Deception (Carrington Hill Investigations Book 1) (16 page)

Lexi set it all into motion. She had Marco and his guys set up a perimeter renting and occupying the houses on both sides of where she was headed. She picked up her friends with the promise of a surprise and informed the Director where she’d be. Ethan was joining them as the first man to ever be included on their all-girl trip. Would they even be able to continue calling it that?

She needed time away from the men in her life before everything got chaotic.
Garrett and Trip were still determined to win her over and, for at least two days, she wouldn’t have to think about it. She pulled into the beach house and parked the car. She glanced in the rearview mirror, and Catherine’s face was lit up as though it was Christmas. Ethan grinned and gave Lexi a slight nodded of approval, understanding that they all needed this trip, especially Catherine. A few days at the beach and in the sun with her best friends would rejuvenate anyone’s soul.

Catherin
e leaned forward and put her hand on Lexi’s shoulder. “Thank you, Lexi.” Catherine pushed her door open and stepped out. “I’ve missed this place.”

Sara stepped out of the passenger seat. “I’m glad
you finally remember it.”

Lexi’s
first thought was a nice relaxing jog on the beach as she’d done so many times before. The sand and surf always helped clear her mind. What she wasn’t counting on was having company. Ethan joined her. “It’s going to kill Emmitt.”

She hadn’t thought about how Ethan’s twin would take the news of his wife’s deception. She chanced a glance at him. “He has you. You and Trip will help him through it.”

Ethan matched her strides without breaking a sweat. “I still can’t believe she tried to kill Catherine. I was ready to kill her.”

Lexi pounded her feet against the packed sand. “You shouldn’t say that to a federal agent.”

His lips tilted in a grin. “I didn’t. I said it to my sister-in-law. Besides, I know you feel the same way, especially after saving her from Constanza.”

Lexi slowed to a walk
, grabbing her waist to catch her breath. He slowed beside her. “Ethan, I’m not your sister-in-law. Not anymore.”

They walked in silence for several minutes listening to the
waves crash against the beach. “Have you told Trip what you plan to do?”

She shook her head. “No, I want to keep the element of surprise on my side. There will be plenty of people at the party
who will be watching my back.”

“
What if she doesn’t make a move? Then what?”

She chewed her bottom lip. “Then I guess I’ll be going on my belated honeymoon. If it goes that far, then I’ll fill him in.”

“He’s going to be crushed that you set the whole thing up…not to be with him but to catch her. You know that doesn’t really qualify as you keeping your promise.”

She shrugged. “I’m not sure he’ll be worried about it. He’ll have his hands full dealing with everything else.
”

He knocked his shoulder against hers. “Never underestimate a Hathaway, Ms. Carrington
,” he said playfully jogging in front of her. He turned and continued jogging backwards. “We always get what we want.” Then he was gone, leaving her to her dwell on her own thoughts.

A day later, Lexi found herself sitting
in a chair, soaking up the rays and sipping margaritas with her best friends. The vacation they should have had over a month ago.

Sara glanced at her. “What gives, Lexi
? You’ve been preoccupied since you got here. Are you worried about Celia? Because I’ll be there with you.”

Lexi closed her eyes as she contemplated laying everything out on the line with the people who knew her best. With her mind made up
, she opened her eyes. “He kissed me.”

Sara waved her hand in the air. “We’ve all seen it, Lexi. Trip
kissed you every chance he got; he couldn’t keep his hands off you.”

Lexi shook her head. “Not Trip…
Garrett.”

Sara sprung forward in her chair
, almost knocking over her drink on the table. “Garrett kissed you? When? Was it any good? Are you seeing him now? What about Trip?”

All of the questions
made Lexi’s head spin.

“He’s had the
hots for you for a long time. You should have seen that one coming,” Catherine said, not one bit fazed by Lexi’s confession.

Lexi closed her eyes again and recounted the
details of the kiss then explained her confusion about Trip.

“We can work this out.” Sara leaned back in her chair and took an
extra-long sip of her drink. “Has Trip told you he loves you yet?”

“No.”

“I still can’t believe you got married and I missed it,” Catherine announced. “How do you feel about your ex-husband? Did you have chemistry?”

Lexi raised her brow and smiled
, remembering the explosive chemistry Trip and she shared. “Yeah, the chemistry was off the charts, sizzling hot. I care about him, but I’m not sure I fit in his world.”

“And
Garrett?” Sara asked.

“It’s different with
Garrett. He’s always been there for me. He understands my job, and he’s more like me. The kiss was good too.”

“Who
se kiss?” Ethan asked as he stepped out on the porch and hopped up on the railing.

“
Garrett kissed Lexi.”

Lexi clenched her eyes shut
, not believing that Catherine had just told Trip’s brother about the kiss. There wouldn’t be any living it down now.

Catherine squeezed her hand. “I’m sorry. Ethan won’t say anything.” She glanced to her boyfriend. “Will you
, baby?”

He held
Lexi’s gaze as if searching her face for the answers she didn’t even know herself. “Two men vying for your attention. I’m surprised it’s the first time you’ve found yourself in such a jam. If I know my brother, one mention of another man’s intent and he’ll snatch you up before you have the chance to consider it.”

Lexi slung her leg over the
lawn chair and stood, wrapping her towel around her bathing suit. She stepped closer to Ethan and raised her brow. “Don’t even think about it.”

He threw his head back and laughed. “Honey, kiss or not….if he’s interested, you better bring your A game
. Trip’s so smooth you won’t even see him coming until it’s too late.”

