This I Promise You (17 page)

“Yes, ma’am.” Quentin kissed her nose, then playfully swatted her backside when she turned to leave. As she and Summer headed upstairs, a burst of raucous male laughter from the kitchen made the sisters smile.

Summer followed Lexi into her bedroom, looking around in awe. “I still can’t get over the fabulousness of this room. It’s
huge
. Bigger than my entire apartment.”

“I doubt that,” Lexi said with a chuckle, carrying Junior over to the king-size bed piled high with luxurious pillows. After laying him down and stepping out of her high heels, she unbuttoned her blouse and lowered the flap on her nursing bra, then stretched out on the bed to feed her son. As he eagerly latched onto her nipple, the release of milk acted as a soothing balm, instantly relaxing her.

Summer toed off her suede ankle boots and joined her sister on the bed, lying on her side with her head propped up against the mound of pillows. “Who kept Junior while you were at the meeting? Quentin’s mom?”

Lexi nodded. “But Ma kept him overnight on Monday and had him for most of yesterday while I worked on my cookbook.” She smiled. “When I arrived to pick him up, she was sitting on the floor playing with him and laughing her head off. You should have seen her. She looked thirty years younger. So happy and beautiful. It was amazing.”

A shadow of a smile touched Summer’s mouth. “I can imagine.”

Lexi gently stroked her son’s hair, savoring the soft warmth of his body curled against hers as he rhythmically suckled her nipple, his gaze intent on her face.

Summer watched them with a tender expression. “How long do you plan to breastfeed him?”

“I’m trying for a year.”

“Wow. A whole year?”

“That’s what the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends.”

Summer grinned. “Well, that’s good for Junior. Maybe not so good for Quentin.”

Lexi chuckled. “He knows the deal. We both want what’s best for our child. Besides,” she drawled, “breastfeeding has made my boobs bigger, and Quentin sure as hell ain’t complaining about
that
.”

“I bet he ain’t!”

The two sisters laughed.

After another moment, Summer rolled onto her back and lifted up her sweater to show her stomach to Lexi. “Look at this. See this flab?”

Lexi eyed her sister’s smooth belly. “What flab?”

“Are you kidding?
This
flab,” Summer said, pinching the extra flesh around her waist. “I’m getting love handles.”

“Hmm.” Lexi grinned. “I think you might be right.”

“
See?
” Summer shook her head in consternation. “I’ve been working so damn hard I can’t even remember the last time I went to the gym. And I’ve been eating so much junk food it’s ridiculous.”

“That’s not good.”

“Tell me about it.” Summer sighed in disgust. “This never would have happened if Colby still lived with me. He was like my own personal trainer and drill sergeant. No matter how busy our schedules were, he always made sure we hit the gym, and he didn’t let me get away with eating out all the time.”

Lexi grinned slyly. “Well, I know at least
one
person who has no complaints about the weight you’ve gained.”

“Who?”

“Percy. In case you didn’t notice, Summer, he couldn’t take his eyes off you.”

She watched with extreme interest as a blush stole over her sister’s cheeks.

“I didn’t notice,” Summer mumbled.

Lexi was skeptical. “No?”

“No. I didn’t.”

Lexi studied her sister through narrowed eyes. “What’s going on between you and Percy?”

“Nothing!” Summer insisted with such vehemence that Lexi’s brows shot up.

Summer bit her bottom lip, looking self-conscious. “Of course there’s nothing going on between us,” she said more calmly. “I mean, Percy’s always been like a big brother to me. They all have.”

“Yet Percy’s the only one you texted about being home,” Lexi pointed out. “Did you notify any of the others? Liam? Jagger? Shokare? Gabriel? Khalil? Derek?”

Summer heaved a breath. “No,” she grudgingly admitted. “I didn’t text anyone else.”

“Just Percy.”

“Yes. Just Percy.”

