Her Irresistible Troublemaker (A Town Named Eden Book 3) (18 page)

Maggie had come to her, clearly at a moment of crisis. She could have chosen to find some other way out of her personal dilemma, but she hadn’t.

Maybe some things were meant to happen. And ours is not to reason why, she thought. And she’d be crazy to question reasons when presented with a win-win opportunity—a top notch CEO and a new and improved version of her sister.

“At the risk of sounding like a pushover, I’m glad to have you on board,” she said with the sublime confidence of the innocent. What if she couldn’t handle Maggie’s pace? She was bound to set a cracking, trailblazing one.

Lexie’s confidence didn’t get a chance to dwindle. During the following hour, Maggie rattled off her plans and ideas, requiring only a few nods and okays from Lexie.

As they started weaving their way through the mountains, Maggie fell silent, her attention drawn to the scenery. Lexie wondered if that was her cue to prod again and find out what had driven her away from Sydney and from the job she’d devoted so much of her life to, but she decided against it. If Maggie needed to purge herself, she’d do it in her own time.

“You’re still driving your old jeep. You need to upgrade.”

“Only someone on a seven figure salary can make such a blithe remark. I hope you realize I can’t afford to pay you for your services.”

“We’ll figure something out.”

As she focused on the road, she resisted the urge to check her cell. She couldn’t expect Jack to drop everything for her. If her expectations had changed, if she wanted to explore possibilities…

“Dam it, he blew me off,” she said under her breath.

“Who?”

“Oh, I’m… I’m running dialogue through my mind… out loud. Lulu’s going to be used by someone and by the time she realizes what’s happened, it’ll be too late…” Because her heart would have been beating an unrequited love tune. Okay, maybe not love. Most definitely lust.

“If you’re going to break her heart, she should go somewhere nice to mend it. I’m thinking Paris.”

“I’ve never been.”

“She’ll love it. She could traipse through the marche aux puces...”

“The what?”

“French flea markets. They’re bursting with vintage clothes and nuggets like Dior. I spent a week in Paris attending a conference and my assistant insisted I accompany her.”

Paris. New York. London. Stockholm…

Maggie had been everywhere. “Tell me again why we’re going to Eden?” She caught sight of the deep swallow her sister took and could have kicked herself.

“I’m about to start a new phase in my life and I need to be where it all started. Living in that small town helped me seed an entire life’s worth of dreams. Now… well, it’s time to re-examine my decisions. Re-charge my batteries and re-define myself.”

No half measures, Lexie thought. No stone left unturned. Whatever had gone wrong in Sydney wouldn’t be repeated.

“Also,” Maggie continued, “We need to tackle some loose ends. Mom and dad have to understand we’re old enough to make our own decisions and stand by them.”

“We?”

“I have to tell them what I’m up to.”

“I could give you several reasons why you shouldn’t. For starters you’ll be dragging me down with you, and no matter what you say to them, they’ll go easy on you—”

“Being their favorite won’t exempt me. We can take them on as a united front.”

Lexie’s breath hitched. “That sounds like a war cry.”

“Solidarity among rebels.”

Lexie decided to offer all the support she could give, without the encouragement. That, she knew, would land her in hot water with her parents…

“You might be surprised by some of the changes in Eden,” she said trying to shift the subject. “There’s a plan to put up some new buildings. New apartments. I heard Eddie Faydon, who by the way is getting married soon, say she’s going to offer housing solutions to the single women in Eden.”

“Eddie Faydon is getting married?”

Out of the corner of her eye, Lexie saw Maggie’s fingers digging into the seat.

“Who’s the lucky guy?”

“He’s not a local.” She searched her mind for his name. “Theo something or other. He’s from L.A. and speaks with a slight English accent.”

“That makes sense. If you don’t catch a local by your mid twenties, you’re not likely to. Ever.”

“Mitch looks like he’ll be next.”

“Flirty Faydon? The guy voted most likely to break everyone’s heart? I have been away too long.”

“Oh, and Wilbur’s no longer hanging over the fireplace at The Gloriana.”

