Undercover in the CEO's Bed (8 page)

“Oh...” Her heart jumped at his light touch. “No.”

He frowned. “Jacinta, the jewelry I bought for you, why did you return it all?”

She had to take a couple of breaths to calm herself. “Because after we broke up, I had no right to any of it.”

He shifted closer, and desire snaked through her. She had no antidote to his black-suited handsomeness. “They were gifts. I wanted you to have them. Still do.”

Unexpected tears gathered behind her eyes. The fabulous jewels—a fortune to her, a trifle to him—had been repositories of memories she needed to forget. “It wasn’t right to keep them.”

She kept her gaze on his bow tie. It was crooked, she observed, so she straightened it. His hand quickly came up and trapped hers, pressing it against his shirt. The heat from his body leaped out and snagged her.

“You’re a funny girl.” There was an odd, affectionate note in his words, as if he admired her, respected her.

“Yeah, I’m a hoot,” she got out, trying to ignore how much she was enjoying the physical contact.

“So many things I’m finding out about you that I never knew before.” He lifted her fingers and pressed them to his lips, sending another flutter through her veins. “But I’m glad some things haven’t changed.”

Like the way just one touch from him makes me shaky with need
. He didn’t have to say it—it was so apparent in the way she was swaying toward him.

“We’re going to be late.” Her voice sounded desperate, but for what she wasn’t quite sure.

Reluctantly, he let her hand fall. “We’ll continue this later.”

The promise in his voice made her shiver again. Her barriers were weakening. How much longer could she keep him at arm’s length?

…

At dinner Jacinta found herself seated next to a garrulous second cousin from Boston. As the cousin rambled on about his cross-country trip, she glanced toward the head of the table where Nana Alice sat with Lex and Kirk on either side of her. Both men were suavely handsome in their dark dinner suits, but it was Lex who dominated her attention. She thought of Alison and wondered how any sane woman would have chosen Kirk over Lex.

Across the length of the table, Lex looked up, caught her eye, and winked at her. Her lips twitched into a smile. Had he sensed her staring at him? She’d better pay more attention to her neighbors.

“Do you have a lot of these family reunions?” she asked the talkative cousin.

“Once every couple of years.” The cousin—belatedly she remembered his name was Matthew—dug into his oysters hungrily. “Aunt Alice likes gathering everyone together. Family’s very important to her.”

Jacinta nodded in agreement. Nana Alice was her kind of grandmother.

Matthew dropped the empty oyster shell and reached for another. “Even people who’ve strayed, she likes to bring into the flock just to keep in touch with them.”

“Strayed?”

“Oh, you know. People who aren’t part of the family anymore.” He shoveled in another mouthful before nodding toward the head of the table. “Like Lex’s mother, Estelle. She divorced Lex’s dad years ago, but I know Aunt Alice still keeps in touch with her. That’s why I thought she’d be here, since it’s such a special occasion.”

Jacinta’s fork slid from her fingers. She was too shocked to speak. Lex’s mother was still alive? She’d always assumed she wasn’t because Lex had never mentioned her. But then again, she herself had never talked about her mother. He knew about her issues with her mother, but what were his? Why didn’t Lex talk about her?

“Do you know if she’s coming to the garden party tomorrow?” Matthew asked.

She picked up her fork and focused on her plate. “No, she isn’t.” Otherwise, she was convinced Lex would have mentioned it to her. Wouldn’t he?

The elaborate dinner stretched on, and when it was finally over everyone rose from the table and dispersed into the library, the billiard room, or the terrace. Jacinta hung back from the bustle, hoping to catch Lex, but it was Nana Alice who came up and linked arms with her.

“At last I have you to myself.” She beamed up at Jacinta. “Come and have coffee with me.”

They went into the library where Nana Alice ushered Jacinta to a couch in the far corner away from the others. The housekeeper brought them coffee and left them with a smile.

“Did you enjoy dinner?” Nana Alice gently squeezed Jacinta’s arm. “You look nice and healthy, but an extra pound or two wouldn’t go astray.”

“Dinner was delicious.”

“And what a pretty dress you’re wearing. Silk crêpe de chine, isn’t it? Lovely.”

“Thank you.”

The elderly lady leaned toward Jacinta, her tone conspiratorial. “Did Lex buy it for you?”

