heard. Because everyone knew I was the anti-serious smartass of the family. The proverbial slackass, even though I made thousands of dollars every day. Yet she had never known me as anything but a cold, cocky, self-absorbed jackass. Something I’d never been in my life before meeting Lexi. Well, I hadn’t been as cold before her.
What did that mean?
I wasn’t my usual self when I was around this woman, which was normally an indicator of an unhealthy relationship. Right?
Or maybe some things need to change.
“Clearly, you bring out the best in me, legs.”
“Clearly.”
I resisted the urge to grin.
Even though we were back to our old ways, it felt like a mutual retreat. Like we both understood that we’d crossed a line in that parking garage, and we both silently agreed it couldn’t happen again. She’d even bolstered the courage to ask me before we left the house if what she’d chosen to wear for lunch was appropriate, not knowing the dress code at the Rossetti house.
I’d wanted to reply, “I’m pretty sure your body couldn’t make anything look inappropriate. Indecent, yes.”
Instead, I’d simply answered, “You look fine.”
In truth, she looked breathtaking, as usual.
A jade green sweater clung to her curves, dark skinny jeans highlighted the shape of her ass, and ankle boots made her legs look even longer. Her blonde hair was down with a slight wave to it. And nude lipstick, instead of her signature red, made her appear less runway model chic and more comfy girl-next-door. Both looks worked for Lexi because she was beautiful no matter what style she chose for the day.
If she was nervous as we climbed the stairs of Mom and Dad’s front stoop, she didn’t let it show. Once again, I had to admire the woman’s courage. She’d had enough reasons to throw tantrum after tantrum over the last several days, and she hadn’t once lost her cool.
My mother answered the door with a wide smile, the smells of lunch wafting out into the Brooklyn air with her. “Well, if it isn’t the daughter-in-law I never saw coming.”
It was official.
My family loved Lexi more than they loved me.
Not hard to believe. She was like the sun, shining her beams upon all those lucky enough to be cast in her light.
And me… I was the cloud that got in her way.
Nothing else could make her frown like harsh words from my mouth.
“I can only imagine what legendary tales this guy has entertained you with, Lexi,” Cris mused. “Just so you know, he probably didn’t have to embellish most of it.”
I covered my wince by shoving another forkful of Mom’s chicken tetrazzini in my mouth. As per usual at Sunday lunch, stories of my past misdeeds and all the ill-conceived actions in between were a constant topic of conversation.
What can I say? My life had always been good for a laugh.
I sensed Lexi’s confusion from her chair to my right, but I didn’t look over. “Actually, I haven’t heard any. Nico here has hardly taken any time off from work the past few days. I’m afraid he’s been a woefully boring sort.”
Everybody at the table shot each other looks, even my parents. I don’t think she could have said anything that would have shocked them more.
“Boring?” Luka sputtered. “This guy? Have we stumbled into some kind of Invasion of the Bodysnatchers scenario?”
Lexi frowned. “Sorry?”
“We are talking about the same guy who cross-dressed to get into the all-girls dorm at Columbia just so he could have sex with Holly Reiner, right?” Gia asked.
My attention swung over to Lexi to gauge her reaction. Her eyes flared with surprise as her head snapped around to me. It was that animal in the zoo look again—fascination mixed with intrigue. And utter disbelief.
“No, she needs to hear about the time he got pulled over in the middle of Amish country with a joint in his ash tray,” Ace spoke up.
Everyone cracked up while Mom crossed herself, muttering prayers in Italian.
Lexi looked downright perplexed. “What were you doing in Amish country?”
I tipped my whiskey glass at Ace, my tone wry. “Oh, I can’t take away their pleasure of telling you themselves. What kind of sport would that make me?”
“It was when he was in the process of buying his distillery in Kentucky,” Cris chimed in. “He wanted to scope things out and get a feel for the area, which is basically just a lot of farmland and fields. Hence, winding up in Amish country.”