Siren Song (6 page)

They were all so elegant, like pretty little butterflies, fluttering about with their smiles and their perfect hair. And Lexi loved them to pieces; she loved watching them primp before the show, or party, and then preform, both on stage and in their social gatherings. They made the complicated dance of social interaction look so easy while Lexi felt more comfortable just barreling right through, spinning and dancing along the way, until she was in the sanctuary of her best friends' circle.

She listened as her sisters chatted about their husbands and their children, smiling with pleasure at the antics of her nieces and nephews. One of the things she loved most about having such a large family was listening to them talk, the companionship amongst them. Even if they didn’t always get along she knew that any member of her family would be by her side in a heartbeat if it ever came to that. And yet she was a different person with her sisters than with Dima and Cole; with those two, she was the one doing most of the talking while they happily listened, offering their sage advice whenever it was wanted or needed. She wondered what her life would be like if she hadn’t met them and then she shuddered at the thought; it wasn’t even worth considering.

“
Alexandra, there’s something we need to talk to you about,” her aunt said, interrupting her pleasant interlude.

Lexi’s eyes widened at the thought of suddenly being included in the conversation; she had nothing to add since she was still single and had no immediate plans to have children. And she knew that in spite of how much they loved her they didn’t understand her or why she chose to live with a bartender and an artist rather than at the estate. “What did I do now?”

“
Well,” her aunt hesitated, exchanging a worried glance with her mother.

“
It’s recently come to our attention that you might be more of a Rudnar than we thought,” her mom said carefully.

Lexi frowned at that, her thought process whirling rapidly and taking her to the logical conclusion of that statement: they didn’t think her dad was her father. In a hushed voice she asked, “Why would you would think daddy wasn't my father?”

“
What?” her mother’s voice rose an octave while she jerked back in her chair as if Lexi’s words were a slap to her face. “Alexandra, no.”

“
Why would you say I might be more of a Rudnar if that wasn’t the case?” Lexi returned, almost as confused and flustered as her mom.

“
Why would you even ask that?” her mother continued in a hurt tone, her eyes watering with unshed tears. “I’ve never even wanted any other man. From the moment I met your father’s eyes during home room in ninth grade he has been the only one I have wanted.”

“
I’m sorry, mom,” Lexi apologized, wondering how it as her fault for making an honest assumption based on her mother’s strange comment. But then again, it was her mother, who was still hopelessly in love with her father even after almost 40 years of marriage. And however many years of knowing the man “Of course you’ve been faithful.”

“
Of course I have.” Charisma looked up and to the left to keep the glistening tears from falling, unwilling to mar her makeup by something so messy as emotion. At least, not while she was out in public, especially the country club. Having a daughter wearing a mint green wig had to be embarrassing enough.

Aunt Sophie chuckled, daintily wiping the corners of her eyes with the edge of the napkin. “Oh, Char, you’re scaring the poor girl. Just get on with it and tell her.”

“
I need a moment.” Her mother murmured and Lexi wanted to slam her head down on the table in frustration. But her false eyelashes might get stuck and that would have been awkward.

“
Do you know who just moved back to town?” Penelope asked into the silence, drawing everyone’s attention away from Lexi, for which Lexi was eternally grateful. “Dee Tremain!”

Agatha hummed her approval and Lexi heard glass shatter somewhere close behind her. Glancing over her shoulder, she saw the embarrassed waiter trying to scoop broken glass back onto the tray he had just dropped; water had splashed everywhere and Lexi felt her heart go out to the poor boy.

Her mother's sharp voice chided, “Agatha!”

“
Sorry, mother,” Agatha said softly, her eyes sparkling as she watched the red-faced waiter rush off to bring them some more water.

“
Who’s Dee Tremain?” Lexi asked absently, confused by her mother’s scolding of her sister. It wasn’t Aggie's fault that the waiter dropped the tray, was it? No, that was impossible.

