by Lolita Lopez
It wasn’t a question. Her mother never drove. “All right.”
Lexi headed off for the pool. She reached the French doors and grasped the handle. Her wrist never moved. She could see Tom, Frank and Allie in the pool together. Allie floated between them in the shallow end, her arms wide open and resting on the tiled edge as the men swam near her. Too near for Lexi’s liking. Her gut twisted as she watched the men she loved engage in a splashing game with the woman who would soon be her stepmother. It didn’t help that Allie looked criminally gorgeous in that bikini of hers.
“She’s stunning, isn’t she?” Ramon’s voice slithered across her shoulder. Lexi almost jumped out of her skin. She glanced back and saw her mother’s boyfriend mere inches from her. “You’d make a good ninja.”
Ramon chuckled. “In the cruise line industry, we’re taught to be invisible. Wouldn’t want the guests bothered by servants.”
Lexi caught the hint of anger in his voice. He didn’t care for the way he’d been treated on board the ship but he seemed to have no problem treating her like a servant. “Are you heading out to swim?”
He shook his head and moved closer to the doors. “I think I’ll do some reading. Besides, it looks like Allie has enough male attention for now.”
Lexi watched as Frank chased Allie through the water. She made sure to exaggerate her movements, showing off her best assets as Frank grabbed for her. Lexi’s stomach dropped. So much for that speech Tom gave last night. She wasn’t feeling so special now. She’d been stuck in the house all day cooking and cleaning. They were outside having the time of their lives.
“You can’t blame them. It would be hard for any man to ignore a knockout body like that.” Ramon eyed her critically. “Allie obviously works hard for it.”
Lexi ignored his barb. It wasn’t the first time she’d heard something rude about her thick hips and big breasts. It wouldn’t be the last. “Mom and I are going into town.”
“She told me.”
Needing distance from Ramon, Lexi pivoted on her heel and walked toward the arched doorway. “Do you happen to know the code for the wine cellar?”
His question brought her up short. She turned back toward him. He was settling down in a comfortable chair and powering up his ereader. “I do. Why do you ask?”
He shrugged. “I wanted to take a peek. Your mother says it’s one of the best in the country.”
“It is.” She eyed him carefully, wondering why he wanted in there. “You’ll have to ask Dad for a tour. Only family members know the code to the door and you’re not family.”
“Yet.”
She rolled her eyes and left the sitting room. If Ramon thought her mother was going to marry him, he was delusional. Unlike her father, Lexi’s mother had always made it well known that she’d married once and only once. She wasn’t going to do it again.
Out in the foyer, Lexi pulled her purse from the cubby in the coat closet where she’d left it. She plucked out her phone and sent a quick text message to Tom and Frank. She couldn’t go out there right now. She just couldn’t.
Passing through the dining room, Lexi caught her reflection in a mirror mounted on the wall. She compared her shape to Allie’s. It wasn’t a flattering comparison. She tugged the short-sleeved shirt she’d layered over a camisole a bit tighter. Maybe blue wasn’t such a good color. It definitely made her chest seem bigger. And tan capris? What had she been thinking? Her ass looked as big as a house in them.
Those old doubts resurfaced. What the hell did Tom and Frank see in her? They could have any woman they wanted. They were that deliciously sexy. For now, they seemed to want her. She considered her parents. They were both dating younger, incredibly attractive people. No, she silently chided herself. Tom and Frank weren’t like that. They weren’t after her money. It was love that held them all together.
Wasn’t it?
Lexi glanced behind her and thought of Ramon. He was probably laughing his ass off right now. He’d known exactly how to play her, how to make her feel like shit. She’d walked right into the trap. He wasn’t the first boyfriend of her mother’s to take that route. Usually she was good at spotting those underhanded tactics. Today, though, she was feeling too raw and emotional.
She sucked in a deep, cleansing breath and marched into the kitchen. She headed through the pantry and mud room out to the garage where her mother was waiting by her father’s prized sports car. Lexi lifted her eyebrows. “You’re not serious, Mom.”
Her mother shrugged. “This car is half mine.”
Her mother wasn’t going to budge. “All right,” Lexi agreed with a sigh. “Get in.”
