The Avoiding Series Boxset Read online

Lexi shook her head. “I’m going to stay here and wait until I can stand straight. You can go ahead,” she offered. She had never lied to him before, and she didn’t particularly like it. But if Jack was here, she wanted nothing less than for them to cross paths.

  “All right,” Spencer said a little reluctantly. “Are you sure?”

  “Don’t worry about me. I think Ashley needs someone to dance with,” she said, gesturing toward the tiny blonde gymnast waiting patiently for them to come to a decision.

  He shrugged and went to kiss her on her lips. She turned at the last second letting it brush her cheek. He glanced down at her, a glimpse of pain evident in his eyes. A forced smile moved across her face, but she knew he wasn’t satisfied with that.

  “I’ll check on you in a bit,” he said finally, before making his way back toward the mass of bodies. Lexi leaned back against Trina’s chair and rested her head on Trina’s shoulder. She didn’t want to chance a glance back up for fear that Jack would still be there—or worse—he’d be gone.

  “Don’t you dare fall asleep on me,” Trina said, bumping Lexi off her shoulder.

  “I’m not. Swear.”

  “Well, take my chair. I’m going to go dance. You better not be asleep when I get back,” Trina said, pointing her finger in Lexi’s face.

  “Have no fear. I’m sure Chasity will take care of everything.”

  “I sure hope not with your tolerance,” Trina called over her shoulder, laughing as she walked away.

  Lexi watched her friends meander through the crowd of people. As soon as she lost them in the mass, Lexi turned her head, and searched for Jack again. There he was, seated in the exact same spot, waiting for her. Without really realizing what she was doing, she stood and made her way to him. As she approached, she fully assessed him. Stubble had grown in across his chin and jaw line making him appear older. The blue vertical striped button-up he wore brought out the ice blue of his eyes. He seemed even more fit than the last time she had seen him, but she couldn’t be sure under all those clothes. Not that she was thinking of taking them off…of course.

  She smiled slyly trying to keep from letting her eyes roam his body further. She wasn’t sure how she had forgotten how attractive he was. His gaze met hers. She felt as if he was looking straight through her. A blush rushed up her neck and to her cheeks. She couldn’t decide if the cause was the alcohol or the way he looked at her like he could just take her right then and there.

  “Lex,” he said extending an arm out for her to walk into. She did the motion automatically, feeling herself fit against his body like she was the missing puzzle piece. His cologne overpowered her senses, and she hastily backed up a few paces remembering the last time he had been this close to her. Her groin throbbed at the recollection of his knee resting in that same spot. Something about that smell…about him just made her hot all over.

  His look of desire hadn’t changed despite her speedy retreat. She knew that he shouldn’t be looking at her like that. She definitely shouldn’t be having this type of reaction in a very crowded, public place with her boyfriend only a hundred feet away. Anyone could walk over and see them together. It’s not like anyone could mistake the looks that were cast between them.

  “Um…how are you?” she asked, awkwardly averting her eyes attempting to break his spell.

  He shrugged nonchalantly. “Single.”

  Her body tensed at the statement. That hadn’t been her question, but for some reason it was the answer she had wanted, the real question she had been anxious to find out about.

  “Oh yeah?” she asked, trying to remain cool and not let her heart beat speed up any further at the prospect of him being single. “How did that happen?”

  “As a birthday present to myself.”

  She scoffed, her eyes bulging. “Are you serious?”

  He smiled brightly. “One hundred percent.”

  “That’s a story I’d like to hear.”

  “I’d like to tell it to you,” he said, standing up and closing the distance between them. Her breath caught in her throat. “Come be with me tonight.”

  He issued it as a command not a request. And God, did she want to be with him that night. Her mind slowly started to catch up with her wanton body, and she began to shake her head wishing his request had come some six or seven months earlier.

  “No, I can’t.”

  Stepping just a few inches closer, he pressed his hips against her. She sucked in a good deal of air. His fingers found her palms and gently stroked upwards. When he reached her shoulder, he redirected his movement downward slowly but deliberately grabbing her hips and pressing himself against her.

