LITMIR.BIZ

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said I was staring at a man?”

      “Because the stage has been filled with all types of gorgeous gowns and you have yet to coo over any of them,” Mrs. Ramona noted.

      Lexi grinned. “Because I created most of them,” she replied with confidence. “But if you must know, there is a gentleman back there who accused me of selling something to his niece, and I did not.”

      “Well, if you were honest, what’s the problem?”

      “I don’t know.” Lexi shrugged. “It doesn’t sit well with me he thinks so little of me.”

      Ramona Ramsey stopped fanning herself. “Since when do you, the Southern Hellion, care what other people think of you?”

      The beauty walk for the young girls of the Peach Blossom began, and Lexi smiled and clapped for all those who attended her workshops. The Peach Blossom Pageant, held every year, was made up of girls from all four local counties. Not every parent took their child to a pageant coach, and Lexi respected and understood, but she easily picked out the girls who did not have any training. She also noticed the beauty walks of some girls whose parents clearly took them up to Atlanta for some coaching. The judges were going to have a hard time here. Things always took a turn during the talent portion.

      The other judges were Mrs. Beaumont, Lexi’s retired Sunday school teacher; a veterinarian from the nearby town Samaritan; and a teacher from Peachville. From peering over everyone’s shoulders, Lexi guessed the judges gave tens to their hometown heroes. But after the talent completion, they were all on the same page. Every time the judges smiled and nodded at Philly Reyes singing on stage, Lexi cast a glance over her shoulder to catch Stephen Reyes clenching his powerful jaws together.

      “So that’s him?”

      Lexi turned her attention to her best friend’s mother and accepted the napkin-covered plate she handed her. Mrs. Ramona blinked aimlessly at Stephen.

      “Yes.”

      “Well, he is hot, if you like the type.” Mrs. Ramona shrugged her shoulders.

      Afraid he was her type, Lexi took one last glance over her shoulder. Stephen returned the glance, his dark eyes frowning toward her. She dismissed the cold chill and turned her attention back to the stage. As the judges took a break to deliberate and grab a bite to eat, the contestants were allowed to wander off. Philly stayed on stage with a few girls from the workshop and played ring-around-the-rosy. She clearly stood out from the rest. She sported a natural smile and knew how to work the judges, even when the spotlight wasn’t on her.

      “I am not shallow,” Lexi said. “I care more about a man’s character than his appearance.”

      “Right,” Mrs. Ramona drawled out. “How long has it been since you went on a date?”

      A date? What was a date? Where a man came to her house to pick her up in his vehicle and took her to dinner and a show without expecting anything? Since the falling-out with her parents, she had no one setting her up on blind dates. Who would have thought she’d miss those not-so-random meetings her mother used to arrange?

      Single men without children did not come into her shop—well, not every day, she thought, refusing to cast another glance in Stephen’s direction. To get out and find a date for herself took too much effort. After working at the shop, doing alterations, making calls and critiques, or whatever her daily routine called for, she was too tired. Thankfully, her neurotic brides had already picked up their dresses for the June weddings. Dealing with them was a job all in itself.

      Lexi sighed sadly and lifted the paper napkin. She smiled at the powdered-sugar-covered elephant ear and mentally tacked on another thirty minutes for her workout regime. “A while.”

      “I understand, but you need to make time, Lexi.” Mrs. Ramsey gave a sad sigh. “Now, what are we going to do about McHottie?”

      Caught off guard, Lexi inhaled a bit of the confectioners’ sugar and began to cough. “Who?”

      Mrs. Ramona jutted her chin in the direction of Stephen Reyes. “Him.”

      “He’s the uncle of a potential client,” Lexi said as if that explained everything.

      “Nathaniel Reyes filled out the paperwork for Philly as her guardian, not McHottie. So there’s your opening, dear.”

      She thought about Stephen’s pending sale on the property next door to her shop. Hell-bent on avenging his niece’s mishap, he clearly planned on being a daily bane of Lexi’s existence. Recalling his pettiness reminded Lexi of the low score he’d earned in congeniality. No amount of hotness would bring his score up from such an act. This was a man to hate, not desire. Pondering her decision, Lexi cast one last glance over her shoulder before vowing not look at him ever again. He met her eyes with a raised brow and a smug smirk across his devilishly handsome face.

      By the end of the afternoon, thirteen girls stood on the stage. The three judges never turned to Lexi for her input. The votes were unanimous and their scorecards all matched. In with a group of other girls ranging from five to thirteen, Philly stood perfectly still in front of the smaller trophies she’d already won—most photogenic, best walk and best face. The poor girl’s arm had to be sore from constantly raising her hand when her name was called. No one seemed surprised when little Philly Reyes won the overall title. Lexi’s services, part of the package for the winner, allowed her to stand onstage with Philly.

      Team Reyes approached for a photograph. Nate stood on one side of her with Philly in his arms; due to their height, Lexi and Stephen were forced to stand together. Bulbs flashed, blinding them. Through it all, Lexi smiled and gritted her teeth.

      “Well, neighbor, looks like I’ll be spending more time than you thought with at least one of your nieces.”

      * * *

      Stephen Reyes hated to lose.

      He hated being proven wrong more. The tables of revenge had turned on him and karma bit him hard. He watched his family circle around Lexi Pendergrass as if she were a celebrity. Nate nearly tripped over his tongue.

      Stephen did not deny Lexi’s beauty by any means. She made denim overalls sexy. The entire time he stood adjacent to her, his eyes kept falling on the curve of her waist right where the snaps of the overalls and the white T-shirt she wore underneath did not quite meet. His fingers itched to test the softness of her skin.

      Typically he did not date women with children. Women with kids—like Lexi and her clients—wanted a father figure for their child and he did not make for a good role model. His job kept him too busy. Nate, on the other hand, liked a woman with kids because the relationship never got any further due to the kids. Given both circumstances, Stephen needed to step aside and let Nate continue to make a fool of himself over Lexi Pendergrass. She was not the woman for him. Despite the way Philly wrapped her arms around her neck, despite the way Lexi stroked Kimber’s hair, despite the way Kimber hung on her every word, there was nothing motherly about Lexi. She didn’t seem to freak out or overreact when Philly’s second candy apple got stuck in her hair. She just smiled and pulled it away.

      “Can she come with us, Uncle Stephen?”

      “What?” Stephen found himself blinking at Kimber.

      Kimber’s eyes blinked back innocently. “Can Miss Lexi come with us to celebrate?”

      “Oh, Kimber...” Stephen tried to think of a reason why Lexi shouldn’t come with them. For starters, she was dressed like a farmer’s daughter. He didn’t want to embarrass her by going out to eat at a five-star restaurant. “We don’t want to pull Miss Lexi away from her evening plans, now do we?”

      “According to my itinerary,” offered the petite woman from the clothing store, “she’s free.”

      Thankfully Lexi tried to decline. She shook her head back and forth, the pigtails she wore flipping over her shoulders. Stephen found himself focusing on the rubber bands securing the ends of her hair. He wondered if he pulled them loose, how soon her

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