“Ethan Hathaway!” Catherine’s voice tore
through their staring match.

Lexi turned back to her friends. “He’s right.”

She walked back inside without another word. She spent the rest of the day reading her emails from the Director that were keeping her apprised of all of the evidence they were mounting against Celia.

Her thoughts turned back to Trip and Garrett.
In her heart, there wasn’t even a competition. She knew which one she wanted. She knew which one she could spend the rest of her days married to. She knew which one she loved and it was only a matter of time before she told them. After the three days were over, she packed her bags and headed home.   

Back at her house, she set the wheels in motion. She called the
director, making sure everything was in place for that night. She twirled Trip’s grandmother’s diamond on her finger, just another prop to convince Celia she wasn’t going anywhere. And deep down, the reason for the ring was two-fold, one for Celia’s benefit and the other to convince Trip she wanted him back. She had the plane tickets to the Caymans. Her black silk dress hung elegantly on her body. Her hair was styled perfectly and her makeup applied just right. She was ready for the party. Garrett showed up right on time as her escort. She didn’t want to do this at the party in front of everyone else. They needed to have a private conversation.

“Thanks for coming early.”

He followed her into the library. She felt his gaze on her back. She closed the door and took a deep breath, walking to where he stood in the middle of the room. She took both of his hands in hers. “I need to tell you something.”

He pulled his hand
s away and cupped her cheek before pressing his lips to hers. It was brief, not like the kiss he’d given her in her office. He pulled back. “No need, darlin’. I can see it in your eyes.” His eyes searched hers as if he could see clear down into her soul. “You chose him.”

Lexi swallowed around the lump in her throat and nodded. “I love him.”

Garrett rubbed her arms. “Does he love you back?”

That was the million
-dollar question, and she didn’t have the answer. Did he love her back? Was she going to be making a fool of herself? Her words came out a whisper. “I don’t know.”

He leaned down and pressed a kiss to her cheek. “He’d be a fool not to.”

He threaded her arm through his and tilted his head to the side. “Just so you know…I’ll still be here when you realize it should have been me.”

“
Garrett…”

He patted her hand
and jiggled his car keys in his fingers. “It’s okay, Lexi. I won’t kiss you again. When you’re ready, I’ll be waiting.” He cleared his throat. “Let’s get this show on the road. We’ve got a thief to catch.”

****

Lexi was so nervous she thought she was going to be sick
. She wasn’t worried about Celia. Lexi had one gun securely hidden in her thigh holster and another one in her purse. The FBI’s finest were in attendance. If Celia made a move tonight, it would prove one thing….she was stupid. Lexi reassured herself that Celia wouldn’t make her move until Lexi and Trip were on their honeymoon to the Caymans and Lexi would be ready, either that or the woman would just skip town. Either way, everyone would be watching her.

Her nervousness came from the thought of seeing Trip tonight
and the thought of finally confessing that he was the one for her. There was still the chance he wouldn’t want anything to do with her once she told him of Garrett’s kiss, but she couldn’t help but to try. She loved him like no man before. He was her destiny, at least she hoped. She raised a hand to her stomach to still her nerves as Garrett drove her to Trip’s house.

“You armed?”

“Yes. One in the holster and one in my purse.”

He nodded
, “And you’re wired?”

She nodded
and she turned back to the window watching the trees pass as they got closer to the Hathaway estate. He reached for her hand and squeezed. “Everything is going to be all right.” He chanced a glance in her direction. “You know that, right?”

She wished she could be as confident as him. “
Garrett, no matter what happens, I’m glad we’re still friends. I care about you.”

He pulled back his hand and wrapped it around the steering wheel. “I care about you too. Always have.”

They pulled up to the gate and were ushered through, past the flash of cameras as reporters tried to get a peek at who was inside. Garrett parked and rounded the SUV and pulled her door open, and she slid out.

He stood facing her
, his jaw set in a hard line. “Are you ready for this?”

S
he nodded.

“It’s time to put on your game face.”

She let out a breath she didn’t realize she’d been holding and plastered a smile on her face. “Let’s do this.”

She stepped through the doors, her heels clacking against the marble
, and was escorted into the ballroom with Garrett’s hand on the small of her back. It gave her strength she knew she would need to get through the night. Conversations stopped, and people started clapping as Lillian walked over to her, sized up Garrett, and pulled her through the crowds.

“
I’m so glad you’re here.”

She recognized most of the faces she passed. People she worked with on a daily basis dressed in tuxedos and ball gowns. Ethan
stood next to Sara by the bar. He nodded, and Sara gave her a reassuring smile. Catherine wasn’t in attendance; she was nicely tucked away, surrounded by some of Marco’s finest.

Marco stood
at the other end of the room, talking to a few guys, she knew from Carrington-Hill. The fact that she was surrounded by men with guns should have eased her anxiety, but it didn’t. No amount of firepower could protect her heart if Trip told her he didn’t love her.

Trip stood perfectly still across the room. Their eyes locked as Lillian guided her through the thro
ngs of people. The lines of his face softened the closer she came. His intent stare eased some of her apprehension. She’d made the right decision. He was the one…but that wasn’t really why she was here tonight. Celia stepped up to his side, followed by her husband, Emmitt. It was then that she reminded herself that tonight wasn’t about Trip and her, not really.

Trip pulled her into his arms
in an embrace for everyone to see and pressed his lips to hers. He pulled back and whispered in her ear. “I missed you.”

His hands held hers, and he ran his thumb over the diamond, lifting her hand to kiss the jewelry on her finger. A smile formed on his lips
, realizing what the gesture meant.