Her Irresistible Troublemaker (A Town Named Eden Book 3) (10 page)

“Say what?” Ava asked.

“You’ll never understand why women are so modest when it comes to their talents.”

“You know me so well. And I understand this is going to take you outside of your comfort zone, but you need to start seeing this as a natural progression. Lulu McGee is here to stay. You can’t make her go away.”

“You’re right. At first I saw the comic strip as a time filler until I found an acceptable... practical job.”

“Your parents still disapprove.”

Her folks lived in a small country town, but that didn’t stop them from being high achievers with lofty expectations. “Maggie makes them happy. That should be enough.” It was time to stop this tug of war between doing what she wanted and trying to meet other people’s expectations…

“It’s traditional for the first child to always end up pleasing their parents. Looking on the bright side that frees you up to be who you want to be. You’re the lucky second child.”

“True. And Maggie’s achievements should be enough. She’s always been on the same wavelength as my parents.” Although, she had to wonder if they even knew Maggie had come to Melbourne. She didn’t think so. Otherwise, she’d be hosting her entire family instead of one confused overachiever.

“Did you ever consider letting them prove themselves to you? Instead of trying to please them, you might give them a go and let them see how happy you are, doing what you love doing.”

How often had she heard her father tell her that if she did what she loved, she’d never work a day in her life because they weren’t hiring. “My parents—” Lexie’s shoulders slumped. “They’re practical, salt of the earth, no-nonsense type of people. They still haven’t forgiven me for moving to the city. While Maggie was free to go forth and conquer the world, they’d expected me to—” she gave a small lift of her shoulder, “I don’t know. Be someone else… something else.”

Lexie could easily imagine her mother’s reaction when and if she ever got around to telling her about her plans for expansion, right after she told her about her comic strip, of course.

Retail? You’re going into retail?

There would be no yelling and no raised eyebrows. The words would be delivered in a flat-line tone followed by an unnerving silence stretching long enough to pay the last respects to a life wasted. And finally there would be a sigh cast over the smoldering pile of aspirations, the sort every mother holds for her youngest daughter.

Lexie mentally buckled up. She wouldn’t defend her choices. She loved her parents, but they had to realize this was her life. At some point, she had to stop walking on eggshells.

“I need a favor.”

Ava sat up. “I was wondering when you’d get to it.”

“Did you inherit your insightful gene or is the trait uniquely yours?”

“All me. Now, what can I do?”

“I know I said I’d put a stop to my moaning and groaning...”

Ava nodded. “You were only going to share the good stuff. So what’s happened to make you change your mind?”

“My sister’s taken over my couch and she refuses to budge. I’m all out at sea with this. Like you, she’s a high achiever, but unlike you, she’s reserved. Well, she usually is. I think she’s undergoing some sort of metamorphosis. Now, I have no idea who she is and I’m afraid to say anything to her in case—” Lexie brushed her hands across her face. “Help.”

* * *

Jack stood with his arms folded across his chest and his eyes fixed on the building he’d thought would make or break him. He hadn’t expected to feel the same thrilling sense of achievement he’d experienced the first time he’d completed the renovation on a small investment house.

From the start, this had been about making a profit. His father didn’t know it yet, but the twins from his fourth marriage were both headed to expensive schools. Jack shrugged off the reminder and focused on the building. The ultra modern design would never have been his first choice, but he’d had to cater to current trends.

The landscaping would start in the next few days, but the building already made a statement.

More like a loudspeaker announcement.

Here I am.

Like it or lump it.

Lexie had hated it from the start but she seemed to have come to terms with it.

The initial opposition over the modern design and the ensuing setbacks had stung, but he’d hung in there. Now he wondered if his dogged determination had been misplaced. Building this from the ground up should have sent his feelings soaring on a skyrocket explosion of accomplishment, but it hadn’t…

“We’re back on schedule and on budget. That’s all that matters.” He heard his voice and for a flicker of a second, he disagreed. Then as if to prove he hadn’t imagined the self-dissent, his eyes strayed to the building next door. Lexie’s building.

