Trust in Advertising (53 page)

“Well, I have a feeling his big plan is going to backfire. There are too many things up in the air and a long list of suspects.” Sean took a long drink from his beer. “I still think we should slam people into chairs, put a spotlight on them, and use a good old lie detector. Works in the movies.”

“And it’s not admissible in court. Not to mention it goes against their civil rights, dear.” Elizabeth rolled her eyes and slapped his hand as he tried to steal 320

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some of Madison’s strawberries, then she left the room in search of her grand-daughter. Robert followed after her.

Erik grabbed a beer and sat down on a stool between Sean and Anna. “What are we going to do about Vincent?”

Sean chuckled. “You mean how do we get Jade to get her claws out of him?”

“Exactly.” He looked over at his wife, who was being extremely tight lipped.

“Anna, do you have an opinion on this one?”

“You know I hate that woman with every cell in my body. She is a soul-sucking leech who is dating Vincent for her own gain and sponging off his notoriety in the community. I told you on their first date that she was trouble.”

Anna pointed an accusing finger at Sean. “But no, you said, and I quote, ‘She’s a hot. Let him have his fun,’ end quote.”

“In my defense,” Sean held up his hands innocently, “I hadn’t heard her speak when I made that comment. I was basing it solely on the hotness of her rack. Had I known the screeching bansheelike tone of her voice, I would have suggested he throw holy water on her.”

They al turned when a car screeched into the driveway. Erik went over to the window and laughed. “Um, what did you do to piss off Hope now?”

Sean sprang to his feet. Anna elbowed Erik out of the way so she could watch the show. Hope was at Sean’s Jeep, dumping things out of a paper bag and onto the hood of his car. She stepped back, assessed her work, then picked up something black and gently dangled it from the antenna. She headed for the house with a proud swagger in her step.

“Is that your …” Erik stared, open mouthed.

“… underwear?” Anna finished, giggling.

“Yeah, she kinda hates it when I leave my clothes on the floor.”

Hope strolled in and greeted Erik and Anna, but ignored Sean completely.

“Hi, Hope.”

“Hello, swine.” She grabbed the beer Erik offered, popped the top, and took a swig, still refusing to look at Sean.

“I forgot,” he pleaded.

“Bull. You remembered to bring the beer here. You remembered to TiVo that soccer game. But the laundry—that you had to step over to get to the bathroom—you forgot, right? Please.”

“Baby.”

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“Don’t
baby
me or there will be more than your underwear hanging from that antenna out there.
Capisce
? I know people.”

Sean grinned and wrapped his arms around Hope. “You know I love it when you go all Sopranos on me, right? You’re so sexy when you’re mad.”

Hope elbowed him in the gut. “So that’s why you piss me off all the time?”

“Yep.”

“Swine.”

“Oink, oink.” He nuzzled her neck and gave her behind a hard smack.

“I have no idea why I hang around you.” She went over and sat down.

“Thanks for inviting me, Anna.”

“Thanks for the entertainment. So, when is Lexi getting here? I thought you two would ride over together.”

“We were going to, but she went into the office this morning and never came back. She called and said she’d meet me here. I can’t wait until they finish this cosmetics ad. She’s driving me nuts!”

“Yeah, Vincent’s been a real joy too. They have good ideas, but they don’t have a spectacular one that will blow the roof off of it, and that’s what’s driving him crazy. He’s such a perfectionist.” Sean rolled his eyes.

“Poor Lexi spent her Saturday at the office and now she has to come here and deal with the she-viper.”

“Wait, Jade’s coming? I thought they were out of town.” Hope quirked an eyebrow at Sean, but his somber expression told the tale. “Awesome!” A wide grin spread on her face.

Erik choked. “You’re excited about seeing Jade? I think he might have driven you mad.”

“Oh, I have been dying to meet this witch. If she steps out of line with my girl, I might just have to take her out.”