“
Really, Alexandra, you should have paid attention to this kind of thing when you were growing up,” Thea chided, exchanging a knowing look with Agatha and Penelope. “If you hadn’t had your nose buried in a book every time we hosted a party you would know.”

It wasn’t her fault she preferred reading to the pretentions of the people who attended her parents’ parties. She was never sure who was honest and who was lying to get what they wanted; the dynamics of the social circles she was born into eluded her. And so she left that world behind and found happiness in her new world, the world of Lexi Darling. “Well, who is she?”

“
He
is just the most gorgeous powerbroker this side of Mars,” Agatha gushed, waving her hand in front of her face as if the merest thought of Dee Tremain was enough to make her blood boil.

"That doesn't tell me much."

“
I’m surprised you haven’t heard of him,” Aggie continued, pleased to show off her knowledge to her uninformed sister. If only Aggie knew how much Lexi didn’t care. “He’s the head of Tremain Industries and Technology, one of the most deliciously ruthless businessmen in the country. He’s ice cold in meetings and red hot in the bedroom. So I’ve heard.”

“
What does he have to do with any of this?” Lexi asked, annoyed at her sisters’ adoration of the trappings of wealth and privilege. Even though they were married to some pretty influential men themselves, Agatha, Penelope and Thea still enjoyed gossiping about the goings-on within their social circles, especially the men.

“
Nothing,” Agatha admitted, still wearing a dreamy expression at the thought of the mysterious Dee Tremain. “I just think it’s great that he’s back. When he went away it was a huge loss for the women of our acquaintance. I think every female hoped to snag him.”

“
I heard he’s still single,” Penelope said, leaning in and lowering her voice as if her words were of utmost secrecy. “But he’s on the market for a wife.”

“
Oh, good God,” Lexi laughed, rolling her eyes at her sisters. “The three of you are married; I don’t think Dee Tremain is interested in another man’s wife.”

Penelope tilted her head to the side and looked at Lexi, a mischievous smile curling her lips, “Wouldn’t Mr. Tremain be a perfect addition to the family?”

“
Absolutely not,” Thea said rigidly, her lips pressed together in a firm line as she glared at everyone at the table, especially Penelope. “While our families are on very good terms socially we cannot have anything to do with the Tremains or their relatives on a more intimate level; our kinds do not mix.”

Lexi snorted at the dramatic words, as if they were two different and incompatible species, like one was a bird and the other a fish. She wondered if the flying fish would be an exception to the rule or did flying fish even fly? She’d have to look that up when she got home. But then she played the words over in her head and she frowned at her sister, “I’m not marrying some guy to add anymore prestige to our family; I think the three of you have that covered.”

They had the good nature to blush. Aunt Sophie patted her hand and offered a consoling smile, “We actually wanted to discuss something else with you, dear.”

Agatha did that special smile again and a waiter appeared instantly. “My sister would like a glass of red wine, please.”

“
Aggie, it’s barely noon,” Lexi reminded her. “And I am just getting over a hangover; wine is not something I want right now.”

“
Take it, dear,” her mother encouraged, her eyes sympathetic as she looked at her. “You’re going to need it.”

With a low groan, she let her family have their way. But just because the wine was there didn’t mean she would have to drink it. “So, what is the big secret? Are one of you pregnant again?”

Agatha blushed as she put her hand over her flat stomach and Lexi couldn’t help but chuckle. “Congratulations, Ag; do you think you’ll have another girl or are you hoping for a boy?”

Her pregnant sister licked her lips and exchanged another look with the rest of the women at the table. Aunt Sophie cleared her throat, drawing the attention back to her. “Actually, dear, that’s something we want to talk to you about.”

“
Well,
I’m
not pregnant,” Lexi said, pressing her fingers to her chest for emphasis. “It’s kind of hard to get pregnant when you’re not having sex.”

Her mother closed her eyes and swallowed thickly, “
Are
you having sex?”