“Um, yes, he did.” No point in lying.

“Lex is a good boy.” Nana Alice lifted her gaze and sighed. “Do you think he takes after his father?”

Following her gaze, Jacinta saw a portrait hanging on the wall nearby. The man in the painting was about sixty. His head was thrown up, his chin jutting out, his eyes piercing beneath thick eyebrows. One glance told her he could only be Lex’s father. They had the same facial bone structure, the same stature, the same coloring.

“They look similar.” She tilted her head to one side. “But only physically. In other ways, they’re very different.”

“Oh? What other ways?”

“Well, he”—she nodded toward the portrait—“looks autocratic, and I know Lex can be high-handed, too, but his father, that curl to the lips, he looks far more...domineering, ruthless.” Then, realizing who she was talking to, she pressed her fingers to her mouth. “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have said that—”

“It’s quite all right. I’m glad you’re so frank.”

“No, that was rude of me. Your own son...” She took a sip of coffee, wishing she were anywhere but here. She was making a fool of herself. Why hadn’t she just said something bland and complimentary?

“There’s no need to apologize. Philip was my son, yes, but that doesn’t mean I’m blind to his faults.” She breathed out a sigh. “He
was
domineering and ruthless. I tried my best, but he was always his father’s son. Lex didn’t have an easy time growing up. He’s always been talented, but no matter what his achievements it was never enough for Philip. Since Lex took his place at the company’s helm, I’ve been afraid he’d still be affected by his father’s treatment.”

She turned to Jacinta, her eyes warming. “But what you’ve just said reassures me so much. You obviously know Lex well. You can see he’s not going to turn out like his father. You know all the gentleness and kindness beneath his cool exterior.”

She did? All she’d said was that Lex wasn’t the bully his father appeared to be. Nothing about him being gentle or kind.

“I saw him winking at you at dinner like he was ten again.” Nana Alice smiled indulgently. “I haven’t seen him do that in years. Yes, you’ve changed him, Jacinta, for the better.”

“I have?”

“Oh, sure. For starters, he’s brought you here to Mariposa. He’s never brought any of his girlfriends to meet me before.” Her blue eyes grew even brighter. “But more importantly he reconciled with you after you two broke up.”

Jacinta blinked in confusion. “Why is that so special?”

“You know Lex. So intractable. Everything is black or white. I can just imagine how he reacted when the two of you separated. He would have vowed never to speak to you again, and his pride would have made him stick to that promise. But in the end he didn’t. He came back to you, and that tells me all I need to know. He cares for you. He cares so much he set aside his pride, and for him that’s no small thing. Yes, I can see you and Lex have a wonderful future together.”

Jacinta felt herself grow redder and redder. Nana Alice was in a fantasy world because of the deception she and Lex were pulling off. How could she continue to delude this gentle old woman who so obviously only wanted the best for her grandson?

“Well, actually...” The coffee sloshed in her cup as her hands shook.

“What is it, dear?”

I’m a fraud. Lex and I are both deceiving you
. The words burned on the tip of her tongue. Surely it wouldn’t hurt to tell Lex’s grandmother the truth? After all, it wasn’t as if Lex suspected
her
of industrial espionage.

“Um, as a matter of fact, there’s something I need to tell you about Lex and me.”

But the next second, her throat closed up. What an idiot she was. Of course she couldn’t tell Nana Alice the truth because then she’d know that Lex didn’t trust his uncle or cousins, the family members closest to him, the ones he ought to be able to rely on. Nana Alice would be hurt, bewildered, upset. She couldn’t do that to her. A light sweat broke out across her shoulders as she grappled for a way to backtrack while Nana Alice looked on expectantly.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to say that.” She set down her cup carefully, her hands still unsteady.

“Oh dear. This looks serious.” Nana Alice gave her a sweet smile. “I know we’ve only met today but I have a feeling you and I are going to be great friends. Whatever you have on your mind, please, you can tell me.”

“Uh, actually I promised Lex I wouldn’t tell anyone. Not yet anyway.”

“Ah...it’s a big secret between you and Lex.”

Jacinta hesitated, then nodded.

“And you can’t say anything now because it’s my party, is that it?”

Jacinta shifted about. “Something like that.”

