“Please don’t feel that you have to get me anything. I’m not here for the presents.” He glanced briefly at Lexi and loved the blush that brought color to her cheeks.
Willa looked back and forth between them then said, “I should get back to Lance.” She wagged a finger at both of them. “Be good.”
Clay waited until she was out of earshot before he leaned down and whispered in Lexi’s ear, “I’d rather be phenomenal.”
Lexi laughed and his reward was that she linked her arm with his again. “You realize that if we ever do get together you’ll have quite a lot of hype to live up to.”
“If? If?” He put a hand over his heart as if she’d wounded him. “We have a date for New Year’s Eve.”
Lexi’s response was a flutter of her eyelashes and a quick look away. She honestly didn’t know how to take Clay sometimes. Although she’d heard that he might make an appearance at the Barrington’s that night, she hadn’t expected him to stay. She also hadn’t expected him to act like he’d come to see her.
Clay had been a topic of many conversations over the last few weeks. Willa thought the idea of Clay marrying her sister was romantic beyond description, until Lexi reminded her that most men—especially men like Clay—weren’t looking for marriage. She encouraged Lexi to be brave enough to believe in possibilities. Kenzi had said that although Dax claimed that he wouldn’t get involved, he had smiled when Kenzi had suggested that Clay was sweet on Lexi. She thought Lexi should play it cool because Clay was used to women fawning all over him. In the end, it was Sophie’s advice that Lexi took to heart. After listening to Lexi describe her interactions with Clay as strings of light flirtation sprinkled with moments when he sounded like a concerned friend, Sophie had said, “You need to decide what you want, Lexi. If you’re looking for a few dates, it doesn’t matter how you act. In the end, you’re both adults. However, if you think there’s a chance you might marry Clay—be yourself. If he’s the right one for you, he’ll cherish you the way you are.”
Lexi had joked, “Shouldn’t we go on at least one date before I think about naming our children?”
“You’re not getting any younger, sweetie,” Sophie had said, then laughed with such mischief that Lexi had joined in. Then Sophie had held up the red dress Lexi was presently wearing and said, “Try this on. If it doesn’t stop him in his tracks and get him to ask you out again then he’s not man enough for you.”
So far Sophie’s choice of dress had definitely turned Clay’s head. He was full-on flirting with her, but that wasn’t anything new, and it left Lexi wondering if she hadn’t read more into Thanksgiving than had been there. “Did you really buy me a present?” she asked.
“Yes, Dax told me to buy for everyone.”
Not exactly a grand, romantic gesture. “I bet I can guess it.”
One side of his mouth curled up at the challenge. “You think you know me that well?”
“We’ll see, won’t we?”
He inclined his head and waited.
“Is it a large box or a small one?”
“A small one.”
“Square or rectangular?”
“Rectangular.”
“It’s a bracelet.”
His eyes narrowed. “Why do you say that?”
She referenced the room full of people. “You wouldn’t embarrass me, so I’m guessing the gift is a tasteful gift. You’re a bit flashy so it would be something expensive. Considering that you don’t know me that well, jewelry would be a safe choice.” He looked unhappy with her guess so she gave his hand a pat. “Don’t worry, I’ll pretend to be surprised when I open it.”
“I appreciate that.”
His arm was tense beneath her touch, and she started to regret saying anything about the gift. She could hear Willa’s voice in her head reminding her that the best response to any gift is a simple, “Thank you.” Why do I always open my mouth and make problems where there were none?
Dale clapped his hands to gain everyone’s attention. “Adhering to Barrington tradition, you are all allowed to open one gift tonight. Choose carefully. The rest will be given out tomorrow morning after breakfast.”
As the youngest, Kenzi chose her gift first, the one from her husband. It was a monogrammed bed for her dog, Taffy. “I love it, Dax. It’s perfect.” She kissed him then put it down and snuggled to his side.