  “Jack,” she moaned, glancing back up into his baby blues. Involuntarily, her eyes moved to his lips and back up.

  “Come be with me,” he repeated himself.

  She reached her hands up and pushed lightly against his chest, giving herself a few inches of space. He didn’t pull his hands away from where they rested on her hips.

  “I said that I can’t,” the words came out feebler than before.

  “I heard you,” he said, licking his lips.

  “I should um…probably get going actually.”

  “Mmm hmm.” But still she didn’t move away from him. She felt his thumb make a small circle on her exposed hipbone. Just as his finger met the hemline of her skirt, she backed up roughly running into a large woman seated at the bar.

  “Sorry,” she said, skirting around the woman and entering open space to the right. Her eyes shifted back to Jack. “I haven’t heard from you in a long time.”

  He shrugged. “I was letting your cold shoulder thaw.” Her head jerked to the side and she puffed out angrily. All of a sudden, she felt his cool fingertips graze her neck. They moved to her chin and gently forced her to look back in his face. “I’ve missed you, Lex.”

  She seriously thought that her heart stopped in that instance. “Jack, this isn’t fair.”

  “I don’t want it to be fair,” he said not letting her chin go, but taking another step toward her, invading her personal space.

  The words kept filtering through her consciousness. She knew she should probably tell him. She should say it right now. There was no way she wanted to do the same thing that he had done to her. She had a boyfriend for Christ’s sake. A real boyfriend. Someone she had been dating for close to seven months. Things were so good. She should really tell him right there.

  “Well, you’ve accomplished that,” she said, ignoring her conscience.

  He snaked his other hand up and threaded his fingers through her hair. “I saw that guy,” he said, trying to make it easier on her.

  She knew she should tell him right there. She gulped.

  “Yeah?”

  She was having trouble thinking with his hand running through her hair.

  “What’s his deal?”

  “I thought you didn’t want things to be fair,” she said, smarting off to him.

  He smirked arching an eyebrow as if to say fine play it that way.

  She had no idea what she was doing. There was no way that this would end well. Her friends could return at any moment. If they walked over and saw her close to sexing it up with some apparent stranger, she had no idea what she would do. She had no idea what Spencer would think or do, and she didn’t want to find out.

  “Then you won’t mind if I do this,” he said, his head dipping down to plant a kiss on her lips.

  She froze watching his descent as if in slow motion. Her eyes started to flutter close and she could almost taste him just as her mind finally kicked in.

  “I don’t want to lie to you, Jack,” she murmured, feeling his breath hot on her mouth.

  “Well seeing as you’ve said next to nothing, doesn’t seem like you’re lying to me,” he said, suspended before her waiting for her to continue.

  “We both know that not saying something can be just as much of a lie,” she reminded him.

  “Well, what aren’t you saying?” he aske
d, backing up just enough to look deeply into her dark brown eyes.

  “That guy is my boyfriend.”

  He didn’t back away. In fact, he didn’t move at all. His hand had stilled on the back of her head; the other had moved affectionately to the soft spot under her jaw line. He just stared at her with those ice blue eyes. After that brief pause, his hand started working through her hair again almost like he hadn’t even heard what she had said.

  “Jack…did you…”

  “Yes.”

  “Then why…”

  “Because I want to, and I’ve wanted to for too damn long.”

  She loved his forcefulness even though she knew she shouldn’t. He should have backed away by now, apologized for interfering with her relationship, and then immediately left her if not the premises. But he didn’t.

  Sighing heavily, she spoke again, “It’s not that simple.”

  She reluctantly took a step backward. Gently, she extracted his hand from her hair, and moved it back to his side. His other hand followed.

  “You’re the one making it complicated.”

  “Me?!” she exclaimed. “You’re the one doing that.”

  “Doing what?”

  “I don’t know. Just that. That thing you do.”

