Save the Date (31 page)

With that deadly look, she’d spit on his birthday cake if she got the chance. “Engaged people fight.”

“Not us. You’re too crazy about me.” There was no way he was going to let his family see them at anything less than their perfectly adoring selves. “So we’re going to go down there, listen to my dad try not to talk business, eat my mom’s breakfast, ignore Finley’s eye rolls, and gaze adoringly at one another until we make everyone sick.”

“Fine.” Her snarl made it hard to ignore those pink lips, but if he kissed her right now, she’d probably put her fist straight through his nose. “But don’t even think about touching me.”

Looking at that set jaw of hers only turned up the burner on his own temper. She’d crossed a line last night—telling him he was selfish and giving his family the cold shoulder. She had no idea. Thanks to her, he had tossed and turned all night, her biting words racing through his head like a rookie running drills. So if Lucy thought she was the victim here and could set the rules, she was sorely mistaken.

“If you check our engagement contract, page seven specifically states that we are to act blissfully in love at all times.” His head throbbed beneath his temples, but ruffling her feathers was just as good as any bottle of Excedrin. “And that would include a little personal affection.”

“Yeah, well, page twelve states that when you act like a complete idiot, I’m exempt from any groping overtures.”

“Pretty sure it doesn’t.” He’d made the stupid thing up.

“It was in the revised copy. Didn’t my attorney send that to you?”

His fingers snaked around her wrist as he took a step toward her. She smelled like apple shampoo and angry woman. “Cross me on this, and I’ll inform Clare you want to go to her next Junior League meeting.”

Her heard her low gasp and tried not to smile. “You are low down, Alex Sinclair.”

“You know what occurred to me last night?” As he was lying awake and reciting career stats in his head. Anything to avoid thoughts of Will. Or the woman in bed across the hall.

“You realized you know every word I said was right?”

“I finally figured out your little secret—you’re getting attached to me.”

“What?” She tried to retreat, but he wouldn’t let her.

Lucy suddenly seemed to be having a great deal of trouble looking him in the eye. Very interesting. The playbook in his mind began to rewrite itself. “Are you starting to resent this arrangement?”

“I’m starting to resent your ego.”

Something inside him wouldn’t let it go. He wanted her to admit she was just a tiny bit interested in him—something that went beyond two signatures on a contract and lots of acting. He was mature enough to confess he was attracted to her. Only a comatose gay man wouldn’t be. And he knew, if she’d get honest with herself, she was hot for him too.

“You know what?” He moved in until her back was against the wall. “I think by the end of the day you’ll be begging me to kiss you.” His finger smoothed a trail across her cheek and down the delicate skin of her neck. “I’ve got plans for those lips of yours, Lucy. But before I give in to your runaway lust, I’m going to have to hear an apology.”

“Apology?” Man, she was sexy when she was mad. Eyes blazing, skin flushed. “From me?”

He gave a lazy smile. “Glad you understand.”

She stood frozen to the spot in anger. Speechless.

Taking advantage of the moment, he patted her on the butt. And walked on by.

Downstairs, Alex found Clare already at the table with Finley. Lucy’s grandmother sipped tea while Finley practiced variations on her pout.

What he needed was some coffee. That would clear his head and give him a much-needed jolt to get through the rest of this day.

He passed a window on his way to the kitchen.

And stopped.

Beyond the walkway, past the dunes, and across the sand was the very same ocean he and Will had grown up in. It rolled in and out, flowing in the same rhythm of their childhood. But life didn’t stay the same. The waves would always be there, a living testimony to two boys who lived for weekends at the beach. But Will was gone. Alex felt him all over the house and knew if he walked onto the shore, Will would be there too.

“Morning.” He reached for a mug in the cabinet next to where his mother stood at the stove.

“Happy birthday, sweetie.” She kissed his cheek and smiled, but the sadness lurked beneath. “It’s a beautiful day outside.”

“Yeah, it’s . . . nice.”