One by one the others went until only Lexi and Clay remained. “Ladies first,” he said.
Lexi walked over to the tree and wavered between opening his present in front of everyone or not. I wish I’d told him that I would love anything from him. That’s how I feel. She closed her eyes briefly, considered all the ways it could go well or badly, then opened her eyes and sifted through the gifts until she found the one for her from him. It was rectangular, but smaller than she’d expected. Definitely not a bracelet. “Thank you, Clay. I’m sure I’ll love whatever it is.” She opened it and discovered one simple, black flash drive.
“It’s probably filled with a thousand photos of him,” Grant said dryly.
“Behave,” Sophie chastised softly.
Lexi returned the cover to the small box and smiled. “Better than a copy of his porn collection.”
Willa covered her face with her hand, Sophie shook her head, but she was smiling. Dale wasn’t smiling, but he looked like he was on the verge of it.
“That would require several flash drives,” Clay added without missing a beat. Asher barked out a laugh and the others followed suit.
“You’re next, Clay,” Dale said.
Clay hesitated. “Is there one there for me?”
Lexi rushed forward. She wasn’t sure about anyone else, but she’d brought one. Now that she’d seen his gift to her, she didn’t feel guilty that she hadn’t had a lot of money to spend on his. He accepted the box from her, bounced it in his hand for a moment, then a huge smile spread across his face. “I have no idea what this is.”
“Then open it,” Lexi said gently. It hadn’t been easy to choose a gift for a man who could afford anything he wanted.
He took a moment and looked around the room before gazing back down at the package. “My family never celebrated Christmas. At least, never like this. Thank you.”
There was an emotional silence where the women dabbed at their eyes and Dale nodded in approval at Dax. Ian broke the mood by saying, “Open it already.”
Everyone laughed.
Clay tore the paper off the box and revealed a toaster box. Lexi waved at him. “That’s just the box I used. Keep going.”
He pulled off the tape that held that box closed and took out two smaller, wrapped ones. He tore those open looking as if he were really enjoying the process. A moment later he held up the small digital camera and frame she’d bought him.
Lexi said, “I figured you probably have everything, but
you don’t have a photo of this Christmas. Now you do.”
He replaced the camera and frame back in the box and closed the distance between them. Without warning he bent and brushed his lips briefly over hers and growled, “I love it.”
Lexi dropped her present to the floor.
Dale clapped his hands loudly. “So, we’ll see you all tomorrow morning. Be here by nine.”
Chapter Five
Clay paced the Boston Harbor Hotel’s presidential suite he called home while in Boston. He hadn’t expected Lexi to fall into bed with him right after the party, but he also hadn’t expected her to skirt away while he was saying goodbye to Sophie and Dale. He was tempted to text her. No, he was dying to text her, but he wouldn’t. Not this time.
This time he’d wait for her to contact him. And she would—as soon as she saw what was on the flash drive he’d given her.
He glanced at his watch impatiently. She had to be back at her place by now. Unless she was out with someone. That thought twisted his gut painfully.
I should call her just to make sure she made it home.
He took out his phone but stopped before choosing her number.
No. She has my number. If she wants to talk to me, she’ll text me.
His phone rang and he almost dropped it in his haste to answer it. “Hello,” he said trying to sound nonchalant but coming across as irritated instead.
“Clay? It’s me, Lexi.”
I know. “Hi.”
“Is it too late to call? I’m sorry. I’m just looking at your present, and I didn’t want to ask about it in front of everyone tomorrow.”
He told himself to play it cool. “Good choice.” That’s it? The best I can do? It’s safe to say I’ll never bowl her over with my wit.
“First, I want to say I’m sorry for being a complete jackass at the party. Sometimes I don’t think. When I open my mouth I have no idea what wild shit will come out of it.”
Since he wasn’t sure what part of their exchange she was referring to, he replied with a vague, “You have nothing to apologize for. I hope kissing you didn’t embarrass you.”
