Trust in Advertising (52 page)

“Too spicy?” Anna asked innocently as she picked at the chicken on her plate.

“Wh-what,” Lexi took a sip to wash the rest of the wasabi out of her system, but she knew her cheeks were still fire engine red, “what did you say?”

“It’s a simple question.”

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“Are you crazy?” Lexi fanned herself with her napkin. “Is it hot in here?”

Anna shook her head wordlessly and continued grinning, waiting for Lexi to answer.

“I had a crush on him in high school, Anna. That was ages ago.”

“That’s nothing new. I knew that back then. You zoned out every time he walked by. But I didn’t ask about high school. I’m asking about now. Right now.

Are you in love with Vincent?”

“He has a girlfriend. One who at this second is still wrapped around him like spandex on a hooker and would love nothing more than to obliterate me from the planet Earth.”

Anna took a long sip of her tea. “She’s on her way out.”

“Really?” Lexi asked in disbelief. “Because they looked pretty tight this morning, and I keep finding them huddled together in these intimate conversations.”

It was Anna’s turn to look uncomfortable. “Things aren’t always what they seem.”

“Explain that.”

“I can’t. And besides, this isn’t about Vincent. It’s about you.”

“It’s about me? Then fine. I’m done talking. Let’s talk about you for a while.

How’s Erik?”

Anna went along with Lexi’s demands. “He’s wonderful. He just came home from a shoot down in Cabo. Next month, we’re going to Key West for a week.

Mom and Dad are going to watch Madison for us. I’m real y looking forward to it.”

“Sounds like fun.”

The waitress came over, and they placed their lunch orders. They each got something they’d never tried before and decided to share. Just when Lexi started to relax, Anna’s phone chirped.

“Sorry, it might be Maddie,” she said as she reached into her purse. Her momentary concern was replaced with a smug grin. “Well, isn’t that sweet.”

“What did Maddie say?” Lexi laughed as she took another bite of tuna.

“Actually, it’s not from Maddie. It’s from my brother.” She flipped the phone around and showed Lexi the message.

You’d better be on your best behavior, Anna. You aren’t annoying Lexi,
are you?

“He’s so protective of you.”

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“No, I just think he knows you too wel .” Lexi laughed and tried to downplay the message.

“I wonder what Jade was doing when he sent this? Odd that he would be thinking of you when he’s out to lunch with his,” Anna made a gagging sound,

“girlfriend, don’t ya think?”

“Anna,” Lexi pleaded.

“I know. You don’t want to talk about it. So, how about listening?”

When Lexi didn’t object, Anna took a deep breath and launched into what she had been dying to say. “Do you love him? I really want to know the answer, but truthfully, it doesn’t matter. You’ve changed him, Lexi. He’s such a different man than he was before you started at Hunter. The only people he would ever smile and be himself around were Madison and Sean before you.

He was angry all the time. And miserable. He made the rest of us want to stab ourselves some days.”

“I don’t see how I had anything to do with it.”

“When he’s with you, he’s happy. That day at my house, we all saw it. When he’s not with you, excuse my language, but he’s a pissy little shit. And if Jade’s around? Good Lord, that woman’s a perpetual raincloud. Of course, she is the source of all things evil in the world.”

“Okay, I have a question. Why on earth is he with Jade in the first place?

He’s gorgeous. He could have any woman he wanted.”

“Any woman? Wait, you think he’s gorgeous?” Anna leaned forward hopefully, but Lexi threw a decorative radish at her.

“Focus, Anna. Answer the question, you troublemaker.”

“My guess? She gives great blo—”

“Don’t say it. I’m eating.”

“Fine,” Anna huffed. “Her oral skills aside, I think she’s someone he knows he’ll never love.” She stabbed her noodles and spun them around her fork.

“So he picks his relationships based on—”

“Based on who can’t hurt him. If he never loves her, she can’t break his heart. He went through a terrible break up with Adria. He swore he’d never do that again.”

Lexi dropped her fork. “Adria Parketti?”

Anna nodded her head.