Her mother giggled like a teenager as they backed out of the garage. Feeling a little silly, Lexi punched the gas and peeled out of the driveway. Tom and Frank weren’t the only ones who could have a little fun on this hot afternoon.
*
Frank hauled himself out of the pool. He turned around and helped Allie up the ladder. He worried about her slipping and hurting herself or the baby. Tom followed her out of the pool, ready to catch her if she lost her footing.
“Thank you, Frank.” Allie rubbed his arm. “It’s so nice to have a big, strong guy to look after me.”
Frank cleared his throat and quickly put some space between them. Her hand slid from his arm and she pouted playfully. “What’s wrong? Worried Lexi will get jealous?”
He thought that an odd first question from Allie. Did she know they were in a threesome? “No, I’m more worried about her old man decking me.”
Allie snorted and reached for a nearby towel. “There isn’t a woman on this earth Eddie would get into a fistfight for, Frank. Not one.”
Frank wondered at her light tone. She didn’t seem the least bit bothered by the idea that the father of her child wouldn’t punch someone to defend her honor. He’d been willing to give her the benefit of the doubt but now he wasn’t so certain. Maybe she didn’t care for Lexi’s dad at all. Frank wasn’t naïve enough to think it was love the two shared but affection? Surely, she at least felt something for Eddie.
“I’m heading in for a shower.” Tom wrapped a towel around his broad shoulders.
“Walk me in?” Allie sidled up close to Tom. “My feet are wet. The marble in the foyer is so slippery.”
“Sure.”
“Check on Lexi.” Frank realized he hadn’t seen her in almost an hour. All morning, she’d been racing around the house. He’d wanted to offer his help but every time he tried, someone else needed him. A quiver of guilt lanced his belly. “See if she’d like to go into town, Tom. I know how much she loves those antique shops.”
Tom made a face. “Do I have to go?”
Allie giggled and slipped her arm through Tom’s. “No, you can stay here with us. Maybe we’ll take the boat on the lake. Would you like that?”
“I’d like that more than antiquing.”
Frank’s gut soured as he watched Allie lead Tom off the patio and into the house. Tom had a bad habit of trusting women when he shouldn’t. Frank liked Allie well enough but he wasn’t stupid. He knew exactly what kind of woman she was. If she thought she could get her claws into Tom, she would. They’d been playing in the pool but her lingering touches hadn’t gone unnoticed by Frank. He’d shrugged out of most of them but she hadn’t been deterred. She might have the old man’s bun in her oven but she clearly wasn’t going to let that slow her down.
“Frank!” Eddie’s voice ricocheted around the patio. He emerged from a side door with a beer in hand and motioned toward a pair of chairs under the well-shaded pergola. “Sit with me.”
Frank smiled and joined Lexi’s father. He reminded himself that he wasn’t Lexi’s boyfriend during this getaway. He was just a friend. “How are you, Eddie? Feeling any better? Allie said you were having some problems with your wheat allergy.” Frank eyed the beer. “Maybe that beer isn’t such a good choice.”
Eddie waved his hand and took a long drink. “I think it’s probably an ulcer.”
&n
bsp; “You should have that checked out.”
Eddie shook his head. “No need. The second Meredith goes home, I’ll be fine.” He touched his stomach. “Nothing tears me up inside like that woman.”
Frank found the other man’s choice of words curious. “Women have that effect on men.”
He laughed. “Not all women.” His gaze moved to the pool. Frank could have sworn there was some sadness in his dark eyes. “I don’t think my Lexi has that effect on her new boyfriend. I saw him going upstairs with Allie.” He took another drink of beer. “Looks like this boyfriend will be gone as quickly as all the others.”
The callousness with which Eddie spoke stunned Frank. He tried to wrap his head around what the man had just said. Allie went upstairs with Tom? Her room was on the first floor. Why was Tom taking her up there? Why the hell was Eddie telling him and not confronting Alllie?
