Page 67 of Blame It on the Bikini
"Don’t joke," Serena warned. "I’ll take you up on it."
"I mean it. I babysat a lot growing up. I'm pretty good with kids."
Serena’s eyes softened as she gazed at her daughter. "Maybe in a week or so. We’re still figuring out breastfeeding and pumping."
"Okay, that’s my cue to go," Ben said dryly, pushing back his chair.
"Sorry, no more breast-pump talk," Serena promised.
"It's fine. I have to work tonight."
As he left, Amanda stirred, and Serena groaned. "Time to feed this angel. See you later." She wheeled the stroller away, leaving Lexie and Kaia alone.
"And then there were two," Kaia said with a laugh. "Now you can tell me what happened with you and Grayson last weekend. Did you spend the night with him in Joshua Tree?"
"Yes, and I think it was a big mistake."
"Because it was bad?"
"Because it was great." She blew out a sigh of frustration. "I don't regret it, but now I feel strange about it because I haven't talked to Grayson since we got back. I know he's tied up on a business deal, but it feels like he's using that to push me away."
Kaia's gaze filled with sympathy. "I'm sorry, Lex."
"We had so much fun, Kaia, the best time I've had in forever. We got along so well. We talked and talked and…"
"And…" Kaia prodded. "While I'm interested in the talking, I'm far more curious about the rest of that sentence."
"The rest of it was great, too." Her cheeks warmed at the memories. "The freeway was closed, and we had to spend the night somewhere. There weren't any choices except this cute bed-and-breakfast with rustic cottages, and they only had one left. We had to take it."
"Of course you did," Kaia said with a smile. "And I'm not judging. You could do a lot worse than an attractive billionaire."
"I'm not sure he's a billionaire, but he is very attractive," she said, feeling an ache in her gut. "It's hard to meet someone you really feel connected to, like you can totally be yourself, and they can be themselves."
"I'll say it is."
"I just wish he wasn't our landlord. If he sells the building, I'll not only lose my home, but I'll never see him again."
"Did he say he was going to sell?"
"We didn't talk about it. But he's been honest about his intentions since the beginning."
"Well, he's going to do what he's going to do."
"You sound like Josie. When did everyone get to be so fatalistic?" she complained.
"When we realized there was nothing we could do," Kaia answered. "You've fought hard to make him see that this is more than just a building, Lexie. And obviously, he likes you. If you can't convince him not to sell, there's nothing I can do, nothing anyone can do."
"I should have used the time I had to pressure him into keeping the building intact. But I didn't do that. I got lost in the moment, and that was a mistake. I'm sorry."
"Oh, my God! Stop apologizing! Saving this building isn't on you, and no one is going to hold it against you if Grayson decides to sell."
"I'll hold it against me."
"Well, you're going to have to figure out how not to do that. Anyway, we still have time. Frank told me that Grayson is going to help him with the car tomorrow to get it ready for the car show on Saturday."
"Well, that's good. Maybe he's resolved his business problems if he has time to work on the car." She was both happy and annoyed that he'd had time to talk to Frank but not to her. Maybe he did have regrets about what had happened between them. "Let's change the subject," she said, looking back at Kaia. "How's your doctor?"
"Not happening," Kaia said shortly.
