“Thank God,” Lexi murmured.
“You can say that again.” Summer looked at the items she’d removed from the fridge. “So what’s for dinner?”
“Roasted eggplant and homemade ravioli filled with butternut squash and Gorgonzola cheese.”
Summer grinned. “Only you could make that sound appetizing.”
Lexi laughed. “What’s that supposed to—” She was interrupted by the ringing of the doorbell. “That’s probably Reese. She wanted me to help her decide which dress to wear this weekend when she meets President Obama.”
“She’s meeting the POTUS?”
“Yup. He’s speaking at a fundraiser dinner at Michael’s Chicago restaurant on Friday.”
“Ooh, I’m jealous,” Summer said enviously.
Grinning, Lexi left the kitchen and went to answer the door. She got her second surprise of the day when she saw Percy Sheldon standing on the doorstep, his hands tucked into his pants pockets.
She beamed with pleasure. “Hey, Percy.”
“Hey, baby girl.” He leaned down to give her a warm hug and kiss on the cheek. “How you doing?”
“I’m good,” she said, opening the door wider to let him in. He smiled and stepped inside, and she closed the door behind him. Since she and Quentin frequently entertained, they’d given their close friends and family members their personal access code so they could bypass the security guard at the front gate.
“Quentin’s not home yet,” Lexi said. “But he should be on his way.”
Percy nodded. “Cool.”
She couldn’t help noting how good he looked in his bespoke charcoal suit. The perfect cut accentuated his broad shoulders, narrow hips and long legs, making him seem even taller and more imposing. With his smooth bald head, copper complexion and sexy goatee, he was a dead ringer for Boris Kodjoe. Except his good looks were more rugged than the actor’s. Less pretty.
“Come on back to the kitchen,” Lexi told him. “Summer’s here. She’ll be happy to see you.”
Percy nodded and followed her to the kitchen. When they reached the arched doorway, she announced cheerfully, “Look who’s here.”
When Summer glanced up and saw Percy standing there, warm pleasure flickered in her eyes before she smiled shyly. “Hi.”
Percy’s lips curved in a lazy smile. “Hi, yourself.”
Struck by a sudden thought, Lexi looked from one to the other and raised a brow at Percy. “Did you already know Summer was here?”
He glanced away from Summer. Reluctantly. “I did.”
“While I was waiting for you to get home,” Summer explained to Lexi, “I texted Percy to let him know I was in town.”
And he came right over, Lexi mused. How interesting.
“Can I get you a beer, Percy?” she offered.
“Sure. That’d be great,” he said, walking over to greet Summer and Junior.
Lexi crossed to the refrigerator and grabbed a cold beer. After opening the bottle, she turned and started toward the island, where Percy was affectionately rubbing the back of Junior’s head. As she watched, his eyes slowly lifted to Summer’s. As they stared at each other, something crackled between them—a tangible current of awareness that Lexi would have felt all the way on the other side of the house.
Well, well, well. What have we here?
Hiding a smile, Lexi walked over and handed the beer to Percy.
“Thanks, Lexi,” he said warmly.
“You’re welcome.” She grinned. “So how was work? Earn another gazillion?”
He chuckled. “Not quite,” he drawled, lifting his beer to his lips. “But it was a productive day.”
Percy was a hugely successful venture capitalist who’d backed several hot tech startups over the years. Every time one of the companies went public or got sold, he made a fortune.
Lexi walked to the sink and washed her hands, then turned the oven on low heat to bake the eggplant. “If you don’t have any plans tonight, Percy, we’d love to have you stay for dinner.”
He didn’t answer.
Puzzled, she glanced over her shoulder. That was when she saw Summer cuddling Junior to her chest and crooning to him while Percy stared at her with a look that could only be described as yearning.
Yearning? Percy Sheldon?
Lexi wouldn’t have believed it if she weren’t seeing it with her own two eyes. Back in college, Percy had been such a notorious player that they’d nicknamed him “Hound Dog.” Like Quentin and Jagger, his reputation had preceded him wherever he went. Lexi could remember several occasions when she’d run into him while walking with some of her friends. As soon as the girls saw him coming, they’d sighed and exclaimed, Lawd have mercy, Percy!