Lexi let that statement hang between them, watching as Summer dropped her gaze, shifted on the bed and began tracing the pattern of the duvet with her index finger.

“What’s going on, Summer?” Lexi prodded.

“Nothing,” she insisted. “I told you I’m not interested in Percy. I don’t see him that way. Besides, he’s not really my type.”

“What type? Tall, gorgeous, rich and successful?”

Summer laughed. “You know what I mean. You know I love my men dark chocolate. Give me one of those Wolf boys.”

“Hmm.”

Summer looked at her. “What?”

“The Wolf boys are fine as hell, but I seriously doubt you’re checking for any of them. In fact, you sound like you’re trying to convince yourself that you want anyone
but
Percy.”

When Summer’s gaze slid away, Lexi’s eyes widened. “Oh, my God. I’m right, aren’t I? Something happened between you two, didn’t it?”

“Of course not!”

“Summer.”

She covered her face with her hands and groaned. “Dammit, Lexi. Why are you cross-examining me? I thought Quentin was the lawyer in the family, not you.”

Lexi grinned. “Spill it, little girl.”

Summer sighed in defeat and shook her head. “Fine. I’ll tell you.”

“I’m all ears.”

Summer removed her hands from her face and stared up at the coffered ceiling. “Last year when I came home for Christmas, I went out for drinks with Percy. And before you say anything,” she hastened to add, “the only reason it was just the two of us is because everyone else had plans that night, which I explained to Colby when he went all papa bear on me and tried to stop me from going. Percy just happened to be free that evening. So it’s not like it was a date or anything.”

“Duly noted,” Lexi drawled, lips twitching. “Go on.”

“We met at this little cocktail lounge I’d never heard of before. I think Percy wanted to make sure we wouldn’t run into any of his bimbos,” Summer said with a dry chuckle.

Lexi grinned. “Probably.”

“Anyway, it was a really nice spot. Quiet and cozy with soft jazz music playing in the background. We ordered drinks and then we just sat there and talked. About our work, career goals, families, favorite movies. I never realized what a great listener he is. I felt like I could tell him anything, and I probably did.”

Lexi smiled, enjoying the soft wonder on her sister’s face. “Sounds like you and Percy really connected that night.”

“We did.” A dreamy smile curved Summer’s lips. “We were having such a good conversation we didn’t even notice the time. The hours just flew by and before we knew it, it was three A.M. and the lounge was closing. I wasn’t ready to leave. And neither was Percy, apparently, because he slipped a few Benjamins to our server, and dude let us stay a while longer.” She sighed. “I think that night was the first time Percy saw me as more than just your baby sister.”

“And you saw him as more than just a surrogate big brother,” Lexi said intuitively. “You saw him as a man.”

Summer closed her eyes and whispered, “Yes.”

Lexi smiled. “That’s not a bad thing, you know.”

Summer sighed. “Of course it is.”

“Why?”

“You know why. This is Percy Sheldon we’re talking about. He doesn’t do commitment. He doesn’t even know the meaning of the word.”

“Neither did Quentin,” Lexi pointed out.

Summer shook her head. “There’s no comparison. Quentin was in love with you for years, Lexi. He ran through women because he was trying to fill a void, and he didn’t realize
you
were the only woman he wanted. Percy doesn’t have that excuse. He’s a manwhore because that’s just who he is.”

“People change,” Lexi murmured.

“Do they?” Summer challenged. “Or are they just good at tricking others into
believing
they’ve changed?”

“Depends on the person. I believe some manwhores are genuinely capable of changing their ways.” She paused. “Especially for the right woman.”

Summer sighed. “I guess. But I’ve gotten my heart broken one too many times to be dumb enough to go down that road again. And it’s a shame too, because the pickings are so slim out here. Some of my friends have broadened their horizons and started dating and marrying white guys, and I’ve gone out with a few decent ones. But I just find myself more attracted to black men, which kinda sucks. I mean, you wouldn’t believe the type of brothas I meet on a regular basis. Even the ones who are broke and ugly think they’re God’s gift to women. If they’re attractive, educated and moderately successful, you can pretty much assume they’re juggling several side chicks.”

