Page 69 of Alluring

Alexis turned to the boy beside her sister. He was dressed similarly in flip flops, holey jeans, and a T-shirt. He had gauges in his ears and a lip ring. "And who's this?" She asked, sounding uneasy. Emily hadn't mentioned that she was dating anyone, and she defiantly didn't say anything about bringing someone with her for her visit.

Emily wrapped her hand around the arm of the boy standing next to her and said, "Alexis, this is Reese. Reese, this is my sister, Alexis."

Reese held out his hand. "Nice to meet you ma'am."

Alexis's eyes widened at the word ma'am. She was probably only a few years older than he was. "Please, call me Alexis."

Jack came up behind her and extended his arm over her shoulder, hand out. "Jack."

Reese shook his hand. "Nice to meet you, sir."

Alexis couldn't fault his manners. "So did you two meet at school? How long have you known each other? Are you dating?"

"Sweetheart," Jack said, from over her head, "why don't we let them put their stuff down. We can get some drinks and go sit in the living room and talk."

She saw Emily give Jack a grateful smile. She guessed she was acting a bit overbearing. But Reese did come at her out of left field. She thought her sister told her everything.

They moved into the living room, and Jack came in with four waters that he passed around before sitting next to Alexis on the couch. Emily and Reese sat in the two chairs on the other side of the coffee table.

"Alright Emily," Jack said, after taking a swig of his water, "put your sister out of her misery. Spill."

Emily sat up in her chair. "Well, we do go to school together, but we met at a party about a month ago. I didn't say anything because I wasn't sure there was anything to tell. We went on a couple of dates. But Reese came to me a few days ago," she turned to him and gave him a smile, "he said he really liked me and wanted more than just a few dates with me." She turned back to Alexis. "I said yes and here we are." She took a sip of her water, leaning back in her chair again.

Alexis looked over at Reese. His cheeks were slightly red. He looked embarrassed at having his personal life aired so openly, but other than that, he didn't say anything.

Jack broke the silence. "I'll call down and book you guys a suite."

Alexis looked at Jack. "What?"

"Sweetheart, I know you planned for Emily to stay here, but they need their own space."

Alexis looked over at Emily and Reese. They were both adults. Just because she was a repressed virgin, at twenty, didn't mean her sister was one. She had to learn to think more like a sister and friend and less like a mother, even though, shewasthe one who raised her.

She gave Jack a silent nod, and he pulled out his phone and called the front desk.

"So what's the plan for the 4th of July?" Emily asked, leaning forward to put her water down on the coffee table.

Alexis shrugged. "I don't know, but I guess it is coming up soon."

Emily nodded. "Day after tomorrow."

Alexis looked over at Jack. He hung up his phone. "Do we have plans for the 4th of July?"

Jack tucked his phone in his back pocket, then said with a nod, "Yeah."

"And."

He gave her a smile. "It's a surprise."

Alexis looked over at Emily. "We have plans, but it's a surprise," she deadpanned.

Emily laughed. "Well, I love surprises."

Jack stood. "Let's get you guys situated in your room then we'll go eat."

They all stood to go. Alexis linked her arm through Emily's on the way to the elevator. She heard Reese behind her asking Jack, "Do you really own this hotel?"

"This among other things," he replied.

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