“You’re wondering why I’m not up there making a scene?” Eddie laughed. “For what? The same thing I’ve done to my wife over and over again?” He clicked his teeth. “People aren’t meant to be monogamous. It’s fighting human nature.” He shrugged. “Besides, it’s not as if Allie can get herself into trouble. She’s already carrying my son. And, anyway, this Tom isn’t the right man for my Lexi. A professional fighter?” He scoffed. “How barbaric! Now you,” Eddie studied him intently, “are exactly what Lexi needs. Someone with a good education, a thriving business, money. Someone I could be proud to call a son-in-law.”
“And that’s all that matters?” Frank didn’t understand this man.
“Money makes the world go round.”
“And love? Relationships? Family?” Frank tried to find the right words. “You don’t want to chase after your girlfriend? Okay, I get it. Girlfriends are a dime a dozen to you. But your daughter? Your daughter? You’re willing to let Lexi have her heart broken and do nothing about it?” Frank rose quickly. “Well not me.”
He left behind Lexi’s sputtering father. The older man called out his name a few times but Frank didn’t slow down. He rushed into the house, traversed the maze of rooms and took the stairs two at a time. He burst into Lexi’s bedroom and spotted the bikini on the bed. Stomach lurching, he raced to the bathroom door and flung it open. What he found surprised him.
A wet, slightly soapy Tom huddled in a corner and shielded his privates with a hand towel. He had a hand up as he tried to fend off Allie’s advances. Naked and holding her breasts, she wiggled seductively and practically dry-humped Tom’s leg. She whipped free the towel and reached for his cock and balls.
“Stop, Allie! I’m serious. I’m not interested.”
Frank couldn’t ever remember hearing Tom sound so desperate.
“Not interested? In this? Please!” She cackled. “Honey, this is a huge step up from what’s been warming your bed.”
Frank had heard enough. She shrieked in surprise when he picked her up and carted her out of the bedroom. He expected to find the bedroom empty but was shocked by the sight of Ramon next to the closed door. Frank didn’t see the camera in the other man’s hand until it was too late. The click-click-click of the digital camera snapping photos ricocheted off the walls.
“Shit!” Tom, naked and dripping from his interrupted shower, dashed back into the bathroom for the towel.
Frank dropped Allie on the bed. It was all coming together for him now. He extended his hand. “Give me the camera, Ramon.”
“Or what? You’ll have Tom knock the shit out of me?”
“Don’t think I won’t,” Tom warned as he came back into the bedroom. “Don’t push me, man.”
“Take one step and I’m calling the cops.” Ramon produced a cell phone from his pocket. “I’ll even rough myself up if I have to,” he added.
“Calm down, boys.” Allie began to slip back into her bikini. She seemed so calm and business-like. She glanced back at Ramon. “Are they good pictures?”
“Perfect.” Ramon slipped an arm around her shoulders and kissed her. Frank wasn’t surprised by the disgusting display of affection. These two were such snakes.
“Now, how much do you think these photographs are worth?” Allie grinned evilly and waved the camera. “I suppose the real question is, how badly do you two want to protect Lexi? I mean, can you imagine if she found out that her boyfriend and his best friend were tag-teaming her pregnant soon-to-be stepmother?”
Frank’s belly soured. It would destroy Lexi. Emotionally, she was quite fragile. This thing with her parents had hit her hard. Frank silently berated himself for not insisting they leave yesterday. This all could have been avoided if he’d been more firm with Lexi and Tom.
“How much?” Tom finally asked. “And keep in mind we don’t have the deep pockets your partners do.”
“Well,” Allie drew out the word. “I think Ramon’s in the market for his own gym franchise. Something big and flashy in LA.”
“We’re not in the LA market.” Frank reminded them. “The farthest west we’ve gone is Phoenix.”
“Well I guess it’s time you made some expansion plans, don’t you?” Allie shot him a sugary sweet smile. “As for me, I haven’t quite decided what it is that I need from the two of you. I’ll keep in touch.”
She snapped her fingers and Ramon jumped to her aid like a lap dog. He opened the door and followed her out of the bedroom, hovering in the doorway just long enough to shoot them both the finger.
“Oh, classy,” Frank called out. “Real fucking classy, you asshole.”
Tom hurried over and shut the door behind them. He leaned against it and closed his eyes. “This is all my fault.”