His mom held out the coffee and poured some in his cup as the bacon sizzled on the stove. “We haven’t really had a chance to talk lately.” The kindness and concern on her face was more than he wanted to deal with this morning. “Alex . . . how are you really doing?”

That should be the question he was asking her, but he just hadn’t been able to form the words. “I’m fine.” He took a sip, not minding the burn of the liquid all the way down. “Keeping busy. Trying not to think about it.”

His mom pressed her lips together and nodded. “You know, it’s not just the news of Will’s death we’re talking about here. You’ve been distant for a while now.”

“It’s nothing.” Just a daily war in his head. “The campaign requires a lot of time. It will be winding down soon.”

“And then?” She tilted her head and studied her son. “I’m proud of you. Your father and I both are. But you haven’t been happy in years.”

“I’m completely content.” He had houses, cars, friends in every state. An election that had totally turned around and was looking more like a sure thing every day.

“Your dad was shocked that you and Lucy got engaged so fast.” Laugh lines fanned as she smiled. “But I reminded him that he and I only dated three months before we got married. And a year later we had you two.” She reached for a fork and turned the bacon. “We like her, Alex. You should bring her around more.”

He knew that translated into
you
should come around more.

“Finley’s convinced you’re mad at us. I don’t know where that girl gets her ideas lately.” Hands that had fixed many a family breakfast turned down the burner. “You’re not mad, are you?”

“Of course not.” How could he tell her? That something had been chasing him for a year. That every night he went to bed with guilt and a restlessness that wouldn’t leave him in peace.

“
Are
you happy? That’s all we care about.”

The tightness expanded in his chest. “Yes. Of course.”

“Busy and happy are two different things.”

She sounded just like his dad. They couldn’t see that he was out there trying to find that happiness every day. Will had made it look so easy. But the more Alex tried to create a life, the more that empty hole widened.

“I love you.” His mom put down her fork and cupped his face in her hands, just like she had done when he was young. “You could sell peaches on the side of the road, and we’d still be proud of you. But sometimes I wonder if . . .” She stopped and shook her head. “I lost one son . . . and some days I feel like I’m losing another.”

The family sat down at the table in the pale-blue dining room, and Lucy fluffed her napkin into her lap just as Clare had taught her. She was rewarded with a small nod from her grandmother, who sat across from her. Next to Lucy, of course, was her devoted fiancé. Alex looked tired, and she hoped he had slept as miserably as she had. Probably hadn’t given their conversation from last night another thought. If he’d lain awake, it was probably due to hours of sweet talk on the phone with the mysterious Kat.

With the waves crashing in the distance, Marcus led the family in prayer. When he offered up his thanks for Will’s life, it was everything Lucy could do not to steal a look at Alex. She could feel his tension radiating like a sunburn.

At the word
amen
, Alex passed Lucy a bowl of mixed fruit, brushing his arm against hers. Did he have to sit so close?

“Sleep well, hon?” He plopped a waffle on her plate.

She batted her eyelashes and turned up the amps on her smile. “Best rest I’ve had in months,
sweetie
.”

“Is that so?”

“Not a care on my mind.”

“Well, I didn’t get much sleep.” Clare poured dainty stripes of syrup. “Whoever hid the controllers to the Wii had better cough them up or I’m not giving Alex his birthday gift.”

Julian sniffed. “I’m sure he’ll be so sad not to get his cheese-of-the-month subscription.”

Donna pulled the butter away from her husband and set it out of reach. “Lucy, Alex has been telling us more about Saving Grace. What incredible work you do there.”

“God’s really blessed us,” Lucy said.

Clare beamed like a proud grandmother. “Some of the girls are quite a handful. Lucy has a kind but firm hand.”

“They just need someone in their corner.” Lucy brushed a crumb off the corner of her mouth. “We know if they have a support system, their chances for success are significantly higher.”

“I like to see someone passionate about her work,” Marcus said. “What inspired you?”