For as long as Lexi had known him, Percy had been an unrepentant manwhore. So it was shocking to see him melting over her sister like this.
Catching her stunned gaze, he quickly glanced away and took another swig of his beer.
At that moment, the garage door opened and Quentin stepped into the kitchen. He looked surprised when he saw Summer and Percy.
“Welcome home, honey,” Lexi said gaily. “Look, we have company!”
“So I see.” Grinning, he walked over and kissed her soundly on the mouth before moving toward the island to greet their guests.
“Wassup, baby girl.” He leaned down and hugged Summer, then drew back to tweak her nose the way he’d been doing ever since she was young. “I didn’t know you were coming home this week. Everything all right?”
“Yup. Just needed a change of scenery. And it’s working already,” she added with a fleeting but unmistakable glance in Percy’s direction.
Quentin kissed the top of Junior’s head and then turned to greet Percy. As they exchanged a brotherly handshake and shoulder bump, Lexi was struck anew by just how handsome the two men were. Dressed in their expertly tailored Italian suits, they could have graced the cover of GQ twelve months in a row, and no one would have complained.
When she caught Summer’s eye, she knew her sister was thinking the same thing.
“I thought that was your car in the driveway,” Quentin told Percy. “What’re you doing here?”
“Uh, well, I—” Percy stammered.
“I invited him over for dinner,” Lexi smoothly intervened.
Quentin cocked a brow at her. “You did?”
“Yes. I’m sorry. I completely forgot to tell you.”
Quentin gave her a long look. She knew he didn’t believe her.
“Dinner, huh?” His voice was amused, indulgent.
She smiled sweetly.
Percy cleared his throat. “I don’t want to impose—”
“Nonsense,” Lexi interjected. “You’re not imposing at all. You guys know how much I love to entertain.” She winked. “The more people there are to feed, the more compliments I receive on my cooking. Hint, hint.”
Everyone laughed.
When Junior began to fuss, she grinned. “Speaking of mouths to feed.” She rounded the island and lifted her son out of Summer’s arms. “Let me take him upstairs and give him his dinner. The eggplant’s in the oven. All I need to do is make my butter sage sauce and boil the ravioli.”
“Want me to boil it?” Quentin offered.
“That’s okay. It’ll only take a few minutes, and I don’t want you to overcook it.” She leaned up and kissed his cheek. “Just keep Percy company until Summer and I get back.”
“Yes, ma’am.” Quentin kissed her nose, then playfully swatted her backside when she turned to leave. As she and Summer headed upstairs, a burst of raucous male laughter from the kitchen made the sisters smile.
Summer followed Lexi into her bedroom, looking around in awe. “I still can’t get over the fabulousness of this room. It’s huge. Bigger than my entire apartment.”
“I doubt that,” Lexi said with a chuckle, carrying Junior over to the king-size bed piled high with luxurious pillows. After laying him down and stepping out of her high heels, she unbuttoned her blouse and lo
wered the flap on her nursing bra, then stretched out on the bed to feed her son. As he eagerly latched onto her nipple, the release of milk acted as a soothing balm, instantly relaxing her.
Summer toed off her suede ankle boots and joined her sister on the bed, lying on her side with her head propped up against the mound of pillows. “Who kept Junior while you were at the meeting? Quentin’s mom?”
Lexi nodded. “But Ma kept him overnight on Monday and had him for most of yesterday while I worked on my cookbook.” She smiled. “When I arrived to pick him up, she was sitting on the floor playing with him and laughing her head off. You should have seen her. She looked thirty years younger. So happy and beautiful. It was amazing.”
A shadow of a smile touched Summer’s mouth. “I can imagine.”
Lexi gently stroked her son’s hair, savoring the soft warmth of his body curled against hers as he rhythmically suckled her nipple, his gaze intent on her face.
Summer watched them with a tender expression. “How long do you plan to breastfeed him?”
“I’m trying for a year.”
