Her Irresistible Troublemaker (A Town Named Eden Book 3) (6 page)

“So much for trying to change the subject.”

Ava shrugged. “I always thought Jamie was a bit effeminate. Did he even need to shave?”

“Jack Riley’s all male.” With broad shoulders, a square chin, and an easy swagger that spoke of confidence and a massive male ego. “He was clean shaven when I first met him in the morning, but then I saw him in the evening and he was sporting a light bristle.”

“You saw him again? You didn’t tell me about that,” Ava exclaimed as they stepped out into the courtyard.

“I’m still trying to digest it all. He has this weird effect on me. He says something and I can’t help myself, I have to say something right back.”

“Honey, that’s called having a conversation.”

“I get the whole concept of talking but this is different. We sort of click but… we probably bring out the worst in each other. And now every time I open my mouth, I feel this unstoppable urge to go off on a tangent about him. You don’t even need to prompt me. I’m fixated. Obsessed. Consumed by thoughts of him. I’m…” She dug her fingers through her hair and grimaced. “Excited. I can’t explain it, but I keep hoping to bump into him again.”

Lexie was about to give Ava a brief run down on the second face-to-face encounter she’d had with Jack the night before when her gaze landed on him. Her step faltered. She felt around for the life saving impulse that would urge her to turn around and head in the opposite direction, but her body refused to budge. “That’s him,” she whispered.

“Give me a minute. My eyes are glued to the guy sitting next to him. And by the way, you sound breathless.”

She felt it too. “Okay. You’ve seen him for yourself. Now let’s go.” Lexie knew it would be the sensible thing to do. She’d already seen far too much of him, enough to fire up her curiosity, but if she went any further... If she didn’t tread with care, she really would become fixated, and that could turn into a bad case of lovelorn infatuation and then she’d be doing far more than peering between the gaps of paper covering her windows.

“What? No way. I want a closer look. I bet he has one of those delicious voices that always make me think of dark chocolate and honey.”

Just then, Jack looked up, returned his attention to his coffee and then did a double take, his bright eyes landing on her. Lexie’s stomach dipped and tumbled. He gave her a nod of acknowledgment and when she didn’t immediately respond, he stood up.

“What is he doing?” Suddenly, Lexie felt her choices narrowed down to taking a step toward him.

Ava gave her a gentle prod. “He’s trying to catch your attention. It’s kismet. You keep bumping into each other.”

“More like crashing into each other,” she said under her breath. “Well, hello there.” She managed to sound cheerful but then he gave her an unguarded smile that nearly had her tripping over herself.

“The tables have turned today,” he said.

She looked around and realized there were no free tables left.

“You’re welcome to share ours.”

Lexie couldn’t move past the feeling of having missed something significant, such as her cue to exit and run for her life.

Maybe she’d been living too long inside her head. Filling her days with make-believe adventures, Lexie had to wonder if she’d worn out a groove and become accustomed to using Lulu McGee as a surrogate for the life she wouldn’t mind experiencing.

Actually, she was doing okay.

Since meeting Jack, she’d let him in to her apartment and she’d had an impromptu dinner with him.

What would she do next?

“I’m… I’m with my friend.”

“And I’m with my brother. So I guess we’re sort of even.”

“We really shouldn’t intrude.”

He shook his head. “You wouldn’t be. He’s telling me a lot of stuff I don’t want to hear, so this is really good timing.”

Chapter Six

While Ava dove straight into an engaging conversation with Mason Riley, Lexie sank down on the chair Jack pulled out for her and struggled to string a sentence together. She told herself it had to do with the element of surprise, of finding him at her local café… again, but it was most likely because since meeting him she’d been asking herself more questions than she had answers for. What if she opened her mouth and they all spilled out?

“You’re looking very sporty today,” he said.

“Don’t be fooled by the sneakers. They’re only for show. We’ve been on a bicycle ride.” Going from tongue-tied to pouring the words out made her cringe, but measuring and censuring her words would give her too much thinking time and she’d probably end up losing herself in his eyes, and that could spell disaster for her. “Don’t tell me you’re slogging it out again today.” Her eyes slid along his forearms and danced between one speck of paint and the other.

“I’m putting in half a day and taking tonight off.”

Knowing he wouldn’t be around that evening left her feeling inexplicably bereft. “Will you be catching up with your life?”

“I’ll be kicking back and watching a movie. What are you getting up to tonight?”

“Sundays are my winding down days. I always watch a movie, either at home or at the local cinema, depending on the weather.” She stopped to draw in a breath and nearly lost her train of thought. There was a softness in his eyes she hadn’t noticed before and—

She shook her head. Best to steer clear of his lips. “If it rains, I prefer to stay home,” she continued, “And because I don’t have air-conditioning, on hot days I like to cool down in the comfort of a cinema.”

