“No. This body doesn’t come easy.” He made light of it, but he was very serious. He maintained a pretty strict diet to stay fit and healthy. Without those two things, his stunt career would be over. “And I’m not getting any younger.”
“I, for one”—she ran her hand down his chest, leaned in, and kissed him—“greatly appreciate your efforts.”
He sighed into her mouth, kissed her back. “Have I told you I love you yet today?”
She grinned against his lips. But when she pulled back, apprehension dimmed her eyes.
“What’s wrong? Don’t like me telling you?”
“It’s not that. We just…have a lot to work out.”
Yeah. They did.
She kissed him again, then stood. “I have to pick up your prescription down the street,” she said. “If you won’t eat ice cream, tell me what you want, and I’ll get it while I’m out.”
“Toothbrush would be amazing.”
She laughed. “Fine, but you’re going to have to eat something when I get back.”
“You look really tasty. I’ll take a whole lotta…” H
e scanned her body. “All that.”
“Rest and water, Mr. Chamberlin,” she said. “Speaking of which, give me the name of your favorite movie. I’ll pick up a DVD. You can give me a play-by-play behind the scenes while we watch it.”
He hesitated. “One of my favorite movies or my favorite movie?”
“Yours. Why would I want to watch something else?” She squinched her nose up, making her look so young. “But maybe one where you’re not all over another girl. Don’t think I’m ready for that.”
Lexi put strawberries in a basket at the market and moved on to the mangoes. Her cell rang, and she answered without looking. “Think of something you want?”
“Details,” Rubi said. “Lots and lots of details, girl.”
Lexi frowned down at the bright bin of mangoes, discomfort tightening her chest. “About what?”
“I’m at Claire’s ceremony. She said you had a family emergency. Since I’m your only family…” She trailed off, her voice thick with suggestion. “Who’s your emergency?”
Guilt tumbled in. This was the first wedding she’d missed in her career. Jessie’s wedding was the first she’d left before her bride. All for Jax, a man she barely knew.
Lexi released a breath of both dread and excitement. “Jax.”
“Oh my God.” Rubi’s voice was filled with more surprise than true shock like it should have been. “I heard you tangled with someone at Greystone last night, but I didn’t believe… I leave you for thirty-six hours and your whole life changes? Without consulting me first?”
“What did you hear? And from who?” Discomfort edged out her excitement.
“Just murmurings of you having words with some hot movie star. Is this Jax guy an actor or a stuntman? And what the hell happened to my steadfast, no-risk, OCD Lexi?”
“I don’t know, and it freaks me out.” She wandered around the little store, scanning the shelves for healthy, protein-rich food—something she didn’t know much about. “This is going so fast.”
“Tell me about him. What have you found out?”
Lexi pulled a can of cashews from the shelf, trying to remember if that was what he’d eaten first from the last snacks she’d bought him.
She pulled in a deep breath, then said, “Do you know who Bentley Chamberlin is?”
“Uh…duh. Who doesn’t? Does your Jax know him? Work for him? A brother? A friend? Is he as hot as—? Oh. My. God.” Rubi barely paused before she started back in, her voice rising with excitement. “That’s him. That’s why he looked familiar. Oh my God, you’re screwing Bentley—”
“Rubi!” She scolded her friend in a hushed voice. An older woman frowned at her. “Think about where you are and what you’re saying.”