He cleared his throat. “Uh, excuse me, but you grabbed my hand and shoved it between your—”
“I know what I did,” she interrupted heatedly. “I just—I just don’t want it to happen again.”
“You’re making a big deal over nothing,” he said. “It’s just sex. Nothing but biochemistry.” His chest twinged as he uttered the plain, undisputed facts. He waited, but she didn’t say anything.
He sighed. “I’ll be outside,” he added and left the changing room.
Just sex, he thought. That’s all it is. As for that pang buried deep in the region of his heart, he’d ignore that.
…
Lex returned to his office to find Carl waiting for him together with one of his accountants, Stephen, who, judging by his hangdog expression, had done something wrong. He’d used some incorrect formulas for the figures Carl had given to Lex, Carl explained.
Lex pinned his frown on the accountant. “I’ve already used those figures. You telling me I’ve got all my numbers wrong?”
Stephen’s face turned green. “I-I’m afraid so.”
“And I’m going to have to stay back to fix them when I’m supposed to be taking my girlfriend out to dinner?”
The guy looked like he was going to vomit.
“I can help you,” Carl jumped in.
Lex eyed his friend for a moment. “Yeah, sure.” He eyeballed Stephen one more time. “Okay, we’ll take care of this. And don’t screw up again.”
Pale with relief, the guy slunk off.
“Whew,” Carl whistled. “Must’ve been a good shopping trip to put you in such a charitable mood. Usually you’d be chewing strips off that guy.”
“Yeah, well, don’t grin like that because you’re staying here with me to fix those numbers.”
“Don’t worry. You’ll make your date tonight.”
They sat down to work. He was lucky to have Carl here, Lex mused. Pity he couldn’t tell him all the worries weighing him down. Couldn’t tell anyone. He had to fix this on his own, do the right and fearless thing, unlike his dad, who was responsible for a lot of this mess.
He sighed. Why had he been so soft on Stephen? Was it because of Jacinta? He scoffed at the idea and focused his attention on his work.
“You’re humming,” Carl said after a while.
“Huh? No, I’m not. I don’t hum.”
“You were just then.” Carl grinned at him. “Sounded like ‘Hard to Say I’m Sorry.’” He sang a few lines. “See?”
Dammit, he had been humming that damn song. It had been stuck in his head for days. Thanks, Jacinta.
Carl pulled out his cell phone, tapped on it for a while, and seconds later Lex’s phone beeped.
“Was that you?” Lex picked up his phone to read the message.
“I sent you the lyrics of your song. Just in case you screw up and need to sing it again.”
Lex scowled. “You’re such a pal.”
“You’re welcome, buddy.”
…
“It’s great news,” Jacinta said to Kevin. It was Friday evening, and earlier that day Kevin had been asked to an interview at Jubilee Holdings on Monday.
“I hope I don’t let you down,” Kevin said.
“You’re going to do great.”
“If I get this job, I don’t have to see Dr. Portland anymore.”
“Well, we’ll talk about that later.” Dr. Portland was the therapist Jacinta had persuaded her brother to see after he’d finally acknowledged he might have a few behavioral problems. Progress had been slow, but she didn’t want him to stop altogether. He needed professional help as well as sisterly support. “Let’s go out and celebrate,” she added.
“Great idea.” Kevin rubbed his hands together. “But it’s Friday night. Aren’t you seeing Lex?”
Jacinta shook her head. “I’ll be with him all weekend...” She trailed off, wondering if her anxiety was showing. There was nothing to be worried about. It was only two and a half days, and they’d be surrounded by lots of other people. Nothing was going to happen. She just had to stay focused on her goal. A week had passed, so she had only two more weeks to catch the mole if Kevin was to get this job.
Kevin screwed up his eyebrows. “Is everything okay with you guys?”
She made herself smile. “Of course. What makes you think it’s not?”
“Nothing. It’s just that the last time you two broke up, you were pretty upset. I’d hate to see you go through that again.”
“Oh Kevin.” Blinking, she gave him a quick hug. “That’s not going to happen. Not this time. I’m being careful.”