“So what do you do when it’s not hot or cold?”

She gave a huffy burst of laughter. “I have one of those indecisive nights and end up watching TV, hopping from channel to channel looking for something to hold my interest.”

“You should come over.”

Her breath hitched. “Um… did you say…”

“Come over.”

“To your place?”

He nodded.

“You and me. At your place. Together.”

“Yes.”

Her lips parted then closed before she could say yes with the eagerness she felt bubbling inside her. “Are you serious?”

“Why wouldn’t I be?”

“It’s... out of the blue unexpected.”

“Living on the edge strange,” he agreed.

“And I’m not sure I even like you.”

“Sure you do. Why else would you rescue me...” He leaned in as if about to impart a secret. “Twice now.”

“Me? When?”

“Now.” He looked over her shoulder at his brother. “And last night when you let me share your table.”

“I feel like a caped crusader.” She gave Ava a discreet nudge but her friend seemed to be deep in conversation. Lexie shifted in her chair. The month she’d spent visiting her parents had broken up the tedium of spending her days and nights in her apartment. Usually, she stepped out for lunch and the occasional dinner but overall, her social life during the last twelve months had been...

Uneventful. Boring.

Monotonous.

When she wasn’t working, she was avoiding herself and the barrage of thoughts that hovered in her mind by losing herself on the Internet, or dipping into the pile of books she couldn’t stop accumulating, or watching one of the many TV shows she enjoyed following. All solitary pastime activities.

Good heavens, if she kept this up, her social skills would atrophy. She needed to introduce some variety into her life. Lexie knew Ava would agree. In fact, she’d probably say she was overdue for some much-needed stimulation, specifically, the type provided by men.

“So you’re asking me out on a date.”

He gave her a small smile. “I know you don’t like to date. Do we have to label it?”

“It would help to know what I’m getting into. We’ve only just met.”

He shrugged. “Is there a rule I don’t know about banning people from spending time together because they’ve only just met?”

“I doubt it since society seems to have done away with all forms of etiquette, rules... boundaries—” She gestured with her hands, which probably made her look as flustered as she felt. “I’m sure that once upon a time we wouldn’t have been allowed to talk unless we’d been properly introduced and even then, it would have been deemed inappropriate to be in your company unless properly chaperoned.” Lexie’s heart pounded against her chest. What had all that blabbering like an idiot been about? She needed to stop, right now, and say something to throw him off, preferably something intelligent.

“There’ll be beer and popcorn.”

He was serious. And she hadn’t put him off with all her mindless dribble.

“I have a super large screen TV and air-conditioning,” he added.

“You’re making it impossible for me to say no.”

“You can tell your friends you went out on a date. Get them off your back.”

Lexie had the strangest feeling she was being cornered into admitting she really wanted to say yes to the movie and to spending more time with Jack Riley and to kicking back and relaxing around him and…

It wouldn’t be a date.

He’d only asked her because he knew she didn’t have the slightest interest in becoming involved.

“You don’t have to make an effort and dress for the occasion. Wear whatever you throw on when you’re home.”

Well, he’d sorted that one out quick smart, driving the nail straight home. If he didn’t care what she looked like or what she wore, then… he didn’t care. And it most definitely wouldn’t be a date without at least seventy-two hours notice. She’d read that somewhere.

Lexie gave her bottom lip a light tug. If she said yes, she’d be crossing a defining line. From being acquainted and sharing a brief history of grumbling over his building to putting behind their conflict and jumping straight into…

She had no idea what to call it.

They weren’t friends but maybe he wanted to become friends and that would be a novelty for her because she hadn’t had a male friend since she’d moved away from the small country town where she’d grown up.

“Do you have some sort of hidden agenda I’m not aware of?” she asked. “I know asking doesn’t make sense because if you did, then you wouldn’t tell me.”

His eyes darted over to his brother and back to her. “Remember what you were complaining about last night?” Dating, he mouthed.

He wanted to get his brother off his back?

“Of course, if you’re still feeling ornery about the building I’ve forced you to live with, I’ll completely understand you not wanting to spend any time with me.”

“I have been hard done by,” she mused out loud.

“Can you think of a way for me to make it up to you, besides tearing down the building?”

“Throw in some pizza and I’ll consider it.” She had enjoyed the time she’d spent with him the previous night. But how would she feel about going to his house? That would be a huge leap. Maybe she should suggest a public place.

“Done.”

Now she couldn’t say no and she’d sound stupid if she suggested meeting some place where she could feel immune to the sort of temptation Lulu McGee thrived on.

He laughed. “You made me work really hard for that.”

“Nothing ever comes to one, that is worth having, except as a result of hard work,” she said hoping he wouldn’t ask where the quote came from.

