Avoiding Temptation (Avoiding #3)(83)

“He’s just up there with Parker,” John said, gesturing to the front of the room.

Lexi’s head snapped up. God, she hadn’t been gone that long, had she? It shouldn’t have been a surprise to see her here…or them together, but it still was. Not to mention, Parker looked striking in the very casual, effortless way she always exuded.

She had on a forest-green dress with small swirls of black in it that accented her figure and slimmed her already trim form. The thin straps cut into a shapely V in the front before the dress dropped to pool at her feet. Standing next to Ramsey, it was clear she wasn’t wearing high heels because she still barely came up to his shoulder. Her brown hair was down, past her shoulders, and in a natural just-got-out-of-the-shower wavy style. Her freckles were evident against her pale skin, even from where Lexi was standing. The only true adornment that Parker wore was the bright cherry-red lipstick on her lips. Lexi had never really seen her in makeup before, and the lipstick made her look startlingly pretty.

“Is Ramsey’s tie green?” John asked into Lexi’s ear.

“Yes,” she said softly.

She hadn’t thought about it. His tie was green. They matched—again. Ugh!

“They’re so cute together, huh?”

“Not working,” she said, stabbing a finger into his chest. “And you can cut it out. Now.”

John laughed. “I was kidding around. Someone is defensive.”

“I’m not defensive. I’m just…you’re talking about things you don’t understand. So, it’s better if you keep your nose out of it.”

“Okay, okay. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to upset you,” he said, reaching for her arm to stop her from walking away. “I was seriously just messing around.”

“Fine.”

“Are you excited for Chyna?” he asked, hitting on a topic he knew she would gush about.

“Of course I am! I can’t believe this is all happening for her.”

“Adam told me that you are the maid of honor.”

“That’s right,” Lexi said. As if there were another choice.

“Sounds like I get to walk you down the aisle then.”

“Oh,” she said, letting the words sink in. “You’re the best man.”

That should have been obvious, too, but for some reason, it hadn’t been.

“That’s right.”

“Just throw a better bachelor party for Adam than the last one I went to,” she said.

She saw the comment had thrown him off guard, and it made her smile.

“You’ve…been to a bachelor party?”

“And I thought you knew everything about me,” she said with a wink before turning and walking away. Let him mull over that one.

By the time she made it back to Ramsey’s side, his father had launched into a congratulatory speech, thanking everyone for being in attendance and for their dedication to the company.

It always came back to that.

Ramsey slung an arm around Lexi’s shoulders and smiled down at her lovingly. She caught Parker staring up at him, but when she noticed Lexi looking, she turned away abruptly. If Lexi weren’t so suspicious, it would almost make her feel bad for Parker…almost.

The speech concluded, and everyone applauded. Music filtered in through the speakers, and that was the signal for everyone to begin dancing. Ramsey handed her a drink, and she took a relaxing sip of it. This was how things were supposed to be—easy and relaxing.

Parker waved at her, but she didn’t come over and say hi. Instead, she turned and walked toward Bekah. Lexi didn’t blame her, and she was glad that Parker had gotten the hint.

“Dance with me?” Ramsey whispered.

Lexi nodded, setting her drink down on a table and falling into his arms. The music had a hip-hop beat, but they didn’t care as they swayed back and forth in each other’s arms. Lexi rested her head on Ramsey’s chest and closed her eyes, savoring the sweet smell of peppermint.

They stayed like that for three more dances before Ramsey was pulled away to discuss business with some associates who would be leaving soon. She remained at his side through the entire boring interaction though, and when he was finally able to walk away from them, he was carried into another conversation. They were swept around the room in a different kind of dance as they sought to accommodate all the guests who wanted his attention. The room started emptying out as the people who had to be into work the next day saw the hours ticking away. Ramsey said good-bye to one couple and then moved to say something to the person behind him, but he stopped dead in his tracks.

Lexi had been staring elsewhere, but she felt the shift in his mood immediately.

“What are you doing here, Elisa?” he growled.

Elisa. Fuck!

Lexi had never met her in person, and Elisa was every bit of what she had expected. She was average height, a couple of inches taller than Lexi, with bleached out blonde hair and a rail-thin frame. Lexi could see some of her ribs in her chest. Her lips were pinched together, and she looked like she might attack. How she had ever gotten inside wearing a skin-tight pink dress that barely touched the top of her thighs was beyond Lexi.

“How dare you not return any of my text messages or calls! How dare you threaten to sue me, Ramsey! How dare you say that all the things I said were a lie!” she said, rearing back and slapping him clear across the face.