Page 58 of Loving Lex

“It is a down day,” he said, taking my hand to help me to my feet. “But my queen still has to eat. We’re going to that balcony grill place for lunch that I pointed out the other night. The one with the fabulous hot wings.”

“Ah,” I said knowingly. “The famous New Orleans sorcery now has my king’s stomach in its hot little hands? Enchanting him with hot wings?”

“I heard a little something about to-die-for cake there, too,” he said, eyes narrowed as if thinking hard.

I raised a finger, headed for my bubbles. “I’ll be ready in forty-five.”

The wings trulylived up to their reputation, as did the amaretto and Bavarian cream almond crusted cake that nearly gave me my second magical experience of the day.

“You look ready to go home with that cake,” Maverick said with a grin, draping a lazy arm around the back of his wife’s chair. He was talking to her, not me, because she had the same look of divine rapture that I’m sure I wore.

“Oh, my God,” she murmured around a mouthful.

I nodded solemnly. “It’s no joke.”

“Grace?” Lucky said, scraping his chair back. “Running to the boy’s room, need me to order you one on the way?”

“God, no,” she said. “The way these ladies look right now, I’d never need you again, baby.”

I laughed. “Speaking of, did Lex come to that conclusion?” I twisted around to look for him. “Where did he run off to?”

“Where do youallkeep running off to?” Sophia said, giving Jarod a side-eye as he palmed the beer he’d just returned with. “I’ve never seen men jump up and down to pee so much in my life.”

As if on cue, Lex appeared at my side, pulling out his chair to sit. He winked at me and kissed my cheek, but there was an air of hurriedness about him. Distraction.

“What’s up?” I said quietly as the others chatted.

His brows drew together. “Nothing, why?”

“Because you’re like a nervous squirrel.”

“A squirrel?” he said, mocking insult.

“Here’s to Lex,” Jarod said suddenly when Lucky came back, holding up his beer. “If you’d never come to Vegas looking for answers about your brother, Cameo wouldn’t have gained another good man.”

“And the Vegas leg of the Russian trafficking syndicate wouldn’t have been disbanded,” Lucky added.

“True that,” I said softly, and Grace reached over to squeeze my hand.

“No,” Lex said, his voice thoughtful as he looked at his beer bottle like it held all the answers. “To all of you.” He looked up, his jaw muscles clenching as his eyes landed on each person, stopping on Lucky. “You showed up, man. You jumped through hoops to help me, putting your life and career at risk.” His gaze cut across the group. “You all risked your lives to save Shay—” His words cut off with emotion as he brought a hand up into my hair. I squeezed his thigh and blinked back the burn. Then he looked at Maverick. “You didn’t even know me,” he said, his voice nearly a whisper. “I can’t—”

“You don’t have to thank us,” Lucky said, a simple nod belying the feelings flashing through his face. “We’re brothers. I did what you would’ve done for me. I did what Finn would do. I just had your back, man.”

Lex nodded, his head bowed as he collected himself.

We all took a moment, but something in the New Orleans air felt too light to allow things to stay heavy too long.

“So, what’s up with the two of you now?” Grace asked, wiggling an eyebrow at me over her glass.

“Quit,” Lucky chastised, nudging her with a smirk.

“What?” she said, rolling her eyes. “Okay, Shay, I’m only looking at you.” She widened her eyes dramatically, and I giggled. “What areyougoing to do now? You staying at Cameo, or do you have something else on the horizon?”

I toyed with my cardboard coaster, balancing it on one edge as I glanced sideways at my guy. My rock. “Actually, the Kanes threw us a little bone,” I said. “I was ready to ditch Vegas after everything, but they really want my superman here to stay on at Cameo.” Laughs and guffaws circled the table. Jarod threw a random peanut at Lex’s chest. “So, after generously allowing us a short leave of absence, they are paying for my college courses and eventually veterinary school tuition while I waitress there.” I poked Lex with the coaster. “Fully clothed.”

“That’s awesome,” Sophia said, smiling. “My brother does have a soft side after all.”

“Yeah, her name is Charli Kane,” Jarod said, his eyes going humorous as he gazed at the dark-eyed beauty casually running a finger along his arm. “I have the same affliction.”

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