  “Oh, how original. Doing that thing you do?” he asked mocking her.

  “You know what I mean.”

  “I have a feeling that I don’t.”

  “Oh Jack,” she groaned crossing her arms over her chest. “We can’t do this again.”

  “I’m not sure what this is, but it feels very different then whatever was last time.”

  “It’s different, because I know the truth,” she said bitterly.

  “I promised I’d never lie to you again, and I meant it,” he said, trying to bridge the distance she had put between them.

  As if they were in some synchronized dance, she moved with him. When he stepped forward, she stepped back not giving him any room to touch her again. If he touched her, she would be lost.

  “You can’t just say that. How can I believe you?”

  “I hardly expect you to.” She narrowed her eyes waiting for the catch. “But I plan to make it up to you.”

  She liked the sound of that. “How do you plan on doing that?” she asked, cocking her head to the side and trying to keep the flirtation out of her voice, but damn that was hard to do.

  “I’ve got a few ideas,” he said, a smirk appearing on his face. “I think you’ll like them.”

  “I’m sure I would,” she mumbled, images of him kissing her senseless appearing before her eyes.

  “I think we’re back to square one. Why don’t you come and stay with me tonight?” She looked helplessly up at him. He could tell that he was wearing her down. She wanted to say yes.

  Just then a hand snaked around her waist from behind and a head nuzzled into her neck. “Hey babe, I’ve been looking for you all over. I thought you were going to stay at the bar,” Spencer said, leaving one last kiss on her neck before straightening and turning toward her.

  She stared at him dumbstruck. “I…uh,” Lexi stammered.

  “Did Chasity give you anything else?” he asked with concern evident in his voice. “You’re not going to be sick are you?”

  “Oh, well…” she began, fumbling for words. “I just ran into a friend.”

  Spencer glanced up and looked around completely ignoring Jack who was standing directly in front of them. “Where did she go?”

  Lexi couldn’t help laughing out loud. “No, no, this is my friend,” she said gesturing to Jack, but being careful not to touch him as she directed Spencer’s attention toward him.

  He glanced at Jack uncomfortably. She could tell that Spencer wasn’t too happy that this was her friend, but regardless he stuck his hand out. “I’m Spencer.”

  Jack took his hand in his own and gave a quick squeeze. Lexi saw the smirk cross his face. “Jack.”

  Spencer looked between Jack and Lexi awkwardly. “Sorry if I was looking for a chick, but, well, I don’t think I’ve ever heard her mention you before.”

  “Not surprising. We haven’t seen each other in a really long time,” Jack said. “Anyway, I’ve got to get out of here. My friends were just heading out when I ran into you. I’m gonna go catch up with them.”

  “All right. Nice meeting you, man,” Spencer said putting a deliberately protective arm across Lexi’s shoulders.

  “Likewise, I’m sure,” Jack responded. That smirk never left his face. “I’ll see you around, Lex.”

  She watched his departing back, sad that he didn’t even give her a backward glance. Had that really just happened? She couldn’t be sure, but all of a sudden she felt terribly uncomfortable in Spencer’s grasp.

  “I thought you didn’t like being called Lex,” Spencer said, turning to face her and sliding his other arm around her.

  Lexi smiled. “I don’t.”

  PRESENT

  Navy blue covers crinkled and scrunched around Lexi’s lithe form, and a down pillow lay crushed against her chest. One bare leg was revealed while her feet remained tangled in the matching sheets. A sharp knock on the door roused her from her reverie, and she buried her face farther into the pillow. The door creaked open uninvited.

  “Lex, it’s time to get up,” Jack whispered into the darkness.

  “Nuh uh,” she grumbled, shaking her head against the pillow.

  “I thought you could use a shower,” he said, flipping the light switch and holding up a white fluffy towel. “I realized that I washed all the towels before I left so there aren’t any in the bathroom. But if you don’t want it,” he said tauntingly, waving the towel back and forth in front of his face.