Lexi chuckled grimly. “I know, girl. You’re preaching to the choir. Don’t forget who I was married to.”

“Oh, I haven’t,” Summer grumbled. “And I still wish you’d let Quentin kill that bastard for the hell he put you through.”

“No need,” Lexi said serenely. “Living well is—”

“—the best revenge. Yeah, yeah, yeah. I still say that unleashing Quentin on him would have been a far more satisfying revenge, not to mention the ultimate act of charity.”

“Charity?”

“One less Adam McNamara in the world is a win for womankind.”

Lexi laughed, glancing down at her son. His suckling had slowed as he drifted off to sleep. She and Summer watched him for a few moments, smiling at how adorably innocent he looked.

“Does he need to be changed?” Summer whispered.

Lexi patted the baby’s diapered bottom and shook her head. “He’s good. Quentin’s mom fed and bathed him right before I picked him up.” She gently inserted her fingertip into the corner of Junior’s mouth. When he released her nipple, she smiled and kissed him tenderly on the forehead.

“I’ll put him to bed for you.” Summer carefully picked up the baby and carried him from the room.

With a lazy sigh, Lexi sat up and rebuttoned her blouse, then slid her feet into a pair of fluffy pink bedroom slippers. She emerged from her room just as Summer tiptoed out of the nursery and closed the door quietly behind her.

As they headed downstairs together, Lexi hugged her sister around the waist. “I’m so glad you’re home, kiddo. I miss you more than I realize.”

“I know. Me too.” Summer sighed, resting her head against Lexi’s. “You’re not gonna say anything to embarrass me in front of Percy, are you?”

Lexi chuckled. “Do you want me to?”

“Hell, no.”

“Then I won’t.” Lexi held up a hand. “Scout’s honor.”

Summer snorted. “You were never a Girl Scout.”

Lexi grinned deviously. “I know.”

They ate dinner in the formal dining room. Quentin and Lexi sat on one side of the large table while Percy and Summer were seated across from them.

Over dinner they kept up a steady stream of conversation, discussing and debating current events, politics, the latest movies, and any other topic that sprang up. Frequent bursts of laughter drowned out the soft strains of music piped through from the home’s sound system. Candles flickered invitingly along the length of the table, and wine flowed as freely as the warm camaraderie between the four diners.

For dessert Lexi served a spiced pear compote with fresh cream, which everyone enjoyed as much as the main course.

After lingering over espressos, they adjourned downstairs to the well-appointed media room. While Lexi curled up in Quentin’s arms on the love seat, Percy and Summer made themselves comfortable on the plush leather sectional. The foursome was enjoying one another’s company so much, no thought was given to turning on the flatscreen television that dominated one wall.

“There’s a film festival at the High Museum of Art this weekend,” Summer announced. “If I fly back on Friday, maybe we could all go together.”

“That sounds like fun,” Lexi said warmly. “But Quentin and I are going out of town this weekend.”

“Yeah? Where?” Summer asked.

Lexi glanced back at Quentin. This was his news to share.

“We’re going to Savannah to meet my mother’s family,” he explained.

Percy and Summer stared at him in surprise. “Really?”

He nodded.

“Wait. Is this the same family that disowned your mom when she married your father?” Percy probed. “The family you never talk about or even mention by name?”

A muscle ticked in Quentin’s jaw. “Yes.”

“What changed?” Summer asked curiously.

Quentin told them about his uncle’s surprise visit and the invitation to Savannah. When he’d finished speaking, Percy and Summer stared at each other and murmured, “Wow.”

“I know,” Quentin said with a grim chuckle. “It’s a lot to digest.”

“So much time has passed,” Summer marveled. “I wonder what really motivated your uncle to reach out after all these years.”