He was a fantastic kisser, the best she’d ever had, but pigs would fly before she’d admit that. “When do you want to start?”
“Tonight. There’s a big party I’m supposed to attend. I’ll pick you up at seven. Wear something slinky. You know the kind of thing I like.”
For a moment she spluttered. How dare he talk to her like that? But then she realized he was right. If they were to convince everyone they were back together, she’d have to dress like his girlfriend. And she did know the kind of thing he liked—slinky, provocative, but always classy.
“Is that okay with you?” Lex asked. “You look...stirred up.”
She was stirred up all right—at the thought of dressing to please Lex, of spending an entire evening in his company after all these months struggling to forget him.
But hadn’t she decided this would be good for her? If she spent more time with Lex she’d realize once and for all how incompatible they were, no matter how incredible he was in bed. This was her chance to cauterize the wound. And pull her brother out of his rut at the same time.
“Seven is fine with me.” She pushed to her feet, suddenly longing to get away from Lex. “I’ll see you tonight.”
Chapter Three
The doorbell rang at exactly seven, and although she’d been expecting it, Jacinta couldn’t help starting. Nerves quavering, she hurried to the door and opened it to find Lex filling up her door frame with his tall figure, tonight smart-casual in slim-fit trousers, black shirt open at the neck and showing just a hint of chest hair, and tapered Italian shoes. His dark hair was immaculately groomed, still slick from his shower, his freshly shaven jaw smooth and angular.
The corner of his mouth twitched as he scanned her body. “I see you took my advice. I like what you’re wearing.”
Gratification surged inside her before she squashed it down.
“It’ll do the job, I guess.” She smoothed her palms down the sides of her ruffled halter neck cocktail dress as the tips of her loose hair brushed against her bare shoulder blades. The soft material clung to her body, flattering her shape, the short skirt showing off her legs. She felt good in this dress, and she couldn’t deny she liked Lex’s appreciation.
He helped her into his car and soon they were speeding away. “How did your brother take the news about us?” Lex asked.
“He wasn’t thrilled.” That was an understatement. When she’d told Kevin she was seeing Lex again, he’d looked at her as if she’d thrown a dagger through his chest. Coming on top of his disappointing interview yesterday, it couldn’t have been worse timing.
“I spoke to the head of the IT department,” Lex said. “There’s an entry-level programmer job available. If Kevin sends in his résumé, someone will give him a soft interview. Tell him it’s been ten months and his record has been wiped clean. Think he’ll go for it?”
“Oh, by now I think he’d go for anything.” Her spirits lifted. “He’s been in a deep funk for so long.”
Lex didn’t answer, but the tightness in his jaw said it all. He had no sympathy to waste on her brother.
“Tell me about this party,” she said. “Who’s throwing it?”
“My friend Carl. You remember him? He works at Jubilee too.”
Jacinta had met Carl a few times. He was an easygoing man, an old school friend of Lex’s who now held a top-level executive position at Jubilee Holdings. Attending his party as a couple would definitely set the gossip flowing. Carl would spread the news of their reconciliation right through the company; he wouldn’t be able to help himself.
“And Carl knows nothing about your leak suspicions?” she asked.
“No, nothing.”
So Lex couldn’t bring himself to trust one of his oldest friends. Maybe because his family was involved? He’d only revealed his suspicions to her because he’d had no choice, but to everyone else he’d remained silent. Maybe he didn’t want to bad-mouth his relatives behind their backs, even if he didn’t get along with them. Maybe he was more family-focused than he let on.
She was still mulling this over when they arrived at a large, brightly lit house already heaving with a crowd of people. As they stepped inside, Lex’s hand came to rest on the small of her back, a familiar gesture from the past, which, as always, sent an electric spark rippling down her spine. She’d barely collected herself when Carl came rushing over, his face flushed and eager.
“Great to see you again, Jacinta!” He gave her an extravagant hug, then turned to pump Lex’s hand. “Fantastic news, buddy.”
Jacinta raised her eyebrows at Lex in silent query.