“Wow. A whole year?”
“That’s what the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends.”
Summer grinned. “Well, that’s good for Junior. Maybe not so good for Quentin.”
Lexi chuckled. “He knows the deal. We both want what’s best for our child. Besides,” she drawled, “breastfeeding has made my boobs bigger, and Quentin sure as hell ain’t complaining about that.”
“I bet he ain’t!”
The two sisters laughed.
After another moment, Summer rolled onto her back and lifted up her sweater to show her stomach to Lexi. “Look at this. See this flab?”
Lexi eyed her sister’s smooth belly. “What flab?”
“Are you kidding? This flab,” Summer said, pinching the extra flesh around her waist. “I’m getting love handles.”
“Hmm.” Lexi grinned. “I think you might be right.”
“See?” Summer shook her head in consternation. “I’ve been working so damn hard I can’t even remember the last time I went to the gym. And I’ve been eating so much junk food it’s ridiculous.”
“That’s not good.”
“Tell me about it.” Summer sighed in disgust. “This never would have happened if Colby still lived with me. He was like my own personal trainer and drill sergeant. No matter how busy our schedules were, he always made sure we hit the gym, and he didn’t let me get away with eating out all the time.”
Lexi grinned slyly. “Well, I know at least one person who has no complaints about the weight you’ve gained.”
“Who?”
“Percy. In case you didn’t notice, Summer, he couldn’t take his eyes off you.”
She watched with extreme interest as a blush stole over her sister’s cheeks.
“I didn’t notice,” Summer mumbled.
Lexi was skeptical. “No?”
“No. I didn’t.”
Lexi studied her sister through narrowed eyes. “What’s going on between you and Percy?”
“Nothing!” Summer insisted with such vehemence that Lexi’s brows shot up.
Summer bit her bottom lip, looking self-conscious. “Of course there’s nothing going on between us,” she said more calmly. “I mean, Percy’s always been like a big brother to me. They all have.”
“Yet Percy’s the only one you texted about being home,” Lexi pointed out. “Did you notify any of the others? Liam? Jagger? Shokare? Gabriel? Khalil? Derek?”
Summer heaved a breath. “No,” she grudgingly admitted. “I didn’t text anyone else.”
“Just Percy.”
“Yes. Just Percy.”
Lexi let that statement hang between them, watching as Summer dropped her gaze, shifted on the bed and began tracing the pattern of the duvet with her index finger.
“What’s going on, Summer?” Lexi prodded.
“Nothing,” she insisted. “I told you I’m not interested in Percy. I don’t see him that way. Besides, he’s not really my type.”
“What type? Tall, gorgeous, rich and successful?”
Summer laughed. “You know what I mean. You know I love my men dark chocolate. Give me one of those Wolf boys.”
“Hmm.”
Summer looked at her. “What?”
“The Wolf boys are fine as hell, but I seriously doubt you’re checking for any of them. In fact, you sound like you’re trying to convince yourself that you want anyone but Percy.”
When Summer’s gaze slid away, Lexi’s eyes widened. “Oh, my God. I’m right, aren’t I? Something happened between you two, didn’t it?”
“Of course not!”
“Summer.”
She covered her face with her hands and groaned. “Dammit, Lexi. Why are you cross-examining me? I thought Quentin was the lawyer in the family, not you.”
Lexi grinned. “Spill it, little girl.”
Summer sighed in defeat and shook her head. “Fine. I’ll tell you.”
“I’m all ears.”
Summer removed her hands from her face and stared up at the coffered ceiling. “Last year when I came home for Christmas, I went out for drinks with Percy. And before you say anything,” she hastened to add, “the only reason it was just the two of us is because everyone else had plans that night, which I explained to Colby when he went all papa bear on me and tried to stop me from going. Percy just happened to be free that evening. So it’s not like it was a date or anything.”
“Duly noted,” Lexi drawled, lips twitching. “Go on.”
“We met at this little cocktail lounge I’d never heard of before. I think Percy wanted to make sure we wouldn’t run into any of his bimbos,” Summer said with a dry chuckle.
