Page 13 of Loving Lex

Moonlight dusted her skin like a pearl. Her dark hair looked black in the eerie light. She was wearing something white and flowy. Damn it. Even from up here, something about her called to me, and I’d be damned if I could do anything about it.

Without giving it another thought, I pivoted around, made a beeline for my fridge, grabbed two cold Bud Lights, and made my way back down the stairs and out to the pool.

The old iron gate squeaked in protest as I let myself in, but she didn’t move. Didn’t even seem to notice me. As I approached, her eyes were closed, and she was skimming her toes through the water slowly. That’s when I noticed the earpods.

I pulled a chair over and sat next to her, slapping the beers down on the glass table. She still didn’t notice me. I leaned back a bit and tapped my foot against her lounger.

She yelped and sat up with her hand to her heart and yanked out one earpod. “Jesus!” She eyed me for a moment, then leaned back. “What are you trying to do to me tonight? What the hell do you want?”

I offered her a beer. “Peace offering?”

She looked from the beer to me like it might bite her. “Peace offering?”

“Yes.” I tipped it closer until she finally took it. “You look like you could use it, and I think we got off on the wrong foot.” I opened my own beer and took a long swallow. “That’s on me, I’m sorry about that.”

She popped the top like a pro but didn’t drink. “Are you? Sorry?”

I met her eyes. “I am.”

She looked away and didn’t say anything as she took a slow drink, her eyes on the horizon and the twinkling lights of the strip in the distance.

“So...” I leaned back and got comfortable, feeling her glance over. “First day, huh?”

She cringed. “Please don’t.”

“Don’t what?”

“I’m not in the mood for any rude comments or to be made fun of. I know I’m a lousy waitress, okay?” She took a swallow and closed her eyes to savor it. “God, do I know it.”

“So, get a different job.”

She scoffed. “It’s not that easy, Johnny.”

“It’s Lex, by the way,” I said. “And why not?”

She turned away, her gaze distant and thoughtful. “It’s just not. You wouldn’t understand.”

“Try me.”

“Maybe some other time.”

“Okay.” I let it go for now, understanding she needed some space to work through her crappy night. Plus, she didn’t know me from Adam. We drank our beer lazily in comfortable silence for a while as she continued to swish her delicate foot in the water, and we studied the distant lights. “What’s your name?” I finally asked.

She didn’t look over. “Shay.”

“Shay,” I repeated. “Pretty.”

Now she did glance over. “You just saying that because you’ve seen my tits?” There was a smile in her voice, and I had to admit I was glad I’d put it there.

“Maybe.” I smiled back.

“Fair enough.”

“For the record, I wouldn’t make fun of you,” I said. “Waitressing is no joke. That had to have been stressful enough without being self-conscious, too.” I picked at the label on my beer. “Can I give you a tip?”

She rolled her head my way with one eyebrow raised, looking so fucking ethereal and beautiful in the low light, I almost forgot what I was going to say. “Will it cost me?”

I couldn’t help the smile that pulled at my mouth, and I chuckled. “Balance the drinks on the tray according to the order you’ll be taking them off so you can adjust the weight. The bartender can’t do that for you.”

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