Page 21 of Last Chance Seduction (Montgomery Ink Legacy #9)

I gripped the edge of my vanity and let out a breath. Going any deeper into whatever this kind of relationship was with him would be a serious mistake. Our lives were already tangled enough. But maybe it was okay that I was living a bit. Maybe it was okay to be reckless.

Maybe it was okay to let Lexington Montgomery seduce me.

I shook my head, finished my makeup, and was just sliding on a thick black knee-length coat as my doorbell rang again.

When I answered, Brooklyn stood there, dressed to the nines, looking sexy as hell in a red dress, brown knee boots, and a similar jacket to mine.

“You look amazing. Are you ready for tonight?”

I shook my head. “Maybe. You scare me.”

“That’s what all of her friends say,” Daisy Montgomery said as she leaned forward and hugged me tightly.

Daisy was a couple of years older than us, older than the rest of us, and another one of Lex’s many cousins.

She worked in the Montgomery security branch of the family and was such a badass that I wanted to be her when I grew up.

And when I told her that in the restaurant later, she had thrown her head back and laughed.

“You don’t really want to be me when you grow up. You end up with a lot of bruising.”

“I end up with bruising too, mostly because I trip over things,” I said with a laugh. “And you actually know how to protect yourself.”

Shivers ran up my spine, and I looked behind our booth but shook my head. Nobody was there. I was just imagining things. Of course, I couldn’t help but remember that time in the grocery store, when I had overreacted because a man had dared to shop at the same time as me.

“If you want to take self-defense lessons, I can help.”

“She’s great at it,” Brooklyn put in as she poured us more wine.

We were a large group tonight, but I didn’t know the other women very well.

They weren’t Montgomerys, but friends of Brooklyn and Daisy.

Sasha, Mercedes, Clarisse, and Justine had introduced themselves but were all quieter than the Montgomerys.

I was grateful to meet new people, but I worried I’d forget names by the end of the night.

Jamie, one of the others who worked with Lex had wanted to come out, but she had a last-minute emergency.

She was fine but hadn’t been able to make it.

And my bestie Posy hadn’t been able to come either because she was out of town with Cullen on a road trip to see each of their families.

I knew there was a story there, and I would have to wait until she got back until I heard it.

“Maybe self-defense training would be a good thing. It’s weird being a woman living alone. And I only have a cat to protect me.”

“Mr. Darcy is amazing, but yes, you should. And we can put in an alarm if you want?” Daisy answered. “You can go over and look at Lex’s and see what we did. It’s subtle.”

“So does everyone know that Lex and I are neighbors?” I asked, putting emphasis on the word neighbors.

Sasha laughed. “As in the two of you are maybe dating? Yes, word spreads fast in the Montgomery network.”

“That’s a little jarring. I forgot about that aspect.”

“We’re a small town in ourselves,” Brooklyn answered. “It’s annoying, but sometimes it’s nice. Because you always have someone to lean on.” Her gaze brightened as her phone buzzed. She looked down and started to text back quickly.

“I thought we said no phones,” Daisy teased. “I’m not allowed to text my beautiful British husband with the accent that makes me want to faint, and you’re not allowed to text Duke. The man that puts that look on your face.”

Brooklyn nearly swooned in her seat. “I’m just texting him an update. I won’t be long.”

“I’m going to need to hear all about this Duke,” I said, finally leaning into the whole girls’ night thing.

“Oh, don’t get her started. She’s going to go on forever,” Sasha teased, though her eyes were filled with laughter.

I sat back and listened to Brooklyn talk about every aspect of the man that she was falling for.

In her own words, she usually dated losers, but Duke was in finance, worked his ass off, and was actually a good guy.

And the more I asked about Duke, and Hugh, Daisy’s sexy British husband, maybe they wouldn’t ask so much about Lexington.

It was a win-win for me because I had no answers for them. Let alone myself.

We went to three different bars for tapas and wine.

While the others had all gotten rideshares to bring them here, Brooklyn had only had one glass of wine, and then water for the rest of the night since she’d be driving us home.

I felt a little buzzed, a lot happy, and was ready to call it a night when someone slid his hand over my mouth.

I screamed, kicking out, but the guy shoved me to his chest.

“Quiet.”

I stepped on his foot with my high-heeled boot, before he let out a groan. And when he pushed me to the ground, roughing up my knees as my tights tore, I tried to get up.

Only, the man wasn’t there anymore. Instead, Daisy was there, and in a blink, he was on his stomach, arms pinned behind him, her knee pressed tightly between his shoulder blades.

“Are you okay?”

Brooklyn helped me get up as I leaned into her, my eyes wide.

“I’m fine.”

“Your knees are bleeding. Is someone calling the cops?” Daisy asked, her voice no longer slightly buzzed, but all business.

