Looking Out for Lexy (5 page)

  
                 "Now let’s see...”  April poked her nose in Lexy's closet.  “This looks good for starters.” 

Four

              Lexy’s mom dropped her off at McDonalds.  It was 12:10.  Lexy glanced around anxiously, afraid Jack had left because she was late.  Her mom had been doing the wash and couldn’t understand why a few minutes would make such a big difference anyway.  Lexy hoped he hadn’t thought she wasn’t showing up.  Lexy had hardly breathed the whole time she was in the car with her mom, thinking she might say something stupid or give the fact away that she was going to do something her parents would definitely not approve of.   Even though the teenager had told Jack he would be welcomed by her mom and dad,  she knew it wasn’t exactly true. 

             
Lexy was terrified that her mom would see that something was out of the ordinary with her usually sensible daughter.  Exiting the car, careful, not to trip or seem like she was shooting out of the car like a rocket, Lexy turned and quickly kissed her mom, saying she would see her later.  Lucy had smiled at her pretty daughter, told her to have a good time, and drove away.  Lexy thought the cobalt grey Mercedes would never disappear.

             
“Hey there beautiful.”  Lexy swung around quickly, almost losing her balance.  He stood there, dusky hair hanging in his mahogany, contemplative eyes.  Faded blue jeans, torn at the knees were slung across his hips.  A faded brown leather bomber jacket opened up to reveal a dark olive tee-shirt with Van Halen scripted across the front.  Lucy’s daughter nearly passed out from the rush of adrenaline that rose to flush her cheeks.

             
“I didn’t see you there, Jack.  You...you caught me off guard.”  She managed a weak smile.

             
“Sorry Lexy.  I didn’t mean to scare you.”  That was the last thing he wanted to do.  He could hardly believe his good fortune that she’d even shown up. “Are you sure that you want to do this?”  The 18 year old youth held his breath.  What if she changed her mind?

             
Lexy smiled that smile that melted his heart, the same one that had captured it the first time he’d laid eyes on her.  “I can’t wait Jack.  Let’s go.”

             
The brown-haired boy grabbed her by the hand and let her around the corner of the building.  Lexy gasped.  The enormous, glistening , ebony bike rested there like a forbidden icon that a girl like her should never touch, never even come close to.

             
Gasping, she turned to Jack.  “It is really boss.”  Slowly Lexy approached it, like it was a wild, black stallion that she would never be able to tame.  The boy next to her pulled her forward toward the monstrous bike.

             
“Don’t be afraid, Lexy.  Touch it, feel it out.  It won’t bite and I will take good care of you once we are riding.  I’ll only go as fast as you want me to.”  The boy knew that once she was flying down the road and heard it purr like a kitten that she would be bitten with the bug for life.

             
Lexy reached out, timidly at first, and touched the shiny metal coat.  It almost felt warm to the touch.  Unexpected.  The girl was sure it would be as cold as ice.  As she continued to explore the cycle, Lexy relaxed and actually began to look forward to the ride, forgetting all else except riding behind Jack Wyatt.

             
Jack felt her relaxing and knew it was time to make his move.  He tugged her hand, she turned and grinned happily.  He slung his leg over the big, black beauty and pulled her behind him.

             
“Hold on tight around my waist.  If you are uncomfortable at any time, just let me know and I’ll stop.  I thought we’d take the river road.  Not much traffic and it’s a nice ride.  Sound ok to you?

             
“Sound’s great to me, Jack.  It’s beautiful along there.”

             
Yeah, and we can be alone too.  Big bonus
.
  Jack could hardly believe his luck.  Back in New York a girl like this wouldn’t have given him the time of day.  Of course, he had never really tried either.  He hopped up and kicked the starter.  The engine roared to life.  Jack turned to Lexy to see if she was still good with this.  The flushed, excited look on her face spoke volumes.  He nodded and she nodded back.   The two young teenagers flew out of the parking lot as if on wings.  If you would have asked either one of them, that is what they would have said.  They felt they had wings that day.

Five

              He saw her in an instant and knew from the look on her face that Lexy Kane was both nervous and petrified at the same time.  And still looking good too.  His gaze surveyed the black leather skirt and jacket that fit her like a glove. The slim leather boots added the right touch.  He remembered how she loved the brown leather he'd worn when....
 

             
She walked with a graceful sway that cried innocent, yet sexy.  All American girl?  Not this babe.  Not anymore.  At least she didn’t look like it.  Lexy Latton Kane had aged well.  Jack Wyatt intended to find out how well.             

             
Their eyes met and locked.  They walked toward each other, a thousand questions on both of their minds.

    
              “Hello, Jack.” 

             
Lexy was totally lost now that he was actually standing in front of her.  No man should look this good.

    
              “Hello angel,” and then, softly, “Lexy.”  His dark eyes held hers for just the tiniest moment. 

             
Lexy, still shivering, from the cold and nerves, lowered her eyes, fidgeting with the zipper on her jacket.  Angel.  He'd called her angel, again.  He remembered more than he was letting on.  She knew he was.  It had to be true.

             
Jack stared blatantly at the small, but well endowed figure of the woman before him.  She was even better looking than he'd remembered.  Most of the women he knew were nearly as tall as he was.  She didn’t even come to his shoulder. 

             
He grinned at her then.  "Good to see you, Lexy." 

             
She looked up, smiling shyly in return.  The smile of an innocent. 

