Looking Out for Lexy (22 page)

             
“Hush angel baby.  It’s not you, it’s me.  I can be such a jerk!” 

             
Lexy allowed a ghost of a smile to touch her lips, remembering Thea’s comment that night in New York at The Plaza. 

             
He sat up, cupping her face in his hands, wiping away the tears with his thumbs.  “I can’t stay, baby.  I came out to ask you to come and spend a few days at my ranch in California.  Do you have some time left?  I have to go back to New York for one day of shooting, but then I’m free the rest of the week.  Will you come, Lexy?”

             
Lexy pushed herself up, conscious of her nipples trying to push their way through her sweater against her will.   She reigned in her breath and exhaled slowly.  “I have a few days, Jack.  I guess I can come, if I  can make arrangements with my sister to keep my kids.  I’m sure they won’t mind staying here a few more days.”

             
He bent over and kissed her hard.  Releasing her, he stood up.  “It will be just the two of us, honey.  We can resolve whatever it is between us.  It’s a great place.  I’ve found peace there.”  He gave her a knowing look.  “Maybe you will find what you need too, Lexy.  Please come.”

             
She looked into his eyes.  He needed her.  “I’ll come, Jack.”

             
He knelt down next to the bed.  “You won’t regret it, angel.  I’ll make sure of that.”  He took her hand and kissed the inside of her wrist.  Her pulse raced at the touch of his lips on her hot flesh.  He rose, holding her hand.

             
“Gotta go, sweetheart.  My plane leaves from Denver in three hours.  I’m pushing it now.  I’ll call you tomorrow night. I’ll fly in Friday afternoon and pick you up.  I’ll let you know what time when I call.”

             
“Are you sure this is what you want to do, Jack?”

             
He grinned.  “I can’t wait to get you alone.  Really alone.  No one to bother us.  We can explore whatever it is we need to, without interruption.  Gotta go sweetheart.”  He strode to the door and turned around.  “I’ll call.”  Seeing the skeptical look on her face, “Cross my heart.”  And he did, as he slipped out the door quietly.

             
Lexy fell back against the pillows. “What am I doing?  Getting myself in deeper, that’s what.”
She reached for the phone to make arrangements for the kids to spend the rest of the weekend with her sister.

             
Jack Wyatt closed his eyes as he settled back in the rigid airplane seat.  He hadn’t bothered to get a first class ticket, an oversight Wyatt regretted at the moment.  He didn’t understand why Lexy was so put off by him.  Or was she put off by men in general?  What had happened in her life to make her so jumpy when it came to getting close to her physically.  The Lexy he remembered was shy, but certainly not afraid of his touch.  From what he recalled, the eighteen year old redhead had been eager for his caress.

             
She had married that wimp Kane though.  Was it possible that the former football hero had not been so heroic?  Whatever it was, Lexy wasn’t talking.  Wyatt sighed, sinking down in his seat, angling his long, slim legs to try and find a more comfortable position.  The next time they were together, he would be less aggressive and more gentle.  Opening his eyes as the sound of the drink cart was banging its way toward him, a beverage sounded good at the moment.  Soon they would meet again and Jack Wyatt would soothe her wounded soul.  At least he would try.  

             
Lexy put her suitcase down on the back porch.  The door was slightly ajar with UPS packages stuffed in between the screen door and the main door.  Unlocking it, she grabbed the packages and went in.  Setting the them on the table, she returned to the porch to retrieve her luggage. 

             
Once inside, she snapped on her stereo and collapsed on the couch.  Listening to Perry Como’s rendition of
O Holy Night
relaxed her considerably. Lexy had managed to catch a standby flight and she was beat. Flying had never been her forte, and she’d be on a plane again in less than twenty-four hours.

             
Lexy got up slowly.  Retrieving the parcels from the kitchen table, she returned to the living room.  Glancing at the return address, she was surprised to see Jack's name.  She took the one with her name on it, tugging at the strings that bound it.  Lexy gasped with pleasure as she opened the shimmering gold box which revealed the blue silk dress she had admired in Donna Karan’s shop.  She stood up, gimpy ankle and all and held it up to her.  The size was right!  He certainly knew how to size up a figure.  She blushed a scarlet color as she thought of him looking at her half naked. 

             
She was smoothing the dress over her hips and admiring herself in the mirror when the phone rang.  She reached over and answered.

             
“Hi, Sexy.  Did you get my package?” 

             
“Oh, Jack!  It is so beautiful.  You shouldn’t have.  It must have been so expensive.  I love it!” 

             
She turned this way and that, loving the way it hugged her every curve.  It looked great on her she had to admit to herself.  Jack would love it on her.  She blushed again at the thought of his touch.  It was immoral how he made her feel.

             
“Money is no object Lexy, where you are concerned.” 

             
It pleased him immensely that she was happy with his gift.  It made him feel good.  In his whole life, no one else had ever had this effect on him.  These feelings and sensations were extremely foreign to him and he wasn’t quite sure how to handle it.  The only other women he had ever given gifts to were his aunt, and they had not been not dresses! 

             
“I’ll be flying in around 3:00 tomorrow afternoon.  Meet me at the airport.  Don’t forget to pick up your ticket at Midwest Express.  I put it in your name. I will have a few minutes to get off, so look for me, okay, sweetheart?” 

             
Lexy shuddered in spite of the warmth of the fire she'd lit a few moments before the phone rang.  The way he called her sweetheart made her feel as if she’d just stepped out of that very same fire.  She was hot for him and she knew that he felt it too.  She inhaled deeply before answering him.