“I had no idea they dated. What happened between them? Can I ask? If you aren’t comfortable …”

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“It’s fine, God knows he’ll never tell you, and it’s kind of important information for someone who lo—someone who works with him to know.” Anna took a deep breath and began the story. “They met in college and were the bright stars of their class, a real design powerhouse. Adria wanted him to stay out east and have the two of them open an East Coast offshoot of Hunter that they could run themselves, basically use the Hunter contacts for their own gain. As it got closer to graduation, Vincent decided he wanted to come back home to learn the ropes from Mom. She had years of experience and wisdom our grandfather had passed down to her, so it seemed logical. Logical to everyone, that is, except Adria. She lost it when she found out.”

“How long had they been together?”

“Almost two years at that point. I overheard my parents say that he had asked my mom for grandma’s ring to give her after graduation. That night, they got into a huge fight, and Vincent left everything in his apartment behind, got on a plane, and came home, with only the ring and the clothes on his back.”

“Poor guy.” Lexi could easily imagine a conniving Adria throwing a fit and being a real piece of work.

“A few weeks later, Adria slinked into town, begging Vincent to forgive her. She even kissed up to my mother in an effort to get a job at Hunter. Long story short, he forgave her, like an idiot, Mom hired her, and Adria worked hard … for a while. Once she made enough contacts in the business, she left without a word and started her own company, taking as many Hunter clients as possible. Vincent was devastated.”

“What a bitch.” Lexi had seen firsthand how heartless, selfish, and deplorable Adria Parketti could be.

Anna laughed. “That’s the understatement of the century. After that, he really didn’t date anyone for a long time. He’d take different women to events and things like that, but Jade is the first one he’s put up with long-term.”

“Jade,” Lexi winced just at saying her name. “I want to strangle her. And for the record, she’s shady.”

“Oh, I know.”

The two women sat quietly, each in their own thoughts as the waitress poured them coffee. Lexi blew gently across the top of her mug and took a sip.

“So, back to my question,” Anna prodded again, seeing if Lexi was ready to answer her yet. “Do you love Vincent?”

“What do you think?” Lexi turned it around so she could avoid answering.

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“I think you love him so much it scares you to death. I think you love him more than anyone outside his family ever has and that you’re the one person he can count on in this world to have his best interest at heart. Even above your own.”

Lexi sighed. “Let’s just say, hypothetically, that you’re right. What good would it do? Am I supposed to wait, day after day, and watch him and Jade frolic together through life and hope someday he will snap out of it and kick her to the curb? Can you imagine how hard it is to see them together and wish it was me?” Lexi’s eyes welled with tears. “When she’s gone, he’s so wonderful to me, and I think maybe, just maybe, he feels something for me. And then Jade flies back into town on her broomstick, and I go back to being invisible.”

“Lexi, you’re most definitely not invisible.” Anna pulled out her phone again and waved it at her across the table. “Even if he doesn’t show it, you’re always on his mind.”

“On his mind and in his heart are two totally different things,” Lexi said sadly.

“He said you have the most beautiful smile,” Anna offered. “And he loves arguing with you.”

Lexi rolled her eyes. “He’d say the same about you.”

“True, but he didn’t kiss me like he kissed you at my house either.”

Lexi went white as sheet. “You know about that?”

“Yep.”

“Who else knows?”

“Everyone in my family. Vincent told us about it that night.”

“Oh God, this is all just too much. I feel like I’m on this emotional rollercoaster every day. I wonder if happy Vincent or angry Vincent will show up. I wonder if Jade’s going to be there and treat me like gum stuck to the bottom of her shoe, or is today a good day—one where Vincent will be playful and relaxed.

Will his hand somehow find a way to brush against mine every chance he gets?

Will he sweep the hair over my shoulder and brush the pad of his thumb over my cheek? Will he look at me and smile, making my stomach flutter and my blood race through my veins? I love him so much it hurts, Anna.”

Anna’s eyes lit up at Lexi’s pained admission, but she contained her jubilance.

“Why don’t you come to my house for a picnic this weekend, and we’ll eat some food, relax, and talk about this more.” Lexi opened her mouth to protest, but Anna cut her off. “Vincent and Jade won’t be there. She has a something in 317

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Denver over the weekend and Vincent’s going with her, so it’ll just be the family.

Madison would love to see you. She’s been asking about you.”

Lexi scowled at Anna, trying to hide her smile. “Not fair using Maddie to get me to come.”

