Page 42 of Last Chance Seduction
The other woman’s gaze brightened, even as her cheeks pinked with excitement.“He was always good at drawing.As an art teacher myself and somebody who takes time to paint every once in a while, it always made me smile when he would draw alongside me.”
“Takes time to paint my ass,” Brooklyn said, pausing.“That did not sound right at all.”
“Not even a little,” I said, holding back the loud laughter that would probably bring attention to us.
“Seriously though, you are an award-winning artist who just happens to teach at the local community college when you can.You are brilliant, Aunt Eliza.”
“Oh stop.I’m good at what I do, and I’m grateful for it, but it wasn’t the only thing in my life.Raising the boys and making sure that their father didn’t end up falling off a roof or something as the construction lead was a little too much for me.”
“So I guess watching his family thrive in their respective jobs led him down that path.”
“I think so.Brooklyn’s father, of course, is an architect, same as my sister-in-law Annabelle.We have a few more in the family, or at least ones that went along a parallel path.And it just worked out that they were able to find their way.And I’m so grateful for it.”
“And he’s great with working with others, meaning we get more projects and bids and we can grow over time.But not so quickly that we fall behind.”Brooklyn looked at her phone and winced.“We should probably be getting back soon.I still have a few invoices to finish up so I can call it a week and actually enjoy the holidays.”
“And I suppose it has nothing to do with you wanting to meet Duke?”I teased.
“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” she said primly, her cheeks pink.“But, we should probably get home, because I know Lexington will be home soon.”She sing-songed the latter part, and I flipped her off.Of course Eliza caught me, but she just burst out laughing.
We sang along to pop rock and oldies on our way home, and for the first time in forever it felt as if I was finding my place.Finding friends.
When we pulled up to my home, I frowned as Lexington’s truck was already in my driveway.
“Did he forget which house he lived in?”I asked, even as my stomach tightened.
He got out of the truck, and I did my best not to watch how his jeans hugged his thick thighs as he did so.After all, his mother was less than a foot away from me.I needed to control my hormones.Maybe.
“No, he’s right where he needs to be,” Eliza said as we scrambled out of the car.
“Good timing,” Lex said with a grin.“I have one of your presents right here.”
I stumbled, my throat tight.“A present?”
Of course I had gotten Lex a present, not that I had told the others who it was for.No, I had just been doing it because he was a great neighbor.And I really liked his kisses.
Lex smiled, and awkwardness settled in.Was I supposed to go to him, touch him, hold him, run away?I didn’t know.But then Lex Montgomery did what he did best and took control of things.He rubbed his knuckle against my cheek and leaned forward, brushing his lips against mine.“Have fun shopping?”
I blinked at him, wondering if he realized that he had just kissed me in front of his mother.But nobody said a damn thing, instead they opened the back of Brooklyn’s SUV and proceeded to pull out my bags.
“What are you doing here?”I asked, my voice soft.
“I remember when you were growing up that you always had two trees in the house, if not more.And well, the front bay window seems a little empty right now.”That’s when I realized the back of his truck wasn’t completely empty.A medium-sized fir tree lay there, and my throat tightened.
“Lex,” I breathed.
“It’s not the best tree in the world, it’s a little straggly since we’re so close to the holidays, but we need to let the tree live to its full potential.”
“I don’t know what to say.”Tears filled my eyes, and I blushed, ducking my head.
Lex cursed under his breath before he wrapped his arms around me.
“Did I mess up?I can put the tree in my house.I don’t mind having two.”
“No.You did good.I was just focusing on so many things that I was trying to let the holidays pass me by.But it seems your family’s not letting me.”
“We Montgomerys are a little stubborn like that.So I did okay?”
I looked up at him then, and my eyes filled.“You did great.I love it.”
