Page 20 of Last Chance Seduction (Montgomery Ink Legacy #9)

Chapter Ten

Mercy

T he next day, after working for four hours when I probably should have been cleaning my house or trying to relax, I stood in my bedroom, hands on hips, partially dressed, wondering what the hell I was going to wear later.

Brooklyn would be over any moment to pick me up, and somehow I would have to look presentable.

And by any moment, I meant an hour away from now, but it didn’t give me a lot of time to get ready. My hair was already done, my makeup partially done, I just needed to figure out what lipstick to wear, and I would settle on my jewelry once I had my outfit.

Seriously though, I had no idea what to do for a girls’ night out.

It’s not like I was used to girls’ nights out. I hadn’t done them since Emily had been alive. I put my hand on my stomach, letting out a breath.

“Em, babe, you were so much better at this,” I whispered.

And it was true. My sister was great with people.

She had been a little quieter than me, but always fit in everywhere she went.

She made people happy. I was usually the more outgoing one, or at least I had been before, well, everything had changed.

So, with the two of us together, we always found the perfect middle.

Only now it was me alone. Trying to find a way to settle down and be normal.

Not that anything felt normal these days.

My doorbell rang in that moment, and I froze. I was still wearing sweats and a tank top, but no bra, and looked like a mess. However, when I checked my phone, it wasn’t Brooklyn.

I put my hand on my stomach once more and let out a breath.

“You can do this,” I whispered.

I ran downstairs, nearly tripping to my death as Mr. Darcy darted forward to win the race I wasn’t aware we were in, and tried to calm down as I opened the front door. Lex stood there, hands in his jeans pockets as he rocked back on his heels.

“Hi,” I said.

“Hi.” He shook his head. “If we start down that hi and hey path again, I’m never going to be able to actually say a proper hello.”

The idea that he was just as nervous as I was should have soothed my nerves. Not so much. “I never used to get flustered around you, Montgomery. It’s worrying.”

“Talk to me about it. I’m usually good with words.”

“I’m going out with a few of your cousins tonight.”

Lex winced.

A ball formed in my belly, and I frowned.

“Did you not want me going out with your cousins tonight? Because I know things are weird and we haven’t talked about anything, but I’m trying.

Trying to live again. So if you think that you can bar me from hanging out with your family because things will get too complicated, well no.

I’m just not going to do that.” Suddenly his finger was over my lips, a single brow raised.

“Shush.” He lowered his hand, a smirk on his face that made him look far too handsome for his own good.

“Did you just shush me?”

“Damn straight I did. Woman. The only reason I even reacted at all was that I was annoyed that Brooklyn got to you first.”

I blinked, confused. “What?”

In answer, he rolled his eyes so hard I was afraid he was going to hurt himself before he reached out, gripped the back of my neck, and crushed his mouth to mine.

Surprised, I stood there silent and awkward for a moment, before I finally gave in and kissed him back.

Damn it, Lex was too good at kissing. Why hadn’t I known this when we were younger?

I mean, this talent took effort. When had he learned it?

And why did I suddenly feel as if I should have known this long ago?

When he pulled back, both of us were breathing slightly heavier, and he looked like a cat who had caught the canary.

He slid a piece of my hair behind my ear. “I am annoyed that she got to you first because I wanted to take you out tonight. But I was too slow apparently. She got you all day yesterday as did my mom, and apparently, I’m now fighting with my cousins for your time. I don’t appreciate that.”

Warming, I played with the button on his shirt. A man in a button down and jeans just did something to me. Okay that was a lie. It was Lex. Always. And that was something I would have to think on more later. “Oh. Well, she asked first. And you didn’t ask at all.”

He winced. “The only reason I didn’t ask you to dinner or to see you or anything was that Brooklyn had already said your time was claimed. And I know when a man loses. Mostly because she’s a Montgomery woman, and they’re scary.”

I snorted as I walked inside, him following me.

Mr. Darcy sniffed at Lex for a moment, before he pranced away and over to the catio.

I had left the screen door open so he could have his way.

It was mostly guilt though, because I would be leaving soon, and he’d be trapped inside all alone. That mom guilt was a real thing.

“Can we have a talk before she gets here?” I blurted. Well crap. I hadn’t meant to say that.

Lex tilted his head, studying my face. “Do we need to? I like kissing you. I like spending time with you. Let’s just figure things out.”

