Page 9 of Pomegranate Kiss (Charmed in Charleston #2)

Chapter Nine

“ I ’m pretty sure our guests aren’t going to starve, Mom,” Lex said, stepping back to survey the king’s feast of Greek food her mother had spent days cooking. Trays covered every spare surface in the kitchen and dining room table, and the scents of all those spices hung in clouds throughout the house. She and Nellie had been helping since the crack of dawn. There wasn’t enough coffee in the world after the late shift she’d pulled at Inkspirations and the failed attempt at distraction that had been her club night with Mitch.

“I think I could’ve made some more dolmades, or at least some keftedes,” Mom fretted over the dishes laid out in front of them, probably enough to feed a wedding let alone a bridal shower.

Lex clapped a hand on her mother’s shoulder. “You did good. Danny’s going to love it.”

“I hope I’ll be getting to throw one of these for you some day, sweetheart,” Mom said in a questioning tone that always caused Lex to feel guilty.

“You’ll be waiting a long time,” Lex said. “An ex-con tattoo artist isn’t most folks’ top choice of dates they want to bring home to meet the parents.”

Mom arched her brow and pursed her lips, a look she delivered every time Lex gave her a “smart” response—which happened any day ending in Y. “Alexis, you’re so much more than a label. Someday, some girl is going to see that, and I can’t wait to meet her.”

Lex’s eyes heated up, and she forced herself to look away from her mother. This was why she avoided her family at all costs, particularly Cal and Mom who flounced around making people feel things. Spend ten minutes around the two of them and she could almost believe in herself again, which was an extreme disruption to her booked schedule of self-flagellation.

“I didn’t tell you guys, but Bell offered me a stall at Inkspirations,” she offered, trying to deflect the complicated emotions that arose at the mention of her love life. She especially tried to avoid the thoughts of Cam that surfaced. “At least, if I make it through the next two months without royally fucking something up. Probably end up setting fire to the shop or some shit.”

Mom reached out and brushed a thumb across her chin. The affection in her gaze made Lex’s eyes sting. Holy hell, she needed to extricate herself. Every time she was around this woman, she reverted to six years old with a broken arm or thirteen with a broken heart. The warmth in those soft brown eyes was the same Cal had inherited. Like Adrian, she leaned more toward her father in looks.

“I won’t do you the disservice of lying—you were never an easy child, but that doesn’t change how proud I am of you. You’re a fighter, whether you’re protesting injustice, the world trying to force you to conform, or in standing up for the people you love. But you’re allowed to fight for yourself too.”

Fuck, the woman had emotional x-ray vision. Lex’s temptation to bolt rose with every day closer to the permanent position at Inkspirations. Yet Cam’s words clanged around in her head. The choice was in her hands.

Lex winged an arm around her mother and squeezed tight so she could hide her watery eyes. No crying on the dolmades they’d worked so hard wrapping up this morning. “Enough with the speeches, woman. What are you, campaigning for office?”

“Didn’t you know she’s the mayor of Charleston?” Nellie called as she entered the room. Lex’s chest twisted with relief—with her little sister there, she could wade out of these too-deep waters. Nellie had scrubbed the stains off her arms and face and changed into her second outfit for the day, a floral swing dress. She’d been keeping spare clothes here and sleeping over Mom and Dad’s house when her obnoxious husband Greg traveled for work.

“Live long enough in the same area and you just end up knowing people,” Mom said, pinching the Saran wrap along the edges of the trays covering the table. “Are you sure we’ve got enough food?”

“Mom, there won’t be enough room for the people if we make any more,” Nellie said, a soft grin on her face as she tugged her wet hair into a bun. “Lex, the shower’s free if you need to take a turn.”

“Trying to imply I stink?” Lex asked, lifting her arm to sniff her pits. She made a face. “Maybe I like smelling like grape leaves and sweat.” She strode in the direction of the steps, raising a hand up as she headed for the shower. “Don’t let Mom make any more food, Nells.”

She needed to wash off these feelings before they infected her.

***

Danny’s bridal shower went by in a whirlwind of loud cousins and aunts, a fair amount of wine and ouzo drunk, and far too much food. Lex was already coming down from the heady buzz of the ouzo, even though the licorice taste lingered.

