“Aww,” Cindy and Barry cooed. “You have his smile.”
“Funny. That’s what my mom said.” I took the phone back and pocketed it.
Cindy dabbed her eyes.
“Eat,” she said, picking up my fork and handing it to me. “Lexi, have some salad. Grayson, don’t take the burned piece. You’re our guest.”
“Be our guest!” Lexi’s dad broke out in song. I joined him while Lexi and her mom clapped along, laughing in delight.
“We should do a movie marathon tomorrow.” Her dad slapped the table.
“Actually, I’m flying back to Manhattan tomorrow with Grayson so I don’t have to worry about booking an airline ticket,” Lexi told her parents.
“You should come visit,” I told them. “I’ll send the plane for you.”
“We need to buy some furniture first,” Lexi said. “Your penthouse is pathologically empty.”
“Or it’s a thoughtfully provided blank canvas for you to work, Lexi.” I smiled at her. “Every negative has the opportunity to be a positive if you just expand your mind.”
Her parents beamed at me.
“Doesn’t Grayson have a wonderfully positive attitude?”
The next afternoonI carried Lexi’s things into the penthouse. Gizzy lumbered behind us. The warm weather had returned, and I coaxed him out onto the terrace.
“I’m so glad to be home,” Lexi shouted in the empty penthouse.
“I thought Dudley Grove was home,” I reminded her.
“It is, but in case you didn’t notice, it’s not like I’m able to decorate the bungalow the way I want it.”
“Not enough glitter?” I asked wryly.
She stuck her tongue out at me.
“I’ll have you know I have sophisticated design taste.”
“Someone is going to make a very good corporate wife,” I said, tangling her in my arms.
“Ooh, I wonder who that could be.” She laughed when I tipped her over. “Guess I have to nix my princess theme idea.”
“I’m buying a house in Dudley Grove,” I told her as I led her upstairs. “So I can have a bed I can fuck you on without director’s commentary from your parents. Feel free to decorate that to your princess-obsessed heart’s content.”
She took a flying leap to the bed.
“We’re going to have Little Mermaid sheets.”
“You can have whatever you want.” I leaned in to kiss her hungrily.
She raised an eyebrow and tossed the last of her clothes aside.
“Whatever I want?” she said against my mouth as I untied the ribbons on her sundress.
“I already agreed to the Disney trip,” I reminded her, unhooking her bra. “So please show mercy on me.”
Lexi grabbed my hands, running them up her soft curves to her tits. “All I want is you,” she said softly, lovingly, a beautiful caress.
Naked and alluring, the sight of her made me wonder how stupid I was to ever have risked losing something so goddamn beautiful.