“I think I know what it is.” Nana Alice chuckled as she tapped the side of her nose and winked theatrically. “Don’t worry,” she said in a loud stage whisper. “Your secret’s safe with me. I won’t breathe a word of it to anyone. Promise.”

Oh, nuts. What exactly did Nana Alice think the secret was? Jacinta leaned forward, but before she could frame the question, they were interrupted by a couple of guests.

“Michael, Sarah!” Nana Alice waved them to take a seat. “Have I introduced you to Jacinta yet?”

Jacinta sighed silently as her opportunity to quiz Nana Alice slipped away. She forced herself to smile at the relatives and make small talk, all the while stewing over her odd conversation with Nana Alice. After she’d spent an appropriate amount of time chatting, she made her excuses and escaped.

An irrational urge to see Lex nagged at her, but he wasn’t in any of the rooms she searched, and eventually she went onto the terrace. A few people were out there, but not Lex, and she’d had her fill of polite conversation.

She slipped into the shadows and followed a path that meandered around the corner of the house. Here it was dark and quiet. Nearby the bushes rustled as something scampered away. A raccoon, she told herself. Nothing to be nervous about. She walked on. The bushes became thicker. A tall shadow detached itself from the darkness and moved toward her, and a small squeak rose to her lips.

“Who...?”

“It’s me, Lex.” He stepped out of the shadows and into a dim pool of light from the waning moon.

Her heart leaped again. She put a hand to her throat, felt her pulse skittering.

“Sorry,” he said. “Did I scare you?”

“A little. What are you doing out here?”

The outline of his shoulders lifted. “Same thing you’re doing, I’d guess. Looking for peace and quiet.”

Peace and quiet? She was pretty sure she wouldn’t get any of that with Lex around to raise her heartbeat. “Do you want me to leave, then...?”

“No.” His hand curled around her wrist. “Let’s sit on that bench over there.”

He led her to a wooden bench beneath a darkened window. On this side of the house only a few lights were on. The shrubbery around them grew in a profuse screen, enclosing them in a pocket of fragrant night air. For a while they sat in the dark without talking. It should have been relaxing, but Jacinta’s mind was churning.

“I’ve been chatting with your grandmother,” she said.

“She likes you. A lot. She’s been telling me that all day every time I bump into her.”

“Oh?”

“Yeah. She thinks you’re sweet, intelligent, and very pretty.” His fingers brushed against her bare arm resting between them. “I told her I agreed a hundred percent. I think you’re very pretty too.”

His feathery touch sent sparkles across her skin. She schooled her muscles not to react, and didn’t quite succeed.

“Lex, I feel bad about deceiving her like this. When we were talking earlier, I almost blurted out the truth.”

His fingers tightened around her wrist. He pulled her toward him. “What exactly did you say?” All trace of laziness vanished from his tone.

“Don’t worry, I didn’t tell her anything, but it’s eating me up.” His nearness stirred her. His thigh pressed up against hers, heavy and insistent. She inhaled the night air. “She’s your grandmother. I can see how much she means to you. Doesn’t she deserve to know?”

His body was coiled like a spring. “It’s her ninetieth birthday. She has all her family and friends here. You really think this is the time or place?”

“When, then?”

“Later. When the time is right.”

“That’s very vague.” She lowered her head. Lex’s fingers softened around her wrist and began to stroke her skin with gentle, absentminded movements, as if he wasn’t even aware what he was doing. She bit her lip. The exquisite pleasure was almost too much to bear. “I just think—”

“You know what your problem is?”

“Oh boy. I’m sure you’re just dying to tell me what that is—”

Her words cut off as he curled his free hand around the back of her neck. “Your problem is,” he said huskily, “you worry too much.”

He leaned in and claimed her mouth with unhurried, deliberate intent. He held her and kissed her as if he had every right to do so, as if he expected nothing less than her full reciprocation. And she gave that to him. All thoughts fell from her head as she responded instinctively to his kiss, softening her lips around his, parting them, allowing his tongue to enter, licking him back in return. He slid his fingers through her hair, unraveling her hairdo as well as her control as he bent over her mouth. Blood thrummed in her ears, a primeval beat that drummed out her qualms as she drank in his kiss, his fire pouring into her mouth. She traced her fingers over his face, relishing the feel of his square jaw, the cords in his neck, the crispness of his hair. How she loved the exhilaration of losing herself in mindless pleasure with him.