The Matchmaker's Replacement - Rachel Van Dyken Page 0,88

he’s not worth your time. Oh and Mark? Erection!” I screamed it as loud as I could and reached for Gabi. “Now, hopefully every time he has an erection, his face will remember the sting from being punched. One can only hope this experience is traumatic enough to condition his psyche.”

I pulled Gabi into my arms and kissed her head. She smiled up at me and whispered, “Hero.”

“Twice in one week. Does that mean I get extra hours of sex? Should we start a chart? Just in case? You know, so we don’t lose track.”

She punched me in the stomach.

Funny how some things changed, yet others stayed exactly the same.

Thank God for that.

Chapter

Thirty-Nine

Gabi

Lex claimed his hand didn’t hurt, but bruises don’t lie. When Ian asked, Lex told him in graphic detail about Mark and also informed Ian that he was going to rewrite the entire program that involved male clients. He didn’t want to take a chance that some guy like Mark could use Wingmen services and try to get a girl he didn’t deserve.

He worked on it all week. I barely saw him.

Unless I was bringing him food, which he ate without even looking at.

Finally it was the weekend, and he was taking time off from writing code so that we could all go to my family’s dinner in Bellevue.

Ian drove, which left me in the front seat and Lex in the back. It would have been fine except that I kept catching him staring at me through the rearview mirror.

Luckily, Ian was in a bad mood because Blake had an away game, so it seemed the only things he was able to focus on were listening to the game on the radio and how many days until she was home so they could be together.

He’d gone from being a player for life to some guy I didn’t even recognize. That morning he’d asked me about wedding rings, causing Lex to choke on his cornflakes and almost need the Heimlich.

“So,” Ian said as he took the turn down my parents’ street. “How’s the new program coming along, Lex?”

“Good.”

I turned around so I could face Lex. He looked exhausted. I hated how much I missed being in his bed, but he needed to concentrate, and my absence was good—good because Ian kept checking on him throughout the night.

“I’ve hit a few snags, but it will be fine.” Lex’s voice was deep and gravelly like it always was when he got tired, but man, even exhausted he was still beautiful. “Give me two more days, tops.”

“Good.” Ian let out a breath. “Gabs?”

“Hmm?” I jerked my body back toward the front seat but stayed half turned so I could see Lex in the corner of my vision.

“You’ll be happy to know that Mark hasn’t tried anything.”

I snorted out a laugh. “Probably helps that Lex almost killed him.”

Ian grabbed my hand. “Had I been there, I would have done worse.”

Did Lex just growl from the backseat? I stole a glance in his direction. His fists were clenched at his sides, a slow tick starting in his jaw.

“Um, well.” I pulled my hand away from Ian. “Lex handled it. You know how super villains are . . .” It was my try at killing some of the tension in the car. It didn’t work. If anything, it made things worse as Ian clenched the steering wheel harder and Lex suddenly found great interest in the passing trees. Had something happened between them? Suddenly nervous that Lex had gone back on his promise and mentioned something to Ian, my stomach heaved. “So,” I tried again. “My parents will be so happy to have everyone.”

“Can’t wait for real food. There better be tamales or I’m walking,” Lex said in a strained voice.

“Her mother only makes tamales for the holidays,” Ian corrected. “Trust me, I tried to get her to make them for me last time, and she said they were only for special occasions.”

“Their anniversary is special,” I pointed out, sensing that it was more of a pissing match than anything. Was Ian jealous of my relationship with Lex? Was he finally seeing that we weren’t fighting? Oh no!

“Tamales or I can’t go inside. Sorry, Gabs!”

I rolled my eyes. “Lex, stop being a child. I already told her to make them.”

“What?” Ian pulled up in front of their house. “For Lex? You called in a food-related favor . . . for Lex?”

“It’s because Lex is awesome,” Lex said, his huge trademark smirk