“Yeah, it’s good. You know, it was a tough ordeal. But with a little therapy and some new filters for medication, she’ll be all right.”
“Glad to hear it.” His fingers itched to touch her again, but he knew better even if she did welcome the touch, he needed to stay very far away from her. A girl like her would tear him up inside. He knew what he was. And once she found out the same, she’d run for the hills. He was better off staying away. “Next you’re going to tell me she has a name.”
Abbie grinned and took two steps toward him. Hell, if she came any closer, he’d forget about his damned don’t touch her rule.
“I call her the badass money maker.”
He laughed. “Are you serious?”
“Of course. I’ve taken all my best photos with her. I have another two cameras, but they don’t seem to do it the same way she does.”
He held up his hands. “Okay, okay. Fair enough. Bad ass money maker it is.” He rubbed his jaw. “My brother’s a photographer, and I don’t think he names his cameras. His other appendages yeah, but never his cameras.” The moment he’d let it slip abut Xander he wanted to bite his tongue off. He prayed she didn’t ask if she might have seen his work. Lex didn’t need her going all starry-eyed once she knew about the infamous half of the Chase brothers.
Abbie cocked her head. “You can’t mock her name. I like it. Besides, your name is Lex. Please tell me your parents had a sick sense of humor and your last name is Luther. That would be perfect.”
“A Superman lover, I see.” Well, wasn’t she full of surprises? “And Mum and Dad do not have a sense of humor, thank God. It’s Chase, actually. Alexi Chase.”
Abbie frowned “Is Chase a common surname?”
He inclined his head. “Common enough. I suppose it’s like the surname Smith. Why?”
She shook her head. “No reason.” She studied him carefully. “Anyway, I like it. Alexi sounds Russian.”
“My maternal grandmother is Russian. Grandfather was half Turkish and half British.” He cleared his throat and watched her carefully. She tucked one of her braids behind her ear and he longed to touch her. Who was he kidding? He couldn’t be casual with her, and he couldn’t let her get too close and see him for who he really was, so his only option was to stay away from her. He could try to be good.
“I think I prefer Alexi.”
“And is Abbie short for Abigail?”
She wrinkled her nose. “No. It’s Abena. Abena Nartey.”
He cocked his head. “Beautiful, like its owner.”
She ducked her head. “Uhm, thanks. I guess I should be grateful I wasn’t born on a less attractive sounding day.”
He furrowed his brow. “I don’t understand.”
“Like Sophie, I’m from Ghana. My name means born on Tuesday.”
“What a coincidence, Tuesday is my favorite day of the week.”
She laughed. “You’re almost as bad as Jasper now.”
“Oh, ouch. I like to think I bring my own flair.” He liked her. Enough to ignore the warning bells clanging in his skull. When she was relaxed, she was funny and sarcastic and kept him on his toes.
“Well, if it’s any consolation, I think you’re probably a better dancer.”
“Hell, yes. I can give you another demonstration anytime you like.”
Her gaze snapped to his, and a smile tugged at her lips. “I uhm, thought I already repaid my debt.”
“You did. This dance would just be because it’s fun.” Maybe he was pushing his luck. Maybe she’d scurry away again at a moment’s notice.
But she didn’t. He lost track of how long they stayed outside talking about nothing in particular. But he sure as hell didn’t plan on leaving before she did.
It wasn’t until Tamsin called her name from somewhere inside the house that she excused herself.
“Duty calls. I guess I’ll see you around, Alexi.”
Oh, hell. The way she said his name held him transfixed. Abena Nartey was going to be a problem.
56
When Lex opened the door to the barge on the morning of his party, he stood stunned for several seconds.
“Don’t look so surprised, it’s not like you’ve never seen me before,” his father said.
Lex didn’t move aside to let him in. “Well, I’ve just never seen you here before. Is everything okay with Mum?”
The older man sneered. “Your mother is fine, last I heard from her shopping detail. Now step aside, and let me in.”
Lex didn’t see any way around it. If the old man wanted in, Lex wouldn’t stop him, but he’d sure as hell have exterminators come through afterward and clear out the bad energy. “What’s up, Dad? I still have a day to tell you my decision.”
“I do know it’s your birthday tomorrow. I was there for the big event after all. I’m not totally oblivious.”
Lex frowned. “Considering that you’ve only been around for a couple of birthdays that I can remember, and given that you usually have your secretary pick my present, I’m pretty sure you’re not here because of my birthday.”
His father squared his shoulders. “Well, you would be wrong. Tomorrow, once you’ve properly turned twenty-five, I want you in the office. But for today, I’m here to give you something.”
Lex worked hard to keep his expression neutral. “Yeah okay, Dad, but you could have had someone bring whatever it is over.” He hovered near the door. “I’m actually late for an appointment.”
His father scoffed. “I think your friends can wait. After all, it’s only a party. You’re busy talking to your father.”
Lex gnashed his teeth. He didn’t have time for this bullshit. If he didn’t hurry, he’d be late for his meeting with Toshino. But the hell he was going to tell his father any of that. Lex just prayed the old man wouldn’t take it out on his mother.
“I really do have an appointment, Dad.”
His father shoved his hands into his pockets as he shook his head. “Fine, we’ll continue with our conversation tomorrow. Do you at least want to see your present?”
No, he didn’t. “Sure. What is it?”
His father pulled out a set of car keys and tossed them to him. The BMW key fob matched the one he already had for his car. “You bought me a car?”
His father nodded. “I asked my secretary to go and pick up something a young man in his twenties would want. She came back with this. A BMW 6 Series convertible. I don’t know what you’re driving these days, but I’m sure this is better.”
No. Not better. Exact replica was more accurate. Was his father that clueless that he didn’t even know what he drove or that he’d bought the car for himself? Hurt chased annoyance as Lex took the keys. “Yeah thanks, Dad.” He’d find a charity in the morning to see if they’d come pick up the car. At least he could do something useful with it. “If that’s it I need to get going.”
His father eyed him up and down once more. Lex held his father’s gaze directly and wished he knew why his father had stopped loving him.