Page 45 of A Labor of Hate
“So,” I began, glaring at the woman to let her know exactly how bad an idea joining our little group would be, “you’rethe woman Colt told me about.”
She faltered, looking me up and down.Unsurprisingly, her eyes lingered on the belly and the ring shining on my finger.“And who are you?”
If the possessive glint in her eye was any indication, then she and Colt had been an item.Poor girl.But that also meant, since I didn’t know how recently they’d broken up, mentioning the fact I was his supposed wife could cause a scene nobody wanted.“The name’s Lex.Now, can you leave us alone to enjoy our lunch?”
Forget the fact we were already done eating.She didn’t need to know that.
“Lex?”She wrinkled her nose.“That’s a boy’s name.”
My anger brightened, its flames licking up the sides of my neck.It wasn’t the first time I’d heard it, but that didn’t mean hearing someone diss your nickname that you felt fit you so perfectly got any easier.“Oh yeah?Well, I punch harder than one, so I’d scoot along now if I were you.”
She scoffed.“You’re threatening me?”
“I wouldn’t say threatening so much as warning.”I held my left hand aloft, wiggling my fingers.“He’s taken.Now beat it.”
And now would be the moment where, if she was just here to talk to him about book club, I’d get immeasurably embarrassed by my show of jealousy.But I had a gut feeling, and I was going with it.No woman would continue past Bulldog and Professional Bodyguard Boy just to say hi.She had a vested interest in him, and it had nothing to do with book club.
Her eyes darted between the ring, my belly, and Colt, seeming to put two-and-two together.No matter what conclusion she drew, she’d end up with five as an answer, since there was no way she could guess the real truth of what was going on.But I digress.
Her skin lightened a shade, and she swallowed hard.“I see.”She cleared her throat and shot one last icy glare at Colt.“I’m sorry to have interrupted your lunch.”With that, she whirled, red hair flying in its ponytail.
I watched until she walked out the doors before sitting back down with a sigh of relief.Crisis averted.For now.
And now everyone at the table was staring at me.Right.Uh.
“I’m so sorry about that, guys.”I smiled, doing a complete one-eighty from the jealous wife who had scared Black Widow out the door.“When Colt had flown out here for his last interview and to look at some houses, she asked him out.Didn’t seem to matter he was married with a baby on the way.She wouldn’t take no for an answer.”I offered another timid smile as I took in Vivienne and Colt’s shocked faces, along with Charles’ calculating one.“I’m not usually so hostile.”
Colt, to his credit, didn’t comment on that last part.
“Are you kidding me?”Vivienne finally asked.“That wasawesome!Do you know how many times girls have ogled Charles while we’re out?What I wouldn’t give to be able to come out swinging like you just did.I mean, it was incredible!I swear, your eyes were like green fire or something when she insulted your name—which I think is perfect, by the way.”
Man, I loved Vivienne.
My cheeks heated with a conspicuous blush.I really did feel bad about brushing the redhead off.Or maybe less “brushing off” and more “raking a pitchfork across her skin,” but you get the point.“Uh, thanks.”
“If you don’t mind me asking, is Lex your full first name or is it short for something?”Vivienne cocked her head to the side and intertwined her fingers before resting her chin on them.
“Alexandrine,” Colt murmured.
Goosebumps erupted across my skin.Nobody got away with using my full first name.And yet… I didn’t hate it when he said it.Not even a little bit.
And that freaked me out five ways to Sunday.
“Alexandrine,” I repeated louder for the Gauthiers’ benefit.I focused on the cooks behind the counter, the sizzle of burgers grilling, the scent of cooking meat and hot oil.Anything to avoid as much eye contact as possible.“I was named after a Dutch explorer, Alexandrine Tinné.”
All of the Piper kids were named after female explorers, actually.Dominick got the woman who was later exposed to be a fraud, I got the woman who was betrayed by her own party and killed while crossing the Sahara, and Dekker got the youngest girl to successfully sail single-handedly around the world.I tried not to read into the fact she was the only one who got a namesake without a tragic ending.Mom and Dad’s definition of success was a bit…eccentricwhen it came to this subject.
Colt perked up ever so subtly at this information.His stare burned into me once more.I wasn’t looking in his direction, but I could feel it.Senseit.
I shrugged.“There were two other girls in my dance team when I was little who went by either Lexi or Alex, so I picked a different way to shorten my name.Even after I changed to another team, the name kind of just…stuck, I guess.”
I was easily the most aggressive of all the Lexi-Alex variations, so it seemed fitting I got the nickname you could bark out like a drill sergeant.Who would’ve known then that little Lex Piper in her leotard and tights would grow up to join law enforcement?
“Well, I love it,” Vivienne declared firmly, her blue eyes twinkling.“It’s unique, just like your full first name.”
I dipped my head in thanks, uncomfortable with all the attention.Colt’s stare still hadn’t left me, which didn’t help at all, either.It made the hairs on my arms stand on end and my pulse sound unnaturally loud in my ears.
I forced myself not to squirm, channeling my nervous energy into clasping my hands instead.“So!Are we still good for the spa day on Tuesday?It’ll loosen me up for the Lamaze class on Thursday, which, if we use any of the birthing balls I saw in that room, I might need so I don’t pull anything.”
