Philly couldn’t wait to spend time with Lexi. You’d think the woman walked on water. After the way things had happened between yesterday and today, Stephen admitted there was a slight wave of nervousness flittering in the pit of his stomach from the idea of being with her again. He couldn’t wait to see what kind of attire she concocted tonight.
“I’m sorry, but your name is not on the list.”
Stephen tilted his head to the side as he listened to a maître d’ with a thin mustache and slicked-back inky black hair inform him of his nonexistent reservation. He cleared his throat. “I’m Stephen Reyes.”
“I understand,” the tiny man clipped, “but as you see, we’re swamped. Everyone from the four counties is here tonight. Without a reservation, I can only put you on the waiting list. I will get you in within the hour.”
“The hour?” Nate shook his head, “No, the kids need to get into bed.”
Nate patted Stephen on the back before he had the chance to tell the little man what he could do with his hour’s wait. “Guess you’ll taunt Lexi some other time.”
“Lexi Pendergrass?” the little man repeated.
Both men stopped in their tracks. “You know Lexi?” Nate asked.
The maître d’ smiled widely as he nodded his head. “She is here already.”
“She had a reservation?” Stephen heard himself asking as the man ushered the Reyeses through the ivory-covered white fence.
“No, no, no.” He chuckled with a shake of his head. “Ms. Pendergrass needs no reservation.”
The restaurant’s interior seemed spacious, despite all the full tables. The tables scattered across the black-and-white-tiled floor were each crowded and adorned with white candles and crystal vases with two single-stemmed roses. Somewhere in the background, a live pianist played music over the various conversations and clinking of toasting glasses.
“Hi!”
Lexi appeared. She wore a champagne-colored dress made of some sort of body-hugging silk. The halter top gave him a perfect view of the swell of her breasts. Stephen cleared his throat. Hoping to stamp down the desire bubbling within, he yanked the hem of his black suit coat. The red color of her lips made them kissable and, with her long, blondish hair pulled to the side and secured with a white gardenia, his lips itched to press against her neck. Her maple-sugar skin begged for him to stroke it. The gold accents of his tie and thin stripes in his button-down Oxford couldn’t have matched Lexi’s attire more if he’d tried.
“I’m so glad you made it.”
“We’ve got a special seat for the queen,” cooed Lexi’s assistant from before.
After introductions, everyone started to take their seats, with Philly at the helm. A waiter walked in, carrying a tray filled with champagne glasses. Lexi took two and handed one to Stephen. They lingered uncomfortably behind while everyone else got situated. Stephen took a sip, Lexi staring at him. He willed her to read his mind.
This thing between us isn’t over.
She’d returned the look with a coy smile as those red lips pressed against the glass. Something about this woman irked him to no end. “Shall we?” he said, inclining his head toward the elegant table.
“Much obliged.”
Everyone had taken their seats. Philly sat at the head of the table with Kimber and Marvin to her left, followed by Chantal. Across from them sat Andrew and then Nate. The only remaining seats were next to each other, as if purposely designated for Stephen and Lexi. Stephen wasn’t sure why but he took the seat closest to Nate, thus leaving her to his right, all to himself.
“Lexi,” Nate said, leaning forward, “thanks so much for arranging everything.”
“Oh, sure.” Lexi gave his brother a toothy smile and possibly a flirtatious wink. “I figured, since I have this room as a standing offer, it was probably best to let your brother’s reservation go to someone else.”
“You were lucky to get one,” Chantal said in awe. “DuVernay’s is in the center of the four surrounding counties. It’s tradition for everyone to get all gussied up and come here after the fair.”
“Really?” both Stephen and Nate chorused.
“Don’t act so surprised. We’re small-town, Mr. Reyes, not backwoods,” Lexi said.
Chantal cleared her throat and turned the conversation on to something positive. She made a toast to Philly and to Lexi producing another Ultimate Grand Supreme.
Her words made Stephen think about what Lexi brought to the table for Philly. Obviously Philly had the right stuff because she was a beautiful child. She’d surpassed all the other children in the entire pageant tonight. Did the pageant world mean that much to her? She seemed happiest on the stage. After her parents died, Philly went into her own little world. She stopped talking as much, clung to her dolls more, and now here she sat with a crown too big for her head, the life of the party and entertaining everyone.
It was priceless. No amount of money or cool toys from Uncle Stephen brought the same smile Philly sported while seated next to Lexi. She did this.
The music from the other room filtered through to their area. The big fella, Andrew, cooed over Philly’s crown. Nate chatted with Chantal, while Marvin and Kimber were in their own world. Stephen pushed his chair away from the table and stood up. He reached his hand down for Lexi to take. For a moment, he thought she was going to stab him with her salad fork. Her dark eyes flared at him. The table grew quiet.