The next morning, Lexa’s arm fell across my chest as her leg locked around mine, stirring me from sleep. She had me pinned, and she wasn’t even awake yet.
I kissed her forehead and headed to the bathroom, but when I returned Mattie was at my door.
“Your phone. It was in the kitchen all night. Someone’s been calling, looked like it might be important.” I crossed the room and looked at the screen to see Layne’s name.
“Thanks. It’s Layne — and funny thing that my phone was in the kitchen. Wonder how it got there?” I threw a glance to my sleeping beauty, and Mattie smiled, but her face turned red with guilt as she saw my accusing gaze upon her.
“Sometimes those stubborn roots need a little help.” She lifted her chin and walked away, closing the door behind her.
I sat on the end of the bed, and Lexa rolled over, rubbing her eyes. “I told you I got a call; guess it was Mattie, after all.”
“Yeah, remind me to give her a raise. Did you sleep well?” I patted her foot through the covers.
“Like a baby, for the time since…” She didn’t have to tell me since when; I knew exactly when she’d stopped sleeping. It was the same time I’d stopped any sleep that wasn’t liquor induced, but passing out didn’t count.
“Want to stay for breakfast or do you have a shift?”
“It’s my three day weekend, so yes, feed me please.” She stretched her arms over her head, and I thought about how easy it would be to pin her hands and make love to her. But then my phone rang again. Layne was being persistent.
I didn’t know if I should take the call in front of her or not, especially since I knew it could be about the lawsuit. I didn’t want there to be any awkwardness between us, but I didn’t want there to be any secrets, either. “My lawyer keeps calling. I should really call him back.” Her lazy smile faded, and she looked away.
“I can go downstairs.” I rose from the bed, but she sat up and got to her feet before I could reach the doo
r.
“No. Wait, Aiden.” I stopped in my tracks, and she took my hand. “I’m still on your side.” Her eyes were sincere, and I realized there wasn’t any doubt about it. She might have lied about her name and who her parents were, but she was still my girl just the same.
I lifted her hand to my mouth and kissed her soft knuckles. “Then let’s see what this blowhard wants.” I sat on the bed and returned the call.
Layne answered the phone with his usual level of pleasantness. “It’s about damned time you woke up.”
“Good morning to you, too, Layne; you’re on speaker phone, so mind your manners.” I thought it only fair to warn him. His tone changed immediately.
“I’ve been trying to reach you because there’s been a development in the Patterson case.” Lexa and I exchanged a glance.
“So, what is it?” Lexa clasped her hands at her chest as worry crossed her face.
“I need you to come down.” His tone wasn’t giving away anything.
“Okay. We’re on our way.” I hung up the phone, and her eyes widened.
“You want me to come along?” She got to her feet as I ran to the closet for a change of clothes.
“Yes, and I would take the time to shower, but we’d be here all day.” She stood there watching her in her bra and panties, and it seemed like a shame we didn’t have time to get properly naked. “You better get some clothes on; you can’t go there like that that.” I let my eyes take in as much of her as I could while she threw on her clothes, and then we headed out to meet Layne.
Together.
Chapter Thirty-Six
Lexa
Aiden and I were dressed and out the door in less than fifteen minutes, and that’s after me encouraging him to take a shower and going downstairs so he’d behave. I let Mattie know what was going on and thanked her for calling me. She had tried to deny it at first, but as I walked away, she mumbled a quiet you’re welcome.
Aiden insisted we take the Shelby and ran a few stop signs on the way out of his neighborhood. Not that you could call it a neighborhood; it wasn’t like he had anyone living close, but there were a few houses on the same street.
I couldn’t take my eyes off him, and he looked especially sexy behind the wheel of the car with a look of determination on his face. “What do you think’s going on?” I asked when we were about halfway there.
“I don’t know. It could be nothing. Layne’s known to be a bit dramatic. I’m going to pound his head if made me miss out on kinky shower time to tell me I need to sign a check.”