The Bachelor and the Beauty Queen

“Accept it,” Nate said with a carefree shrug. “We’re not the holiday uncles who come in town and shower the girls with gifts. We’re parents now and we need to realize our kids are going to mess up. Are you up for the job, or do you want to go back to your big old mansion in Berkeley Lake and visit us on vacation?”

Stephen did not like the idea of not being with his nieces. He hated Nate’s veiled threat. “Well, big brother, you’ve got some thinking to do.” Nate gave Stephen’s knee a hard pat. “I’m going to go upstairs, give Lexi this pager.” He extracted a square black buzzer with a red center which reminded him of something a commercial restaurant would hand out when a table was ready. “I want to watch Philly get ready for talent.”

The other girls weren’t done on stage, but Stephen got up, not caring about seeing about the rest. He wanted to spy on Kimber. What kind of outfit had Lexi designed? Lexi had worked day and night for Philly’s dress. When did she have time to complete one for Kimber?

“Stephen, right?”

One of the last people Stephen wanted to run into was the woman he held responsible for Kimber entering the pageant. Rose Laing, Lexi’s former boss. She exited the doorway of the hotel’s bar and tugged at the hem of her low-cut leopard-print tank top—her steps a bit wobbly. “Hello.” Stephen gave a short nod with his bald head.

“You out here all by yourself?”

Stephen wanted to button up his shirt with the way the woman leered at him. Something about the way she spoke to him creeped him out. “I’m about to find my family.”

“Lexi?” The corners of her eyes where he expected to see crow’s feet trembled. A sly smile tried to appear but obviously Botox worked for her. “She should know better than to leave a handsome man like yourself down here all alone.”

“Well, I’m a big boy,” Stephen said, backing up as she closed the gap between them. Someone ought to teach her about personal space. Her breath smelled like gin.

“Yes, you are.” A weird growl came from the back of her throat. “You know I am a firm believer in returning favors. Lexi slept with my husband. I think turnabout’s fair play. You and I should get together.”

“Whoa!” Stephen jumped when Rose reached out between his legs.

Pulling her head back in amusement, Rose gave a bit of a cackle. “You seem shocked. You didn’t know?”

“Lexi’s past is none of my business.”

Now realizing he would not sleep with her, Rose stepped back and chose her next weapon. “Haven’t you ever wondered why she stopped being a pageant coach?”

“No.”

“Ever wonder why her little dress shop is so little? Why she tucked her tail between her legs and took off or why her parents want nothing to do with her?” Rose went on, “She has such a bad reputation. No one wants to buy from her.” Rose sniffed the air and exhaled loudly, “And I’m not saying this because I caught her and Ernest.”

Stephen’s jaw twitched as he ground his back molars together. “Ma’am, what happened in the past is not any of my concern.”

“Of course not,” Rose said with a throaty laugh. She dug her phone out of the lace lining of her bra and flipped her screen on. “You’re not concerned anymore. This is you in the photograph with Natalia Ruiz, no?”

For some reason Stephen took the bait and craned his neck to view her screen. He shook his head, trying to figure out why his picture would be in Rose’s phone. “You’ve moved on to better things.”

“You’ll have to excuse me,” Stephen grumbled. He needed to find Lexi and find her fast. The last thing he wanted her to think was he’d gone to Natalia last night while angry. Dinner was strictly business. He might be mad as hell with Lexi, but not crazy.

“Don’t say I didn’t warn you. Good luck to your niece today,” Rose called out. “Remind her second place is nothing to sneeze at.”

* * *

In order to get a better assessment of Kimber’s walk, Lexi thought it would be a good idea to watch her go from room to room. Lexi propped open Kimber and Philly’s door and Nate’s to judge. After a summer of monitoring pageant walking with cupcake hands, Kimber managed the art well. Nervously, Kimber chewed on her bottom lip, waiting for Lexi’s opinion, while the boyfriends stood off to the side, tossing a football to each other.

Lips curving into a slow smile, Lexi couldn’t keep the girl in suspense any longer. “You are awesome!”

Kimber’s sister and fake boyfriend cheered for her. Her new boyfriend picked her up and swung her around in the air. “Oh, thank God!” Kimber cried. “Miss Chantal and Andrew ran those old tapes of you in the store. I’ve been studying your walk all summer!”

“You’ve mastered it, Kimber.” Lexi beamed. “I want you to remember, I will always be off to the side watching you, in case you need reassurance,” Lexi said, patting Philip’s large arm to set Kimber down. He let her down easy but still kept his arm protectively over her shoulder while he one-handedly caught a football toss from Marvin.

Nodding, Kimber blushed, “I’ve got this!”

“I still don’t want you to feel like you have to go through with this.”

“Are you kidding me?” Kimber gasped. “I’m sorry, but that brat’s mother needs to be shut down.”

“She wasn’t always mean,” Lexi mumbled to herself. Her heart ached for Vera and the pressure her mother must be putting on her now to win. “I’m a big girl. You don’t have to worry about me.”