Page 12 of Last Chance Seduction (Montgomery Ink Legacy #9)

Chapter Six

Mercy

W as it really spying if you just happened to be in your living room at the front window drinking a cup of tea? It wasn’t as if I had purposely tiptoed towards the glass, leaned forward, and pressed my ears so close I could possibly hear their words.

No, I had just opened the window earlier to let out smoke because I had forgotten I had put a pan on the stove and went to work.

It had taken me longer than I’d wanted because of three more random calls that led to nowhere that were really starting to annoy me.

Yes, I had only been working a room away, but boiled eggs that had been over-boiled with all of the water gone, made for a disgusting mess.

I was just lucky I hadn’t burned down my house.

So, that was why the window was open. And that was why I had been able to hear most of every conversation Lex had had over the past twenty minutes. Including one with Brooklyn.

It wasn’t my fault that I had heard my name.

Anybody would be curious. So I continued to sip my tea, because I was a voice actor.

I needed to soothe my throat and practice voice rest so I could continue working on my heavy deadline.

I was the one who put myself into this deadline over the holidays, but that was fine.

I was making it work, and here I was, sipping the rest of my tea as I listened to Gia drone on and on about her perfect life.

I cringed. No, that was uncalled for. Gia had always been nice to me.

At least the few times we had hung out together as a group.

But she hadn’t really understood why Lex had female friends and frankly, I didn’t blame her.

After all, my fiancé had ended up cheating on me with the wedding planner.

So maybe having female friends when you couldn’t trust the person you’re with really didn’t make sense.

But Lex was trustworthy. That much I knew after knowing him for so many years of my life. Gia had been cautious about his female friendships, and I had always understood. I had never wanted to be the person who could hurt someone’s relationship.

But it seems in the time I had been gone, Gia had not only broken up with Lex and moved on, but Lex’s other girlfriend was already married and having a baby with someone else.

I was terrible at relationships. Yes, I hadn’t had one or frankly, hadn’t had sex since Justin, and that was something I didn’t want to think about. But it seemed that Lexington was as bad off when it came to romance as me. And that sounded like a terrible time.

When Gia continued on about family matters and what her father was looking for in terms of a contractor, the hair on the back of my neck stood on end.

None of the Montgomerys in that particular branch were married from what I remembered.

Meaning none of the Montgomerys who wanted that job had family.

Cousins, siblings, and loving parents counted as family in my book.

Considering I had nobody left, it sure as hell counted.

But I didn’t think that was the family Gia was talking about.

Somehow, I found myself outside of my house, walking down my path, doing the most insane thing I could possibly do.

I slid my hand around Lex’s waist, gripping his belt loop with all of my strength.

Then without thinking, I went to my toes and kissed his cheek like I had a right to do that.

I ignored the odd warmth in my belly at the touch.

This had to be an out of body experience, after all.

I said a few words that might have made sense, then did the most ridiculous thing possible.

“Hi, I’m Mercy. Lex’s girlfriend.”

Hello, stupidity, my name is Mercy.

Gia knew who the fuck I was. Why the hell was I acting as if we had never met before? Of course, we each had different hair color then, and she had new jewelry. Like the biggest diamond I’d ever seen in my life.

But that wasn’t even the crazy part.

Girlfriend. Lex. Me.

Well, at least Lexington had already dug a hole for me to dive into and never be seen from again. If he could just cover me up with that excess dirt, that would be great. Maybe he could plant some flowers over me, and I could bring beauty to the world.

Because there was no way I was getting out of this embarrassing situation with my pride.

All was lost.

“Mercy? What? Oh. Oh it’s Gia.” The smile on Gia’s face brightened so much that I practically needed sunglasses. She had always been a beautiful woman, but right then, she was absolutely gorgeous. And from the calculating look in her eyes, she was also cunning.

And for some reason a slight tinge of jealousy trickled up my spine, but I ignored that. Because there was no reason for me to be jealous. She was beautiful but we’d seen beneath the surface.

“I recognize you. You look amazing. I didn’t realize you and Lex were together.” She turned to Lex, that Cheshire Cat smile on her face. “Oh, what a small world. And to think, you two were just friends when we were dating. It’s so interesting how things turn out.”