He lifted his shoulders. “I sent Carl a text earlier saying I was bringing you tonight. I guess that’s what he’s referring to.”
“Best news I’ve had in months.” Carl grabbed a couple of cocktails from a passing waiter and pressed them onto Lex and Jacinta.
“As you can see,” Lex said to Jacinta, “Carl is easy to please.”
“Brooke!” Carl beckoned to his wife who had just entered the room. “Lex and Jacinta are here.”
Brooke came up to greet them and, after a few minutes of chitchat, she drew Lex away, insisting she had to introduce him to someone. As the press of people thickened around them, Carl ushered Jacinta to a secluded corner in the living room.
“I’m glad you two are back together,” he said more quietly when there was no one within earshot. “I wasn’t exaggerating when I said it was the best news in months.”
Jacinta took a sip of her cocktail. “That’s very sweet of you, Carl.”
“I’m not just saying that. Lex was devastated when you two broke up.”
She choked on her drink. “Lex? Devastated? I find that hard to believe.”
“No, really, he was impossible to be around, let alone work for.”
Disbelief crushed at her heart. Had the breakup left Lex gut-wrenched and miserable too? She couldn’t picture him crying over her. I thought you were a woman of integrity, he’d snarled at her. But you’re just like all the rest of them. You’re only interested in what you can get out of me. Well, I’m no one’s sap, least of all yours.
She gulped down the sudden rush of raw emotion and shook her head. “That’s very flattering, but I know what Lex is like. I’m sure he had no trouble finding a replacement for me, and probably within a week of our breakup.”
Carl ducked his head and studied his drink. “Oh, um, well, I don’t know about that...”
Her heart sank as his shamefaced expression gave him away. “You don’t have to cover up for Lex. He and I have a policy of complete honesty between us now, so you can tell me. How long did it take him to hook up with another woman?”
Carl squirmed under her scrutiny. Why was she doing this? Why was she torturing herself imagining Lex with another woman?
“I can’t remember exactly,” Carl muttered. “But you know what Lex is like. Women come onto him all the time.”
Jacinta’s heart squeezed tighter. She didn’t want to know, she really didn’t, but... “So there’ve been quite a few, then.”
His face contorted again in embarrassment. “No one special—oh damn. The more I talk, the more I put my foot in it. Forget about those women. They were nothing to him. He was just trying so hard to forget you, but in the end he couldn’t. You’re the only one for him, that’s all that matters, and I’m relieved he’s come to his senses at last.”
Through the sliding doors she caught sight of Lex standing on the outside deck with Brooke and a growing group of partygoers, many of them female. She’d always known Lex was as irresistible to women as chocolate. When they’d been a couple it had never bothered her because he’d never shown the slightest interest in any female besides her, but now the sight of him ringed by so many attractive, available women sent a stinging shaft through her. She hadn’t realized jealousy could taste so bitter.
At that moment he glanced up, as if he could sense her churning thoughts, and then he made his excuses to those around him and crossed the deck to the living room. He moved like a black panther, muscles sleek beneath his dark clothing, a beautiful, dangerous animal.
“Having a good time out there?” she couldn’t help asking and was surprised by the barb in her voice.
Lex’s eyes narrowed. “What have you two been talking about?”
“Oh, nothing much.” Carl cleared his throat.
“Carl was telling me how relieved he was you’ve come to your senses at last,” Jacinta said.
“Come to my senses?”
“Yes, and I was just about to tell him how we got back together,” Jacinta continued, suddenly reckless. She shouldn’t care that Lex had turned to other women the moment they’d broken up, but no amount of rationalizing could stem the hurt or the impulse to lash out. Linking her arm through Lex’s, she addressed her words to Carl.
“A few days ago, Lex called asking to see me. I hung up on him. He tried again a bunch of times, but I refused to talk to him. Then, a couple of nights ago, he appeared outside my bedroom window and started singing ‘Hard to Say I’m Sorry’—you know, that cheesy eighties song. Well, Lex is a very talented guy, but not at singing. He really stinks. The neighbors started complaining, throwing stuff at him, but he just kept on singing, and eventually I felt sorry for him and let him in.”