The sparkle in her blood spread to her breasts, making her nipples peak. She gulped. “What exactly are you asking?”
His eyes cooled a fraction. “We’re going to be spending a lot of time together this weekend. To make things easier, we should try to put the past behind us.”
Hadn’t she tried to do just that for months and months? The heat in her body ebbed a little. “It’s not easy to forget.” Not easy to forget the wonder of his kisses, the joy of sex with him. And the pain he’d left behind.
A myriad of expressions flitted across his face, and she sensed he was feeling the same confusing gamut of emotion she was.
He lifted his chin. “I’m sorry.”
She scrunched the dress even tighter. “For what?”
“For the way things ended between us.” Her heart flipped like a hooked fish. Lex continued, “I knew we were over, but in the heat of the moment I let myself get carried away. I shouldn’t have lost my temper the way I did. I apologize for that.”
She gulped, her throat tight and sore. This was a new side to Lex she wasn’t used to—reflective, conciliatory. “We both got carried away.”
“Yeah.” He gave her a wry smile. “I guess we’re both passionate people.”
Passion, yes, they had plenty of that in common, but for her he was the only man who could inspire that sort of passion. Was it the same for him? Had he felt the same devastation and loss after the breakup? Carl had hinted he had, after the initial, scorching anger had died down.
Lex plumped himself down on the bed and leaned back on his hands. “So we’re good, then?”
She stiffened at his breezy cockiness. Typical Lex. So sure she’d agree with him. Let’s play nice, because it suited him. And if she allowed him to seduce her, that would just be a little bonus for him. Well, she had to admit his sexual charms hit her right in the G-spot, and the way he was lounging so provocatively on that bed made her body thrum, but she wasn’t going to let herself get carried away again.
“Yeah, we’re good.” She glanced at the dress in her hands. “I’d better hang this up.”
She moved toward the walk-in closet, all the while conscious of Lex’s gaze pinned on her body. He was still on that bed, that plush, comfy bed they’d soon be sharing. For two nights she’d have his body just inches away from her. Would he sleep in the nude? He always had with her. Oh dear God. Lex, naked and tanned, stretched out right next to her like a smorgasbord of sex. How was she going to control herself?
But she had to. She was a pretend girlfriend, so she’d just have to make do with pretend sex.
…
In a walled garden away from the house, Jacinta found a long, rectangular lily pond with a stone cherub perched on its rim, holding an upturned flagon from which water trickled. Iridescent dragonflies hovered over the water, while orange and white koi drifted under the lily pads. The tranquility should have soothed her, but she couldn’t get rid of her jitters. The impending party, her meeting with Nana Alice and Holly, and the prospect of being with Lex the entire weekend and having to maintain her guard, all combined to play on her nerves.
The crunch of feet on gravel interrupted her. She swiveled around to see Holly nearby.
The young woman sauntered forward. “Hi there. Hope I’m not disturbing you.”
Jacinta shook her head. “Of course not. It’s so peaceful here.” It was a shame she couldn’t absorb some of it for herself.
“I don’t blame you for wanting some peace. It’s all systems go at the house with boring old relatives arriving by the hour.” Holly slanted her gaze at Jacinta. “Lex not with you?”
“He had some work to finish.” It was true. When she’d emerged from the walk-in closet, he had unpacked his laptop on the desk by the window, and when she’d mentioned she was going out for a walk, he had replied he’d be busy for a while.
Holly rolled her eyes. “Figures.” Jacinta must have let something show in her expression, because Holly leaned forward, her tone apologetic. “Sorry, how rude of me. I didn’t mean to insult him in front of you, but, well, isn’t that just typical of my cousin? The first time he brings a girlfriend here, he leaves her to wander about on her own while he buries himself in work.”
“I’m the first?”
“As far as I know.” Holly widened her eyes. “Why do you think Nana was all over you like a rash? She’d never admit it, but Lex is her favorite grandchild, and she’d do anything to see him settle down.”
Jacinta almost choked. Lex settle down? The idea was ludicrous. “What did you tell her before we arrived?”
