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Whoa. This copperhead had some bite.
He studied her a moment longer, then dipped his chin. “I guess I won’t be seeing you around.”
“Good guess.” She added a tight smile.
“Lexi,” Mrs. Franklin murmured.
The green eyes checked out the heavens, and he was fairly certain he heard the faintest sigh. “Thank you.”
“Oh, you’re more than welcome,” he said, molasses in his voice, then adding for good measure, “ma’am.”
Ha. Just as he suspected, her nostrils flared at that last word, and her chin rose, revealing more of the wispy spotted scarf around her neck. With the scarf and the shirt and the heels she was kinda giving vibes of that 1950s chick, Audrey someone, whose movies his mom liked to watch. But that get-up must be pretty warm in these June temperatures. No wonder sweat was sliding down her forehead.
“Aren’t you hot?”
She blinked. “I beg your pardon?”
He realized how that sounded, how he should’ve emphasized the question in his statement, and cleared his throat. “Wait, I didn’t mean it like that.”
Her mouth fell open.
Whoa. This day was getting better and better.
She took a wobbling step back, which forced her to clutch the arm of Mrs. Franklin. “Mum, can we please go now?”
Mum? There was a certain classy sound about her voice that drew him to hide another smile. She was like a rich kid, unaware her manners might strike some as disrespectful, but strangely charming nonetheless. And the fact she was Peter and Lynette Franklin’s daughter meant he’d show her how things should be done round here. With courtesy, like they’d always shown him.
“Lexi, I don’t think you’ve met Jackson Reilly, have you?” her mother said.
Jackson recognized the peacemaker and stuck out his hand. “Pleased to meet you.”
Lexi eyed him then his hand, then shook it for the briefest moment. “Hello.”
Her fingers released, but his didn’t want to. He made himself let go.
“Lexi just arrived here from Australia,” her mom said.
“Is that so?” He smiled. “Well, that’s gotta be exciting, coming all the way here.”
The way her lips pressed together, and she offered the barest nod, it didn’t seem like she agreed.
At least he’d tried. “Well, I sure hope you enjoy your time here in Trinity Lakes.”
“Thanks.”
“Bye, Mrs. Franklin.”
“Goodbye, Jackson.”
“See you around, Ms. Franklin,” he said to the daughter. “Ma’am,” he added, biting back a grin.
Her gaze narrowed, but he didn’t stay to watch, turning to see Ellie instead. “Ready?”
She mouthed a “wow” at him, then nodded, shooting a half smile in the direction of the Aussie, before taking his arm as they walked down the path. Lunch today was at Joe’s Diner, the best eating place in town. His stomach was already twisting at the thought of the Trinity special.
“What was that?” she asked as soon as they were clear of being overheard.
“What was what?” he asked.