“No way.”

“He’s now taking pride of place in Eddie’s restaurant.”

Maggie slumped back on her seat. “We might have to stay longer than a week so I can let all these changes sink in.”

Lexie’s eyes flicked down to her cell. This trip might be exactly what she needed. If she had to be honest with herself, she’d been getting ideas about Jack. Letting her mind and body wander into dangerous territory. Time to put a stop to all that nonsense. She didn’t have time for whimsical adventures. Her feet had to be firmly fixed on the ground, her focus glued to business and the success of her new venture.

The thoughts bounced around her mind as if trying to find an exit door, but Lexie refused to let them go.

Jack would make a lovely friend.

You’re welcome.

“Do you want me to get that for you?” Maggie asked.

Before she could answer, another message came through.

Let’s have dinner. As a thanks for last night.

Chapter Eighteen

“We’ve been calling you for the past couple of days. Why haven’t you picked up?”

Jack stood aside and waved Mason and Steph in. “Survival instincts. I thought it’d be safer to cut myself off from everyone.” It had been two days since Lexie had left town, and he still didn’t feel like talking to anyone else. “You missed me?”

“You owe us both big time. We fended off a barrage of displeasure. Dad’s on the warpath because you left the function early on Saturday and you turned down his invitation to Sunday lunch.”

“I had my cell phone switched off, so I missed it.” Right along with Lexie’s thank you for the coffee text. He remembered he’d rushed out of the building site to meet up with a garden designer and brainstorm an idea—a solution to the ruined view; one he hoped would make Lexie happy. “Besides, he made his bed. There’s no way he’s dragging me in with him. And if he asks why I’m turning down his invitations, feel free to tell him I’d rather jump off a bridge. No way am I being set up again. He’s married to Madeline. That means Juliette is now part of the package deal.”

He was done tiptoeing around people’s sensitivities. Playing that game had pushed him to fake a relationship. He’d wanted to keep his life simple and in the process, he’d only ended up complicating it…

“We’ve been through this. You can’t disown him.”

“He’s still on my Christmas mailing list.”

“Okay, this is worse than I feared. I’m going out for supplies. It looks like it’s going to be a long night and we’ll need more than a six-pack to work through this.” Mason drew his car keys out of his pocket. “Steph, you stay and keep an eye on him. Make sure he stays away from the balcony ledge.”

“What the hell’s he talking about?” Jack asked Steph.

“I don’t know. I thought I was going off the rails, but you two seem to be beating me to it.” Steph slumped down on the sofa. “He’s got girl problems. You’ve got girl problems and I have a client who won’t stop looking over my shoulder.”

Jack strode over to the kitchen to get a couple of beers. “And you both decided to come here because misery likes company?”

“At least you’re owning up to the fact.”

“I’m not miserable.” And he didn’t have girl problems. He’d become accustomed to seeing Lexie every day and now that she’d left…

He’d use the time to take a few steps back and reappraise the situation...

Steph shook her head. “We know Lexie’s gone. I called her—”

“That’s right. You added her to your phone tree. We’re like our own version of a black hole, forever sucking people into our lives.” Jack handed Steph a beer and sank down on the sofa next to her.

“I prefer to think of it as an expanding universe. And, I like her. We all do. Which begs the question—”

He lifted a halting hand. “Don’t go there.”

“You two are great together. I don’t understand what’s holding you back.”

Everything was always great at the start and then… Rose tinted glasses came off and… People changed. “You’re not going to let this go.”

She gave a brisk shake of her head.

Jack sighed. “She’s not interested in a relationship.” And that should make stepping back that much easier.

“Says you.”

“Says Lexie.”

“That’s how much you know.”

“Is that girl code for ‘men, can’t live with them, can’t live without them.”

“No, it’s more like ‘what men think they know, and what they actually know is but a drop in the ocean’. Let me enlighten you,” she said and drew out a magazine from her handbag.

* * *

“I say we tell them tonight.”

Lexie shook her head. “Let them enjoy life as they know it for a little longer. They look so happy to see you.”