             
“I’m not sure this is such a good idea, Jack.  I have some paper work to look over and you know my ankle is sore and I......”

             
“It can wait.  Be there.  Bring your new dress, Lexy.  I got a call from Chris and we’ll be flying to a party in Los Angeles the evening before you come home.  It’s one that I can’t get out of.  The sponsors of
Lover's Journey
are having a bash and the band is expected to be there.  I think it is kind of a going away party for me.  You will be smashing, so don’t worry, angel.”

             
“All right, Jack.  I will come.  But only because
I want to come!

Not because you are ordering me to.  I’ll bring the dress because I happen to like it and we’ll discuss this party before I  decide to go.”  Lexy's ire had risen slightly.  Tom had been like that with her and she wasn’t about to fall into that trap again.  Jack got the point.  He didn’t want to do anything to push her the other way. 

              Humbly her accepted her terms.  “Okay, Ms. Kane.  You’re the boss.  See you tomorrow morning.”

             
“Bye, Jack.”  She put the phone back in the cradle. 

             
She couldn’t give in to him every time.  He had to know she was in love with him.  Then again,
he had come to Vail to seek her out.  Lexy sat down on her bed, lying back with her arms behind her head, gazing at the ceiling. 

             
What if this really turned into something?  Her kids had been suspicious when she’d left early with the same weak excuses she’d tried to lay on Jack.  Jessie had been especially nosy after she’d seen her mother with that mysterious man.  She sighed as she sat up.  Rising, Lexy stood looking in the mirror once more to admire herself in the dress. 

             
The frock was cobalt blue that brought out her eyes like the depths of the ocean on a clear day.  It had a mock turtle neck with a small slit from the bottom hem of the neckline down to the breast line.  It showed the cleavage just enough to make a man want to see more.  The silk shimmered over her body showing the curves in all the right places.  The sleeves buttoned at the wrist with a slight opening.  The skirt flared out just above her calf, the side slit, showing just enough of her shapely legs. 

             
Lexy hugged herself, her breasts becoming even more pronounced.  She would have to be careful of that.  Jack had a hard enough time keeping his hands off her.  She would try to be a little more standoffish on this trip.

             
Nothing like hopping right in the sack with him in Vail.  God, she was starting to act like one of those video dollies.  Yet, he made her feel like she was the only one in the world for him.  Lexy faced herself in the mirror. 

             
“Now Lexy Kane.  You get a hold of yourself.  You are old enough to have an affair and not worry what anyone else thinks.  If it ends, it ends.  No one will ever hurt you again.”  She shivered.

             
God, she wanted him to care about her.  He really confused her.  What would a devastatingly handsome rock star want with a small town girl like her?  He led the life of luxury and glamour.  He certainly wasn’t going to fall in love with some Midwestern hick when he could have all those glamorous  babes.              

             
Miss Low Self Esteem was rearing her head again.  She sucked in her breath and starting biting her lower lip nervously.  Well, she’d get through this weekend and put an end to this nonsense before he could tell her to take a hike.  Yes, she definitely had to end this.  Not only would her life be turned upside down, but so would Ryan and Jessie’s. It wouldn’t be fair to change their lives so abruptly. 

             
Ryan.  Especially Ryan.  She was glad that Jack hadn’t seen him in Vail.  He would have known right away.  Lexy wasn’t ready for that confrontation yet.  She had to take care of her own fragile ego first.

             
“Oh Lexy, you are putting the cart before the horse again.  He hasn’t even made any type of commitment to you.”  Lexy muttered to herself in the mirror as she removed the dress and slipped into her nightshirt. 

Lexy sat next to the fireplace and watched as orange and blue tongues of flame leaped and crackled.  She closed her eyes and felt the warmth against her face.  Jack's deep set hazel eyes swam before her.  She smiled as she leaned her head back against the sofa and thought about his hands caressing every part of her body. 

              She hugged herself and heaved a sigh.  Lexy was hooked and no amount of her telling herself no was going to do her any good.  Well, if she was going to get hurt, it might as well be with someone she loved.  She got up slowly and put out the fire.

Twenty-Four

             
Jack had agreed to Lexy going to the prom with Kane.  Not that he liked it, but he knew it would give them time alone if everyone thought she was with Tom.  Besides, his girl was going to fake a headache and have him drop her off early.  Kane wouldn’t like it but he would.  Lexy was going to meet him afterwards at their spot by the lake.  The two of them had managed to see each other often, but not for long periods of time.  They rarely saw each other at night as her dad watched her like a hawk.  A few kisses here and there and that was about it.  His loins ached at the thought of touching her.  They had come so close.  Of course he had protection, most of the time anyway.

             
Jack Wyatt was already in love with Lexy Latton.  He knew he could no longer deny it to himself or her.  Prom night he was going to tell her.  If they made love, it would only make it better.  If she wasn’t ready, the boy wouldn’t push it, but if she was.....Jack’s heart started racing.

                            It was two hours into the prom.  Tom Kane and Lexy Latton had been nominated for king and queen.  Lexy had her fingers crossed that it would not be them, but she knew in her heart that it would be the supposedly happy cheerleader and the football captain.  Her mom and dad were certainly happy about the two of them going together.  It had waylaid their suspicions that their pretty red-haired daughter wasn’t seeing that street punk anymore.  Lexy and Jack had been extremely careful not to be seen together at school the last two months.  The two star-crossed teenagers met happily a few hours at a time when ever they could.  Lexy had avoided going on dates with Kane by feigning  excuses of too much homework and helping around the house.  The good-looking blonde boy didn’t seem to have a problem with it, so things seemed to be going well.