Page 32 of Cruise

“Have you guys checked out the two hands who work here? I mean, if it’s enough money, people have been known to turn against someone they liked,” Booker asked.

Lexi came over and sat down beside him and grasped his hand. She was nervous, and he hated her feeling this way, but they needed to know all the facts.

“We actually didn’t because Maureen said they were trusted workers, but someone has to be helping him. Can you get us their info, and we’ll start searching?” Scoop asked.

Maureen got the information, and Scoop and Sarah signed off. He stood up, helping Lexi up off the couch and pulling her into his arms. He didn’t like how anxious and upset she was. He couldn’t imagine not being able to trust a family member.

“Let’s give them time to work, and we’ll plan on going out after dark to the bar. How about you show me your calendar and what’s coming up for your job. Compass said he and Maureen would take care of lunch.”

Lexi nodded without saying anything. Hopefully, getting her talking about her job would get her mind off what was going to happen later. He really hoped their plan worked to bring her brother out into the open.

Lexi dabbed a little perfume behind her ear and then checked her makeup. Even if they were going out because of a plan, she wanted to look pretty. It was their first time going out and dressing up since they’d found each other again.

Booker had done his best trying to distract her that afternoon. They’d talked about the signings she had coming up and where they were. He asked about her bedroom at her mom’s because it seemed a little bare. He’d wondered if she collected anything.

She’d told him her theory. As long as she was on the road, she didn’t feel like she could accumulate a lot because there was only so much room in the RV. The only thing she seemed to collect right now was books and T-shirts with bookish sayings on them. Maybe someday she might collect other things, but she’d see. He’d looked through her T-shirts and asked if that was all of them. She had thirty, so she only had to do laundry for them once a month. But it was one of her guilty pleasures that she’d like to have more.

She walked out into the hall and down the stairs. Booker was standing at the bottom with Twist.

“Oh man, dump him, Lexi. Wow!” Twist said.

Booker shoved him. “Seriously. How many times do I need to tell you, Lexi is mine. But I will echo his Wow! You look beautiful every day, but tonight, in that top and skirt, with you all dolled up, you’re stunning.”

Booker walked closer to her and held out his hand. Lexi took his hand, slid her other hand around his neck, and pulled him close.

“You are the perfect boyfriend,” she said, kissing his lips until Booker took over the kiss, claiming every inch of her mouth until she was wondering if they could skip going out. He shuddered against her, then pulled away.

“Woman, you’re lethal. We’ve got to stick to the plan when I’d much rather follow up that kiss with more.”

Lexi giggled at his aggrieved tone. At least she wasn’t the only one suffering.

“Now, since we didn’t get our prom night and all the dating after, we’ve missed a lot. I loved you making sure we danced like we missed. I did something too. Last week, I ordered a couple things. So, Lexi, I rediscovered the woman who has held my heart all these years at a book signing. It seems only appropriate to make you a couple bracelets like people trade at signings.”

Lexi held out her hand for Booker to slide them on her wrist. One had colored beads withMMM25on it. He’d attached a little motorcycle to the bracelet along with a little book charm. The second one was similar in color but had letter beads spelling outBooker Lexi. She loved the idea but what touched her heart was that he’d made them himself for her.

“Thank you. You didn’t have to, but I really love them. I’m glad you did. And since we’ve decided to make a life, we need to figure out when to get all your stuff moved here.”

Compass and her mom had walked in. Twist started laughing, and her mom and Compass joined in. Booker had a sheepish look on his face and was blushing a little.

“Yeah, Booker, should you go get your stuff from the storage room?” Twist joked.

Lexi stared at Booker, waiting for him to speak.

“Umm, my stuff is already here. It was in the boxes we picked up in Wellington. I knew I was never letting you go, and where you lived, I would live,” Booker said.

And didn’t that say it all. She finally had what she’d always dreamed of: a man who was all in and loved her as much as she loved him.

She placed her hand on his cheek. “Drew, that’s the sweetest thing anyone has ever done for me. Maybe we should unload some of those boxes later so you can have all your stuff. I mean, what woman wouldn’t want her very own cover model book boyfriend to be all in?”

Booker pulled her close and wrapped his arms around her waist. He stared into her eyes for a little bit, then leaned closer, placing a kiss on her lips. It was the sexual one of his where she could tell he wanted more. It was a promise for the future. And he was her future.

“Let’s stop the mushy stuff and get on the road. It’s dark enough to hopefully present too big of an opportunity for your brother to miss out on,” Cowboy said as he walked into the room.

Lexi let Booker help her on with her light jacket and then hold the door open for her. She really hoped this worked because each sweet thing Booker did made her want to start their life without the cloud hanging over it.

Chapter Fifteen

Booker led Lexi around the dance floor. He’d asked the DJ to play Luke Combs’Forever After Allbecause Lexi listened to the song all the time. It was on every playlist she had. It had grown on him too, and even if it hadn’t, he would dance to it to make her happy.

---