             
There was that smile he’d been unable to quite forget since those days, years ago.
He swallowed hard.  For the second time in his life he was suddenly unsure of himself around a woman.  And the hell of it was, it was the same woman, just an older and more beautiful version.

This is crazy.  I’ll be  okay in a minute.  Just take it easy man.  Get back in control.  Now!

             
Taking a deep breath, Jack turned on the charm.  “Let me get your things and we'll go.  We can get reacquainted with old memories on the way to the hotel.”  He smiled disarmingly.

     
              Lexy's face turned bright crimson.  Her freckles always stood out when she blushed. The dimple on her cheek deepened.  Jack noticed  it immediately.  It was one of the things he remembered most about her.  The soft depression near the corner of a full, distended mouth gave her an endearing quality.  He shook that thought from his head.  Endearing.  What in the hell was he thinking anyway?

    
              “I...we don't need to do that, Jack.  I'd like to know you again.  I mean, you know, how things are going with you now!”  Standing there, still looking like a little girl, she clutched her bag tightly with both hands. 

             
Her innocent demeanor nearly drove him crazy.  She couldn’t do this to him, stand there looking so innocent and vulnerable despite the fact she was as sexy as hell.  But then, hadn’t that been what had charmed him in the first place? 
Geez, Wyatt, that was what, seventeen-eighteen years ago
!

             
Jack ripped his eyes from her and reasserted himself.  He was the boss, in charge here.  He’d spent years molding himself into someone without feelings.  He wouldn’t, couldn’t, let anyone change that.  Not even an angel.

             
“We’ll work on that later on after dinner, baby. I'll bet you're starved.  I know how that airplane food can be.” In control of himself once again, Jack motioned her to follow him as he picked up her luggage. 

    
              Lexy stepped right behind him without saying a word.  He'd always been a charmer.  Did he have to be so darned handsome too?  He wasn't playing fair.

             
She admired his backside as he walked ahead of her with her bags.  Her gaze traveled rapaciously up and down his long, lean frame with those huge muscled shoulders and arms that gently held a woman like she was a piece of china.  She’d been held in those arms once.....

             
He strode with a slight arrogance that she hadn’t forgotten.  His long, slightly muscular legs were gorgeous.   Jack's stride was sure and he looked like a man who was secure with himself. 

             
Lexy sucked in a deep breath and exhaled slowly.  Her pulse was going hay wire.  She needed to calm down.  Loving the way his dark, shaggy hair carelessly fell in place, curling down the back of his neck, Lexy often fantasized about being held in those strong powerful arms, caressing that soft, dark hair.  Blushing again,  Lexy amazed herself for checking him out.  He was definitely to die for.

    
              Stopping, the handsome, dark haired singer turned to wait for her to catch up with his long stride.  Jack forgot that her gait was much shorter than his own.  He caught her staring as she nearly collided with him and gazed down at her.

             
Seeing her peering up at him with that hesitant, wide eyed innocent look, he knew she relied on him completely right now.  Lexy was out of her element among New York's mass of humanity.  Jack felt a sudden urge to put his arm around her shoulders and tell her everything would be all right.  He was there.  Instead he grabbed her by the hand, pulling her out the door.

     
              “Here’s the taxi.  Hop in, I’ll be right there.”

    
              Quite frankly she was overwhelmed by the whole situation now.  She slipped into the back seat of the cab, glad to be away from all those strange people.

    
              Jack got in, sliding next to her.  She tried not to look into those familiar, dark, penetrating eyes she'd seen so many times watching his movies, remembering...

    
              Jack cleared his throat.  “So, what is it that you do, Lexy?  Working with people from the inner city, Thea said.”

             
Pretending to examine her nails, Lexy avoided his gaze.  “I work for a homeless shelter.  I try to find them jobs.  Sometimes they just need someone to listen to them.  I'm a licensed social worker."

             
“I, uh, thought you got married right out of high school.”  Jack's throat constricted as the thought of her with Tom left a bad taste in his mouth.

    
              “Oh, well, after Ryan...you know the one who answered the phone the other night when you called...after Ryan was old enough, I went back to school full time.  I, mmm...I was able to go because I didn’t have to work and my mom and dad helped me out.  They were so happy to see me go back to school.  Especially when I couldn’t go on after high school.”  The subject of Tom and marriage was avoided completely.

             
Lexy looked up at him.  His dark eyes were hard.  His demeanor, cool.

             
“I guess there is more to you than I thought, Mrs. Kane.”

             
“And what is that supposed to mean, Mister Wyatt?  Did you think I was just some dumb babe who liked cheerleading and singing?  I’ll have you know, I carried a three point eight average in high school.”  She glared at him.  “And it wasn’t in Home Ec. or typing either.”

             
“Hey!  Whoa!  I didn’t mean that, Lexy.  I wasn’t being fair.  I always knew you were smart. “ 
And beautiful
.

             
Lexy relaxed a little.  She knew he didn’t really mean any harm.  Yet, being so close to him made her jumpy.  If he touched her, she would probably dissolve into his arms.  Except for those cold, hard eyes.  She shivered slightly.

    
              “I didn't mean to jump at you like that, Jack.  It wasn't fair of me.  It’s just that I’m used to people always thinking girls who are, uh, you know, nice looking, can’t be smart too.  I had to try twice as hard to get a job.  Sometimes it makes me mad.  And then, when you finally succeed, you’re never good enough for some people.  I mean...never mind.  It isn’t important now and it’s water under the bridge.”   Lexy felt the sting of hot tears.  No.  No way would she cry.  Not now. 
Not ever again
.   She quickly looked away.