighteen. She felt sad over the way she left but she never regretted her decision.
She kept telling herself it was only three months—less now—but it didn’t help. Something had to give, and it was Jethro.
Today she asked Clay what would change Jethro’s mind about her having an escort and his response had been, Nothing.
Lexi didn’t accept that.
She relaxed a little when Clay added, “He’d have bodyguards on the three of us if he had his way. Only the fact we’d insist he have one too keeps us safe from his overprotectiveness. But I won’t lie—I sustain a high level of security on the executive floors, both office and sleeping. And I’m personally overseeing the security at Jackson’s new house.”
Okay, she understood a lot of money equaled a lot of risk. And it helped knowing she wasn’t the only one that needed to take care. She still didn’t like it.
Because more than her itchiness bothered Lexi. If Jethro truly feared for Jazi’s safety and Lexi’s ability to keep her from harm, would he use that as an excuse to keep her?
Everything she’d read and come to know about Jethro revealed him as an honorable man. Severe at times, but honorable. The only thing that trumped honor was loyalty. She could see him justifying breaking his word if he convinced himself it was in Jazi’s best interest.
After all, that was his only reason for giving her up.
Which meant she needed to find a way to protect Jazi from harm. A smile slowly bloomed inside her and she uncurled to fetch her phone. She sent Clay a text and then toasted her brilliant idea and finished her wine.
* * *
Lexi slowly came awake. Eyes closed, she took stock of what she remembered. Man, the wine really knocked her out. She stretched her body, turning one way and then the other moaning softly as she worked out the kinks of slumbering in a chair.
She blinked her eyes open. A man loomed over her.
“Eee!” she screamed, pushing back in her chair to get away.
&n
bsp; And then she was on her feet, fist flying. She had a daughter to protect.
In the next instant she recognized Jethro. He caught her hand in his, pulled her off-balance, swung her around and wrapped her in his arms. It happened so fast her head spun and she may have screamed again.
“Let go,” she demanded, wiggling to be set free.
“It’s Jethro,” he said, his breath warm against her ear.
“Yeah, I figured it out.” She tried twisting side to side, but found no give in his strong arms. “After you nearly scared me to death.”
“I live here,” he pointed out. “Who else would it be?”
“Oh, I don’t know, assassins, kidnappers, zombies? Whatever else you believe can make off with Jazi or me.”
“You’re spooked. Is that why you want Clay to give you self-defense lessons?”
“I’m not spooked.”
She stopped her efforts to be released. All she’d succeeded in doing was rubbing her body against his, which she liked way too much. And it distracted her from arguing with him. Holy tomatoes he smelled good.
“You’re the one who is spooked. I freaked out because I woke up to find a strange man standing over me.”
“I’m not strange.”
“That’s debatable.”
“I meant I’m not a stranger.”
“That’s debatable too. Are you going to let me go or should we put music on and dance?”
She felt an odd shaking behind her and glared at him over her shoulder. “Are you laughing at me?”
“Would you hate me if I was?”
That made her stop and think. “No. But only because you don’t laugh enough. Are you going to release me anytime soon?”
“I like you where you are.”
She sucked in a breath. So he felt it too. The awareness between them that never really went away. The heat and sizzle that caused her skin to tingle whenever he was close. Like now.
“All the more reason you should.”
“You’re right, of course.” And still he held her.
After a moment, his grip loosened and she forced herself to step away. She needed more wine. She picked up her glass and held it up. “Want a glass?”
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