it on, checking the time on her cell before shoving it into the terry-cloth pocket. Marc, on the other hand, stretched and leisurely got out of bed. They reached the door at the same time, Wingman barking excitedly at their feet.
She shoved Marc back. “Are you crazy? One look at you and the whole ‘We are good, God-fearing people’ speech will begin. By afternoon ChiChi will be at the chapel picking dates and Pricilla will be baking our wedding cake. So stay here. And no matter who is at the door, don’t come out. Understand?”
Marc just nodded, awfully calm for someone who was usually paralyzed by the threat of forced commitment. Which was good for Lexi, because although she doubted it was the grannies on her doorstep—they would have just let themselves in through the bakery’s stairs—she didn’t want her bachelors getting the wrong idea about sleeping arrangements. And if Marc was seen leaving her place in the morning, rumors would fly—guaranteed.
“Coming,” she yelled, rushing down the steps as she tightened the belt of her robe and answered the door. And froze. Because there, on her porch stoop with a single red rose and a lecherous smile, stood St. Helena High’s reigning panty peeper. “Chad?”
Chad swooped in for a kiss. He went for the lips, but she managed to deflect him to the cheek.
“Morning, beautiful.” His smile faded a little when he took in her attire. He shot a glance at his watch. “Am I early?”
“Early?”
“For our date.”
Had he seriously thought that she would go on a picnic with the man who served her? She took in the red-and-white-checkered picnic basket and convertible running idle and realized he had.
“I called you last night to confirm. I left a message. We have a busy day planned. You and me, a little driving, wine tasting on the way to the lake. I even have reservations at that new Italian place in the hills. How fast can you get ready?”
“I am so sorry that—” She paused. Because she realized that was a lie. She wasn’t sorry. Although he didn’t seem so creepy right now, bouncing on his toes and holding the flower and acting all excited about their date, he had served her. He had helped Jeffery screw her out of her recipes and then acted like he’d done nothing wrong. She hated people like Chad—almost as much as she hated roses. “This date isn’t going to happen. Ever. I should have called to cancel, but it slipped my mind.”
“Why?” One word, but there was one heck of an accusation behind it.
“Um, why can’t I go out with you? Or why did it slip my mind?”
Chad just raised an angry brow.
“Do I really need to explain? You represented my ex-husband in a claim that cost me my recipes.”
“But it’s Saturday,” he said, petulantly. She was surprised he didn’t stomp his foot.
He took a step inside the door. Lexi tried to hold her ground, but it happened so fast. One minute he was on her stoop and the next he was in her apartment.
“And your stupid client nearly cost me my bistro.”
“Nearly? You’re still opening the café?” He was back to smiling again. “Good. Jeff will be happy. He wants you to open it. So do I. See, it all worked out.”
“Bistro. And wait!” She must have misunderstood him. “You talked to Jeffery? About me?”
“Of course, you were the defendant in our case.” This was getting way too weird. “I also told him we had a date.”
“And he encouraged this?”
“Yeah.” Chad looked suddenly lost. “He said it was good for you to get out. Told me to bring you this.” He stuck the rose out. “For you.”
Lexi stared at the rose. She didn’t know what hurt more, Jeffery trying to set her up with another man or that after fifteen years he still didn’t know she hated roses. The one thing she was sure about was that if Jeffery was messing with her life, it was for his benefit only. “Look, thanks for the gesture, but—”
She broke off. Oh God, she was going to cry. Her head felt like it was about to explode, her ex-husband was playing matchmaker, and after she’d given all of her adult life to a man, he still didn’t know something as simple as what kind of flower she liked.
“Morning, sugar.” A strong hand slid around her waist, bypassing the lip of the robe and sliding home to caress her bare belly. Marc pulled her back against him, pressing