Maggie sighed. “We should have told them last night. The longer we delay this—”

“The harder it will be for them to stay angry. Mom and dad haven’t seen you in so long, they’re on a natural high. We have to exploit that. The better they feel, and I say this from experience, the easier it’ll be for them to forgive you.” Lexie rummaged through her small suitcase and pulled out her suede jacket. “We’ll have dinner at the pub, pretend everything is as it should be. When the excitement of seeing you settles down, they’ll start wondering how long they can hope to keep you here, and then they’ll start asking questions, from general to specific, and when they do, you can work your magic. Sell them the idea, make them believe us working together is something they wished they’d thought of first. I’ll support you all the way, but…” she turned to Maggie and put her hands on her hips. “I will not take the blame for this. I can’t. Please don’t make me.”

Maggie gave her a small smile. “You need to work on your assertive skills. Your voice quivered at the end. And being polite about it takes away the edge.”

“You want me to awaken the killer instinct in me?”

“Just be more decisive.”

“Are you girls ready?” their mother called out, “Your father said to be out in the car in two minutes. You know how he hates to be kept waiting.”

They looked at each other and mouthed, “As ready as we’ll ever be.”

“Are we going to high-five this?” Maggie whispered.

“Is that something you’ve always wanted to do?”

Maggie shrugged. “At least once in my life. I’ve been working on a list.” She scooped in a breath. “Forget it. It won’t be spontaneous now.” Maggie dropped her chin and then looked up. “I’ll settle for a hug.”

Lexie opened her arms.

“Have you noticed how Mom hasn’t changed a thing in our rooms?” Maggie asked, “Do you think she’s trying to hold on to our childhood?”

“She’s too practical to be nostalgic. Maybe she hasn’t had time.”

“I’ve just noticed your book collection is better than mine.”

Lexie nodded. “Every time I come here for a visit I re-read Enid Blyton and Georgette Heyer.”

“I’m not surprised we turned out the way we did. Your shelves are stacked with fun reads while mine are full of biographies of the great leaders of the world.”

Lexie patted her on the back. “It makes me wonder. Maybe we were a social experiment.”

“That would never occur to me. I feel I’ve been deprived of my creativity.”

“Don’t worry. You’re getting your revenge with Lulu McGee.” Lexie drew out her cell to check her messages. Jack’s dinner invitation had sent her on a soaring high. Declining the invitation had been like pulling the rug from right under herself.

If they’d delayed leaving another day…

Let it go, Lexie.

“Okay, let’s do this.”

* * *

“Right, I’ve got the pizza and the beer. We’re all set,” Mason said as he strode back into Jack’s apartment.

Jack held up a copy of Girl About Town. “Did you know about this?”

Mason’s gaze jumped to Steph.

“No. Don’t look at her. Look at me and answer the question.”

Mason shrugged. “I’m acquainted with the magazine.”

“And its contents? Specifically, one unruly, bouncy haired, troublemaker named Lulu McGee.”

Mason laughed. “She’s a little devil in an angelic sort of way.”

“Why am I the last to know?”

“Probably because you don’t ask the right questions.”

He had. He clearly remembered asking Lexie what she did for a living and she’d told him she wrote. There had been no mention of drawing. What else had she been keeping from him?

Steph gave his shoulder a squeeze. “Don’t worry. We’ve got your back. We’re joining forces and focusing on you.”

“Can we vote on it?” Jack asked. A flat out no thanks wouldn’t get him anywhere with Mason and Steph, but they might be open to negotiation. If they stayed out of his life, he’d promise to return the favor and not interfere with their messes.

“We know you want to take the next step. It’s all you’ve been thinking about since meeting Lexie. Now it’s time to act without delay. Get on top of this straight away. We think you should follow her. Pay her a surprise visit.”

“Fine. I’ll teleport myself… Wait. Hang on. Remind me again why I need to stalk Lexie?”

“She’s in a small country town full of eligible bachelors with nothing better to do than to breath in fresh country air,” Mason explained.

“Has anyone asked what Lexie wants?”

