Preserving Love: A Contemporary Romance Series (Nick & Lexi Book 2) (2 page)

“As we discussed at our last meeting there is a proposal for a new condo development downtown. I believe we were all in agreement to fight this proposal much as we did the retail center,” I watched as his stone cold eyes darted in my direction. “Since that meeting we have had some new information come to light.”

Several heads turned to look at me and the rest watched Grant. It seems that everyone already knew. That meant that somehow they were communicating behind my back. I didn’t like the feel of that, but I understood it.
 

“Normally we would have expected Alexis to schedule and run the meeting tonight,” Grant continued. “As head of the society she generally keeps up to date on what’s happening and makes sure to keep us informed. Alexis,” he turned to me, “can you tell us why you haven’t called a new meeting to discuss the information?”

I was on the spot with an unexpected confrontation. I hadn’t expected that. Yes, I’d been positive the meeting was because they learned of Evan’s involvement before I’d had a chance to tell them, but I wasn’t prepared to be put on the spot by a close friend.
 

“I’m sorry?” I questioned, caught off guard and stunned by the entire thing.
 

“Why did you not call a meeting to discuss with us the fact that your boyfriend is the man behind the condo development? I mean, he did agree to help fight it with us at the last meeting, did he not?” Grant asked and I heard an intake of air all around the table. Some of them hadn’t known.
 

“I-- it was--“ I was speechless. I didn’t imagine many of the words I could say would be helpful anyway. It seemed he’d already developed an opinion. “I’ve been busy Grant,” I found my voice. “I have a business to run and other things to tend to.”

“So you don’t find your responsibilities as head of the Society to be just as important?” Vincent asked, garnering visual approval from Grant.
 

“I didn’t say that,” I answered, locating both courage and anger. “It’s been less than two weeks. I was intending to discuss it at our meeting.”

“Considering we were debating putting our trust into Evan Monroe,” Grant began, “Do you not think it would have been a good idea to discuss it sooner?”

I watched as all eyes turned to me. What the hell was I supposed to say? It was a shock to me too. I was worried about my relationship? I was afraid of my own feelings? I was being selfish?
 

To say that I was angry over the confrontation was an understatement. He had brought me here only to have them attack me at once. I didn’t even have a defense. I had nothing I could really say.
 

My text went off and I was sure it was Evan, but I couldn’t even look at my phone. Not while the entire Society sat watching me and waiting for an answer.
 

“What I felt,” I stood up and faced the group, “was that it was not an urgent matter. We have ample time to prepare to fight the condo development. That is what I assume we still plan to do?” I looked at Grant and waited for his nod of approval. “I assumed that regardless of who was against us on this, we would stand and fight just as we always do. I did not believe our plans or strategies would change based on who was working on the development. Was I wrong?” The group shook their heads no. “Now if you’ll excuse me, I need to freshen up before the food arrives,” I picked up my purse mainly so I could check the text that had come in. “When I return my assumption is that we will discuss the development and our plan of attack instead of what I’ve done in my personal life over the previous two weeks.”

I turned and walked off, hot tears of anger running down my cheeks. How dare they do that to me? Grant had been a friend. What was his goal in embarrassing me like he just had?
 

Heading into the stall, trying to catch my breath and stop myself from crying, I grabbed the phone to check my text.
 

It’s a reservation for a reason. We can’t really just show up when we like.
 

Great. Evan was upset at me. He didn’t say that, but I could tell. He didn’t add any cute comments or a suggestion to do something else.
 

I’m sorry. I wish I could have changed it.
 

I debated adding that we could do something else, but then I realized that if he’d wanted that he would have said it. So I hit send and make my way back out of the restroom.
 

It’s hard not to notice that everyone quiets down as I approach the table, but I’m pretty good at pretending and appearing professional. I take my seat and lift my wine glass to take a sip, acting as though nothing was different.
 

“Alexis,” Grant was the one to break the silence. “We are concerned about the conflicts of this situation.”

It wasn’t unexpected. They would want my reassurance that I would fight for them, for our cause. Not for Evan and his dreams.
 

“I understand,” I replied with a smile. “It’s a tough spot for the average person.”
 

“Exactly,” he agreed. “That’s why…”

“I’m not the average person,” I interrupted him before he could finish. “I’ve been working with the Preservation Society for years. I’ve fought long and hard for our goals. I’ve been up against Evan Monroe once before. The status of my relationship with him has not changed who I am. Therefore it would be unreasonable to think it had changed how effectively I handle this battle.”

“Well, I don’t know…” Vincent snickered at me. He was about to say something when I stopped him.
 

“If you are making a motion to remove me from my position, then please let me know so the appropriate steps can be taken.”

For a moment everyone was silent as they watched Grant to see what he would say.
 

“I don’t see a reason for that right now,” he acknowledged. “But I’d like to make my opinion known so that if there should come some conflicting interests we can take those steps at that time.”

And that was it. They were going to watch for anything deemed conflict and use that to remove me. All because they were mad I hadn’t told them as soon as I’d found out. What none of them knew was that I hadn’t really been talking to Evan either.
 

*****

Chapter 3

“How was your date?” Kendall had a way of getting right to the point and I wasn’t sure I liked it.
 

There were questions I didn’t want to answer, and the one she’d just asked would lead to them. Why didn’t we go out anyway? How was the meeting? Was I sure this was going to work?
 

