Runaway Bride (Across the Stars: Book 2) (6 page)

Chapter Six

Lexie studied her reflection in the bathroom mirror.  She fluffed her hair one more time and decided she looked as attractive as she possibly could.  Hopefully, she would make a good impression on everyone at the art exhibit.

Her cell phone rang, so she went to her bedroom and turned down her stereo.  She checked the caller ID and saw that it was Nick.

“Hi, Nick,” she greeted.  “I’m all ready to go to the exhibit.”

“I wish I could go.  I’ve been looking forward to it all week.”

She frowned.  “But?”

“There was an accident,” he replied.  “There are three injured and two are in critical condition.”

“That’s terrible!” Even as she felt sorry for the injured people, she had the selfish inclination to breathe a sigh of relief since she had been dreading the art exhibit.

“It is, but thankfully, your mother taught you everything you need to do tonight.”

“What?”

“I know it’s horrible timing, but this exhibit is important.  This is the perfect chance to get an ‘in’ with Doctor Morris and his wife.  I need you to go.”

“But… I won’t know anyone.”

“Can you find someone to go with?  What about your brother?  Maybe your mom?”

“Well…” She shifted from one foot to another.  While she knew her mother would be thrilled, she didn’t feel like having her mother around in case she said or did something foolish.  And her brother was working tonight.  Then she thought of Mark.  He wouldn’t be working.  Given her past conversations with him, she didn’t think he would criticize her if she goofed up at this important event.  “Okay.  Yeah.  I think I can find someone to go with.”

“Perfect.  Thank you, Lexie.  Make sure to compliment Mrs. Morris on her choice of colors in the painting,” Nick advised.  “Doctor Morris said she wasn’t sure if they worked well together, so if you ease her nerves, I think you’ll make the right impression.”

“I like the colors in her painting.  Got it.”

“You’re a gem, Lexie.  I’ll talk to you later tonight to find out how things went.”

After she said good-bye, she hung up and went to her purse to pull out her wallet.  Please let Mark be free tonight, she silently prayed.  She wasn’t sure how likely that would be.  Someone as good looking as him was probably on a date.  She retrieved his business card and debated whether or not to call him.  The thought of going with her mother instead prompted her to dial his number.  Her heart raced as she listened to the ringing tone on the other end.  It’s not a date, she thought.  It’s calling in a favor.

He picked up on the third ring.  “Hey there.  This is Mark Tanner.”

“Hi, Mark.” She cleared her throat.  “This is Lexie.  I’m the one who called the tow truck for you.”

“I remember who you are.  What’s up?”

He sounded happy to hear from her, so that was a good sign.  Taking a deep breath, she said, “You know that art exhibit I have to go to tonight?”

“Yeah.”

“As it turns out, Nick can’t go.  I thought that meant I wouldn’t have to go, but apparently, I do.  I know it’s awkward and last minute, but is there any way you can go with me?”

“Sure.  I’d be happy to.  Give me time to put on a suit, and I’ll be over to pick you up.”

Relieved, her shoulders relaxed.  “Thanks, Mark.  I really appreciate this.”

“Think nothing of it.  I owe you that favor, remember?  I’ll see you soon.”

She told him good-bye and hung up.  While she waited for him to arrive, she put her make-up away and turned off the stereo.  It wasn’t long before there was a knock at her door.  She picked up her purse then answered it.

Mark’s hair was still damp from a recent shower, and he wore a dark blue suit that complemented his eyes.  Her heart fluttered in excitement.  She knew he was handsome, but seeing him dressed up only emphasized his good looks.

“Wow,” he whispered as he scanned her.  “You look amazing.”

Her face warmed.  “I was about to say the same about you.” Shocked she spoken that thought aloud, her cheeks grew hotter.  Averting her gaze from him, she pulled the address out of her purse.  “The gallery is here.  Do you know how to get there?”

He took the piece of paper from her and read it.  “Yep.  You ready to go?”

She nodded and closed the door.  On the way to his car, she said, “I hope I didn’t interrupt anything important that you had going on tonight.”