This time I snorted. “We both know that I’m not good at going with the flow and figuring things out.”

“Neither am I, that’s why we’re going to be good at it together.”

This man. “I don’t think that’s how it works. But you’re right…maybe we don’t have to make things too complicated and we can just…be.”

“That sounds about right. Though I’m not good at going with the flow so you might have to keep me in line.” He kissed me again and my knees nearly went weak. “Have fun tonight. And then I’m taking you out tomorrow.”

“Oh?” Bossy man. Why the hell did I like it?

“Yes. Oh. On a real date. Not a fake girlfriend date.”

“You’re not even going to ask you’re just telling me?” But even as I said it, my stomach tensed. Because I really wanted to go out with him. Call me a glutton for punishment, but I liked this side of Lex.

“Also, while we’re here, is that what you’re wearing? Because it’s sexy as hell.”

I looked down and realized that my white tank top was perfectly see-through, and he could see every inch of my hard nipples. I put my hands over my chest and scowled.

“Lexington Montgomery.”

“What? I’m just saying. I really like that shirt.”

“I am just trying to figure out what to wear.”

“I can go upstairs and help you.”

I gasped. “You haven’t even taken me on a real date, and you want to go upstairs and strip me naked?” I paused. “Okay, do not answer that.”

“I’m just saying, you would really like the answer. Trust me.”

I shoved at his shoulder but didn’t go upstairs. Because for some reason I knew that if I went upstairs with him, clothes would be coming off, and I would be very late hanging out with the girls.

“Have you heard anything about the project status?”

Storms clouded his eyes, and he shook his head. “Only rumors that he’s wooing other companies too.”

“Bastard. I thought you had it.”

“We will. Damn it. I want that estate. No matter who owns it. It’ll be great for the company, and frankly, I want to get my hands on those plans and just dive deep.”

“Well, your fake serious girlfriend is ready to help. Even though that layer of complication is going to be interesting.”

“So we’ll have two camps. My fake serious girlfriend that goes with me to schmooze my ex-girlfriend’s father, and then my childhood friend turned woman that I really want to kiss again and take out. What do you think?”

“I think it’s so simple that it doesn’t even need labels. And it’s totally not going to blow up in our faces.”

“I believe in you.” He leaned forward and brushed his lips against mine. “Go get ready. And I think you should wear that maroon dress thing you have with the black boots.”

I shook my head. “How do you remember that?”

“You looked really hot in it. We were at a party, remember? And Jusitn couldn’t come, so I had to be your date. Oh look, a pretend date. I guess it’s not our first time.”

My mind whirled, memories hitting so quickly it was if I’d lived countless lives within a single breath. “I remember that. And it was a really good time. And I do happen to have that dress still.”

“Wear it. With a long coat so that way you don’t get cold.”

“Okay. I can do that.”

“By the way, if you didn’t know, you’re going to be spending Christmas with the Montgomerys.”

“Lex…” I said, exasperation oozing out of my tone.

“Mom’s going to give you the full invitation soon, but we’re running out of time, and I want to make sure you knew.

It doesn’t have to be anything scary, but we were friends long before I wanted to kiss you.

” He paused. “Okay, scratch that. I wanted to kiss you before, but then we were friends and then well, life.”

“You confuse me so much,” I said as I put my hands over my face.

“You confuse me just as much. This is why it’s going to be fun. And totally not insanity wrapped in a bow.”

“Exactly.”

He kissed me, leaned down to pet the top of Mr. Darcy’s head as my cat had decided to make another appearance, and then he stood up again.

I swallowed hard, watching as he moved. He was good at moving.

“I’ll see you tomorrow, okay? Have fun tonight. Be safe. And well if you get a little tipsy and want to drunk text, I’m here.”

“You’re a menace, you know that?”

“I’ve always been a menace, Mercy. I’m glad you’re figuring that out.”

And with that, he left my house, pressing the button on the door so it locked itself.

Always keeping me safe that Lex Montgomery. Indeed a menace.

Knowing I was running out of time, I ran upstairs and slid on that maroon dress, black boots, and thick tights. Should it worry me that he remembered this outfit so much?

Or should it worry me even more that dancing with him that one night even though I had been seriously dating Justin at the time, had been one of my favorite nights in my life.

It just hadn’t clicked that it had been because of Lex.