“Don’t worry. I said all the right things, that you seemed like a lovely person and Lex was really into you that night at the art exhibition.” She threaded her fingers through her hair, a coy expression on her face. “And what did Lex tell you about me? I bet he said I’m a pain in his ass.”
“Well, um...” Jacinta mumbled, taken aback by Holly’s brashness.
“Ha, I knew it. Lex and I are like oil and water, but I don’t hold any grudges. Honest.”
Did she mean that? Or was she just saying it to deflect suspicion? Holly was sharp as a tack, gutsy enough to pull off the betrayal and smart enough to cover her tracks. She wouldn’t give away anything easily. Jacinta decided to borrow some of Holly’s forthrightness. “So you aren’t still upset about the way he got you arrested and thrown into jail?”
Holly let out a laugh. “Yeah, I was mad as hell at first. I didn’t think he’d go that far, but he called my bluff.” She shrugged ruefully. “I overplayed my hand. Lex has a tendency to go extra hard on anyone who might seem to use their connections to influence him, especially family members. I couldn’t expect an easy ride just because we’re related. In fact, he went out of his way to make an example of me. He’s freaky like that.”
Jacinta’s stomach clenched. How familiar Holly’s words sounded. Lex had shown as much mercy on Holly as he had on Kevin. He had singled Kevin out because he’d wanted to emphasize he wouldn’t be swayed by his relationship with Jacinta. Wanted to demonstrate that all his dealings were way aboveboard. Well, at least he’d been consistent.
“No, I don’t hate him for that anymore,” Holly continued. “I acted like a brat, and I deserved what I got.” She scooped up a handful of pebbles and began to throw them one by one into the lily pond. “But you should know I don’t like the way he’s treated my brother. He’s been so unfair to Kirk.”
“I haven’t met Kirk yet,” Jacinta said.
“He’ll be here soon, and my dad.” Holly scowled as she lobbed another pebble at the pond. “Lex has been trying to push Kirk from the company because he feels threatened. He’s doing to Kirk what his father did to mine.”
There was more than a hint of melodrama to Holly’s words, Jacinta decided. She knew nothing about the relationship between Lex and Kirk, but she doubted very much that Lex would feel threatened by anyone.
“I don’t know much about the situation, but is that really what’s going on?” she asked mildly.
Holly’s cheeks went pink. “I can figure it out. Lex has been telling Kirk he doesn’t need to come in to work, that he’s got it all covered.”
Jacinta frowned, puzzled. “But isn’t that because of his wife passing away?”
“That’s Lex’s excuse, of course.”
“It’s a valid reason. Why would your brother—”
“Lex is just pretending to be concerned when in reality he’s using Kirk’s absence to move his own stooges into place, like that Carl friend of his. If Kirk doesn’t watch out, there’ll be no room for him.” Holly threw away the last few pebbles in disgust and dusted her hands.
“I still don’t see why Lex would do that.” Irritation rose in her. What did Holly know? She was biased and overdramatic; she had no idea what Lex was really like. The Lex Jacinta knew would never stoop to petty jealousy.
Holly’s face glowered. “It’s obvious, isn’t it? Kirk stole Lex’s girlfriend and married her, and Lex has never forgiven him. That’s why.”
Jacinta stared at Holly. “Kirk’s wife was Lex’s ex-girlfriend?”
“Yes.” Holly squinted at her, the scowl evaporating. “You didn’t know about Alison? She was one of the Hancocks. Those Hancocks, the ones that own a third of California.”
Jacinta didn’t know about any of Lex’s past girlfriends, but everyone knew who the Hancocks were. Another billionaire family like the Rochesters. She could just imagine what Alison Hancock must have been like—sophisticated, elegant, assured of her place in society. Had Lex been in love with Alison Hancock? Was that why he resented Kirk? The idea of Lex being in love with someone else—someone so rare and refined—brought a cramping pain to her sides.
Conscious of Holly’s curious stare, she quickly composed herself. “I didn’t know. Lex doesn’t talk about that kind of thing.”
Holly bit her lip. “I guess that was sorta tactless of me. It happened years ago.”