“There’s nothing going on that I can’t do tomorrow.” After they got into the car, he turned the ignition and said, “I’ve never been to an art gallery before.  Can you brush me up on what I should or shouldn’t do?  I don’t want to embarrass you tonight.”

“There doesn’t seem to be much to it, really.  I mean, my mom had articles on etiquette and Nick even had a book, but in the end, it sounded simple enough.  I think as long as we nod and smile a lot, we’ll be just fine.  That’s what I do whenever I meet any of Nick’s coworkers.  I think most of them want to feel important.”

“That can probably be said about anyone.  I think we all like to feel as if our life matters.”

“That’s true, but when I said they want to feel important, I meant that they have a tendency to be a bit,” she thought for the right word, “snobbish.  They want to be more important than other people around them.”

As he drove down the street, he glanced in her direction.  “It sounds like you don’t enjoy talking to them.”

“I don’t know what to say and sometimes I think they’re nice to me because they have to be, because of Nick.  Does that make sense?”

“It does.”

“So now you know why I’m glad you’re coming with me.  I feel comfortable talking to you.  I feel like I can tell you anything and you won’t look down at me.”

“Why would I?  You’re smart, you got a great sense of humor and you’re kind.  I’m sure they see that in you, too, when they’re talking to you.”

“Actually, when they’re talking to me, I think they’re being polite.  I don’t think they really like me.” She’d never voiced that thought aloud.  But now that she had, it seemed to make the whole thing more real.

“You sense that?”

“Yeah.”

“If you sense it, then there must be something to it.”

She glanced out the window and looked at the buildings as they turned down the street that would take them to the art gallery.

“Lexie?”

The soft tone in his voice made her look in his direction.  She couldn’t help but note the attractive way his brown bangs fell over his forehead.  He really should be on a date instead of escorting her to a boring art exhibit.

“Lexie?” he asked again.

Breaking out of her thoughts, she turned her gaze away from his, afraid he’d detect the uncertainty in her expression.  She wasn’t supposed to be thinking of him as anything but a friend.  She was engaged to Nick for goodness’ sake!  Clearing her throat, she shifted in her seat.  “What?”

“I just want you to know that even if the people who will be there don’t like you, I do.  You won’t have to feel like you’re alone in a room full of people.”

She looked at him then and smiled.  “Thanks.  I appreciate that.” After a moment, she ventured, “So, it just occurred to me that you know about me and Nick.  You know, how I’m engaged to him.  But I never thought to ask if you’re dating anyone.”

“Right now, I’m between girlfriends.”

“I’m sure you won’t be for long.”

“I don’t plan to be.”

“Do you have someone in mind?” she asked, not sure why the idea should bother her, especially when she was engaged to someone else.

He shot her a disarming grin.  “Yeah.”

Curious, she was ready to ask him more about it when he pulled into the parking lot of the art gallery.  Her attention went to the group of cars.  She recognized a couple of them, so at least she’d know some of the people here tonight.  She straightened in her seat and grabbed her purse.

“It’ll be okay, Lexie.” He reached out and gently placed his hand over hers.  Giving her hand a light squeeze, he added, “I won’t run off and leave you alone.”

Trying not to notice the way her skin tingled from his touch, she chuckled.  “It’s silly, isn’t it?  I have to keep reminding myself they’re just people.”

“Will it help if you picture them in their underwear?  Maybe they won’t seem so intimidating then.”

“I’ve never been able to imagine people just wearing their underwear.”

“No kidding?”

“No.  I see them in exactly what they’re wearing.”

“I guess that trick doesn’t work for everyone.”

She noticed that his hand was still over hers.  Though she thought she should pull her hand away or at least point out to him that he was still touching her, she kept quiet.  It was a friendly touch.  There was nothing more to it than that.

He removed his hand.  “I see those men are wearing tuxes.”

She followed his gaze.  “Those are Doctors Travis and Wright.  They always wear tuxedos, except when they’re working.  Your suit is fine.” Finding a man who wasn’t wearing a tux, she nudged him in the arm and motioned to him.  “See?  You’re not alone.  There are some men who aren’t wearing tuxes.”

