Ask Adam (12 page)

So. It was out of character for Riley to introduce himself as Adam? She tucked that little piece of information away to ponder over another time. “Would it make you more comfortable if I called him AJ? Or Mr. Riley?”

“Not at all,” Matt assured her, a strange gleam to his eyes. “I’m sorry, I’ve gone off track.” He put his glasses back on. “What were you saying about monthly reports?”

“Just that…Adam has requested we keep you up-to-date with them. I’d also like to invite you over from time to time to see the progress we’re making. If the children are up to it, possibly even have you meet some of them.”

“That sounds fine,” he said. “I’d quite like that. Once you’re officially up and running and the rooms are ready, we’ll be sending a photographer around to document the project. There’ll be a lot of public interest in this.”

“Perhaps on the opening day we can hold a small press conference? That will cover any media needs for both Riley Corporation and the hospital, and it will give the project some much-needed publicity. The more parents out there who are aware of it, the better. Once the program begins, I won’t allow press or photographers into the offices. I won’t subject our kids to that.”

Matt nodded. “I wouldn’t expect you to.” He looked down at his own notes. “Any other issues to discuss?”

“None,” Lexi said. “How about you?”

“Nothing right now. If you think of anything, feel free to contact me at any time.”

“Thank you, and same here.” Lexi checked her watch. “Now if you don’t mind, I’m going to have to call an end to this meeting. I have a pressing matter that needs my attention.”

“Hospital work. I understand.”

“Good guess, but nope.” Lexi smiled. “This one’s much closer to home. My brother’s getting married on Sunday and it’s time for me to spend some quality sibling time with him.”

* * *

Lexi looked at Daniel and sighed in envy. Her brother had a permanent grin plastered on his face. He’d had it since Amy’d agreed to marry him. He’d also spent an inordinate amount of time hugging Lexi just because she was his sister. Sarah had left the room minutes earlier to escape being crushed in yet another brotherly embrace.

“Can you believe it?” he asked with one of his stupid smiles. “In less than an hour, I’ll be a married man.”

It was pretty hard to believe. Daniel’d always been a diehard bachelor, a non-believer in the whole commitment story. Today was his wedding day. Who’d ever have thought? Daniel Tanner—a groom. No question about it, he was a changed man. There was a sense of completion about him that hadn’t been there before his best friend accepted his proposal.

Lexi envied him. She wanted what he had—a lifelong commitment with the person he loved. Daniel’s life was full. Hers was not. No matter how busy or exciting her days were, her nights always stretched out long and empty, with no one to come home to at the end of the day. No one to talk to, to snuggle up to, to make love to. No one. Just her.

For a few hours with Adam, before she’d discovered his identity, she’d experienced a brief sense of the wholeness that Daniel now displayed. It wasn’t enough. It was gone before she’d even sniffed at it, and she wanted it back. Not with Riley, obviously. With someone who could still the loneliness in her. Someone who could fill up that emptiness.

“I bet she outdazzles the sun,” Daniel gushed.

Lexi stuck her finger in her mouth and made gagging noises. “God, you’re pathetic. If I’d known you’d behave like this, I’d never have helped you in your plans to get Amy.”

For about the millionth time that day, Daniel picked her up and twirled her around. “Did I ever thank you for your help? I couldn’t have done it alone, you know.” Did he ever thank her? More like, did he ever stop thanking her?

“Oh please,” Lexi brushed him off, “I’ve seen the way Amy looks at you now. You could have sent her a text message telling her you love her and she would have fallen for you.”

He grinned again. “Yeah, still. A bit of gentle nudging was a lot more effective. Who knows, Lex, maybe one day I can return the favor.”

Lexi’s smile faded. “Yeah, who knows? Maybe one day you can.” If Daniel could find a woman he wanted to make a lifelong commitment to, surely there was someone out there for her? Her mind flashed on Riley’s sculpted chest. Someone who didn’t make her feel like a common call girl every time he saw her.

Lexi stood with her mother and sister as the newlyweds posed for photographs.

“I can’t believe Daniel didn’t insist on taking the pictures himself,” Lexi whispered in wonder.

“I can’t believe he can take his eyes off Amy long enough to look at a camera, never mind take a picture.” Sarah chuckled.

“It wasn’t so long ago that you were the one who couldn’t drag your eyes off Steven,” Molly, their mother, said with affection, and they all turned to watch Sarah’s husband in his desperate attempt to catch their four-year-old son, Benjamin, before he knocked yet another glass off the pristine tables in the reception hall.

The guests trickled in, and Daniel and Amy smiled for the last few shots before turning to greet everyone. The band played softly in the background and waiters walked around with platters of canapés and other tasty morsels to tide the crowds over until dinner.

Lexi accepted the congratulations and kisses of ten thousand well-wishers before finally taking her seat at her table along with Sarah and her family. After Daniel and Amy danced the first dance, other family members and guests rose to join them on the floor.

Lexi grabbed her nephew’s hand. “Come on, Benny. It’s time to dance.”

“I don’t know how,” he told her, in all his four-year-old’s innocence.

“It’s easy, I’ll show you. Just stand on my feet and I’ll lead you around.”

Ben stared at her feet with mistrust. “I don’t know, Lekth,” he said. “Thothe shoeth look vewy high.”

