by Adams, S. C.
“Kane, I really like being with you, but it’s too soon for parents to get involved. My mom meddles too much as it is, and I want to keep you to myself for just a little while longer,” I explain.
Kane smiles and nods. “I understand. I don’t know what you’ve done to me, Lexi.”
He chuckles, and I turn toward him, resting my weight on my knees.
“What do you mean?”
“I’m falling for you, baby,” Kane says.
His eyes look like deep pools of blue as he strokes my cheek with his thumb. I climb into his lap and kiss him passionately, not caring if we’re canoodling inappropriately in public.
The next morning, for the first time, I remain asleep in Kane’s strong arms until I get up for work. I came prepared with an overnight bag, knowing that when the sun came up, I wouldn’t want to leave the comfort of Kane’s arms. I couldn’t keep denying myself the intimacy Kane craves from me that I also desire in return from him.
“How’d you sleep?” he asks, running a hand down my naked body from behind and sending tingles from my breasts to my center.
“Amazing, but I’m going to be late.”
“Get ready. I’ll get you some coffee,” he offers.
I take a quick shower and get ready in a hurry. Kane pours me a cup of coffee in a to-go cup.
“Black with one sugar,” he winks.
“Good memory,” I smile, kissing his lips.
He tastes like the cinnamon he sprinkled in his own cup of coffee. I give Kayla a pet goodbye.
“See you tonight after work,” Kane calls out.
“It’s a date,” I call back before closing the door.
I can’t help but smile the entire way to work. Like Kane, I’m falling too. I did plenty of thinking last night as Kane fell asleep next to me. I’m going to tell him about Jason tonight. I just need to figure out the right way to say it.
16
Kane
During the first meeting of the morning, I’m once again distracted by Lexi. Waking up with her in my arms was absolute perfection. For the first time since college, I imagine what it would be like to wake up to the same woman every day.
“Why do you keep smiling like that?” Carl, the vice president, asks.
I shrug. “Just happy. Is that okay?” I chuckle.
“I’ve just never seen you smile so much. Who is she?” he asks knowingly.
“You don’t know her,” I tell him, not sure if I want him to know her either.
Carl is married but has been known to hit on every female who comes into his path. He has been warned by human resources twice, and we’ve already told him if someone files one more complaint, he’s fired.
I will not tolerate anyone being mistreated at my company. I have no problem walking away if no one else on the board of directors agrees with me.
After the meeting is over, Joel walks with me back to my office.
“I’ll work on drawing the minutes up before the next meeting,” he says. “I picked up the cake for Nancy; it’s in the break room.”
“Thanks, Joel. I’m going to email you a shopping list. Can you place the order with Gristedes and have it delivered to my place today?”
“No problem, Kane,” Joel says.
“Also, order a bottle of champagne for you and your boyfriend on me. You’re doing a great job.”
“Thank you, sir,” he smiles.
I pat him on the back and head into my office. I quickly type up the shopping list and email it to Joel. I glance at my phone and see a text from Lexi.
Can’t wait for tonight, her text reads.
Hope I don’t poison you with my cooking, I respond.
I don’t think there is anything you’re not good at.
There is… I’m bad at being patient. I wish I was inside you right now.
Now you’ve got me all wet.
That’s how I like it.
As if my concentration wasn’t already lost, now I really can’t think of anything but Lexi. I try to get back to doing work, but there is a niggling feeling inside of me. Why doesn’t Lexi want me to meet her mother? I know she says her mom meddles, but I think there’s more to it than that.
And it isn’t just Lexi’s mother that she doesn’t want me to meet. It’s also her co-workers and other friends. Aside from Melanie, I have never met anyone else in her life. I find that somewhat strange.
She usually insists on meeting me at my job or my penthouse instead of me coming to her. Lexi has met some of my co-workers and even a couple of my college buddies who were in town from Philly. But I barely know anyone in her life.
What is Lexi hiding from me? I’ve never thought about online stalking anyone before, but I’m curious to see what comes up in Google on her, so I type in “Lexi Smith NYC” and hit enter.
There aren’t a lot of items that match the correct spelling of Lexi’s name. I don’t see a Facebook page or any other type of social media account other than LinkedIn, which only offers information about her professional life.
I find it a little odd that someone Lexi’s age doesn’t use social media. Then again, she isn’t like most girls I know.
I scroll down until I come across a link that actually uses the correct spelling of Lexi. It’s one of those wedding websites that gives details about the couple and the bridal party. I guess she was a bridesmaid or something. I click the link, and I can’t believe my eyes.
The first thing I see is a photo of a straight-haired Lexi and… me? I stare harder at the photo. That’s not me. I scroll down to see “Jason Peckham & Lexi Smith” typed in an elegant, bold font. Below that is what I presume to be a wedding date that’s listed for last month.
What the fuck? Is this Lexi’s big secret? She’s married? Has she been stepping out on her man?
My heart hammers at the thought. No, it can’t be. Something’s wrong here. My Lexi would never cheat. But what’s going on? Why the fuck does her husband look like me? And if she wanted to cheat on him, why would she pick someone who’s his doppelganger
I have so many fucking questions racing through my mind that I contemplate calling Lexi right now. I pick up the phone, but Joel comes over the intercom before I can dial her number.
