Striving to match his casual tone, Lexi said, “Sure. That sounds like a plan.”
“Good.” His eyes glinted. “And I want a rain check on that shower, woman.”
“So bossy,” she grumbled.
“Damn straight.” He gave her a quick, hard kiss, then rolled away and swung his long legs over the edge of the bed. As he sauntered lazily to the master bathroom, Lexi propped her head in her hand and shamelessly admired the view of his naked backside—wide shoulders, round butt, powerful thighs and toned calves.
Um-mmm-umph!
As he disappeared into the bathroom, she let out a lusty sigh and fell back against her pillows with a lascivious grin.
Moments later she heard the blast of the shower. When Quentin began crooning an off-key version of “A Whole New World,” she stared at the door in delighted surprise, then dissolved into laughter.
As she snuggled back under the warm covers and tried to grab a few more winks of sleep, Quentin’s cell phone buzzed on the bedside table, signaling that he had an incoming text message.
Lexi ignored it and closed her eyes.
Half a minute later, she heard another buzz. She opened her eyes and leveled a glare at the phone. It wasn’t his BlackBerry, which he reserved for business. This was his personal cell phone, so whoever was trying to reach him would just have to wait.
Another incoming message sounded.
Heaving an exasperated breath, Lexi sat up and grabbed the phone, intending to turn down the volume. But when she saw a woman’s name on the caller display screen, she paused.
Jocelyn—whoever she was—had sent pictures to Quentin.
At five-thirty in the morning.
Lexi frowned, an uneasy feeling creeping over her.
Who the hell is Jocelyn?
She gnawed her lip, her gaze shuttling between the bathroom door and the phone in her hand.
Don’t do it,her conscience warned.You know better than anyone that no good can come of snooping through a man’s belongings. It only leads to disillusionment and heartache.
On the other hand,Lexi argued back,it’s better to know the truth—no matter how painful—than to continue living a lie.
As she’d already learned the hard way, ignorance wasnotbliss.
The phone buzzed again.
With a sinking sensation in the pit of her stomach, Lexi pressed the button to retrieve the first message.
An involuntary gasp escaped her.
It was a picture of a beautiful, dark-skinned woman lounging seductively on a bed. She wore a sultry smile and skimpy red panties, her arms coquettishly crossed over her ample, naked breasts. The text message read:Want to see the rest? Give me a call, Counselor.
Lexi clicked off the picture with trembling fingers and swallowed the bile that had risen in her throat.
Why are you so upset?her conscience demanded.It’s not as if you and Quentin are a couple. Just because you shared one hot, unbelievably spectacular night of lovemaking doesn’t mean he’s ready to give up his womanizing ways.
Besides, she thought cynically, some of the best sex she’d ever had with her ex-husband came right after he’d been with his mistress.Guilt sex,he’d later confessed to her.
Lexi grimaced. God, she’d beensucha fool to think that Quentin Reddick could ever change.
“Hey, Lex,” he called from the shower. “Sure you don’t wanna join me in here? The water’srealnice and hot.”
Her temper flared.