“More reason for me to look forward to tonight. I’ll text you my address.” Smiling, he rose to his feet. “I should get going and my brother has a wedding to get to. So I’ll see you tonight.”

Lexie kept her eyes glued to him until he disappeared from sight, then she turned to Ava. “I’ve no idea how that happened, but I’ve just agreed to spend the evening with Jack and if this blows up in my face, I’m blaming my inner Lulu.”

“Way to go, Lexie.”

“It’s not what you think. He’s not interested in me. Apparently his brother’s on his back about not dating. And please stop giving me that blank expression. I know I’m reasonably good looking and shouldn’t have any trouble finding someone, but I’ve lived in my apartment for over a year, in a building occupied by a disproportionate number of eligible men. And, except for the times when they need sugar or milk, not a single one of them has ever given me the time of day.” Now someone who appeared to enjoy her company but wasn’t necessarily attracted to her had asked her out on a fake date. Her social life was on the up and up.

“You haven’t noticed men noticing you because you’ve been too busy getting your life back in order. And do I need to point out the fact that you haven’t found any of your neighbors interesting enough to notice? Anyway, you shouldn’t discount the possibility that Jack is interested in you.”

“And that’s where my problem lies. What if he is?”

“Then you enjoy yourself. Go out and have some fun for a change.”

“You make it sound so easy.” When her voice broke, she took a deep swallow.

Ava gave a slow shake of her head. “Honey, you’re being understandably cautious but going by what you’ve told me about Jack Riley, he sounds like a decent guy. He’s not the type to take you on a wild ride while under the influence of drugs and alcohol. Remember, this is the man who covered your windows. Any other guy would have gone on enjoying the view.”

Yes, she’d already worked that out for herself. Lexie shook the thought away and smiled. “How did you get on with his brother?”

“Well, I found out Mason is in advertising and marketing.”

When Ava’s eyes sparkled Lexie knew her friend had hit on an idea. “I get the feeling I’m about to say yes to something else without knowing what I’m getting into.”

“You two need to get together for a chat. It’s time to give Lulu McGee some wings and launch her into the big wide world,” Ava exclaimed with her usual pizzazz.

“She’s already out there, or at least wherever your magazine is.”

“Yes, and you’ve netted quite a following. This is a captive audience and it’s time to see how you can cash in on it.”

“The graphic novel idea is—”

“It’s a start. Lulu’s going to be your cash cow.”

“That sounds exploitative.”

“Honey, I know what I pay you and you’re buying clothes from a thrift store—”

“It’s called recycling.” Lexie sighed. “I’m not sure what you have in mind—”

Ava shifted in her seat and leaned forward the way she did when she got all excited about an idea. “Well, I’ve been thinking…”

A half hour later, Lexie couldn’t stop shaking her head in disbelief.

“Anyway, Mason will be the person to speak to. You’re having lunch with him.”

“I am?”

“I’d join you but I can’t see any way of getting out of my breakneck schedule this week.”

“So, does this mean you find Mason attractive?” she asked eager to take the focus away from herself.

“Oh sure, who wouldn’t, but he’s not my type. The guy’s a player and I’ve had enough of those to last me a lifetime. That’s not to say you shouldn’t take advantage of the connection. His company has a cracker reputation.”

“Why do I get the feeling I’m several steps behind and playing catch-up with everyone? And what connection are you referring to?”

“You and Jack.”

There is no me and Jack, she wanted to say but didn’t because she was too busy wondering why she’d agreed to spend more time with Jack Riley who clearly had issues of his own. Why would he want to spend time with a woman he wasn’t attracted to? Men didn’t do that.

“Aren’t you going to answer that?”

“What? Oh...” Lexie looked at the screen on her cell. Maggie? Again? Before she could pull herself out of her stupor, the call disconnected. Moments later, a text came through.

When can we catch up?

“Is something wrong?”

“That’s what I keep asking myself.” Lexie shook her head as she typed a reply asking her sister to suggest a time and place, experience telling her it would be best to work around her sister’s busy schedule. If she wanted to meet, it meant she’d flown in to Melbourne for business and had allocated a time slot to catch up with her.

* * *

“Your troublesome neighbor seems nice.”

Jack shoved his hands inside his pockets and looked at the ground. He’d been gnawing the inside of his lip trying to decide if asking Lexie over to his place had been a good move or the craziest, jump from a plane without a parachute moment of his life. Something about her made it all too easy to go along with the first thing that popped into his head.

He shot his brother a questioning look. “Have you ever known me to do something out of character?”

“You proposed to Juliette. I thought that was way out there in the twilight zone weird.”

“Funny, I don’t remember you saying anything at the time.”

“Actually, I did. Quote, ‘Are you out of your frigging mind?’ unquote.”

“You were objecting to me marrying full stop.”