LITMIR.BIZ

       Chapter 3

      Something magical always took away Lexi’s bad mood when it came to the variety of treats offered at the county fair. She knew she’d have to work a little longer with her Zumba workout disc, but it was totally worth it. Sort of. A mouth filled with a bit of exotic fair food—a fried Oreo cookie—was not the way Lexi wanted to remeet Stephen Reyes. But as she swallowed down her treat, the horrific frozen smirk on his face lessened the humiliation of being caught stuffing her face.

      “A pleasure seeing you again.” Lexi washed down her treat with a sip of tea through her long swirly straw before extending her hand, silently praying not to have any of the chocolate cookie on her teeth. The smug smile he’d showed off earlier in the day faltered when Mr. Nate introduced her to him as the judge of tonight’s pageant. Stephen’s hand wrapped around her icy one, cold from holding her drink, and sent a sizzle through to her skin.

      “Yes, my brother mentioned you two already met?” Stephen dropped her hand and gave a quick nod.

      Lexi’s attention turned toward his brother. She’d met Mr. Nate a few weeks ago when he brought his five-year-old niece to Grits and Glam Gowns for the Saturday-morning workshop. In fact, Nate had unknowingly spawned the idea of buying the café when her kitchenette did not have the space to accommodate his fan club.

      So when Nate introduced Stephen as his brother, she wasn’t sure she could keep her perfected pageant smile from faltering. How was it possible the two of them were related?

      Earlier, Lexi had given Stephen a ten in the evening-wear department, but if tonight was a casual look, he definitely earned another perfect score. She hated him for making a pair of denim jeans and a blue Atlanta Braves jersey look so good. Even his choice in shoes, a pair of tan Timberlands, was perfect. He oozed sex and confidence and she hated herself for noticing. So what? Not like she hadn’t seen a handsome man before.

      Stephen cleared his throat and ran his large hand over his bearded face. “We’re hoping after tonight we’ll spend more time together,” said Nate.

      The double innuendo was not lost on Lexi’s ears but she did not encourage with a flirtatious smile. She did not get involved with parents of clients. Not anymore, a bitter voice whispered in her ear.

      “Not if I can help it,” Stephen injected over a cough into his balled-up fist.

      Lexi cocked her head to the side. “Bless your heart, are your allergies getting to you?”

      “We went to see the animals,” Philly Reyes said, tugging on the pocket of Lexi’s denim overalls.

      She’d forgotten about the attire for the judges, the camaraderie it gave the panel, and now she bit her bottom lip. Dressing up as a farmhand wasn’t Lexi’s first choice, but she knew how to make it work, accessorizinng the attire with a pair of red cowboy boots. “Hi, sweetie,” Lexi cooed, and squatted down to get to Philly’s eye level.

      “I am going to remember my cupcake hands.” Philly beamed, holding her hands out to her side and pretending to cup the invisible hem of an invisible cupcake dress. The five-year-old nailed the movement. A lot of other girls from the pageant workshop kept curling their fingers under as if holding a bar. Philly held her arms out to the side and left her hands limp at the wrists, as Lexi had taught her.

      Proud, Lexi gave Philly a hug. Smart of whoever decided to dress the family in matching clothes. At an event like this, things became crowded. Already she’d seen a bouncy house filled with lost kids waiting for their parents to arrive. “I can’t wait to watch, Philly. Don’t forget to have fun, though.”

      “You’ve met Philly,” Stephen’s deep voice said. He loomed over them with a smirk across his devastatingly handsome face. “Here comes our other niece, Kimber.”

      The niece in question practically skipped over toward her two uncles before skidding to a halt when Lexi stood up. Things began to click in Lexi’s mind. Nate had come into the boutique followed by an entourage of women and their daughters. With him had been Philly and another girl. During the chaos, Kimber Reyes had appeared to be in the middle of an argument with someone on the phone. Lexi recalled the girl being close to tears and that she had allowed her to use the private bathroom in the loft—where the dress was kept. Given the teenager’s wide, deer-in-the-headlights stare and the way her barbaric uncle had overreacted, Lexi planned on keeping Kimber’s secret—for now.

      “Kimber,” Stephen said, his eyes steady on Lexi, “you remember Lexi Pendergrass.”

      Kimber chewed nervously on her gum and avoided eye contact with everyone. Instead she studied her canvas-covered feet. “Um, yeah, hi,” she said, tugging a strand of hair behind her ear.

      “Hi, Kimber.” Lexi tried to keep her voice cheerful. Stephen stood behind Kimber with his arms folded across his judgmental chest. Screams from kids on death-defying rides filled in the awkward silence.

      “Um, Uncle Nate, can me and Marvin get on the Ferris wheel?”

      “Marvin and I,” Stephen corrected. Lexi mentally rolled her eyes. Of course he’d correct the child. The boy named Marvin gulped.

      Kimber cocked her head to the side. “You want to go on the Ferris wheel with Marvin?”

      “Girl, go,” Nate growled. “Be back in time for the pageant.”

      Kimber took off, grabbing Marvin’s hand and dragging him away with her. Lexi shook her head and smiled, watching the two run off.

      Her attention was captured by Stephen clearing his throat. “Well?”

      “Well, what?” she asked him.

      “Does seeing her bring back any memories for you?” Stephen asked. He stepped close to her, toe-to-toe. His dark eyes searched hers for an answer she did not want to give. Lexi did not waver. She folded her arms across her bibbed top and raised one brow, challenging him.

      “What’s going on here?” asked Nate.

      Behind them, someone sounded a cowbell. Lexi cringed at the noise. “Well, there’s the cue for me to get over to the judging table. I’ll see you all around.” Lexi smiled sweetly at Philly, waving toward her. “Don’t forget—have fun this evening.” Before leaving, she nodded at Nate, then purposely dropped her smile at Stephen.

      A lot of cupcake dresses from Grits and Glam Gowns adorned the stage. The above-the-knee dresses with the layers of tulle were the bestsellers. The tulle material helped poof them out at the hem. The bigger the better and these dresses sold quickly.

      Philly definitely stood out in her peach-colored OOAK, as Lexi had dubbed the garment. The one-of-a-kind dress stopped above the knees and was fluffed out with layers of tulle and stones. Andrew had worked hard and today it paid off. Nate had chosen the right color for his niece to represent the festival, as well as the state symbol. What did Stephen think?

      Settling her nerves, Lexi took a seat next to the judges’ table beside one of Southwood’s first ladies, Mrs. Ramona Ramsey. Her daughter, Rosalind, had attended Cypress Boarding School for Girls with Lexi and was one of her best friends in the world. The Ramseys had encouraged Lexi to open up her boutique downtown.

      “Stop turning around, dear,” Mrs. Ramona scolded, tilting her head to the side.

      “Was I?” Lexi realized when her body relaxed that she

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