“On it,” Brooklyn said.

My hands shook and my tights were torn, blood oozing from the slight wounds, and I just ran my hands over my arms, wondering what the hell had just happened.

By the time Brooklyn dropped me off, we had already given our statements to the cops, and the man who refused to speak was in custody. I didn’t know what would happen then, as I didn’t understand the justice system at that point, but I was exhausted and just wanted to be home.

“Thank you for driving me home,” I said after a moment, and Brooklyn just squeezed my hand.

“Don’t worry about it. I’m just glad that you’re okay.”

Daisy’s husband had picked her up since he had been close by, and I was grateful that I wouldn’t have to explain that I was fine to anyone else.

Of course, I had spoken too soon.

As soon as I got out of my car, Lex was there, his hands on my face. “Are you okay? What the hell happened?”

“How did you…. What—who told you?” I blurted.

“Well, you didn’t,” he ground out.

While it was nice that someone waited for me at home and was worried, I didn’t like the tone. “I’m fine. They got the guy. It was just a weird mugging, I guess. Who called you?”

“The Montgomery phone tree is really good,” a deep voice said from the shadows, and I jumped.

Reece moved forward, hands up. “Sorry. I was at Lex’s house when his phone started blowing up, letting us know what happened. And I’m the one that held him back from driving out there and trying to murder someone.”

“Lex,” I said, exasperated.

“Don’t Lex me. Why didn’t you call me?”

“Because we were handling it. And I was going to tell you, I promise. It just didn’t occur to me to text you right away. I’m sorry.”

“Lex, ease up,” Brooklyn ordered before wrapping her arms around herself. “Daisy was really good at her job.”

“I don’t like it,” Lex growled.

“Well, I don’t like it either, but I’m sorry that you’re offended I didn’t call you. But it seems like your family took care of it for me. I’m not used to having an emergency contact anymore. Sue me,” I spat.

Reece whistled between his teeth before he moved forward. “Brooklyn, can you take me home?”

She raised a brow. “Where’s your car?”

“Doing just fine in his driveway, but you’re not driving home alone.”

“Okay, Daddy.”

“Don’t call me Daddy, girl. Or I’m going to call Duke and have him deal with the fact that you were nearly attacked too.”

Brooklyn blushed. “Don’t you dare.”

The two began to argue as they got into Brooklyn’s car, and she drove off.

I finally let out a breath and turned to Lex. “Did you guys plan to ambush us to make sure the women weren’t alone?”

Lex slid a finger down my nose like I did with Mr. Darcy. “Of course we did. Come on, you’re sleeping at my place.”

“I’m not.”

“I have a better alarm system. Mr. Darcy won’t mind it.”

I merely sighed.

“I’m fucking scared, okay? Just please? I’ll sleep in the guest room. My bed’s better anyway. The mattress helps your back and all.”

“Lex, I just want to go to bed.”

“You can. Come on. Let’s get your cat and your pajamas. I promise not to make a move on you. Unless you ask,” he added, and I heard the stress in his tone.

Frankly, I didn’t want to be alone either, he’d just gotten on my nerves.

I wouldn’t give in later, at least that’s what I told myself.

So with a sigh, I walked inside and threw a couple of things into a bag. Lex had already grabbed Mr. Darcy, the two looking as if they had been best friends their whole lives, and had a small bag for him.

“I got some food and things. Wasn’t sure what else.”

“It would make more sense if you just stayed here.”

“I have an alarm system. Sue me.”

“It looks like I’ll be trying to budget for one soon.”

“I know a guy,” he teased.

I leaned in into him for a moment, tears threatening. There was still a slight bit of shock running through me, and it was the only thing allowing me to stand straight.

We turned off all the lights, locked the doors, and headed into Lex’s place.

Tomorrow I would pay more attention to it.

Tomorrow I would notice the details beyond the construction mess.

But he took me to his bedroom, instead of something sexy and sweet and romantic, I went to his restroom, changed to my pajamas, the comfy ones that covered every inch of me, and slid into bed.

Mr. Darcy jumped next to me, cuddling on my hip, as Lex stood at the doorway in his pajamas.

“Good night, Mercy.”

“Don’t go. I know I’m being a brat. Just come hold me?”

Without an answer, Lex moved forward, lifted up the blankets, and I turned, disrupting Mr. Darcy, so I could snuggle into Lex’s hold.

My hands against my own chest, I tangled my legs with his and let myself be enveloped. He rubbed his chin over the top of my head, and I finally let out the breath I hadn’t known I’d been holding for hours.

“You’re safe, Mercy. I promise.”

“I know. I know.”

And even though I hadn’t thought I would be able to sleep tonight, I closed my eyes and let the sound of Lex’s heartbeat lull me to sleep. Because in his arms, I didn’t have a care in the world.

At least for now.