“Yeah, it is.” Frank dropped onto the bed and put his head in his hands. “Why the fuck did you bring her up here?”
“It wasn’t like that,” Tom protested. “She wanted some towels. She said Lexi had forgotten to take clean ones into their room and change their sheets.”
“Why the hell would Lexi change their sheets and replace their towels? She’s not their maid.”
“She’s been running around like one all day.”
Frank rubbed his face and groaned. Tom was right. They’d all been treating Lexi like their live-in maid. Shame burned through him.
Tom sighed. “I brought Allie in here, gave her some towels and walked her out of the room. I got in the shower, and a couple of minutes later, she was trying to climb in with me. I jumped out the other side and she followed me. I couldn’t push her away because I was worried about hurting the baby.”
Frank couldn’t blame him for that. Allie might be dumb enough to put her unborn child at risk but Tom wouldn’t.
“What are we going to do, Frank?” Tom sounded so incredibly pained.
Frank glanced over at his oldest friend and the man he’d loved for so long. Tom looked on the verge of tears. Frank’s chest tightened. “I don’t know.”
“You know what she’ll think.” Tom rubbed his forehead. “You remember what she told us when we first started dating? Infidelity is where she draws the line. She struggled so hard with being part of this,” Tom gestured between them, “because it went against that vow she took to be monogamous and faithful. If she sees those pictures, she’ll jump to the obvious conclusion.”
“And once her trust is broken, we won’t be able to win it back. Even if she believes us, even if she believes that nothing happened, she’s still going to be shaken by it.” Frank cursed a loud, long string of expletives. “We can’t lose her.”
“We won’t.” Tom exhaled roughly. “We have to tell her. We tell her the truth. We don’t make it a big deal. We just come clean with what happened in here. She knows what kind of people Allie and Ramon are. She’ll believe us.”
“And if they get to her first?” Frank’s heart stuttered. “Where is Lexi?”
Tom’s shoulders slumped with shame. “I forgot to look for her.”
“Jesus, Tom!” Frank was just as upset with himself. “Have we both neglected her that much today?” He squeezed his eyes as the truth washed
over him. “God, she’s going to be so angry with us already.”
“She’s not here.”
“What?” Frank’s opened his eyes and glanced over his shoulder. Tom was holding his cell phone. “Where is she?”
“In town with her mother.”
“Oh, great.” Frank considered how Lexi’s mother could wind her up. “That’s all we need.”
“You know, Frank, it’s not even whether she believes us or not.” Tom flopped down next to him. “If Allie and Ramon are smart, they’ll sell those photos to someone who can use them. Lexi will never forgive us if we’re the reason she’s dragged through the tabloids and humiliated again.”
Tom’s words made Frank feel ill. He gritted his teeth and tried to keep his queasy stomach at bay. “Get dressed. We’ve got to come up with a plan.”
Chapter Five
“I really am sorry about the speeding ticket, Lexi.”
She glanced at her mother and smiled. “It’s fine. I mean, I’m not exactly proud of myself for breaking the law but it’s just a ticket. My first, actually,” she added with a little laugh. “Can you believe that?”
“From you? Absolutely.” Her mother got that faraway smile on her face, as if remembering a different time. “I always knew you were going to be responsible and do well in life. Even as a baby, you were…different. You studied everything and made the safest choices.” She laughed again. “I think that’s why it took you so long to walk. You wanted to make sure you did it exactly right the first time—and you did! You took off running that Christmas morning as if you’d been running every day since you were born!”
Lexi liked this side of her mother. She didn’t get to see it very often. For some reason, her mother seemed to think showing emotion meant showing weakness. “Today was nice, Mom. I really enjoyed it a lot. We should do it again.”
“I’d like that.”
They settled into a comfortable silence. The interior of her father’s prized car smelled of barbecue. After a nice, stress-free afternoon browsing the downtown shops, they’d stopped off at one of the most popular barbecue joints in the small town and grabbed dinner for seven. Lexi had even managed to squeeze in some networking. One of the shop owners loved Lexi’s mother’s necklace and the bracelet Lexi wore. After some discussion, Lexi had agreed to send round her catalogue to see if a consignment deal could be made.