He didn’t seem convinced. “You’ve spent a hell of a lot of time together this past week.”
She couldn’t deny that. After the dinner date on Tuesday, she’d seen Lex twice more to analyze the tracking logs. She’d been on her guard against his advances, but he hadn’t made a single move on her. The scene in the changing room hadn’t been repeated, and though she told herself she was relieved, a part of her was disappointed. He really was a devil with those hands of his... How long could she fight her base urges before she gave in? Would it be so terrible if she surrendered? Maybe if she did, it would help her get him out of her system once and for all. Oh hell, now she was looking for excuses to sleep with Lex! She really had it bad for him.
“Don’t worry about Lex and me.” She patted her brother’s arm before glancing around for her purse. “Now come on, where should we go? How about that new Indian place on Irving Street?”
She ushered him out, determined that for one evening, at least, she wouldn’t think about Lex.
Chapter Seven
Alice Rochester, Lex’s grandmother, lived near St. Helena in Napa Valley on a two hundred acre estate called Mariposa. Jacinta had visited the wine country before, but never like this. From the company helicopter in which she and Lex traveled from San Francisco, she had a bird’s-eye view of the rolling hills and rich countryside. They flew over farmland, forests, vineyards, and little towns until they reached Mariposa, a sprawling, stucco and clay-tiled mansion surrounded by exquisitely manicured gardens.
The helicopter landed in a nearby paddock, where a Land Rover waited to take them and their luggage up to the house. They drove up a gravel driveway that wound its way through formal gardens framed by box hedges and stands of mature trees. Lawns as green and smooth as a billiard table rolled down to the edges of a lake.
Jacinta could barely take it all in. “It’s so beautiful here,” she murmured.
Even Lex, who had never struck her as impressionable, seemed to be affected by their surroundings. “Yes, it’s something, isn’t it? I spent a lot of summer vacations here.”
They drew up outside the Mission Revival style mansion. The driveway was packed with delivery vans, while people scurried back and forth with crates of supplies. Above a tall row of hedges, the top of a vast gazebo tent billowed out.
Lex had already briefed her on the party arrangements. His grandmother was renowned for her charity work, and the guests at the Sunday garden party would include plenty of socialites and business people, a few celebrities, the odd judge, and some politicians.
As they walked into the house, Jacinta smoothed down the seat of her brand-new linen pants and said to Lex, “Should I know about any unresolved issues between you and your grandmother?”
“Nana Alice couldn’t hold a grudge against anyone. She’s the sweetest person I’ve ever known.”
That’s a relief, Jacinta mused. They entered a cool, lofty hallway with terra-cotta tiles and a staircase sweeping up to the upper floors. A neat, middle-aged woman greeted them with a smile. Lex introduced her as Hazel, his grandmother’s housekeeper and friend. Hazel told them to go through to the conservatory, adding that she’d take care of their luggage.
“Hazel’s been with my grandmother for decades,” Lex said as he steered Jacinta down the hallway and opened a door. “Here we are.”
He ushered her into a huge space suffused with light. For a moment, the vast proportions of the room tricked her into thinking it was empty, before a small, white-haired woman rose from her chair and began to hobble toward them as quickly as her walking stick would allow her.
“Lex, how wonderful to see you, my dear boy!” she exclaimed, her face glowing with pleasure.
Lex hugged his grandmother carefully, the solidness of his physique highlighting her frailness. He greeted her in a voice gruff with feeling that Jacinta found unexpectedly touching. He drew her forward, and she found herself the focus of a pair of lively blue eyes.
“And you must be Jacinta. I’m so happy to finally meet you.” Nana Alice clasped Jacinta’s hand, her grip surprisingly firm, her smile wide and generous. “Welcome to Mariposa.”
“Thank you for having me,” she replied, taken aback by the effusive welcome, so unlike Lex and the rest of his family.
“Oh, it’s good to see you.” Nana Alice squeezed her hand again. “I’ve been hearing all about you.”
Had Lex already discussed her with his grandmother? Jacinta darted a look at him, but he merely lifted his shoulders.