Thankfully, after two hours in, Danny unwrapped the gifts and sent about a thousand “help me” looks to Lex who just shrugged, and then some of the older ladies headed out. Once the numbers died down, there was more room for casual conversation and lounging. When all five of them had been growing up in this place they’d been punching at the walls for more space. Lex and Adrian had been the only ones to get their own rooms until Mom and Dad finished the basement. She tugged out the trash bag and began to pluck up rogue paper cups with unfinished drinks, tossing the liquid out before they went in the bag.

Cam approached, looking good enough to steal the air from the room. She’d dolled up today in a scarlet swing dress that clung to her curves, flaring out at thigh length. Her lips were the same color crimson, and the curve of the matching pumps looked hot enough that all Lex could think about was slipping them off her to glide up those silken legs.

The past couple of weeks they’d both been scarce—between Cam’s overtime at the Horntrees’ and Lex’s late nights at Inkspirations, there hadn’t been much time. Truth be told, if the texts between them hadn’t remained constant, Lex would’ve thought Cam was avoiding her again. When she’d crashed Cam’s date and they’d watched Cal’s show together, something between them had shifted, a softening of Cam’s tone and a wry affection that Lex would go to embarrassing lengths to draw out.

“Hey there, gorgeous,” Lex kept her voice low.

Cam’s gaze heated, sweeping over the length of her body. That sort of attention made her glad she’d spent time on her appearance, the military green dress with pockets about the only one utilitarian enough for her to wear. She’d kept the Docs on though, but so did the bride-to-be.

“How are you still functional after all the chaos?” Cam said, leaning against the now-emptied kitchen countertop.

Lex slipped beside her until their hips touched. “Because I was born and bred in that chaos.”

“Seriously,” Danny said, strolling in from the other room. “Y’all are a handful, but at least you’re fun.” Cam shifted away from her as if she’d been burned, and damn if that didn’t douse her with ice.

Mom, her sisters, and Abigail leaned back, chatting on the couch. Nellie hadn’t escaped the conversation yet, even though the rest of the bridal party managed to extricate themselves.

“I need that sort of introduction at the clubs,” Lex drawled. “Think you can swing it next time? I’ve hit a bit of a dry spell.”

Cam’s face tightened at the comment. It had been low, but she took a vicious satisfaction in knowing the knife cut both ways. Lex hadn’t missed the signals from Cam every time they met up, how every encounter brought them closer and closer to implosion. At first, Lex had initiated every touch, yet now when it was just the two of them, Cam leaned in, brushed her fingers across Lex’s legs, and even clasped her hand.

However, any time Lex considered taking the next steps, she froze. Part of her couldn’t bear the idea of this thing between her and Cam devolving into the same mindless escape as all her other hookups.

“Sure, anything to make Adrian uncomfortable.” Danny flashed her a blinder of a grin and headed over for the open bottle of wine to pour herself some more chardonnay. “Though, you? A dry spell? Is Charleston in a short supply of hot women or something?”

“Yeah, Lex,” Cam challenged, a serrated edge to her voice that hadn’t been there before. “I mean you’ve had plenty of opportunities, right? Why not indulge?”

The dark look in Cam’s eyes threatened to burn her on the spot. She deserved that. Her comment had been bitchy and spurred from the jealousy that Cam still went out there dating when Lex couldn’t keep her heart in check, which left her turning down girls left and right.

Or hell, it could be the mere fact she wanted more so badly it tore her in two. That she wanted to shout how she felt to the world, not stay trapped in this realm of whispers and stolen glances, leaping away from each other any time one of their friends or her family even glanced their way. Lex hadn’t been in the closet for a long, long time, and the guilt that came with sneaking around like what they were doing was wrong curdled in her stomach.

“Maybe I’m taking time to focus on my art,” Lex argued, casting a pointed glance in Cam’s direction. The air charged between them, the sort of tension she wanted to claw through. “Bell has me working longer hours at the shop.”

“Oh, the shop you’re planning on ditching once the six months are up?” Cam shot back, clutching her drink tight. Lex’s throat tightened. Fuck her for throwing that in her face. At once, Cam’s shoulders slumped, as if she realized how venomous that had come out. Danny glanced to the two of them, her brow lifted and concern flashing in her green eyes.

“I’ve got to throw this trash out,” Lex said, walking away before she said anything else she might regret. She walked fast, but not fast enough to miss Danny ask if things were okay and for Cam to lie about being tired. Bull-fucking-shit. Her arms trembled from the hurt that scored through her. She’d opened up to her, she’d told her about her fears, and Cam had shoved them in her face.

