AllFreeNovel
Share Us
The words Lexi thought she wanted to say were lost. Weird, because she stood here in this new office area and lusted after a man who just a few days ago had vowed to ruin her. “Weird how?”
“I don’t know.” Nate shrugged. “I was under the impression you wanted to expand.”
“This isn’t the only place in town,” Lexi said with a practiced smile. “I may have lost out on this space but I at least gained some interesting neighbors.” She rubbed the cap of Philly’s curly head. Stephen moved closer to her, elbowing his brother out of the way.
“Let me walk you to your car.”
“We’ll walk over and pick up the pizza,” said Nate after a pause of awkwardness. The girls groaned again. “Let me clean this stuff up first.”
The shortness in Stephen’s tone sent a pang to the center of Lexi’s chest. So he still held animosity toward her when it came to his nieces. She had every right to plant her heels into the pulled-up floor and stand her ground, but when his hands brushed against her lower back, something in the back of her knees went weak.
Like last night, a warm breeze blew between them. Stephen walked her to her car, but then leaned against the driver’s side door. Unsure of where to stand or what to say, Lexi rested her hip by the hood and faced him. “Clearly you have something to say.”
“I do.” Stephen cleared his throat. “I wanted to say that I may have been wrong.”
Against her better judgment, her heart fluttered against her chest. What did she care? Lexi did not date parents or fall for them. So what if his proverbial bedroom eyes stared down into her soul when they spoke? “Really?”
“Yes. I was wrong about not wanting to allow Philly into pageants. I’ve never seen her happier.”
The fluttering stopped and
crashed into her belly. Lexi plastered a smile. “I am fortunate to work with her. She is a great kid and can go far in the pageant.”
Stephen slipped his hands into the front of his jeans. “So this weekend?”
“Yes. Did I convince you this afternoon?”
“You convinced me on a lot of things.”
The door to the new office opened. Philly pointed out that they were still outside and Nate nudged her along down the street. They were probably headed toward the great little Italian place. Even with the variety of places Southwood had to offer, the girls still dragged their feet along the sidewalk. “Do you guys ever cook at home?”
“You saw what happened when we tried.”
“You burned it,” Lexi recalled.
“Blackened,” Stephen corrected. “Why do you ask?”
Lexi cast a glance over her shoulders toward the corner. “I thought I noticed a bit of reluctance from the girls when your brother mentioned picking up some food. How long have you been in town?”
“Almost six months.”
“Isn’t it time you two stopped acting like a couple of bachelors raising two girls?”
Through his sexy beard, his lips parted for a moment to pout, then turned into a crooked smile. “Are you offering your services?”
“Sorry, I don’t play house.” Lexi inhaled deeply, proud of herself for not falling for his charm. She took a step backward, away from him.
“You don’t date parents, either.”
Lexi’s brows rose. “You were listening.”
“I’ve heard everything you’ve said, Miss Pendergrass.” Stephen stepped closer. “I am trying to decide if I want to pay attention to that part.”
“What? Why?”
“Why?” Stephen asked. “Are you going to deny this attraction between us?”
Lexi squared her shoulders and tilted her chin and answered honestly. “Yes.”
