Lexi’s mind went as blank as the box. What did she say? How did she say it? Why had he texted her? After all this time? What did it mean?
She closed her eyes. “Stop,” she commanded herself. “Just stop. ”
Pulling in air, she texted slowly, writing and rewriting the message, suddenly tongue-tied, if there was such a thing in texting.
LEXI: Hearing from you is never a bother. And, amazingly, I will be in New York next week. Are you staying at Spencer’s? What are your dates?
She finally got sick of trying to read every possible misrepresentation the message might present, and with her lip between her teeth, hit SEND.
Then she sat there, holding the phone in both hands like it was made of jewels, her stomach somersaulting as she waited for a return text.
When it came, she still wasn’t ready. The vibration startled her, and she dropped the damn thing.
Laughing like an idiot, she scooped it up and read.
JAX: That’s amazing. I’m doing a few more scenes on the same movie. I’ll be there Tuesday through Sunday. I couldn’t get in at Spencer’s this time. I’m at the Four Seasons. What do you think?
“No,” she drew out the word in a whine. “I think I’m screwed. ” Her stomach dropped and burned with something far more intense than disappointment.
She set the phone down, pulled out her file drawer, and clawed through her receipts for the travel information. Spread it out on her drawing table. Her phone vibrated, and she startled. She closed her eyes for a second. Then read his message.
JAX: That good, huh?
LEXI: Looking at my schedule now. Trying to figure something out. It’s not pretty. You’re in New York the days I’m in London.
JAX: Why are you going to London?
LEXI: Fabric-and-fashion expo.
He didn’t text back, and anxiety rose in her chest as if she had a limited time to accept the offer before it disappeared. As if she would never get the offer again if she couldn’t figure out a
way to accept. Worse, that she’d explode if she missed him by a few days.
“Dammit. ” She dropped her head into her hands. “Okay, how can I do this?” She was moving dates and appointments around in her head like a puzzle, and they were falling together about as easily as a Rubik’s Cube.
Lexi’s phone chimed, signaling an incoming call.
“Shit. Not now, Rubi,” she muttered and picked it up. “Hey, Rubi, can I call you back? I’m trying to work on something—“
“Lexi?” Jax’s voice took her by surprise. She sucked air and froze, unable to find words. “It’s Jax. I, um…hope it’s okay to call. ” He suddenly sounded guilty, like he thought he might have interrupted something. “I just thought it might be easier to figure out our schedules if we could talk them over together. ”
“I… I mean, of course. It’s fine. ” She put a hand to her stomach, as if that would settle it. “I’m sorry. Rubi was here a little while ago, and I thought— Never mind. I’m just looking at my… Oh, I guess I already said that. ”
Jax laughed, the sound soft, deep, and smooth. Lexi’s body flashed hot with memories of those sure fingers sliding over her skin, his hot tongue behind her ear. The luscious, bone-deep craving she suffered whenever she thought of him created a heaviness between her thighs, and Lexi had to sit down before her legs went out.
“You sound like I feel,” he said. “I’ve been sitting on the side of the road for fifteen minutes working up the nerve to text you. ”
All her muscles relaxed. She dropped her head into her hand. “Jesus, it’s great to hear your voice. ”
“You just made my week, baby. ” His voice felt like a purr in her ear. “Let’s work out these schedules so you can hear it in person. Though…” His voice deepened with suggestion. “I am sitting in my truck just off the intersection of Highways 110 and 5. At this time of night, I could be just about anywhere in the county within twenty minutes. All I need is an address, and we can spend all night looking at the fine points of these schedules…in the flesh. ”
Desire drilled through her body, making it difficult to think. On the fringes of her mind, his situation registered. “You’re…on the side of the freeway?” She fought to clear her head. “Are you okay? Do you need…help…or something?”
“If I said yes…” He hesitated. “Would you come to me?”
Something about the way he said come to me made Lexi’s blood bubble. Still, the question hit her wrong and cooled the growing heat. Not because he’d asked, but because he had to ask.
“If you needed something, you could always call me. I’m sorry…” Her throat squeezed with regret.