“The representatives for Align Airways are in the conference room,” Joel informs me.
“Thanks. I’ll be right in,” I reply before letting out a frustrated sigh.
I decide it’s better to wait until I’m looking into Lexi’s deceitful eyes and have her explain everything to me then. Maybe she isn’t the person I think she is. Maybe she’s vindictive, callous, and materialistic like so many other people I know. Like all of those women I’ve tried so hard to avoid. How did I let her trap me?
Why did I ever develop feelings for someone who was supposed to be a one-night stand?
I go through the rest of the day in a foul-as-hell mood. For once in the past month, I’m not distracted because I’m fantasizing about Lexi. I’m distracted because I want answers.
As I head to the breakroom for Nancy’s retirement celebration, Joel claps a hand on my back.
“Kane, are you okay?” he asks.
“Have you ever allowed yourself to get excited about something and gotten a rude awakening instead?”
“Of course. Who hasn’t?” Joel says. “We’re all human.”
“I stopped getting excited about possibilities long ago. And I don’t know why I bothered to start hoping again,” I sneer.
“Is this professional or personal?”
I pat him on the back as we enter the breakroom.
“Forget I brought it up.”
I never talk about anything remotely personal at work. Lexi has me dropping my guard, and I don’t like that. How could I be such a lovesick puppy?
I try my best to keep a pleasant face on for Nancy’s retirement and through two other meetings. But as it gets closer to five o’clock, the initial shock and pain I felt is being replaced with anger and disgust.
17
&nb
sp; Lexi
I’m making my best effort to quickly finish work for the day so that I can head over to Kane’s. The new client I’ve been assigned to is rambling on about her apartment entryway.
“I want people to instantly feel welcome when they walk through the door,” she gushes. The strange hat on her head bobbles up and down with every word.
“Okay, well—”
She cuts me off. I haven’t been able to get a word in for the past forty-five minutes.
“Like maybe a little nook that holds robes and slippers,” she brainstorms, her eyes widening with excitement.
“Alright, and maybe a humidor and a martini bar on the other side.”
I’m joking, but Mrs. Chatsworth lights up at the idea. Some of these rich people spend their money on the oddest things. I bet that hideous hat on her head cost a few thousand dollars, if not more.
I’m relieved that Kane has impeccable taste. His penthouse is decorated nicely—nothing too flamboyant or tacky. But it’s all a little too clean and crisp. It sometimes looks like no one lives there. I wonder if he’ll let me add some personal touches for him as our relationship progresses.
I zone out, thinking about Kane, as Mrs. Chatsworth talks about adding an oversized fountain to the sitting room.
During lunch, I’d called my mother and finally confessed I’m seeing someone new.
“You are? I knew you were hiding something! Who is he?”
“His name is Kane, and yes, I met him at a bar, but—”
“Oh, Lexi. What kind of trash is this guy?”
“Mom,” I whine. “He’s a perfect gentleman.”
I smirk to myself, thinking he’s a perfect miscreant in the bedroom, too, but I keep that information to myself.
“When do I get to meet this Kane?”
“Soon,” I promise.
I still want to warn her that Kane looks like Jason, but I also want to warn Kane, too. I haven’t been open with him at all about the engagement or about being stood up at the altar. I guess I’m afraid he will think less of me, or that something must be wrong with me for someone to break-up with me in such an awful and humiliating way.
I snap out of thoughts of Kane and what my mother’s reaction will be to meeting him and instead try to focus on the rambling woman in front of me.
“Alright, Mrs. Chatsworth,” I interrupt the client. “I will be by your place tomorrow morning.”
I manage to dodge Renata and head out of the building as quickly as possible. On my way to Kane’s, I stop at the bakery to get dessert. I also grab flowers from a street vendor.
When I arrive at Madison Park Square Tower, the doorman recognizes me.
“Hello, Miss Smith,” he greets. “Mr. Jones told me to expect you. Go right on up.”
“Thank you,” I smile at him.
He presses the button on the elevator for me since my hands are full between my purse, the flowers, and the cake I bought. He reaches inside the elevator once the doors open and presses the button to the penthouse for me as well. I thank him again as the doors close.
I step off the elevator and knock on the door. It takes a moment before Kane opens the door. I immediately peck him on the lips and hand him the flowers.
“Gifts for the host,” I grin, holding up the cake.
Kane shuts the door and turns away from me without a word.
“Do you have a vase? I’ll put those flowers in water,” I offer, moving over to him and reaching for them.
Kane yanks away from my touch, which catches me by surprise. I look around. It doesn’t seem like we’ll be having dinner anytime soon. There are groceries on the counter, but nothing is cooking.
“What’s wrong?”
Kane turns toward me, but his eyes are still focused on the flowers in his hand.
“Are you married?”
At first, I’m not sure I heard him correctly. But he looks over at me finally and repeats the questions. His eyes are cold, and his chiseled jaw that I love to kiss is clenched. He’s trying to hold back his anger.