Sean turned to Erik and grabbed his arm. “Man, please tell me you have Maddie’s baby pool and a boatload of Jell-O,” he pleaded with Erik, earning a dirty look from both Hope and Anna. “Jeez, it was just a suggestion.”

“So, what do I need to know about her before she gets here?”

“She’s psychotic.”

“She’s the devil incarnate.”

“Her breasts are lopsided,” Erik offered with a shrug. “I have photographed her, ya know. We had to touch them up for the cover we worked on.”

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They were all still laughing when Elizabeth walked back into the house.

Robert stayed outside with Madison, pushing her on the swing. “Hello, Hope, good to see you again. Do I even want to know what you’re all hysterical about?”

She gave Hope a quick hug and went back to the sink to gather up the corn that needed to be peeled.

Through his laughter Sean told her, “Jade’s breasts.”

Elizabeth’s eyes grew huge then she shook her head and laughed. “I’m going back outside with your father and Maddie. They’re talking about caterpillars.

That’s more my speed. She wants to know if she can go in the pool, Anna.”

“Sure, Mom, that’s fine. Her swimsuit’s in the pool house along with towels if you and Dad want to go in too.”

When the laughter finally died down, they were back at square one. “How long until the walking buzzkill arrives?” Sean asked, wrapping his arm around Hope’s shoulders and kissing the top of her head.

“Vincent said they’re gonna be late, of course. Apparently, their flight was delayed because of mechanical trouble and by the time they would have gotten out there, they would have missed the red carpet. Jade threw a hissy fit at the airport and said there was no point in even going now, so they came home.”

“It’s all about the red carpet with her, isn’t it? I wonder if she has one leading up to her door.” Erik snickered.

“Why does he go out with her? I mean, Lexi would be so much better for him,” Hope said, shaking her head.

“Wait, does Lexi even like Vincent?” Sean asked, truly surprised. “I know
he
has a little crush on
her
. They did suck face and all, but I didn’t know she felt the same way.”

Erik laughed out loud at him. “You and Vincent are so blind sometimes.”

He leaned down and whispered to Sean. “And for the record, it’s no little crush.

I get the feeling his crush is a rather big one.”

Anna stood up when she heard another car pull in the driveway. A second later, a loud scream came from the backyard. “Lexi’s here!” Madison’s squeals of delight were followed by loud splashing noise.

“Hi, Maddie! Having fun in the pool?” Lexi’s voice came in through the open window. Anna smiled as she watched Lexi hug the soaking wet little girl who had launched herself into her arms. She carried her toward the water where Robert and Elizabeth were waiting.

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“She’s such a good person,” Anna said wistfully as she turned away from the window, a look of determination on her face. “We need to get rid of Jade.”

“I got duct tape in the car,” Hope offered.

“I know a guy,” Sean smirked.

“We just need Vincent to make a move,” Anna said. The backdoor opened and Lexi’s head popped in, her long brown hair falling over her shoulders, sunglasses perched on top of her head. She was wearing a black string bikini with a towel wrapped around her waist.

“Hi, guys. Anna, do you need any help? Maddie has kinda kidnapped me and wants me to swim.” Lexi smiled and waved at Hope, nodding toward the cars. “Nice work, by the way.”

“Thanks.”

“Go swim. I’ve got everything under control.” Anna waved her hand and ushered her back outside.

“Is anyone else coming in the pool?” Lexi asked before she ducked back outside.

“We’ll be out in a few minutes.” Anna grinned.

Erik and Sean snickered. “This should be interesting.”

“What’s so funny?” Anna asked, looking back and forth between the two.

Sean shrugged. “Nothing, we just can’t wait to see Vincent’s face when he gets a load of Lexi in that bikini, or Jade’s for that matter.” The pair high fived each other and laughed.

“Come on.” Anna laced her arm with Erik’s. “Let’s go save poor Lexi from our daughter and have some fun before Satan’s whore arrives.”