Built to last during the 1930s. Losing nothing along the way, but instead, gaining more character, he thought appreciating the organic style. Where would his building be in fifty years? Probably reduced to rubble to make way for whatever emerged as the next trend.

He tried to remember why he’d downed his tools and crossed the street.

Oh, yes. Perspective. But it had nothing to do with gaining control over his thoughts and focusing on what to do next. He pulled out his cell and checked his messages. Lexie hadn’t responded. Probably because she was gnawing her lip wondering why he was asking what she was up to?

He hadn’t even thought about it, he’d only known he’d needed to touch base with her, and if that made him look like a fool, then so be it.

Strangely, it didn’t.

“Where are you going with this?” He couldn’t afford to stop thinking of Lexie as a safe bet, as someone he could be—

“What?”

Platonic friends with?

It looked like they were headed that way. Then again, he hadn’t made an effort to test the waters.

Only… well, Lexie had been clear about her lack of interest. Yet he’d bet anything if he asked her out tonight—

No. Not going to happen.

He wouldn’t force anything. If something was meant to happen between them, then in time…

“There’s nothing wrong with getting together for a cup of coffee.”

Chapter Ten

“Tell him how you feel.” Lexie’s stab in the dark suggestion was her first attempt to encourage Maggie to open up and share her troubles. Compiling a list of possible reasons for her unexpected appearance on her doorstep hadn’t been easy. Maggie had never struggled with anything in her life. In the end, Lexie had narrowed the reasons down to two impossibilities.

Work and relationship issues.

One way or another, Lexie would chip away her sister’s resistance. It would be like fishing... she hoped. She’d bait and cast and bait and cast again, or some such thing, until she got a response. Ava had promised she’d help, but first she had to come up with a plan of action. Meanwhile, Lexie was on her own…

Maggie stared at her for the longest moment, eyes unblinking while the tip of her tongue searched for a cookie crumb on the edge of her mouth. When she captured it, she smiled. “Are you role playing an idea for Lulu’s comic strip?”

“You know about Lulu?”

Maggie rolled her eyes. A new trait, which made Lexie wonder if they’d switched roles.

“I have a subscription to Girl About Town.”

“It’s a great little glossy magazine,” Lexie mused out loud. “I suppose it helps you keep up with current fashion trends.” While Maggie’s wardrobe maintained a strictly business tone, she avoided run of the mill, off the rack clothes, preferring unique, up-market designs.

Her sister nibbled on another cookie. “I get it because I want to read Lulu’s strip. She’s rather addictive. What will Lulu get up to next? She never disappoints and always leaves me wanting more.”

“Really?” Ava often spoke about demographics sending Lexie’s mind on a stroll toward la-la land. But she’d heard enough to know Maggie was well outside the predicted captive audience.

Maggie’s face brightened. “When she’s good, she’s angelic, but when she’s bad… Oh, she can be a little devil.” She shifted and tucked her feet under her. “I wish I could be a little bit like her.”

Lexie sank down on the edge of the couch. Should she feel responsible for her sister’s sudden change in personality? Her mother had always worried she’d end up being a bad influence…

“Yes. I told him how I felt,” Maggie said, her voice carrying a world of hurt.

It took a moment for the admission to register.

A man had done this to her sister?

Lexie had cast a wide net thinking, if she was lucky, she might get a nibble, a lead… Something. Anything.

Looking at Maggie’s pale cheeks she knew the dam had developed a hairline crack and could burst at any moment.

Lexie held her breath.

A part of her wanted to throw her arms around Maggie and make up a platitude right on the spot, something like ‘life is full of tomorrows’ or ‘some day, her words would be heard by the right man’, or…

“I don’t want to talk about it now.”

“Okay.” Lexie wondered what she’d done wrong. With the right prompts, she knew she could flash out whatever was residing inside her sister’s heart.

Really?

And then what?

Would she offer relationship advice? Ava would know exactly what to say. And she was the type who could get away with cracking the whip, but timing was everything.

Lexie tried to remember how she’d tackled her breakup blues. It had been a long, winding road with bumps and potholes. She’d traveled through most of it while still in hospital recovering from her car accident. And while her body had been quick to mend, her mental scrapes and scratches had needed tender love and caring.

