Dancing Away With My Heart Page 4

  Lexi was trying to pull off her shoes when he came back.

  “I’ve got that. Here, drink this.”

  She took the aspirin and guzzled down the water. When he was sure it was going to stay down, he bent to remove her shoes.

  “Help me up,” she demanded.

  When he did, her hands went to the button of her jeans.

  “What are you doing?” he croaked.

  “Not sleeping in jeans, silly.” Before he could protest further, she unzipped them and began wriggling them down those curvy hips.

  Oh dear God in heaven.

  Her bikini briefs were black. Of course they were. They were seared into his brain before he could tear his eyes away to fix them on something, anything else. The erection he’d been fighting since the seatbelt came roaring to life.

  “Need a hand, Zach.”

  She’d managed to get the jeans to her ankles but didn’t seem to be coordinated enough to step out of them without falling over. Taking a firm grip on his control, he reached out to steady her while he gently worked her free of the denim. One foot.

  “Okay, now the other,” he ordered.

  She braced a hand on his shoulder and began to lift her foot.

  He didn’t know how it happened. One second he was bent in front of her, detangling her from her jeans, the next they’d tumbled onto the bed, with him sprawled atop her, between her bare legs. And now he knew for sure that her skin absolutely was as soft as it looked.

  Lexi didn’t giggle. She didn’t shove him off. She stared up at him, those melted chocolate eyes going darker and darker as they dropped to his mouth. He couldn’t stop himself from mirroring the move, gaze tracing over her parted lips. They were full and rosy and right there. What would she taste like? He could feel her quickened breath against his skin, and every cell in his body screamed to close that tiny distance and kiss her.

  On a sigh she closed her eyes. Beneath him, her body went lax.

  “Lex?” he whispered.

  Her only answer was a soft, wiffling snore.

  He didn’t know whether to curse or send up a prayer of thanks.

  Moving as carefully as he could, Zach eased off her. He tugged off the jeans still dangling from one ankle and draped them over the chair. Then he folded her, burrito-style into the comforter on the bed. He couldn’t resist stroking a hand over the hair spread over her pillow. Silk. At least now he knew that, too. But as he quietly turned out the light and let himself out of the house, he didn’t think the knowing would do a damned thing to stop this inconvenient attraction.

  Chapter 4

  “I’m so glad you’re here to help me with this. I’ve been wanting to clear out this closet for ages, and I just can’t ever seem to get to it.”

  Lexi had no idea what had possessed her mother to want to clean out the guest room closet today. Possibly it was subtle punishment for the mild hangover neither of them was acknowledging. Or maybe she really did just want to take advantage of having Lexi as free labor. Either way, Lexi dutifully returned to the closet, grabbing up another armful of clothes from the rack and hauling them out to the bed.

  “I’m thinking a lot of this can just go straight to the donation pile. I don’t think either of us has worn this stuff in going on a decade.”

  “But so much of it is in such good shape. I could change up some of the lines, add some embellishments, update the style…”

  Lexi lifted her brows. “Mama, just because you can remake this stuff doesn’t necessarily mean you should.”

  She understood how hard it was for her mother to just let go of something that was still good, still useful. Leandra had grown up poor, the daughter of Puerto Rican parents who’d moved to Mississippi for a new start. New clothes had been a luxury, and her skill with a needle had meant she’d been able to update whatever they’d had. That same skill had been pressed into use in the years after Katrina, when they’d been rebuilding from nothing. But things weren’t that dire anymore, and Lexi didn’t want to see her mother pushing herself too hard outside her work for Brides and Belles.

  “You’re supposed to be resting, remember?”

  “I am resting. You’re doing all the heavy lifting.”

  Rolling her eyes, Lexi disappeared back into the closet for the next load. And she found it in the back, still draped in plastic. The Dress. The exquisite, perfect dress her mom had made for prom all those years ago that had never been worn. She could hardly bring herself to touch it. God, she’d wept over this dress and everything it had represented. Her one and only attempt to change things. At being brave and striking out into the unknown. And she’d been thoroughly smacked down by the Universe. Lesson learned. Risk all in business but never in matters of the heart. Maybe she needed that reminder as she and Zach worked their way back to friendship. Because friendship was the only thing that had ever been on the table.

  Bracing herself, she grabbed the dress and carried it into the guest room. “Why is this still here?”

  “It’s a gorgeous dress. I couldn’t see getting rid of it. I thought maybe you’d eventually want to wear it for something else.”

  It was gorgeous. Some of her mother’s best work. But she could never wear it. “I don’t live the kind of life that calls for formalwear, Mama.”

