Page 11 of Last Chance Seduction (Montgomery Ink Legacy #9)

“Not really. I love working with gardens. Mom and Dad let me take over occasionally.” She looked down at the hole I was currently working on and clucked her tongue. “What are you trying to bury here?”

“It’s just an issue I need to deal with, I swear it’s not for a body.

” I paused. “Okay I said that far too quickly. However, I will need your help soon. Again, not a body.” She smirked.

“I do plan on adding a couple of trees in the back. Mostly because we had dry rot with one of the originals, and then the previous owners had planted another tree so close to the foundation there was going to be issues.”

“Poor tree.”

“Both of them were already dying, well, which sucks.”

“Tell me about it. Well, I’m here to make plans. Even if you hadn’t let me in the first place, I was taking over.”

“That sounds like the cousin I know and love,” I teased. “But why are you really here?”

“No reason,” Brooklyn sing-songed.

“Brooklyn.”

“Fine, I just wanted to see if Mercy was home.”

“And why would you need to see if Mercy’s home?” I asked, slightly on edge. Because I knew exactly why Brooklyn was here.

And why Dash had shown up earlier, and even Livy had come by.

Livy didn’t even live in the state anymore, but she, her new husband, and daughter, as well as a couple of her new in-laws had come down to visit before Christmas.

They were spending all of Christmas and New Year’s up in Wyoming but had wanted to visit the family beforehand.

And every single person had wanted to know what was going on with me and Mercy.

Not that there was anything going on. It was just a kiss, a simple kiss that I had been waiting on since I was eight years old, even though I had completely forgotten that I had been waiting on it since I was eight years old.

That’s what happened when you lived in denial, sometimes the denial worked.

“You’re welcome to go annoy her while she’s working, but today’s a relatively quiet day on my house, so she’s probably in her studio. I’m not dealing with her wrath.”

“Why would she be wrathful? I just want to say hi.”

I raised a brow. “It was mistletoe. Stop it.”

“Uh-huh. So you are thinking about that kiss. Because your kiss wasn’t the only kiss that happened underneath the mistletoe. And people have questions.”

“What other kiss was there?” What the hell had I missed? There hadn’t been too many unpaired, non-family members there so there were only so many possibilities.

“Aww, it’s so nice that you’re focused on your own moment in time underneath the mistletoe.”

“Let me guess, the only kiss you got last night was by a cousin on the cheek?”

“Rude. True. But rude.”

“What about Rodney? I’m surprised you didn’t bring him.”

Brooklyn rolled her eyes.

“That’s been over for a while now. I’m seeing someone else, though he didn’t get to come to the party. He had other family obligations. As for Rodney? He didn’t like that I disparaged kale.”

I blinked, trying to catch up. “As in our friend’s husband or the salad?”

“The salad.”

A family friend of a friend happened to be married to a man named Cale, spelled with a C. He seemed like a nice enough guy, but I usually ended up just thinking about the vegetable.

“Anyway, I’m off to the office, because I have a few papers to sign, but let me know when you’re ready to finish working on that bid. I know the retreat’s coming up.”

I crossed my eyes at that. “Don’t remind me.”

“I’ll go with you if you want. I can schmooze just as good as you.”

My lips twitched.

“Yes, you can. But it’s the holidays. I’m not going to make you do that.”

“The offer’s still out there. Or hell, bring Mom. She’s great at that.”

“I don’t know if bringing my mother to a retreat where everybody’s trying to one-up one another is going to set the tone.”

“It’ll keep people guessing,” she said with a laugh, before she got back into her truck, and headed off.

I shook my head, knowing that Brooklyn had taken time out of her day to come annoy me, and see what was going on between Mercy and me. Not that there was anything going on.

Another car pulled into my driveway, and I turned, with a glare at the ready for a family member, when a familiar brunette walked towards me.

She had her hair done in waves all the way down to her waist, with red and caramel low-lights artfully done in between some of the curls.

The flowing dress she wore moved with each sure step, the wind in her hair and in her dress artfully done.

Her makeup was done to the nines, and I knew her shoes and bags had to be worth more than my first car.

And I had liked that old junker.

“Gia,” I said after a moment, looking at the woman who had broken my heart and hadn’t even realized it.

