Page 22 of Mister Curb Appeal
“She’s being made to rest.” Lexi rolls her eyes. “The woman is on death's door, and she’s still trying to make all of her appointments.”
Her face falls. “Please send my best wishes. I wanted to call, but I didn’t want to disturb her and then she’d spring into work mode. Something I’m sure we’re all guilty of.”
“Alison is a workaholic,” Lexi admits. “It takes a lot to keep her down. I can only hope I do as good a job as her, and our client isn’t too difficult today. She is known to be a bit of a perfectionist when she’s on the hunt for a property. This will be her vacation home and she’s very particular. I can’t wait to see inside, but from the photos and footage you sent, I really think she’s going to love it.”
Melinda claps her hands together. “That sounds perfect. And don’t you worry. We get all kinds of celebrities around here, so her identity will be kept under wraps.”
“So neither of you will tell me who she is?” I groan.
Melinda shares a little smile with Lexi. “We take privacy very seriously around here. Don’t we, Lexi?”
“Yep.” Lexi pops the ‘p’ and I grin behind my hand as I rub my jaw. “Sorry, Josh, but this is the part where we kick you out.”
“Next he’ll try and use his boyish good looks to charm us,” Melinda whispers. She tugs on my tie playfully. “But that isn’t going to work.”
I roll my eyes, noticing Lexi’s gaze wandering to Melinda’s hand clutching my tie for the briefest moment, before she lets it go. She narrows her eyes ever so slightly, and her nose wrinkles.
Wait…Is she jealous?
“You’ll at least let me buy you both lunch after?” I go on. I was hoping to have Lexi all to myself today, but it seems like the right thing to do.
“I’d love to, but I have another appointment right after.” Melinda pouts. “Maybe dinner?”
I glance at Lexi. “We were planning on going out to The Lakes tonight, but I heard a storm’s coming in.” Just as I say it, the wind picks up in a gush. The sky has been looking bleak all morning, like it’s on the verge of erupting.
Lexi’s eyes meet mine, but they don’t linger. “I don’t mind if you two want to catch up,” she says. “Mr. Snuggles probably won’t like it if I leave him with a storm brewing. He’s a big softie that gets scared easily.”
When Melinda looks confused, I say, “Mr. Snuggles is Lexi’s cat.”
Melinda switches her gaze from me to Lexi, then back to me again. “Uh, are you two?—”
“We’re just friends,” Lexi cuts in before I have the chance to reply.
Why does my stomach lurch when I hear her say that?
Just friends.
I don’t want to be her goddamn friend!
“We’re staying up at Hideaway Cove,” I tell Melinda, only adding to the speculation.
“Hideaway Cove is such a quaint little place.”Of course Melinda knows exactly where it is.“And very secluded…” Is it just me, or do her eyebrows jiggle just a little?
“It was an accident,” Lexi blurts. “Neither of us realized the other was coming for the weekend. Then my cat when berserk and got in the shower with Josh, all hell broke loose and poor Josh was left bleeding and Mr. Snuggles confused, as well as wet, and I was going to go to the motel but?—”
I inadvertently tuck a stray lock behind her ear, not meaning to, but I can’t fucking help it. She’s that adorable. Babbling when she’s nervous is the cutest thing I’ve ever heard.But now I may have alerted Melinda’s interested gaze. I always wear my heart on my sleeve, and she knows that.
“But we decided it was a bad idea that both of us should have a screwed-up weekend because of a mistake. So I slept on the couch, and for the record I was barely bleeding.” My eyes never leave Lexi’s as I recall the last sixteen or so hours. “Anways, it’s pretty… overlooking the lake.”
Melinda clears her throat. “I’ll bet it is.”
I snatch my hand away and palm the back of my neck.What the fuck am I doing?
Lexi’s cheeks look a little pink as she looks down at her feet.
Shit.I’ve embarrassed her, but can one blame me when she’s wearing that get up?
Her curves fill in every line of the pant suit she’s wearing. It’s light gray with a puffy blouse, matching jacket and she’s sporting heels that could double as a weapon.Sexy doesn’t even cut it.
