She followed him back, relieved to have a few moments to get herself under control.
Zach skirted the bed and bent to give her mom a solid squeeze. “Hey Mama Morales. It’s great to see you. I come bearing gifts.”
“Seeing your pretty face is gift enough.” Leandra patted his cheek, eyes sparkling.
“Oh, well then I guess I’ll drink this mocha myself.”
“Mocha?” Her mother reached out with grabby hands, making him laugh. “You are a good boy, Zach.”
“I certainly try.” He glanced over the chaos. “What’s going on here?”
“She’s got me cleaning out the closet.” Using the excuse of making a place for him to sit, Lexi shifted some clothes on top of the dress so he wouldn’t see it. “Have a seat.”
She didn’t wait to see if he did, just went back into the closet and resumed her work. “So what actually brings you by this morning, other than a mission of coffee?”
“I thought we could discuss strategy for shooting Jace and Tara’s wedding and then go get your car.”
Right. Her car was still at his studio. She hadn’t even thought of that yet this morning. Which just went to show how little her brain was firing.
“You were such a dear to put her to bed last night,” Leandra said.
Lexi choked on her next sip of coffee. “Put me to bed?”
The tips of Zach’s ears went red. “You, uh, weren’t exactly steady on your feet.”
Lexi opened her mouth to say...she had no idea what. She’d been drunk and he’d put her to bed. And her mother had apparently been awake to notice. Great. Figuring silence was the only acceptable response, she started to drink more coffee, then froze, the cup an inch from her mouth. She’d been in her t-shirt and underwear when she woke up, wrapped in the comforter like a human burrito.
Oh God, did he undress me?
With reluctant horror, she met Zach’s gaze. As if he could read her mind, he gave a small shake of his head. Lexi didn’t know if that made it better or worse. There was a tightness in his jaw, a seriousness in his eyes she didn’t know how to read.
They were just starting to get back to where they used to be, and she was glad of that. She’d missed him, more than she cared to admit. So she would put whatever that imagined look was out of her mind. It wasn’t attraction. It couldn’t be. Because that wasn’t who they were to each other, and she didn’t want to screw up their rekindling friendship by giving in to the seduction of hope.
Needing to get out of the room, away from her mother’s far too observant eyes, Lexi straightened her shoulders. “Right, well, it seems we have some work to do. Mom, can we finish the closet later?”
“Of course, mija. I’ll sort through what you’ve already pulled out.”
“Great. Zach, give me fifteen minutes to shower and change clothes, then we’ll go have a strategy session.”
Without waiting for an answer, she strode out, hoping they didn’t realize she was running.
“This is the official twenty-minute warning. Everybody finish getting dressed and get your butts down to the orchard for the ceremony. Got it?” Evan Applewhite spread a look over the assembled groomsmen who sprawled in various states of undress around the barn apartment at Applewhite Farms.
From his position by the window, Zach snapped a picture, capturing the mix of stern and repressed laughter.
“We’ve got it, Dad.” Jace shrugged into his vest. “Any last words of wisdom?”
Evan crossed to his son, reaching up to straighten Jace’s tie.
Click.
“Never go to bed mad. She’s always right. And don’t ever take her for granted.” He squeezed Jace’s shoulders. “You already did the hard part. You found the right one.”
“She’s one in a million.”
Click.
“I better get out there before your mother starts to fret. See you on the other side.”