Lexi felt the heat rise into her cheeks and she did not want to be having this conversation with her mother or her aunt or her sisters in the middle of the restaurant. Or anywhere. “Didn’t I just say I’m not?”

“
Have you ever had sex?” Charisma asked, her eyes still squeezed shut and Lexi wasn’t sure which answer her mother would prefer to hear.

“
Is this really something we should be discussing in public?” Lexi asked softly. At her mother’s nod, she continued, “And is the answer so important?”

“
Just answer the damn question, Alexandra,” Thea snapped, making Lexi jump at the ruffled sound.

Sitting back in her chair, Lexi let out a breath of air, “Fine, if it’s so important, I’m still a virgin. Happy?”

Her mother started swearing under her breath, her hands fluttering uselessly around her head; her sisters started chirping to one another; her aunt simply looked at her with compassion. Crossing her arms beneath her breasts, she addressed the only one who appeared half way lucid, her aunt, “I take it that was the wrong answer.”

“
Yes… no,” her aunt shook her head and smiled ruefully. “I don’t know; maybe.”

Lexi simply sat there and watched the drama unwind before her; as her mother pulled herself together, smoothing her hands over her perfect chignon; as her sisters gathered their composure and once again sat serenely in their seats. Arching an eyebrow, she asked, “Is there something I should know?”

Annoyingly, the group exchanged another look when her aunt groused, “Fine, I’ll tell her because the four of you are being absurd; it’s not like it’s that big of a deal.” Turning to Lexi, she took her niece’s hands in her own. “Alexandra, my pet, you’re a Siren.”

Lexi stared at her aunt for a long moment, waiting for some major, life-changing announcement to fall from her lips and when nothing more came, she bit down on her lips. It didn’t help and the laughter rushed out of her; after all of the drama, it was a huge relief to discover they were just pulling a major prank on her. All of that build up for something so utterly crazy… “Only you guys could pull off a joke of this magnitude; I was seriously worried for a moment there….”

When no one joined her in her laughter, she paused and looked at their earnest expressions as they simply stared at her. “You’ve got to be shitting me; a Siren? And what would make you think something so… so… ridiculous?”

Aunt Sophie took Lexi’s hand in hers, gently rubbing her thumb over the tight joints. “Well, we erroneously believed that you hadn't inherited any Siren... gifts because you didn't seem to be the type and we had no reason to believe otherwise until recently.”

Lexi’s eyes widened impossibly in her face; how could they possibly know about Duncan? She hadn’t told anyone other than Dima and Dima didn’t gossip with her family. And none of her sisters would be caught dead at Dima’s bar, even though it was one of the most popular spots among their friends. And there simply hadn't been enough time between last night and this morning for them to discover anything. “But, how….”

“
Aunt Cassandra saw something when she was visiting you last week that worried her,” Thea sighed, looking at her nails and obviously bored by the entire conversation. Out of all of her sisters, Thea was the one who most loved to be the center of attention, putting on a glorious smile when surrounded by her adoring sycophants. It had to be killing her to share the spotlight with Lexi.

Lexi glanced at her aunt and mother, wondering what Thea was talking about, “Nothing out of the ordinary happened when she came for lunch.” With a reluctant shrug, she added, “Well, she couldn’t seem to take her eyes off Cole and Dima but I figured that was because Cole was dressed in a purple poet’s shirt opened to the waist and Dima was barely dressed at all. It’s hard not to stare when those two are in the same room.”

“
Yes, but you live with them and yet you’re not sleeping with them,” Thea’s cultured voice was bitter with more than a trace of acid, though she had never expressed any jealousy over Lexi’s living arrangements before.

“
Thea, that’s enough,” her mother warned. Turning back to Lexi, her eyes swam with apologies; only, Lexi wasn’t sure for what she had to apologize. “It’s our fault for not figuring it out sooner but you see you were such a quiet child and when you came back from Cancun ready to take your place in the family lore you had Dima and Cole at your side. Naturally we assumed you were sleeping with one of them.”