Lexi grinned. “Probably.”
“Anyway, it was a really nice spot. Quiet and cozy with soft jazz music playing in the background. We ordered drinks and then we just sat there and talked. About our work, career goals, families, favorite movies. I never realized what a great listener he is. I felt like I could tell him anything, and I probably did.”
Lexi smiled, enjoying the soft wonder on her sister’s face. “Sounds like you and Percy really connected that night.”
“We did.” A dreamy smile curved Summer’s lips. “We were having such a good conversation we didn’t even notice the time. The hours just flew by and before we knew it, it was three A.M. and the lounge was closing. I wasn’t ready to leave. And neither was Percy, apparently, because he slipped a few Benjamins to our server, and dude let us stay a while longer.” She sighed. “I think that night was the first time Percy saw me as more than just your baby sister.”
“And you saw him as more than just a surrogate big brother,” Lexi said intuitively. “You saw him as a man.”
Summer closed her eyes and whispered, “Yes.”
Lexi smiled. “That’s not a bad thing, you know.”
Summer sighed. “Of course it is.”
“Why?”
“You know why. This is Percy Sheldon we’re talking about. He doesn’t do commitment. He doesn’t even know the meaning of the word.”
“Neither did Quentin,” Lexi pointed out.
Summer shook her head. “There’s no comparison. Quentin was in love with you for years, Lexi. He ran through women because he was trying to fill a void, and he didn’t realize you were the only woman he wanted. Percy doesn’t have that excuse. He’s a manwhore because that’s just who he is.”
“People change,” Lexi murmured.
“Do they?” Summer challenged. “Or are they just good at tricking others into believing they’ve changed?”
“Depends on the person. I believe some manwhores are genuinely capable of changing their ways.” She paused. “Especially for the right woman.”
Summer sighed. “I guess. But I’ve gotten my heart broken one too many times to be dumb enough to go down that road again. And it’s a shame too, because the pickings are so slim out here. Some of my friends have broadened th
eir horizons and started dating and marrying white guys, and I’ve gone out with a few decent ones. But I just find myself more attracted to black men, which kinda sucks. I mean, you wouldn’t believe the type of brothas I meet on a regular basis. Even the ones who are broke and ugly think they’re God’s gift to women. If they’re attractive, educated and moderately successful, you can pretty much assume they’re juggling several side chicks.”
Lexi chuckled grimly. “I know, girl. You’re preaching to the choir. Don’t forget who I was married to.”
“Oh, I haven’t,” Summer grumbled. “And I still wish you’d let Quentin kill that bastard for the hell he put you through.”
“No need,” Lexi said serenely. “Living well is—”
“—the best revenge. Yeah, yeah, yeah. I still say that unleashing Quentin on him would have been a far more satisfying revenge, not to mention the ultimate act of charity.”
“Charity?”
“One less Adam McNamara in the world is a win for womankind.”
Lexi laughed, glancing down at her son. His suckling had slowed as he drifted off to sleep. She and Summer watched him for a few moments, smiling at how adorably innocent he looked.
“Does he need to be changed?” Summer whispered.
Lexi patted the baby’s diapered bottom and shook her head. “He’s good. Quentin’s mom fed and bathed him right before I picked him up.” She gently inserted her fingertip into the corner of Junior’s mouth. When he released her nipple, she smiled and kissed him tenderly on the forehead.
“I’ll put him to bed for you.” Summer carefully picked up the baby and carried him from the room.
With a lazy sigh, Lexi sat up and rebuttoned her blouse, then slid her feet into a pair of fluffy pink bedroom slippers. She emerged from her room just as Summer tiptoed out of the nursery and closed the door quietly behind her.
As they headed downstairs together, Lexi hugged her sister around the waist. “I’m so glad you’re home, kiddo. I miss you more than I realize.”
“I know. Me too.” Summer sighed, resting her head against Lexi’s. “You’re not gonna say anything to embarrass me in front of Percy, are you?”
Lexi chuckled. “Do you want me to?”
This I Promise You Page 16