“It’s a long story.” Lucy cut her waffle into tiny bites, knowing carbs and bathing suits did not mix. “But it’s definitely what I’m put on this earth to do.”

“Lucy does an incredible job,” Alex said. “Her girls love her.”

She wouldn’t let herself be lulled by his flattering words. “So many of them have been abandoned, rejected, and they’ve been raised to think the worst about themselves.” A movie reel of memories played in Lucy’s mind, but she willed the dark thoughts away. “They just need to accept that God sees them as beautiful, talented, worthy women.”

Alex’s eyes lingered on hers. “Sounds like someone I know.”

“Speaking of rejection,” Finley said. “Alex, how old were you when Mom and Dad left you alone overnight?”

Marcus gave his son a sharp look.

“Um.” Alex took a long drink of juice. “Twenty-eight?”

“We’re not leaving you alone for a week by yourself,” Marcus said. “That’s final.”

“They’re honoring Will at the CNN headquarters next month, and Finley really can’t afford to be gone,” Donna explained. “She has the SAT and cheerleading camp.”

“I’m old enough to take care of myself.”

“It’s that boyfriend we’re worried about.” Marcus eyed his daughter. “After the behavior we’ve seen lately, there’s no way we’re trusting you to stay home
or
with friends, so you’re going with us.”

“Come on, Dad,” Alex said. “Give her a little credit.”

“I found her sneaking out of the house three weeks ago.”

Marcus might be as wealthy as Donald Trump, but he was a hands-on parent. Lucy admired him for that. If Steven Deveraux had had that kind of integrity, what would her life be like now?

Then an idea popped into her head.

But she couldn’t . . . he would kill her.

“She could stay with Alex.”

A trickle of fear crawled across Lucy’s skin as his dark eyes slowly turned to hers. “I’m a little busy,” he said. “I’m running for this thing. You might have heard of it—Congress?”

Crossing her arms over her chest, Finley assumed the universal pose of indifference. “Like he’d do that.”

Lucy was not going to let this go. Alex needed to spend some time with his sister. Plus it would be a nice little piece of revenge for last night. “He would do that. In fact, Alex was just telling me the other day how he didn’t get to see you enough. He said he wished there were more opportunities to hang out.” She removed the hand he had clamped over her knee. “Didn’t you say that?”

Paybacks were going to be brutal. “I’m not sure if I recall my exact words—like you apparently do.”

“It’s obviously meant to be.” Lucy smiled at Finley. “He can get in that sister-time he’s been wanting, and you don’t have to miss your events while your parents are gone.”

His mother didn’t look convinced. “Are you sure?”

“He’s positive.” Lucy leaned against him, bravely resting her head against his shoulder. “Maybe you can both go get your nails done.”

“Mani-pedis?” Julian nudged an attentive Clare. “Count us in!”

Chapter Thirty-four

L
ucy was sun-kissed, frizz-haired, and convinced the sand in her bikini bottom was sent straight from Satan.

The luxurious day had been filled with swimming, bike riding, games, and food. They’d all watched the island’s fireworks show from lawn chairs on the beach, then lingered under the moonlight as Donna and Marcus reminisced about past birthdays with Alex and Will. Alex had sat there in stony silence, staring at the ocean. The only sign he’d shown of listening was the grip he’d held on Lucy’s hand. She was still mad at him, but she wouldn’t have let go for anything.

Despite their desire to make everything festive for Finley, sorrow intruded every chance it got. At one point, as Marcus talked about past holidays, Donna had gotten up and rushed back into the house. She gave the excuse she was checking on the coffeepot, but there had been tears slipping down her cheeks as she walked past Lucy. Her mother’s heart was breaking.

Now, worn out and ready to crash, Lucy went into her bedroom after their return from the beach. She dug into her suitcase and pulled out one more wrapped gift. After birthday cake at lunch, Alex had opened all his presents. Lucy had given him a new golf bag, but that wasn’t exactly the most personal of tokens.