She smiled at me, her eyes kind, but I had to wonder exactly what she was thinking.

“Oh, Lex. I’m so glad that you’re here.”

I set the shovel down and wiped my hands. I didn’t offer to shake her hand or even hug her, considering she wouldn’t appreciate the dirt.

“I didn’t know you knew about this house,” I said in lieu of a true greeting.

“Oh, you know me, I have spies everywhere.” She rolled her eyes. “For real, though. I was working with Daddy on a few permits, and I realized that yours had come up. And well, I just wanted to see how you were after Carly’s news.”

I blinked, wondering exactly how Gia knew so much about my personal life, and work life for that matter. She might literally have those spies of hers.

“What do you mean Carly’s news?” I asked, speaking of my other ex-girlfriend. She and I had started dating a few months after Gia had dumped me, and now Carly was married, and happy.

Again, I was the man you dated before you found your happily ever after.

I set my teeth at that thought and tried not to sigh.

“Well, I just got the news in the mail. About the baby shower.”

My stomach fell, and I tried not to stagger back. “Carly’s having a baby?”

Her eyes narrowed to slits before she smiled brightly.

“Yes. Isn’t it great? I just love the fact that you can be friends with your exes.

Anyway, I wanted to see how you were doing.

Because the retreat’s coming up, and I know Daddy’s working hard and trying to figure out which bid to take.

And don’t worry, I’ve made sure that he knows not to cut you off completely because we were dating.

Heck, I’m married, very happy, and Daddy understands that.

So don’t worry, I’m putting in a good word for you for the Arnault Estate project. ”

She kept saying these things, as if they were supposed to make sense and not nearly push me over the edge.

Why the hell did I think that trying for the Arnault Estate would be easy? Or something I should do?

Except for the fact that every single person in my building wanted this, and I wanted to be the one who brought it. I didn’t want my lack of personal life—or twisted one—to stand in the way.

And here I was, wondering what the hell I was doing.

“I’ll need to tell Carly congratulations. I haven’t checked my mail.”

And I had a feeling the invite would be there. Because just like with Gia, I was cordial with my exes. And they felt the need to invite me to every important part of their lives.

Why did I suddenly resent that?

“Well, I just am so excited for her, and I wanted to see how you were doing. Oh, and who are you bringing to the retreat?”

I blinked. “Excuse me?”

“To the retreat. It’s sort of a family thing you know, and Daddy’s pretty conservative.

” She went on, “Which sounds terrible, but it’s a family estate, and he’s not just going to sign over to anybody.

There are other companies there with similar proposals to yours that have more experience.

I know there are a few other projects looking for contractors though, so you probably won’t leave empty handed. ”

That didn’t sound old school or ominous at all. I resisted the urge to fist my hands at my sides. “The Montgomerys is a family-owned and operated business with a long-standing family goal.” Even saying the words made me want to throw up. Because I had a feeling this wasn’t exactly what she meant.

She gave that sickly sweet smile that I’d missed for far too long. “I know. The Montgomerys do the best work in the state. You guys worked on my house.”

“I remember,” I said. Though it hadn’t been my company. It had been the Denver branch, because of location. I would have worked on her home with her then boyfriend, because I was better than that, but I was glad that I hadn’t had to. “The retreat though, what exactly do you mean?”

“I just want to make sure that you’re not coming alone.

” She rolled her shoulders back. “Because there’s a lot of other companies coming that are going to showcase how steadfast and steady they are.

And while the Montgomerys themselves have a lot of depth, your section of the company is pretty young.

I’m not saying this to be mean. I just want you to know that you’re going to have to show that you guys have longevity. ”

I opened my mouth to say something, but Gia’s gaze caught on something behind me, and I turned as Mercy walked towards me with a bright smile on her face.

“There you are.” She ran towards me, wrapped her arm around my waist, and kissed me firmly on the cheek.

Warmth spread through the ice that had slid through my system as Gia had spoken and I instinctively wrapped my arm around her waist. “Thanks for taking on a quiet day so that I could work. Now, why don’t you introduce me.

” She turned to Gia and held out her hand. “Hi, I’m Mercy. Lex’s girlfriend.”