“What?!” I ask, but my question turns to an awkward laugh. “Why would you ask that?”
“Don’t lie to me, Lexi,” he sighs.
“I’m not lying!” I huff. “I swear I’m not married. Who told you that?”
“I saw it online. I knew you were keeping something from me, and there it was… with just a simple search of your name… you pop up smiling next to Jason Peckham.”
I silently curse myself as tears fill my eyes. Why didn’t I ever take down that damn wedding site?
“Kane, I can explain…” I say, but he cuts me off.
“You’ve only been married a month according to that website. What happened? Jason wasn’t cutting it in the bedroom, so you wanted me to step in? How did you even find me?”
“What?” I blink. “I met you at The Drunken Bucket… it wasn’t planned,” I practically laugh.
Wow, how twisted does Kane think I am?
“Oh no? Then why do I look exactly like your fucking husband, Lexi?!” he barks at me, causing me to jump.
I have never seen him angry like this. At the softball game, he was mad at Joey, but even then, he wasn’t like this. And his anger at that time wasn’t directed at me. I don’t even think anger is an accurate description for what Kane is expressing.
I think Kane actually hates me now. That thought tears me up inside as I fight to explain my side of the story.
“The wedding never happened, okay?” I yell in tears.
Kane stares at me, trying to figure out if I’m lying.
“It didn’t happen,” I repeat, my voice shaky. “That asshole left me at the altar and humiliated me in front of everyone.”
For a moment, I think Kane is going to wrap his arms around me and give me one of his comforting hugs. But he remains planted with too much distance between us.
“Why do I look like your ex-fiancé?”
I shake my head from side to side and throw my hands up in the air.
“I have no idea. Maybe you’re long lost cousins or something. Who cares?”
“I care, Lexi!” He grits his teeth and throws the flowers across the room in a rage.
I close my eyes, and that is all of the encouragement my tears need to fall down my cheeks. Kane doesn’t seem fazed.
“I know this is all weird, Kane, but…”
“I’m just impressed you never called me Jason in bed.”
His tone is scathing, and he barely looks at me. Kane’s stance is stiff, and his jaw is still rigid.
“That’s because you’re nothing like Jason,” I explain, walking over to him and trying to pull his shoulder toward me.
He pulls away from me. “Don’t fucking touch me.”
I’m full-on crying at this point. No matter how many tears I wipe away, they keep on coming.
“Listen to me, Kane…”
“Why should I listen now? I tried to get you to open up, and you always changed the subject. You had plenty of opportunities to tell me you were replacing your ex with me.”
“I wasn’t trying to replace Jason!”
“Then what were you trying to do?! Huh, Lexi?”
He’s screaming in my face, and I back away, not used to seeing him so mad.
“I thought if I could just be with someone else…”
“That you could get over him? So you hit on his doppelganger? I still don’t even know how the fuck we look so much alike,” Kane says, running his fingers through his hair.
“I never loved him.”
Kane snorts. “Then why were you marrying him? Why did he stand you up at the altar and not the other way around?”
Wow, I can see how much Kane wants to hurt me.
I swallow. “I didn’t think I could do better. Everyone raved about Jason because he was rich and beautiful…”
“He’s rich, too?” Kane laughs. “How fucking wonderful.”
“Come on, that’s not fair. I didn’t know you were rich when I met you.”<
br />
“How do I know this isn’t some game to you? Maybe you have a type. Tall, dark, handsome, and rich… and when we realize we’re just part of your Stepford mold, we walk away. Like Jason did. Like I’m doing.”
“What? What are you saying?”
“Maybe what you really need is therapy because I’m not going to be part of this weird Jason stand-in thing you’ve got going on.”
“Are you listening to me?” I step closer to him. “I don’t care about Jason. He’s an asshole. Kane, please…” I plead with him, grabbing his hand.
He shoves me just hard enough to get me away from him.
“Get the fuck out, Lexi.”
I want to think of something I can say to redeem myself, but all I can do is stand there and tremble.
“Get out… now!” Kane roars.
I can hear Kayla barking from her room as I hurry out of the penthouse in tears. It was all inevitable—Kane and I ending this way—but I still had hoped it would be different for us. Kane is too good to be true. It was bound to end in disaster, but still, I’d hoped we’d have a future together. I was beginning to get used to being treated well by a real man.
18
Lexi
Almost a week had passed with no word from Kane. I sent him a few texts, but they went ignored. Everything in life has been extra irritating. The subway seems dirtier. Clients are more annoying. And Renata… I’m convinced I’m capable of murder when I’m around her.
After my mother hounds me all week about having lunch with her, I finally give in, knowing I need to get it over with. I had managed to keep her at bay while I was dating Kane, not wanting her to jump in with questions or ask to meet him, but I can’t postpone her forever.
Of course, the day I’d finally admitted I was seeing someone to Mom was also the day Kane found out about Jason, and my whole world came crashing down… yet again.
“So, when do I get to meet your new boyfriend?” Mom asks as soon as we’re seated at the restaurant.
“He wasn’t my boyfriend, Mom. We were casually dating,” I sigh. “Besides, it’s over now.”
