Page 21 of A Little More

Lexi sipped her water, waiting for Nash’s answer, but he only stared. If he wouldn’t find his own way out, she’d try to save him. He might not like her methods, though.

“That might make for a better story.” Lexi crossed her arms. “Did you say you lost your balance?”

Nash crossed his arms over his chest. Muscles threatened to pop the threads of the sleeves of his shirt. She took a sip of water as images of him shirtless flipped in her mind. Even the threat of Julien finding out didn’t keep her mind out of the gutter.

“Turns out,” Lexi continued, ignoring the thrill of the dark look he shot her, “that he slipped getting out of the shower before we came here.”

Gina sat down on the edge of Nash’s bench. She looked genuinely sympathetic as she laid a hand on his arm. “I’ve slipped before. It could happen to anyone,” she added, but sounding a little less sure of herself.

“I said the same thing, but you know Nash and his temper.” She dropped her voice to a whisper. “He wasn’t having any of it.”

“No,” Gina said. “I’ve never seen him have a temper.”

“Ms. Peggy said it happens to most men when they reach a certain age. I mean,” Lexi said, hoping not to push it too far. “Does your dad seem a little crankier than he did when you were little? Picky about things? Hates when his routine gets out of whack?”

With a look on her face like her dreams had been crushed, Gina nodded.

Lexi shrugged, twisting her lips to the side. “It stinks getting older. Some people age better than others.”

Nash’s boot bumped her shin. She shifted to the side and crossed her legs out of his reach.

Their waitress appeared at the table. “It’s a lucky man that has two women at his table.” The petite woman scribbled something on her pad. “I assume you’d like the check, Nash.”

“Of course, Becky.”

Lexi held out her hand. She would pay her part and split the check despite his desire to see to her needs. Damn, she couldn’t even think of what he’d meant earlier without wanting to fan her face.

“I told you I’d pay for this.”

“But since this is abusinesslunch, I think I should pay for it. All of it. You are my client, after all.”

Becky, her dark hair falling an inch past her shoulders, shifted her attention between the two of them like a ping-pong match. She stuck the pen behind her ear. “I like her, Nash.”

“I didn’t ask your opinion.”

“My opinion comes with the meal. Think of it like the toy in a kids’ meal. Only my opinion is worth more.”

“Doubtful.” He leaned to the side, pulling his wallet out. “Don’t you have someone else to bother?”

“I have a whole restaurant to bother, but this is more interesting. I like seeing a woman who doesn’t put up with your macho crap.”

Gina batted her eyelashes. “It’s not macho crap. Nash is such a gentleman. Old-fashioned. Enjoys taking care of arealwoman.”

Lexi and Becky considered one another for a moment. Becky winked. “Oh, I forgot that arealwoman needs a man to take care of her.”

Lexi liked Becky.

Keeping up with her game, Lexi grimaced, hoping to look sympathetic, and continued to hold her hand toward the check. “Can at least read it for you? I know it’s hard to admit. You’re the one that said you didn’t have your new reading glasses yet. You don’t have to be so proud. Most people get glasses as they age.”

Becky barked out a laugh, patted Lexi on the shoulder and walked away as she said something about Nash being a grumpy old man.

Gina scooted away to get a better look at Nash. “I didn’t know you wore glasses.”

“Oh, here,” Lexi said, pulling a pair of reading glasses she used herself from her purse. “Try mine if you’re so determined to read the check.”

Nash didn’t move.

“I’m sure you’ll look handsome,” Gina offered. Sweet girl. The puppy dog eyes had shifted once again to pity.

---