Sexing Up the Spy by Tina Holland

either. Lexi still couldn’t fathom how she could miss a child that never was
    “Needless to say the Colonel was mighty fidgety but your ma calmed him down sayin’ he was a nice boy and seemed honest. Why she even met him at the grocery store therefore why wouldn’t he be?”
    Lexi’s mouth was dry.
    “And then you spouted how you were an expert because of that girl-porn you write, and then the Colonel reassured Caroline.”
    “Oh. No.” Lexi sank lower into the chair.
    “I admit, I hoped to be the best sex-ever, but I’ll surrender the title for true love’s sake.”
    “Go on.” Lexi waved for him to continue speaking.
    “Anyway, your ma asked what happened. The minute you confessed the harsh words, you said to that surfer everyone in that room knew you loved the fool. Why do you think your folks haven’t called?”
    “I thought you were my watch-dog,” she threw back.
    “No, but you deserve a friend. I’m gonna miss being your boy-toy when I’m in town Lexi.”
    “That doesn’t have to stop.” Lexi said with bravado she didn’t feel.
    “Yes, it does. Somehow, you kids will patch this up. If you don’t do it soon, I may have to play cupid.”
    Lexi smirked at the mental image of Buck in a diaper with a mini bow and arrow; she rolled on the floor in peels of laughter.
    “What?”
    “Nothing. I needed a moment of silliness.”
    “Oh?”
    “Yeah or I was gonna—” Lexi hiccupped and fell into tears. She yielded to the compulsive sobs that took her.
    “Come here now.” Buck crossed the room, picked Lexi up and held her against his chest. “It can all be fixed.”
    “It can’t, Buck,” she sniffled. “The worst thing is I made these stupid rules!”
    “Did you now?” He rubbed her back as if she was a child.
    Lexi bit back a sob. “Even if I told him I loved him, Jake would run for the hills. That was the third rule.”
    “Lexi, rules are made to be broken.”
    “Well we have broken some other ones. At least I have.” She rubbed her sore eyes.
    BEEP
    “Damn, that boy’s persistent isn’t he?”
    “I guess so.” Although, this was the first time she had seen it.
    They sat in silence listening to the machine pick up.
    “Lexi, this is Mark.”
    Lexi ran to the phone. “Yeah, Mark.” She managed to sound composed.
    “You did a hell of a job with my boy Jake.”
    “Pardon?” Lexi listened in bafflement.
    “I just got the electronic copy of his latest book Killer Sex . You even made the dedication.”
    “I did?”
    “Yeah, here let me find it. It says: To Lexi Andrews whose words not only inspired love in Killer, but me as well. ”
    Lexi dropped the phone.
    * * * *
    Jake waited an hour for Lexi to call back. When she didn’t, he took a walk. He ended up at The Starving Artist again. Jake saw a book-signing going on and rushed in. He made his way through the gaggle of women to find an unknown author.
    “Sorry, thought you were someone I knew,” he muttered before making his way over to a table. Jake sat facing away from the door. He couldn’t keep coming here and wishing to see her. It was hopeless.
    “I love you.” A familiar whisper echoed in his ear.
    “Lexi?” He turned around.
    “Yeah.” She looked guilty. “I’m sorry Jake. I was a complete bitch.”
    “What did you say?” He hadn’t heard her right.
    “I said I was a complete bi—”
    “No, before that.”
    “I’m sorry.”
    “Before that.”
    Lexi’s eyes squinted as if she were trying to remember, “I love you.”
    “Do you?” he asked without hesitation
    “Yes. But it took my mother’s Mojito’s to get it out of me.”
    Jake shook his head. “Am I supposed to know what that means?”
    “You would if I hadn’t scared you off.”
    “Lexi, you are not making sense.”
    “Sorry.” She drew back and stared at her toes.
    “I love you too.” He spoke with all sincerity.
    “I know. Mark called me.”
    “Oh.” That took the steam out of him.
    “It’s nice to hear you say it