She laughed. Her heels were a little higher than usual but they looked good and that was what mattered. “Don’t worry, just hold tight and I promise you won’t fall.”

In minutes, she was laughing with her nephew as they tried a series of dance steps, looking for a suitable one for a woman of nearly six-feet and a boy who barely reached her hips. Finally, she surrendered to the inevitable and picked Ben up, hugging him tight while she swayed them from side to side.

As Daniel and Amy joined them, Ben tugged at her arm and lisped, “Lex, why is that man staring at you?”

“What man, sweetheart?” Three pairs of eyes turned to look in the direction Ben pointed.

Her stomach lurched as she found the man. His gaze froze her movements, and her heart pounded in her chest. What was he doing here? He looked yummy enough to eat, dressed in a tux and crisp white shirt that showed off his tanned skin and contrasted sharply with his black hair. Lexi swore to herself. Dammit, what happened to the air whenever he was around?

“It’s AJ,” Daniel said.

“You know him?” Lexi asked, astounded.

“Yep. He came to the exhibition, bought a few of the photos. We’ve become quite good friends since. We run together about three times a week.”

“He’s hot,” Amy observed, “in a cold kind of a way.” She placed a placating hand on Daniel’s arm. “Don’t panic, Tanner. He doesn’t hold a candle to you.”

“He’d better not,” Daniel huffed and Lexi moved discreetly out of their way as her brother dipped his head toward Amy’s.

“Who ith he?” Ben asked, unaware of the acute discomfort the man stirred in her.

“Just a man.” A man who threw her world off centre. A man who made her feel as glorious as the rising sun and smaller than the tiniest flea. A man who seemed to turn up every time she came to terms with not seeing him again.

“Well, why’s he staring at you?” Ben lisped.

Why was he staring? He’d made it clear he wanted nothing more to do with her by dismissing her from his life and sending Matt to deal with her instead.

“I’m not sure,” she told Ben. “Maybe he’s wondering who this cute guy is I’m holding.”

“No,” Ben disagreed. “He’s looking at you. Do you know him?”

“Yes, sweetie, I met him through work.”

“Then why don’t you say hello to him?”

Because that’s probably the last thing he wants. Besides, I can’t seem to breathe properly when he’s around.

“I’ll do it if you’re too scared,” Ben offered and lifted his arm and waved at Riley. “Hello, man,” he yelled across the room and Lexi snorted, though in amusement or horror she wasn’t certain.

He hadn’t taken his eyes off her for a second, not from the minute she’d preceded the bride down the aisle. He’d hidden in the crowds and watched her, content to keep his distance yet drink his fill. Touching her may be off limits but he couldn’t stop himself from staring.

She looked stunning. Her dress was the same color as a predawn sky, with a simple line that clung in all the right places. The long slit up the side allowed for an enticing view of shapely thigh—thigh that had been wrapped around his waist, and his neck, more than once in Melbourne. A low neckline showed off slim shoulders and a teasing glimpse of firm, round breasts. Breasts he wanted to bury his face in. Breasts he
had
buried his face in.

He headed over to her, watching as the boy wriggled out of her arms and skipped off to play with another child across the room. He sighed in relief. One less stress to deal with. Dealing with Lexi on her own was hard enough.

She frowned as the child raced away, then she stood a little straighter and flicked her hair over her shoulders as if bracing for his arrival.

“Lexi,” he greeted her, keeping his voice neutral.

“Adam.” She eyed him nervously.

Who could blame her? Last time she’d seen him he’d said some pretty outrageous things. “Congratulations.”

“Thank you.”

“They make a handsome couple.”

A brief smile touched her mouth as she looked at the bride and groom. “Yes, they do.” She turned back to him. “I didn’t expect to see you here.”

“That would explain the stunned expression on your face.”

“I never knew you and Daniel were friends.”

“There seems to be quite a few things you never knew about me.”

A hint of color touched her cheeks. “Yeah, well that’s the thing about meeting someone for the first time. You generally don’t know very much about them.”

“Does it make you uncomfortable? Knowing you’ve slept with a friend of your brother’s?” Shit, why’d he have to talk about sex every time he saw her? What made him so damn horny all he could think about was hauling her off into some secluded corner and fucking her stupid?

Her eyes blazed. “Not as uncomfortable as it does knowing the friend thinks I slept with him under false pretences.”

“Did you?” The way she got all worked up and hot under the collar like that, well it got him all worked up and hot under the collar.

Her hand fisted at her side and for a minute he thought she might punch him.

“I have answered that question,” she bit out and stepped closer, speaking into his ear, her voice soft enough so only he could hear and aggressive enough to get those hot bits under his collar really burning. “Several times. Now, you listen up, and you listen good. This is my brother’s wedding and I will not engage in some two-bit discussion with you about what kind of a whore you think I am. I won’t do it now, and I won’t do it tomorrow or the next day. If you have anything else you need to say to me, I’m sure Matt will be happy to pass on the message. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I see someone I would like to spend time with.”

Ouch.

As she twisted around to leave, he grabbed her wrist and spun her back to face him.

“Just what the hell do you think you’re doing?” she asked in a ferocious whisper. Her smile was tight and her gaze darted around as she checked to see if anyone had noticed their little altercation.