Rummaging through her hazy memories of that time, she recalled her reluctance to face reality, to recognize the need for firm decisions.

Ava had known all along what needed to be done and said but she’d been both diplomatic and sensitive, dropping subtle hints, giving her gentle prods, guiding her away from the whirlpool of emotions…

“Tea?”

“Actually, I think I need to stretch my legs. You’re lucky to have the walking track along the river just across the road. How did you ever find this apartment?”

Ava, of course. “It pays to know the right people.” Lexie shifted and tried to shake off the feeling of needing to say something else. Something reassuring… life affirming. Then again, a walk and fresh air might work wonders. “Tread with care, Lexie,” she said under her breath. If she made the wrong remark, if she pushed Maggie too hard, she might end up doing more harm than good.

“When I come back, do you think there’s any chance I might take a peek at the next issue?”

* * *

“Lulu, I’m going to have to break your heart. I’m sorry. But I promise to eventually give you a happy ever after.” Maybe then she might come up with a solution for Maggie.

She’d had her heart broken.

While Maggie hadn’t revealed any details, the admission she’d made had pulled her out of her rut. She’d been going out for walks and had even gone shopping for clothes to add to the scant few items she’d brought with her. At least she appeared to be taking a step in the right direction.

Lexie strode into the Monkey Bar Café, a light spring in her step. She too had set off on the right path. For the past couple of days, she’d been immersed in work, plotting out a story outline for her graphic novel and playing around with kitschy ideas for spinoff products. She’d barely come up for breath, and while she knew she couldn’t afford the distraction, she deserved a break as well as sustenance to function properly... and some chocolate cake to celebrate.

Her meeting with Mason Riley had left her mind spinning in a daze of excitement. While she’d been aware of the possibilities, it had done wonders to have someone spell it all out to her.

“In one word,” Mason had said, “Merchandise.” Make the goods. Take the goods to market.

She’d never taken so many deep, calming breaths in her life. Setting up a website would make it official. Lexie Gardner. Cartoonist and purveyor of fashion accessories and cutesy paraphernalia and collectibles.

Mason would help her draw up a business plan with a manageable timeline, versatile enough to make adjustments along the way if she felt it was getting too much for her.

No regrets and no turning back, Lexie told herself.

“And I don’t need to worry about any of this now.” She smiled and headed for her usual table by the window where she could do some serious people watching and think about Jack Riley.

A couple of days before, he’d sent her a text message asking what she was doing. She’d been in the midst of untangling Maggie’s ordeal. Reluctant to share that information, she’d replied she was up to her eyeballs with work.

During her last conversation she’d had with Ava she’d avoided all mention of him. However, Ava’s radar was always switched on and she’d pushed her to reveal how her movie night had panned out. Lexie supposed she could have made something up, throwing some spice into the mix, at least to get Ava off her back, but the prospect of following through and keeping the story vivid would have been too much hard work. So she’d stuck to the truth.

Nothing had happened.

While Ava had insisted there had to be something in the making, Lexie had argued in favor of being friends with a man. It could work. She could start a new trend in her life. Or…

Right in the midst of entertaining the possibility of experiencing something more with Jack, she caught sight of a familiar shape. In an instant, her heart thumped like a jackhammer and heat poured through her body.

“Excuse me. Are you Lexie Gardner?”

She looked up to see a woman about her age holding a copy of GAT—Girl About Town—Ava’s magazine.

“I should explain,” she held up the magazine, “I read this from cover to cover and last month there was a brief note about some of the contributors. I recognized you from the photo.”

Lexie nodded and remembered how Ava had insisted on replacing the old grainy portrait of Lexie with a new headshot. She’d spent the day practicing her smile in front of the mirror before she’d agreed, but only on the condition that she have final approval. Over the years, she’d accumulated far too many bad experiences, being caught unprepared and ending up looking like a frightened runaway.

“I hope you don’t find this weird. I love Lulu McGee.”

“Oh. Thank you.”

“And Ulysses. I’m not much of a cat person, but I like the way he’s always lurking in corners.”