Steph helped herself to some pizza. “It’s obvious she wants you.”

“And you know this for a fact.” Steph had tried to sell him the idea that Lexie was projecting all her innermost desires onto Lulu McGee who was clearly an extension of her. He’d only read one strip and Lulu had been working undercover to unmask a serial two-timing cheater while keeping two prospective love interests drooling and dangling, but apparently, deep down she wanted to be swept off her feet…

“You should read a few more issues,” Steph said almost as if she’d read his mind. “But if you want I could ask her, discreetly… girl to girl. Get the inside scoop.”

Jack rose to his feet and collected the empty beer cans. “Thanks for your thoughtful meddling. I’ll sleep on it.” Although he doubted he’d be able to sleep since every breath he took would make him think about all those eligible bachelors breathing in fresh country air…

* * *

Breakfast at the Gardner household resembled a parody of a nature documentary. Her parents had their eyes on their prey and were edging toward it. Any moment now, they would launch into a sprint and pounce on her because they, of course, had targeted the weakest link.

It was all Maggie’s doing.

She’d decided against biding her time. Best to get it all out into the open, she’d murmured before blurting everything out. She hadn’t even waited for their meals to be served. Last night, they had walked into The Gloriana, settled at their table, and right after their mother had commented on how lovely it was to have the whole family together, Maggie had drawn in a breath and in the next second, she’d told them all about her decision to quit her job—

“Is there any more toast?” their father asked. 

He was taking it all in his stride. Maggie would come to her senses soon and then order would be restored. Yet his eyes kept sliding toward Lexie as if measuring her for a casket.

Lexie looked down at her plate and made quick work of reorganizing it, putting her sunny side egg on top of the slice of toast and lining up the crispy bacon beside it. If she had to make a run for it, she’d make a quick grab—

Her mother cleared her throat. “We have to talk about last night.” Outwardly, she didn’t show any signs of distress. Dressed for work in her suit, she appeared determined to tackle the issue with calm and reason. Lexie decided to play it safe and expect the worst.

Maggie poured herself another cup of coffee. “I can understand your need for details, but we’re still working on them.”

Lexie sunk lower into her chair and cringed in sympathy at the sting of salt on her parents’ wounds. They lived for facts and figures. As a senior administrator, her mother crunched numbers for a living and was responsible for the smooth running of the entire hospital, while her father was the only surgeon on staff. There was no room for error in their lives.

“There’s really nothing to worry about. Lexie and I will spend a few days in Eden as a team building exercise…”

There had better not be any hiking involved, Lexie thought.

“This is a milestone for us,” Maggie continued. “Our schedule for the next twelve months is full on so we might not have any free time to visit…”

Both her parents were staring at Maggie open-mouthed. Lexie was tempted to slink away. Maggie had completely disregarded her sound advice to delay the discussion for as long as possible, so she could justify abandoning her to her own devices. Then again, this could be part of the team building exercise Maggie had mentioned. She might even have contrived this scenario as a way to test her mettle.

Lexie told herself to sit tight. It would all be over in a minute.

“We were afraid this would happen. Your father told me I had no reason to worry, but when Lexie showed early warning signs of her creativity, I couldn’t help fretting and thinking it might spill over to you—”

“Warning signs?” Lexie’s coffee cup rattled on the saucer. “It’s not an illness.”

“She even has the artistic temperament to go with it.” Her mother sighed. “Maggie, you might be drawn to the carefree aspect of her life, but once the novelty wears off—”

“Carefree?” Lexie surged to her feet. “I work day and night.”

“Do you have any idea how insulting that sounded?” Maggie asked. “Lexie works her butt off. She has created something from nothing. Lulu McGee is an inspiration to young women all over the world…”

Lexie sunk back down on her seat.

“… She has grit and integrity, not to mention, adaptability.”

More like sink or swim survival instincts, Lexie thought watching in amazement as her parents shifted in their chairs.

“Lexie’s smart, successful and innovative. She’s created a unique product while we do jobs anyone could do. She’s gone out on a limb. She’s risked everything to follow her passion…”