Page 49 of Finding Lexie
She giggled as Midas held open the door on the other end of the lobby that led out to the grassy area behind the condo complex, where the pavilions and grills were located.
As natural as breathing, Midas reached for her hand as they walked toward his team.
Slate was the first to see them. “Thank God,” he said, loud enough for everyone to hear. “Now we can eat.”
“Remember, he’s the impatient one,” Midas told Lexie as they approached.
“Wow, everyone looks so different with clothes on,” she mused.
Midas bit back a laugh.
“Oh shit, I didn’t mean it that way,” she said almost immediately. “I meant with real clothes on. You know, like shorts and T-shirts, not the uniforms they were wearing when I last saw them.”
“I knew what you meant,” Midas said, amused.
“Jeez, I’m totally gonna say something else to embarrass myself, I know it.”
“Naw,” Midas told her. “You’re good. Besides, I’m sure one of the guys will say something stupid before too long, so no worries.”
“Good to see you again!” Aleck told Lexie as they entered the pavilion.
“Yeah, you don’t look quite as much like something the cat dragged in,” Pid agreed.
Jag smacked his friend on the back of his head. “That was rude, asshole,” he said.
“Told you,” Midas murmured to Lexie. He was glad to see she was smiling and not at all offended by Jag’s sincere, if awkward, statement.
“Hey,” Slate said with a jerk of his chin.
Mustang walked over to them with a smile. “I’m thrilled that you were able to work it out to come to Oahu. When my men are happy, I’m happy. And believe me, Midas is fucking thrilled.”
“Scott, you probably shouldn’t swear when you first meet someone,” Elodie scolded.
“I’m not meeting her for the first time,” Mustang protested. “Besides, Midas is fucking thrilled. He’s been in a much better mood since she arrived.”
“Mustang,” Midas warned, seeing the blush that crossed Lexie’s face.
“All right, sorry. I’m just saying…it’s very nice that you’re here,” he told Lexie.
“Thanks, I’m glad to be here,” Lexie said politely.
“And I’m Elodie,” Mustang’s better half said, holding her hand out. “Scott told me all about what happened to you. Okay, not all of it, because he can’t legally do that, but he told me enough. It’s crazy that we both had a run-in with Somalis.”
“Not all people from Somalia are bad,” Lexie said immediately. “I met some amazing men and women there.”
“Oh, I know, I didn’t mean to imply differently,” Elodie said with a small frown.
“It’s just that poverty is so rampant over there. Most people don’t have the opportunities that we have here in the States, or in other countries. Fathers and mothers have to feed their families, and they’ll do whatever it takes to be able to do that.”
“I understand. I do,” Elodie insisted. “Shoot, now you must think I’m a horrible person. I’m not, I swear.”
Midas saw Mustang frown and take a step closer to his wife, as if to protect her.
“No! I don’t think that at all,” Lexie said, her brow furrowing in consternation. “I’m the one who’s sorry. I tend to go on and on about things I’m passionate about and don’t take into account the connotations of what I’m saying. I don’t condone what the pirates did to your cargo ship, or the men who kidnapped me and Dagmar, not in the least.”
“Whew,” Elodie said, pretending to wipe sweat from her brow. “For a second, I thought I’d really put my foot in it.”
“No, not at all,” Lexie said.
