“Or maybe he sincerely wants to celebrate your accomplishment.” Lexi was about to share more encouragement when she saw a bright light out of the corner of her eye. Making her way through the crowd was Mandee Meriweather and a cameraman fromRoyal Tonight!
“Jack Bowden!” Mandee exclaimed, wagging a finger at him. “You’ve been hiding from me.”
“I haven’t. Just got here.”
“Well, I need an interview with you right now. Wehaveto discuss Soiree on the Bay.”
Jack didn’t seem happy about it but agreed. “Sure. Okay.”
Mandee glanced at Lexi. “Hey, Lexi. Do you mind moving out of the shot?”
She had to swallow back how insulted she felt by the request. It hadn’t been that long ago that Mandee was eager to interview her, but she reminded herself that tonight was Jack’s night. Lexi was here for support. “Gladly.”
Mandee cozied up to Jack and Lexi slugged back her champagne, hoping it would help to tamp down her jealousy. The reporter exchanged words with the cameraman, just as Rusty arrived to watch. Jack became noticeably more tense. Lexi’s heart really went out to him. She knew how much he did not enjoy being the center of attention.
Mandee looked directly into the camera. “Mandee Meriweather here, broadcasting live from the lavish Edmond estate. Tonight is the scene of a grand cocktail party, where the Royal elite are gathered to honor Jack Bowden, whose company just completed construction on the Soiree on the Bay festival site on Appaloosa Island.”
Mandee smiled widely, then turned her attention to Jack, asking about the upcoming festival and the hoops he and his crews had jumped through to get the construction completed on time. Jack provided succinct answers, thinly veiling his annoyance that he had to endure this at all.
“Now, Jack—” Mandee planted her hand on his shoulder “—the last time we talked, you were single. Since then, lots of folks in Royal have spotted you and Lexi Alderidge together, but when I recently asked her about you, she said that you were just friends. She was adamant that you were nothing more.”
Lexi felt as though her stomach had just dropped to her knees. She had given that answer to protect Jack and her. And certainly hadn’t meant it the way Mandee made it sound. Lexi stepped closer to the cameraman, trying to catch Jack’s attention. When their gazes connected, the disappointment on his face was so profound, it was a dagger plunged straight through her heart. All she could do was mouth,I’m sorry.
Jack cleared his throat, then directed his attention to Mandee. “Yes. That’s true. Lexi and I are friends. That’s it.”
Mandee unleashed a sly grin that made Lexi nauseous. She turned to the camera. “You heard it here first, ladies of Royal. Jack Bowden, the man behind the Soiree on the Bay construction, is single.”
Jack waited for only a few more seconds before he asked, “Is that it?”
“I got everything I wanted,” Mandee answered.
Jack stepped out from the bright camera light and took Lexi’s hand. “We need to talk.” As ominous as that sounded, she was eager to explain herself. Jack turned to Rusty. “Is there anyone in your study right now?”
Their host shook his head. “No. The door is closed.”
“Perfect. Is it okay if I steal it for a few minutes?”
Rusty seemed utterly confused. “Is everything okay, Jack?”
Jack’s grip on Lexi’s hand loosened ever so slightly, but it felt like he was sending her a message about exactly how unhappy he was. “Everything’s perfect. Lexi and I just need to have a chat.”
“Don’t be long. I have a lot of people I want you to speak with tonight.”
“Got it.” With Lexi in tow, Jack stalked through the door on the far side of the room and down a quiet hall. He seemed to know exactly where he was going, opening Rusty’s office and slipping inside.
“I’m sorry, Jack,” Lexi blurted as soon as the door was closed.
“Did you mean it? That we’re just friends and that’s it?”
“Well, yes. I mean, what else would you have wanted me to say to her? You hate gossip just as much as I do. Did you actually want me to tell her that we were involved?”
He stared down at her, a muscle ticking in his jaw. “I would’ve hoped that you would tell her the truth. I don’t have a lot of patience for skirting that.”
Lexi could hardly believe what he was saying. “Her whole job is twisting people’s words to try and make them sound more exciting and salacious. I wasn’t going to feed into that.”
“I see your point. It still doesn’t mean it isn’t disappointing.” Jack shook his head and paced to the other side of the room. “Or frustrating. Or slowly driving me crazy.”
Lexi felt as though she was completely out of her depth. “Frustrating you how? I don’t understand what you’re trying to say.”