The pool was cool and refreshing, a wonderful contrast to the humidity of the sunny afternoon. Madison kept everyone entertained with her flips, dives, and cannonballs, loving the attention of the doting adults. Sean and Erik took turns throwing her high into the air so she could splash down in the pool, a wave spilling over the side and drenching the girls where they were trying to sunbathe.

After a few death threats, the men got out of the water and started the grill.

“Who wants a margarita?” Anna asked as she held the kitchen door open.

Lexi’s and Hope’s hands shot up immediately, and Elizabeth’s joined theirs after some thought. “I’m not making a virgin one for you, Mom. You’re having tequila. I don’t even care if you dance on the table this time.”

Anna began prepping the glasses with salt. As she cut the limes into wedges, she heard doors slam out front. “Cue the wicked witch music,” she mumbled.

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Anna opened the side door to greet her brother and his girlfriend.

“Oh Lord, margaritas? I hope you’re making Mom a virgin.” Vincent came in and kissed Anna on the cheek, handing her a bottle of wine. Jade was yapping on her phone and gave a bored, two fingered wave from the doorway.

“I can’t turn back the hands of time. Mom’s days as a virgin are long gone.”

He helped her put the finishing touches on the drinks before Anna thrust the glasses into his hands. “Go give these to Hope and Lexi. They’re out by the pool.” He craned his neck to look out the back window. “She’s in the black string bikini, in case you couldn’t tell.” Anna nudged him in the shoulder and tried not to laugh when his eyebrows shot up in surprise.

“Jade,” Vincent tried repeatedly to invite her out back but she waved him off and went back out onto the driveway, probably for better reception. “Never mind, then. Anything else you want me to take out?”

“Nope.” Anna grinned.

Vincent balanced the drinks and took the first one to Hope, who was sitting in the shade, flipping through a magazine. She pointed toward Lexi, who was lying on her back in the sun, her skin glistening with the shimmer of suntan oil and sweat. Her black sunglasses were pulled down over her eyes, a perfect little pout on her lips.

Vincent slowly walked up behind her, his body casting a long shadow over her as she lay in the lounge chair. He knew she was beautiful, but had no idea just how spectacular her body was until he saw it lying before him like an offering.

Every inch of her skin was perfect, like porcelain as it contrasted the dark color of her swimsuit. The swells of her breasts and the curves of her hips screamed to be touched. As he stood there, frozen in place, he fought the urge to reach out and run his hands over her skin, just to feel the softness under his fingertips.

“Sean, Jesus, you’re like a solar eclipse. Move, I’m trying to get so—” Lexi whipped off her sunglasses and spun around, squinting her eyes from the bright sunlight until she saw Vincent smiling at her. “Vincent.” His name came out in a rush of breath. “Wh-what are you …”

“Change of plans.” He offered her the drink from his hand. “Your drink, miss.”

Lexi took the drink and set it down on the small table beside her. “Nice cabana service Anna has here,” she joked. He slid onto the lounge chair beside her and stole her sunglasses off her head.

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“What did I miss?” he asked as Maddie came running over to him and crawled into his lap.

“You missed my cannonballs, Uncle Vincent. I got Grandma all wet,”

Madison bragged.

“I’m so sorry I missed that.” He kissed the top of his niece’s head.

“Did you bring your swimsuit?” Maddie asked hopefully.

“Yep.”

“Go change and I’ll show you again.” Madison hopped back onto the ground, tossed her towel on the deck, and jumped into the water. “Come on, Uncle Vincent, hurry.”

Lexi laughed. “You better hurry, or she’s going to start jumping and you’ll be wet anyway.”

Vincent smiled at Lexi and slipped her sunglasses back over her eyes.

“Thanks for letting me borrow these.” He brushed his fingers over her cheek, then took off for the pool house, stripping off his shirt as he walked away. He didn’t see Lexi and Hope mouth “nice” to each other when he disappeared through the doorway.

He quickly changed and joined his niece in the pool. Soon her laughter rang out followed by an enormous splash. A fraction of a second later, a huge wave of water slammed into Lexi’s chair. She bolted straight up and brushed the dripping hair from her face.