Page 14 of Mister Curb Appeal
Then she smacks a hand over her mouth. “Wow, what is in this wine?” she says behind her hand with a giggle. “I think it’s because I haven’t eaten anything.”
Dick throb barely in check, I rub my chin. “While I’d love for you to get some sustenance into you, I’m also intrigued by what else might come out of your mouth.”
“When I drink, I become unfiltered,” she explains. “I’m not really a pushover in the bedroom. In fact, I haven’t had a boyfriend since my ex cheated a year ago. It was with one of mybest friends… so it’s been a while… and, oh God, why am I even telling you this?”
I adore how her cheeks flame again and I don’t hide my smile — not at that ex revelation, but seeing her unglued like this over little old me is a huge turn on. Upon hearing she’s been single for a year is my new favorite sentence she’s ever spoken, aside from calling meJoshie. But then I sober up when I take in what she actually said.
“Wait, your ex cheated?”
“I didn’t mean to say that.” She turns, reaches for a cracker and begins stuffing it into her mouth. “I’m sorry. I’m a cheap drunk.”
There’s no cracker in the world that’s gonna get between me and what she just said. I’ll wait it out. Watching her eat is surprisingly satisfying. Weird, since I don’t usually notice things like that. Most people annoy me.
“With one of your best friends?”
Her eyes pop to mine as she swallows, nodding. “Yeah, pretty shitty. I’d love to say I’m one of those girls who walked away with my dignity intact, but I didn’t. I cut up all his suits and threw them like confetti off the balcony onto the street.”
“Wait, you’re not talking about that dickface on TV, are you?”
“The very one.”
Anger balls up inside me. “What the fuck?”
“I never went public with it, for the record. I wanted to slink quietly away and lick my wounds in private, but the press got hold of it. He was the most hated man in America just before the election.”
“I’m sorry,” I say, because I am. I don’t want Lexi to ever be hurt, or lick her wounds. I want her to smile all the time and be happy, just like she makes everyone else around her feel.
“He sounds like a complete asshole. Please tell me you’re not still friends with the chick?”
“I’m not. The bitch even tried to justify it by blaming me for never being around. She just had to keep him company because I neglected him.”
I stare at her dumbfounded. “Sounds like they deserve each other.”
“Oh trust me, I got a good hair pull in before two of my friends dragged me off her. We didn’t get the chance to do much talking. It wasn’t my finest moment.”
“Understandable considering the circumstances,” I say. “For the record, he’s an absolute fucking idiot.”
She swallows hard, looking down at her hands. Vulnerable Lexi is quite a sight. I’ve never seen her like this before. Then again, we’ve never talked about exes together.
“Yes, he is, though it took me a long time to get my self-esteem back. After almost a year of wallowing and feeling sorry for myself, I picked myself back up and made a list of all the things I would not accept in my next relationship.”
“That sounds really smart.” I’m glad she’s got a backbone, because nobody deserves that. Especially not my sweet, dear, Lexi. “Trust and loyalty are high up there on my list, too. I’m glad you’ve set the bar high. You deserve the best, Alexis. Nothing but the best.”
She grips her wine glass with a little more vigor. “I appreciate that, Joshua. Thank you.”
“You know you can call me Josh,” I say. “OrJoshie,I promise I don’t bite.”
Oh, she has no clue what I’d like to bite. Her inner thighs, for one.
She giggles. When her eyes find mine again, they’re sparkling. “You’re a really nice guy, Josh. I’m sure no woman on the planet would deny that this mix-up definitely isn’t unpleasant.”
“With that being said, I can grab the rest of your stuff out of your car if you’d like?”
“Chopping wood, collecting my luggage, pouring wine, making crackers — that chicken salad is fantastic, by the way — I may never leave,” she teases.
I grin, heading toward the porch so I can retrieve the rest of her stuff. No woman should have to lug her own cargo, even in the wilderness.
Maybe this weekend is about letting go, after all. That nagging voice in my head reminds me that I told myself I couldn’t go there. Lexi is off limits. She’s the opposition, and too innocent for me. Then I think about her words earlier:She’s not bossy in the bedroom.
