Page 18 of And Then Came You

“I can eat. It was a long drive from upstate.” I pad into the kitchen after her, smiling as she pulls out a platter of hummus and vegetables.

“Here. That’s fairly healthy, at least until I can shower and buy some proper food.” She leans against the fridge, her eyes vacillating between me and the counter. “Do you mind giving me ten minutes to get dressed?”

“You take ten minutes to get dressed?” It’s a valid question. Most women I know take hours. And I meanhours.

A flush creeps over her cheeks. “There’s only so much primping I’ll allow myself. I’ll be right back. Help yourself to anything.”

Good to her word, she’s back in the kitchen before I’ve even finished my plate. But I’m still going to mess with her. “You took fourteen minutes.”

She pauses with the towel against her hair, sending me a fake glare. “I’ll bet you take four times that long.”

“Not really. I have to shave and fix my hair, but beyond that—”

“Don’t forget moisturizing, hydrating, exfoliants and face masks. I’m on to you. No one looks that perfect without a hefty amount of effort.”

“Are you saying I look good?”

Now her smirk borders on a sneer. “I’m not stroking your already overinflated ego. Go find a beautiful baby for that task. You know the rules.” She hops onto a stool, popping a carrot in her mouth. “Tell me. How was Bali and Sveta?”

“Bali was gorgeous.”

“So is Sveta. Don’t give me that look. I looked her up. She’s divinely beautiful.”

I search Lexi’s face for some sign of jealousy about the comely woman I spent several nights fucking, but all I find is an open curiosity. Not an ounce of jealousy anywhere.

Lexi really isn’t into me for anything beyond friendship, and now, I can scratch crazed stalker off the list.

“She’s gorgeous and a wildcat in bed.”

“I’ll bet. I should hit you up for some stories. Liven up my sex scenes.”

“Excuse me?” My cheeks flush at her statement, an unexpected twist considering she was just talking about me and Sveta.

“For my books. I didn’t mean you and me. Calm yourself, Sam. I already told you you’re not my type.”

Her words irk me. She’s not my type either, as I’ve told myself repeatedly, but why the hell aren’t I her type? I’m Samuel Bernard. Women across the globe fall into my lap, except for the tiny brunette sitting across the breakfast bar from me.

Once again, my Granddad’s words echo in my head. She’s immune to my charm. Immune to all of me, it seems.

I’m thrilled she isn’t a stalker, but not so certain how I feel about Lexi’s ongoing immunity. Time to get out of my head. All manner of crazy thoughts happening in there at the moment.

“What are your plans for the weekend?” I blurt, popping a piece of pepper into my mouth.

“Arguing with my uncooperative characters, remember?”

“Can it wait?”

Lexi nods, pulling off her glasses to rub her eyes. “I suppose. I’m ahead of schedule. What do you have planned?”

“Nothing yet, but I’m sure we can change that. Let’s pack up and head back into the City.”

“You just drove from Woodstock. Why don’t we hang out here? There’s a ton to do in the Hamptons.”

“Sounds like a plan. We’ll go to dinner. My treat.” My phone buzzes, and I release a groan. It’s Caroline. “Shit.”

“What’s wrong?”

“I forgot, I’m supposed to have dinner with Caroline.”

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