Truth was, I was scared of those questions because I wasn’t sure I knew the answer anymore. Evan hadn’t replied to my text Saturday. In fact, it’d taken him two days to say anything at all. A fact that left me wondering how we’d make it through the rest of this condo issue.
 

He had rescheduled the reservation and we were supposed to go that very night, but I was still apprehensive. From the moment we’d realized we’d be on opposite sides it had been Evan that was calm and cool about the situation. He’d insisted that we were going to be just fine. But his reaction over something as small as a meeting I couldn’t skip made me question his dedication to that theory.
 

The meeting itself had been more of a headache than a help. Realizing that Grant was using the situation to try and push me out of my spot had hurt. I wanted to believe that he was acting only in the best interests of the Preservation Society, but there was no reason for any of them to believe that I’d let them down. At least not yet.
 

It wasn’t my first time facing adversity, but at this point I’d thought that Grant was a friend and that Evan was as committed to our success as I was. Seeing that perhaps I’d overestimated them was hitting me pretty hard.
 

“It wasn’t,” I shrugged as if it were no big deal, turning to make fresh coffee before my small rush of business came in. “The meeting killed the reservation. So we are going tonight.”

My voice sounded a lot more optimistic than I felt. My only hope was that it’d work. If Kendall sensed that something was wrong she’d push it and I didn’t feel much like discussing any of it at that moment.
 

“Couldn’t you have done something else since you’d waited so long to have a night together?”
 

Either she sensed that something was wrong, or she had the same way of thinking that I’d had. I wasn’t sure which it was and it didn’t matter.

“It’s hard to plan something last minute,” Keeping my back to her, I focused my energy on cleaning counters and stacking plates. I could say whatever I wanted, but if she’d seen my face she’d have known I was lying.
 

“Hell, even a night of movies on the couch would be better than nothing,” I felt my stomach clench at the comment. She was right. That was the thought I’d had after the meeting, as I sat alone and stared at the phone. We could have found something to do.
 

“It was a late meeting,” I lied. None of us had been there past nine.
 

“How’d that go?”
 

I swore under my breath. My attempt to blow off the conversation about my date with Evan so that I didn’t share my fears and disappointment had resulted in another subject I was trying to avoid. The meeting.
 

“Okay I guess,” I tried lying again, but this one she didn’t buy.
 

“So not good?”

“I don’t know,” I caved, tossing the cloth onto the counter and grabbing my coffee. Walking around the display I sat down at the table across from her. “I’m not sure how to take any of it.”

“I’m a pretty good listener and I offer one hell of an opinion, if I do say so myself,” she giggled, taking a bite of her muffin.
 

“What’s up with the muffin?” I asked, questioning her decision to bring food with her. Normally Kendall would make her way into the shop before work and gorge herself on brownies and candy. She wasn’t one to typically carry anything in and especially not what looked to be a plain muffin.
 

“It’s healthier,” she smiled in my direction. “I’m trying to change my eating habits.”

“who is he?” I watched her eyes find mine as she laughed at my question. “Don’t try to pretend. You love junk food. You couldn’t find five pounds on you to lose if you tried. So if you have this new kick to eat healthy, there is a reason and chances are he’s really hot.”

“His name is David,” she confessed, a pink color shading her face. “He’s a health nut.”

“Sounds like a perfect match,” I rolled my eyes.
 

“I actually like it. Our first date was a hike. I was tired, but it was a lot of fun!”

“And now you are eating muffins?” I shook my head, laughing as I did. “At least there will be some stuff left for paying customers,” I added with a smile.
 

“Shut up,” she teased. “I haven’t given up all junk. I’m just trying not to eat it constantly.”

Kendall never ceased to amaze me. She’d developed a multitude of interests and hobbies throughout the years based on guys she was seeing, but I’d never seen her change her food choices. That was her one weakness and she didn’t alter it for anyone.
 

“So tell me about the meeting,” she changed the subject once again, not forgetting what we’d originally been talking about. “What is it that you don’t know?”

Sinking further into my chair, shoulders slumping, I looked at my best friend.
 

“I had no idea what I was walking into,” I confessed. “Grant accused me of not caring about the society or thinking of it as important. Said he was concerned about my involvement with Evan and the effect of it on my job with them. Everyone already knew.”

“Well you had to know they’d find out,” she offered.
 

“Yes,” I answered, “but it was different. Like they’d all already been talking. Only a few people didn’t know what was going on.”

“So you think they are talking behind your back?”

“It feels like it,” I answered, sipping my already cold coffee. “I just don’t know why.”

“Bullshit,” she argued. “Lexi, you already have an opinion or you wouldn’t have that expression. And chances are it’s the same one I have.”

“Which is?”

“That son-of-a-bitch has decided he wants your spot now and he’s going to use this situation to try and get it!”

“Yea,” I nodded. “That’s kind of what I’m thinking. Unless,” I paused, “they really are concerned. I mean, could it be that Grant thinks I’m betraying them?”

“I highly doubt it,” she disagreed with the idea. “When have you ever?”

“Yea, but this situation is…”

“Unique,” she interrupted. “Still doesn’t mean you’d totally change who you are.”

“That’s what I said,” taking a bite, I felt better about my thoughts since Kendall had confirmed them. It may not be a subject I like, but it was definitely one that I needed to talk out.
 

Which is exactly what we did the rest of her visit. I told her more about the meeting and she gave me tips on how to handle things going forward. While it was a difficult conversation, at least it kept me from discussing my own worries about Evan. I didn’t want to tackle that subject even with Kendall.