“Good.” His grin widened.  “I don’t want to stand out like a sore thumb.  Hold on and I’ll get your door for you.”

Before she could respond, he turned off the ignition and hopped out of the car.  He came around to her side and opened the door, something that struck her as more intimate than she’d expect from a friend.  She shook her head.  She shouldn’t be reading more into all of this than there was.  He was just a nice guy.

She stepped out of the car and waited for him to close the door before speaking.  “Since you’re Chris’ friend, do you see my sister much?”

“I’ve seen her a couple of times since they renewed their wedding vows.  Sometimes I stop by and see how things are going with her pregnancy.  They’re already fighting over what to name the girl when she’s born.”

“What names are they thinking of naming her?”

“Mia, Natalie, Ava, Madison, or Zoe.”

“Those are good ones.”

“Yeah, but I keep hoping they’ll going for Markette.”

Catching the teasing sparkle in his eye, she laughed and walked with him toward the entrance of the gallery.  “That would be a horrible name for a girl, and you know it.”

“There’s nothing wrong with Markette.  Think of how original it’d be.  No one else in her class will have the same name.”

“And for good reason.  Come on, Mark.  The name is horrible.  You can’t condemn the poor girl to it.  She’ll be the laughingstock of her class.”

“Okay.  Then she can be called Tannerita.”

Giggling, she stopped behind the couple in front of them who were collecting a brochure in the doorway.  “Please promise me you won’t have anything to do with naming their daughter.” The couple in front of them turned around, and Lexie stopped laughing when she realized who they were.  “Doctor and Mrs. Carter.  Good evening.”

Mrs. Carter glanced Lexie and Mark up and down.  “Lexie, where is your fiancé?”

“He couldn’t make it tonight,” she replied, straightening up.  “There was an accident.  He had to go in for surgery.”

“That’s a shame.” Dr. Carter frowned.  “It’s always a delight to have someone of his intelligence at important events.”

“Yes.  The Morrises will be sorry he missed Monica’s painting,” Mrs. Carter added.

“He wanted to be here,” Lexie assured them.  “He’s sorry he has to miss it, but I’m sure he’ll come by tomorrow to see it.”

“I’m sure he will.” Dr. Carter glanced at Mark.  “Is this your brother?”

“No.  My brother had to work tonight.  This is Mark Tanner.  He’s a friend,” she quickly added when she saw the way Mrs. Carter’s eyebrows rose.  “He’s a friend of my brother-in-law.”

“Ah,” Dr. Carter replied.  “I remember hearing your sister got married again.  Nick said it was a quaint little ceremony.”

“Yes.  My sister isn’t the type of person who likes a big fuss.  She wanted a quiet, private affair.”

Dr. Carter and his wife exchanged looks that Lexie couldn’t quite decipher.  “As long as they’re happy,” Mrs. Carter began, “then it’s all well and good.”

“They’re very happy together,” Mark spoke up and shook Dr. Carter’s hand.  “We should all be so blessed to enjoy a marriage like the one they have, wouldn’t you agree?”

Dr. Carter shrugged.  “Considering I don’t know the people in question, I’ll take your word for it.”

“Fair enough.” Mark retrieved two brochures and handed one to Lexie.  “So, where is Mrs. Morris’ painting?”

“That will be uncovered in fifteen minutes.”

“Yes.  That’s mentioned right in the brochure you just received,” Mrs. Carter added.

“This is an orderly event,” Dr. Carter said.

“Oh, good.” Mark opened the brochure and breathed a sigh of relief.  “They give us a step-by-step account of what we’ll be doing here tonight.  I’d hate to figure out what to do on my own.  Look, Lexie, we get to sip some wine and eat some cheese in exactly,” he checked his watch, “two minutes.”

Lexie bit her lower lip so she wouldn’t laugh.  Maybe she should have warned Mark that the functions Nick liked going to were very orderly and, for lack of a better term, too formal.  Mark didn’t strike her as the type who liked these types of events and to be honest, she couldn’t blame him.  There were many other things she’d rather be doing, too.