“Um,” Lex said by my side. “Um.”

Well, he had dug the hole physically, and I was just going to continue to dig it figuratively.

He cleared his throat. “Right. I’m so sorry. It has been a while, hasn’t it? It’s nice to see you, Gia. And congratulations on the wedding and everything.”

That sounded like a goodbye if I’d ever heard one. And I wanted to eat my own foot.

“I guess we have a lot to catch up on. Will you be at the retreat? I mean, girlfriends are totally allowed. They may be traditional in some sense, but you’re totally allowed to live together or share a hotel room when you’re not married.

” Gia laughed, rolling her eyes. “I think it’s more they want to ensure that you’re steady and a true family business.

Anyway, it’s so good to hear about this.

We’re going to have to get drinks sometime so you can tell me exactly how this came about.

You know what’s funny? Back when Lex and I were dating, I was totally jealous of you. ”

Lex’s hand around my waist squeezed so tightly I was afraid he was going to leave a bruise.

“Oh really? I’m sorry about that. I was with Justin then. And well, Lex and I didn’t see each other that way. We were just friends.”

He cleared his throat and I knew he had to be wondering what the hell I was up to.

But with the way Gia was finally backing off…

maybe it would be okay. Or maybe we were both losing our damn minds.

“Yeah. Just friends. And well, sorry, this being out as a couple thing is new, and hearing the word girlfriend sort of surprised me.”

“I totally get that feeling. Anyway, we’ll have to do drinks so you can tell me all about it.

Or, how about we all get together at the retreat?

I know you’ll be working at the JW for bids and everything, but we will have to take some time to just get things caught up.

This makes me so happy to hear. I mean, to be honest, Lex, I was worried that Carly’s news would be hard on you during the holidays, so I wanted to make sure that you were okay.

But this just makes me so happy. I will see both of you at the retreat.

” She leaned forward, kissed my cheek, then Lex’s, before she ran off to her car, as if she hadn’t contradicted herself eight times, and made me feel as if I had lost my damn mind.

“Oh,” I said, my arm still around his waist as Gia drove off. “I don’t know exactly what happened, but I’m pretty sure my tea was drugged.”

“You had tea? There was tea?” Lex pulled away from me and then began to pace. When he nearly fell into the hole he had just dug, I reached out for him and caught his arm.

“Don’t fall. I’m sorry.”

“Well maybe me falling and cracking my skull open would make more sense than what just happened.” He whirled on me, his eyes wide. “Why the hell did you just tell Gia you’re my girlfriend? You can’t even stand me. Not that that matters. What the hell?”

“I don’t know. She just bothers me. She’s always bothered me.” I put my hands over my face and tried not to growl.

“I’m going to need you to explain that very slowly because I have a headache now. And I think that headache is named Mercy,” he snapped.

My lips twitched, but I did my best not to laugh.

Because he was panicking way more than me and to be honest that was probably the correct thing to do. Yet, I was going to have to deal with what the hell I had just done.

“The thing is, I was boiling eggs and then they got burnt and so I had the window open.”

“You are saying words, and I understand that they are full sentences, or at least mostly full sentences, but not anywhere near the explanation I need from you.”

“I had the windows open, and I was drinking my tea to soothe my throat.”

“Again, not helping.”

“I’m getting there. First, I heard Brooklyn come over and give you trouble or at least razz you like a cousin does. And I know you guys were worried about the bid and the whole estate thing, and I didn’t mean to listen, but I was just there. And Mr. Darcy was there.”

“You mean the cat and not the fictional character from Pride and Prejudice ?”

“You aren’t helping here.”

“How am I supposed to be helping right now? Keep going.” He froze for a moment, the blush on his cheeks deepening. “You heard everything she said?”

“Yes. Like teasing the fact that we kissed.” I paused.

“Underneath the mistletoe. But I’m continuing on.

Then Gia came, and frankly, she sounded like she wanted you to be upset that Carly was pregnant.

Or upset at the fact that both of them are married.

I’m not quite sure, but I didn’t like it.

And then I didn’t like the fact that it felt as if she were dangling the job that you really want for your family in front of you.

And one thing led to another, and I kind of wanted to just kick her. ”