“I never said I was a fair woman.” Anna reached for the check and slipped the waitress her credit card before Lexi could make a move. “My treat. It’s the least I can do for the woman who is going to save my brother.”

“Anna.”

All playfulness gone, Anna grabbed her hand. “Tell me what you want.

Don’t tel me what think you deserve, or what’s impossible, none of those excuses.

What do you want, Lexi White?”

Lexi knew what she wanted; there was never any question. But thinking it in her head and saying it out loud were two totally different things. In her head it was a fantasy, a dream that wasn’t based in real life. But once she said the words, it would be out there. It would be real. She thought carefully about it, then took a deep breath and whispered, “V-Vincent.” When she said it, she felt like a weight was finally lifted off her shoulders. It felt good. A little louder she said, “I want Vincent.” Then she corrected herself slightly. “I want Vincent to want me too.”

“Excellent.” Anna grabbed her purse, and together she and Lexi walked out the door of the restaurant. As they waited for the valet, Anna turned to her and grinned. “Now that you’ve admitted it, tell me, what the hell are you going to do about it?”

“I’m going to find out if dreams really do come true.”

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Honey, you’ve been running around all morning. It’s a cookout. We do this at least twice a month, why are you vibrating around the house like this?

You’re making me nervous.” Erik cornered Anna as she wiped down the table on the deck for the second time.

“I just want everything to be perfect.” Anna adjusted the centerpiece, pulling off the dead leaves and tossing them onto the grass behind her.

Erik eyed his wife suspiciously. “What did you do now?”

“I’m offended at the accusation. I didn’t do anything.”

“Really? Because you’ve been acting weird for a few days now.” He watched her straighten the place settings and napkins—again. “Like the cat that’s swallowed the canary.”

She took a deep breath and answered. “Listen, Lexi’s been having a rough time of it lately. Don’t ask me why because I’m not telling.” She held up her hands at Erik for emphasis. “And, in case you forgot, the last time she came over, Vincent nearly sucked her face off, then acted like a boob, and she left in tears. I just want her to see we are nice, normal people. I want her to cheer up a little and feel at home when she’s with us. Is that so wrong?”

Erik still wasn’t convinced, but he tried shutting his mouth and went back to cleaning the grill. “No, not if you’re telling the truth. But I get the feeling—”

“Mommmmy!” Madison screamed from inside. “Telephone. It’s Uncle Vince.”

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Anna’s eyebrows shot up, knowing Vincent and Jade had left town that morning. “I wonder what he wants.” She looked down the driveway. “Oh, honey, Mom and Dad just got here. Go help them. Dad’s going to try and drag that cooler over here all by himself.”

They could hear Elizabeth yelling. “Just ask one of the boys to help you.

That thing is full of ice. Erik can do it.”

“I got it,” Robert insisted as he balanced the large cooler precariously on the trunk of the car.

“Throw out your back and you’re sleeping on the couch, tough guy,”

Elizabeth warned, and then took off toward the house. “Or, if you have a heart attack and die, I’m going to
kil
you. Erik, go help your father-in-law before he’s sprawled out in your lawn and we have to call the squad.”

With a chuckle and a wave of her hand, Anna ushered Erik outside to help Robert maneuver the cooler to the back porch. When the men finally made it into the house, Anna and Elizabeth were huddled together in the kitchen.

“What did Vincent want?”

“Oh.” Anna clapped her hands together and bounced in place. “I almost forgot. He’s coming over.”

“He sent Jade to Denver on her own? Thank God!” Sean smiled widely walking through the door.

“No, he’s bringing her.” Her upper lip rose in a snarl.

A chorus of “Ugh”s rang out through the room.

“So much for your plans of Lexi having a nice time,” Erik said.

“Why can’t Jade just go away? I told Vincent we can find the mole without her.” Anna began violently chopping a pile of carrots.

“Is he even any closer to finding this jerkoff—I mean jerk?” Sean asked as he snagged one of Anna’s carrot slices. “Doesn’t seem like she’s helping al that much.”

Elizabeth sighed. “She claims to know someone at Reid who is watching things on that end. Vincent, I think, feels like this is his mess to clean up, that he should have figured it out before Jade of all people.”