Lex headed out back to drop the half-collected bag of trash into the big green containers, but she wasn’t ready to return to the scene she’d left. She tugged out a cigarette and leaned against the vinyl siding, a couple of stray dandelions bursting through the patchy asphalt in need of repair. When she took the first drag, the nicotine flooded her system, a temporary reprieve from the noxious cocktail churning inside.

The back door creaked open and shut, drawing Lex’s attention.

Cam walked out, her head down and a pensive look on her face. Lex swallowed hard and stared at the asphalt, taking another drag from her cigarette. She didn’t bother saying a word, not with the spite on her lips begging to come out and play. She didn’t look up either when Cam settled against the wall beside her.

“Hey,” she murmured. “I crossed a line. I’m sorry.”

Lex sucked another drag of the cigarette, but the nicotine wasn’t steadying her enough to have this conversation right now. Fuck, she needed to pull herself together.

Cam ran a hand through her hair, tugging on the ends. She let out a shaky sigh. “Look, I know this is a weird arrangement we have going on, but this has been driving me nuts. We’re down to two months left, and we haven’t…gone all the way. If you’re cooling off and not digging me like that anymore, please tell me.” Her voice cracked, and the hesitance there, the vulnerability quenched Lex’s anger like water to heated steel.

Lex glanced at her, the cigarette dangling between her fingers. Cam’s eyebrows drew together, and her crimson lips pursed with worry. When she lifted her head up, the helpless look in Cam’s eyes scored Lex’s heart.

She couldn’t manage to summon the words to address the fear in her eyes, because she didn’t think Cam had any answers either. They dove into this the same way they had the night at the club—headfirst, and without a thought of the consequences.

“So, I happened to notice I showed you my art, but you have yet to hold up your end of the bargain,” Lex commented, swinging her gaze to the asphalt where it was safe. She kept her voice light, but she held back the dam with a pinkie.

“Why are you bringing that up now?” Cam asked, caution ringing her tone, like a cat stalking up for a slow approach.

“Well, because of the bridal shower, I’m not working at Inkspirations tonight,” Lex started, her heart beginning to step in double time. “And I have it from a good source you’re not working at the Horntrees’. So, no excuses. You and your sketchpads, canvases, whatever, can show up at my place at seven tonight.”

Cam licked her lips. The way they glistened made Lex want to close the distance between them and claim her mouth, but they’d have time for that later. Tonight. The air turned electric between them, and the moment their eyes met, the molten look in Cam’s stroked her insides like fingers through hair, smoothing the earlier hurt as if they’d never dropped those shrapnel words.

“I’ll be there with bells on,” Cam said, her voice as soft as the smile she offered. Lex leaned in to nudge her in the side, but when their hips touched, neither of them moved away. This close, she caught the mouthwatering scent of rose and felt the heat of this woman who had somehow imprinted on her skin like a tattoo.

Hell, she was so smitten she’d invited Cam to her apartment. No one came to her apartment—not family, not friends, and definitely not random hookups. Lex guarded her privacy like a rangy attack dog.

But she couldn’t put this off any longer, not faced with the yearning in Cam’s eyes and the flicker of hesitation, like the woman veered just as close to wrecking on the rocks as Lex. Like she was just as terrified of the ravine’s edge they dangled at.

Cam reached over and squeezed her hand. Lex waited for her to snatch it away or glance at the door, but she didn’t.

“I should head back in to help clean up,” Cam said, tilting her head toward the door. “But I’ll see you tonight. Seven sharp.” The loss of the skin-to-skin connection scorched her, and her palm throbbed even as Cam strode toward the house.

“Be right there,” Lex said, tapping the ash at the end of her cigarette. Cam’s glance before she slipped through the door burned right through her, full of the heat, the desire, and the longing percolating between them.

In the aftermath of the sharp words they’d gored each other with, the lingering ache pulsed like a second heartbeat. She sucked down the cigarette. She’d thrown the gauntlet and invited Cam to her place, so at seven tonight, she was going to get a taste of everything she’d been longing for from the moment this arrangement began.

Lex flicked the cigarette onto the asphalt and ground it beneath the heel of her boot. She should’ve stepped up and admitted she was catching feelings. She should’ve admitted she didn’t want this to end when the six months were up. Hell, she should’ve never made this arrangement in the first place.

Because at the end of the six months, Lex didn’t know how she was going to let Cam go.