Drew.”
Nicholas turned to look in the direction Lexi was facing and saw Drew and Flynn walking through the front door. They commanded attention and people were quickly edging their direction while trying not to be obvious about it.
“I suspect they’re here to see you.”
“ They don’t know who A. Polstein is?” Lexi looked worried.
“ Doubtful.”
“ Call them over and tell them.”
Nicholas raised an arm and waved to Drew. Thankfull y Flynn saw him. Drew and Flynn made their way with a sense of purpose and joined them with relief.
“ I think we all know each other,” Nicholas said. “We weren’t expecting to see you two here.”
“ I had to get Flynn away from Zane,” Drew answered. Flynn seemed briefly surprised by the revelation, but took the cue and nodded in agreement. Nicholas wasn’t fooled for a moment.
“ Isn’t he letting you look at pretty girls?” Lexi teased.
“ No, he’s terribly unreasonable,” Flynn gave Lexi a dazzling smile.
“ Now why couldn’t you put on that smile for Troy?” Lexi sighed. Nicholas had a brief daydream about marrying her off to Flynn. That would solve her money problems as well as take care of that social hermit mentality.
“ I think I did, eventually.”
“ Eventually. He should be here somewhere, don’t let him see you smile like that.” Lexi looked around briefly, then stiffened and turned to face Nicholas. The color was gone from her face. He looked over her shoulder to see what startled her, his heart in his throat. Sure enough, walking toward them were Paul and Kayley.
“ Not to worry, he was a satisfied client. I’m sure he’s just coming to say hello,” Nicholas tried to put her at ease. Lexi stomped hard on his foot, clearly letting him know the lie didn’t put her at ease.
“ I’m missing something.” Flynn looked to Nicholas for an answer as Lexi turned to face Paul. Nicholas was still recovering from the unexpected assault on his foot and just nodded wordlessly.
“ Mr. Lovett, Kayley, I didn’t expect to see you here. Kayley, that dress is gorgeous on you!” Lexi brushed off Paul and concentrated on Kayley instead.
“ Thank you, Lexi. And thank you again for the pictures. They are just beyond belief.”
“ I’m glad you liked them. What brings you to Miami?”
“ Oh, when Paul found out you finally decided to leave Seattle, he couldn’t get down here fast enough. We’re only here to ambush you I’m afraid,” Kayley shrugged.
Nicholas wasn ’t ready for Kayley’s honesty, but he was prepared to back Lexi with whatever move she decided to make. He sensed Lexi’s shock and quickly backed up against her, his hands holding her upper arms to steady her.
“ And you . . .” Lexi lapsed into confusion.
“ Oh, I know all about his interest,” Kayley confirmed brightly, taking a sip from her champagne flute. “He’s smitten. I’ve known that since the beginning and I offered him advice. I have to be honest, Paul’s unusually persistent.”
Nicholas looked at Paul. He stood quietly by Kayley ’s side watching Lexi.
“ Kayley always speaks her mind,” Paul smiled gently. “I didn’t mean to startle you like this, but you refuse to answer my emails. Meanwhile I see you’ve picked up some new friends.” Paul indicated Drew and Flynn, quietly watching the scene with expressions of amusement and horror.
“ Yes. Paul, Kayley, meet Drew and Flynn. Lexi happened to be on hand to assist with a photo shoot of the band, In Like Flynn, yesterday,” Nicholas quickly introduced them.
“ I know.”
“ Troy’s working for you?” Lexi asked. She seemed to be holding herself together, so Nicholas released her shoulders.
“ No, I was there.”
“ You were at the beach? Where? Why?”
“ Some of the time I sat in the back of the car. I did get out and stretch my legs a bit. I was behind you though, so it was unlikely you’d notice me.”
“ Champagne?” A caterer appeared, her eyes lingering on Flynn,
Nicholas turned to look in the direction Lexi was facing and saw Drew and Flynn walking through the front door. They commanded attention and people were quickly edging their direction while trying not to be obvious about it.
“I suspect they’re here to see you.”
“ They don’t know who A. Polstein is?” Lexi looked worried.
“ Doubtful.”
“ Call them over and tell them.”
Nicholas raised an arm and waved to Drew. Thankfull y Flynn saw him. Drew and Flynn made their way with a sense of purpose and joined them with relief.
“ I think we all know each other,” Nicholas said. “We weren’t expecting to see you two here.”
“ I had to get Flynn away from Zane,” Drew answered. Flynn seemed briefly surprised by the revelation, but took the cue and nodded in agreement. Nicholas wasn’t fooled for a moment.
“ Isn’t he letting you look at pretty girls?” Lexi teased.
“ No, he’s terribly unreasonable,” Flynn gave Lexi a dazzling smile.
“ Now why couldn’t you put on that smile for Troy?” Lexi sighed. Nicholas had a brief daydream about marrying her off to Flynn. That would solve her money problems as well as take care of that social hermit mentality.
“ I think I did, eventually.”
“ Eventually. He should be here somewhere, don’t let him see you smile like that.” Lexi looked around briefly, then stiffened and turned to face Nicholas. The color was gone from her face. He looked over her shoulder to see what startled her, his heart in his throat. Sure enough, walking toward them were Paul and Kayley.
“ Not to worry, he was a satisfied client. I’m sure he’s just coming to say hello,” Nicholas tried to put her at ease. Lexi stomped hard on his foot, clearly letting him know the lie didn’t put her at ease.
“ I’m missing something.” Flynn looked to Nicholas for an answer as Lexi turned to face Paul. Nicholas was still recovering from the unexpected assault on his foot and just nodded wordlessly.
“ Mr. Lovett, Kayley, I didn’t expect to see you here. Kayley, that dress is gorgeous on you!” Lexi brushed off Paul and concentrated on Kayley instead.
“ Thank you, Lexi. And thank you again for the pictures. They are just beyond belief.”
“ I’m glad you liked them. What brings you to Miami?”
“ Oh, when Paul found out you finally decided to leave Seattle, he couldn’t get down here fast enough. We’re only here to ambush you I’m afraid,” Kayley shrugged.
Nicholas wasn ’t ready for Kayley’s honesty, but he was prepared to back Lexi with whatever move she decided to make. He sensed Lexi’s shock and quickly backed up against her, his hands holding her upper arms to steady her.
“ And you . . .” Lexi lapsed into confusion.
“ Oh, I know all about his interest,” Kayley confirmed brightly, taking a sip from her champagne flute. “He’s smitten. I’ve known that since the beginning and I offered him advice. I have to be honest, Paul’s unusually persistent.”
Nicholas looked at Paul. He stood quietly by Kayley ’s side watching Lexi.
“ Kayley always speaks her mind,” Paul smiled gently. “I didn’t mean to startle you like this, but you refuse to answer my emails. Meanwhile I see you’ve picked up some new friends.” Paul indicated Drew and Flynn, quietly watching the scene with expressions of amusement and horror.
“ Yes. Paul, Kayley, meet Drew and Flynn. Lexi happened to be on hand to assist with a photo shoot of the band, In Like Flynn, yesterday,” Nicholas quickly introduced them.
“ I know.”
“ Troy’s working for you?” Lexi asked. She seemed to be holding herself together, so Nicholas released her shoulders.
“ No, I was there.”
“ You were at the beach? Where? Why?”
“ Some of the time I sat in the back of the car. I did get out and stretch my legs a bit. I was behind you though, so it was unlikely you’d notice me.”
“ Champagne?” A caterer appeared, her eyes lingering on Flynn,
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