Lexie smiled. “I’m thinking he might start doing more than flicking his tail in disapproval.” She had a small following but few people knew what she did for a living and even fewer people could connect her directly to the comic strip, something, which according to Ava, had to change.

“Would you mind autographing this week’s issue? It’s for… me. Thanks.”

“My pleasure.” Lexie dug inside her bag for a pen, her hands shaking slightly as she realized this was the first time she’d been publicly acknowledged by a fan.

“I thought I recognized you and then Rhys pointed you out to me.”

That explained a lot. The café owner always made a point of keeping the latest issues of the magazine on the counter next to the cash register where people would notice it.

“N-not at all, it’s my pleasure.” So why did she feel as if she’d been unmasked? Probably because she hadn’t told Jack about her job. And why hadn’t she? She could justify not telling her parents…

Lulu did things Lexie could only dream about. Was she afraid it would reveal too much about her? She gave a small shake of her head. During her last adventure, Lulu had worked undercover as a personal assistant so she could be close to her best friend’s boyfriend who was suspected of having an affair or two...

What would Jack think about that?

“What’s your name?” Lexie asked.

“Steph.”

“Hi, Steph,” Lexie wrote a personalized message and signed it with her name, drawing Ulysses’ paw print beside it.

“Thanks. I look forward to the next issue,” the woman said and strode off with a big smile on her face.

As Lexie soaked in the moment, she looked around trying to see where Jack had ended up sitting. When she spotted him, the heat that had spread throughout her body a few moments before rushed up to her face.

He wasn’t alone.

She could only see the back of the woman who pulled up a chair and sat next to him, but she knew it was the same one who’d just approached her for an autograph. She’d been stunning, with gorgeous blonde hair falling in waves around her shoulders and a curvy figure anyone would envy.

Lexie sunk low into her chair. Why would Jack ask her to be his date when he could go out with a woman who looked like a model?

More to the point, what had all that erratic heart thumping been about when she’d spotted him?

She tried to avert her attention away from him but it refused to budge, instead she focused on his body language, looking for telltale signs of intimacy. Did Jack prefer blondes?

Lexie knew she was one thought away from imagining Jack calling her that evening and making up some sort of excuse about canceling their date for the reception. Just as she was gritting her back teeth in frustration, he looked her way.

As far as kneejerk reactions went, dropping the pen she’d been holding and ducking under the table to retrieve it had to be the worst. She really had to stop this. First, she’d fibbed about Lulu, making her out to be a friend instead of a figment of her imagination, and now she was hiding…

Her heart clenched. She’d enjoyed every encounter she’d had with Jack and if she had to be honest, a part of her had looked forward to being his date. Lexie knew she shouldn’t prod further because if she did she might be forced to admit to being more than physically attracted to Jack and to harboring ideas, the sort that planted seeds in her mind and led straight to heartbreak.

“Are you all right under there?”

Jack.

Remembering why she’d taken a dive under the table, Lexie reached for the pen and stuck her arm out. “Dropped my pen.” She took her time straightening and as she brushed her hair back, her fingertips searched and found the scar on the edge of her cheek—something she hadn’t done in ages. The scar, one of several and a reminder of the time she’d spent in hospital, had faded to a whisper, but in her mind... Yes, it would always serve as a reminder. Tread with caution.

“Jack. Hi.” He wasn’t alone. Lexie searched her mind for the woman’s name. She’d met her only a few minutes before. Her mind threw several names at her, but none seemed to fit the pretty face.

“You two know each other?” Her new fan asked.

“Lexie’s my date for dad’s party,” Jack said. “This is Steph, one of my sisters.”

Steph. One of the stepsisters he was trying to avoid? “Hi, Steph.” Her smile seemed pleasant enough and she was as friendly as she had been when she’d asked for her autograph, something she thankfully didn’t mention doing.

“I’d hate to rush off,” Steph said, “But Mason will have my head if I don’t rescue him. Sorry to bail out on you, Jack. We’ll do lunch next week. Lovely meeting you, Lexie.”

Lexie gave her what felt like a friendly smile. She couldn’t be sure because a part of her was still trying to gauge the situation. Straightening in her chair, she turned to Jack.