  Her head popped up from the comfort of the pillow, and she looked at him groggily. They had been up way too late and her eyes weren’t happy with the early morning wake-up. She flipped over on her back and leaned back against her elbows giving her eyes time to focus.

  “What are you going to do?” she asked, stifling a yawn. “I don’t mind walking around naked...and wet.” She bit her lip at her own suggestive behavior.

  She successfully elicited her desired reaction from Jack. He tried to stay calm, but she had known him long enough to be able to interpret his subtle movements. His eyes bulged as they crawled down her body, his imagination running away with him. He licked his lips as he thought of her wet, naked form sauntering around his apartment...or in his shower...or on his bed...or pretty much anywhere. His chest rose and fell irregularly, and the crotch of his pants jumped just a little bit, just enough for her to notice. He gulped uneasily.

  “Uh...yeah...well then, I guess you’ll need this,” he stammered, walking into the room, and placing the towel at the foot of the bed, trying not to show his arousal. Then, he quickly turned to leave before he did anything he might regret...or she might tell his girlfriend.

  “Jack,” she said, stopping his exit. She kicked the sheet to the foot of the bed and stretched out arching her back. He just stared at her hungrily. She was so bad.

  “Uh...yeah?” he asked his hands clenched in fists at his side.

  “Things aren’t going to be awkward today after you know...last night, are they?” she questioned him, sitting up and hugging her knees to her chest.

  “No, things will be fine...normal.” She wasn’t sure what normal was for them. Normal could be so many different things. “You look concerned.”

  “It’s just...you did tell your girlfriend you were coming back last night, right? She knew I was staying here?” Lexi asked, watching his eyes shift uncomfortably.

  “Well...”

  “You didn’t tell her,” she said, interpreting his behavior once again. “As I thought.”

  “No. I couldn’t tell her. She wouldn’t understand why I’d let you do that.”

  “That’s funny. I don’t understand either,” she said, still staring him down waiting for his eyes to meet hers.

  When they finally did, she could tell
he was just as confused about his actions as she was. “Can we just talk about this later?” he asked.

  She nodded. “Yeah, sure. But you’ll explain it later, right?”

  “I’ll always be honest with you, Lex,” he said before exiting the room, pulling the door closed behind him.

  Lexi threw her head back against the covers and smiled half-heartedly up at the ceiling. Yep, things were going to be way awkward.

  She quickly showered and diffused her loose curls. She unzipped her suitcase and stared at the different outfits she had planned for the day. A brown sundress she knew would go perfectly with her golden tan. Blue and white striped seersucker shorts coupled with a white tank top would have the same effect, but she was as indecisive as ever. Did she want to be cute and friendly like she should be or would she rather dress a bit sexier? After a moment longer, she opted for the shorts combo. No need to dress the part Kate had drawn her to be.

  “You can’t wear that,” Jack said, entering the room without knocking.

  “I could have been naked,” she cried.

  He smirked. “Yep,” he said cheerfully, “looks like I waited too long.”

  She scowled at him. “Anyway…why can’t I wear this?” she asked gesturing to her outfit. “I think I look good.”

  “Plans just changed. Unfortunately, we’re going to the Country Club.”

  Lexi crinkled her nose up at him. “Why are we doing that? I thought you said we were going to get brunch, some much needed coffee, and then get this ridiculous conversation over with,” she mumbled the last part under her breath.

  “I just got off the phone with Bekah, and there was some miscommunication with her parents.”

  “And?” Lexi asked clearly irritated.

  “And we have to postpone our afternoon engagement.” Lexi sighed, not a good choice of words. “She thought her parents were having their monthly Club brunch next weekend, but she just found out it’s today.”

  “Okay, well, you have fun with that,” Lexi said taking a seat on top of the bed stubbornly.

  “Come on. I can’t leave you. I already told Bekah that you made it here. She’d find it weird if I didn’t bring you along.”

  “Jack, I’m not going to some snooty country club with your girlfriend and her parents! How would you explain me? How would you explain why I’m here?”