  Leandra clapped her hands in inspiration. “You could wear it to the class reunion! Babette told me there’s a formal dance. Several of your former classmates have been into the store the past few weeks looking at dresses.”

  “I’m not going to the reunion.”

  “Oh, but why not? You’ll be in town. I’d think you’d want to hang out with all of your friends.”

  “I can hang out with them without going to the reunion.”

  “It seems a shame to waste the opportunity to wear the dress.”

  “You and I both know this wouldn’t fit me now. I’m not as small as I was in high school.”

  “But you could—”

  “Mama!” Lexi sucked in a breath, immediately sorry for her harsh tone. “Please let it go.”

  Leandra held up her hands in a gesture of peace. “Okay.”

  Lexi couldn’t quite look at her. “You know how much I appreciate what you put into this dress. I’m sorry I never got the chance to show off your handiwork.”

  “I know, mija.” The gentle understanding in her tone made Lexi want to burrow into her mother’s arms to cry as she hadn’t let herself do then.

  The doorbell rang.

  Lexi gently laid the dress on the bed. “I’ll get it.” Firmly locking away old hurts, she headed for the front door.

  That old wound gave a throb when she found Zach on the front porch, hair still damp from a shower, looking clean and fresh and annoyingly hangover-free. But it was mostly drowned out by the quick burst of pleasure at seeing him again. She could endure the discomfort for this.

  “Hi.”

  “Morning.” His eyes skated over her, assessing.

  With her messy bun and yoga pants, Lexi felt like something the cat dragged in. She resisted the urge to tug at the hem of her t-shirt or pat at her hair. There wasn’t a damned thing to be done about her appearance and it didn’t matter anyway.

  “How’s the head?”

  “I’ve had worse. I guess I have you to thank for that.” She had fuzzy memories of him getting her home, making her drink water and take some aspirin.

  Something in his eyes darkened and for just an instant Lexi’s chest went tight. Like she’d seen that look before in far more intimate circumstances. Which was utterly ridiculous. She must’ve dreamed it. Still, she couldn’t stop the flush of heat that swept down her body or the yearning to sway into him.

  His lips lifted. “What are friends for?”

  She had to be imagining that strain around the edges of his smile. What would he have to feel awkward about?

  He held out one of two to-go cups from The Daily Grind. “Here. This will help what’s left of your headache.”

  Automatically, she took it,
backing up to let him inside. “What is it?”

  “Hangover cure. We don’t ask Cassie what’s in it. We just say please and thank you.”

  “In that case, thank you.” She took a cautious sip, pleased when the dominant flavor was still coffee. “Who’s the other one for?”

  “Your mom. I know she’s got a fondness for mochas.”

  “Zach Warren, is that you?” Leandra’s voice echoed down the hallway.

  He grinned and the weirdness of the moment passed. Lexi could feel them recalibrating, getting back on even keel again.

  “Yes ma’am!”

  “Come on back here and give me a hug.”

  Lexi tipped her head. “Guest room.”

  She followed him back, relieved to have a few moments to get herself under control.

  Zach skirted the bed and bent to give her mom a solid squeeze. “Hey Mama Morales. It’s great to see you. I come bearing gifts.”

  “Seeing your pretty face is gift enough.” Leandra patted his cheek, eyes sparkling.

  “Oh, well then I guess I’ll drink this mocha myself.”

  “Mocha?” Her mother reached out with grabby hands, making him laugh. “You are a good boy, Zach.”

  “I certainly try.” He glanced over the chaos. “What’s going on here?”

  “She’s got me cleaning out the closet.” Using the excuse of making a place for him to sit, Lexi shifted some clothes on top of the dress so he wouldn’t see it. “Have a seat.”

  She didn’t wait to see if he did, just went back into the closet and resumed her work. “So what actually brings you by this morning, other than a mission of coffee?”

  “I thought we could discuss strategy for shooting Jace and Tara’s wedding and then go get your car.”

  Right. Her car was still at his studio. She hadn’t even thought of that yet this morning. Which just went to show how little her brain was firing.

  “You were such a dear to put her to bed last night,” Leandra said.

  Lexi choked on her next sip of coffee. “Put me to bed?”

  The tips of Zach’s ears went red. “You, uh, weren’t exactly steady on your feet.”

  Lexi opened her mouth to say...she had no idea what. She’d been drunk and he’d put her to bed. And her mother had apparently been awake to notice. Great. Figuring silence was the only acceptable response, she started to drink more coffee, then froze, the cup an inch from her mouth. She’d been in her t-shirt and underwear when she woke up, wrapped in the comforter like a human burrito.

  Oh God, did he undress me?

  With reluctant horror, she met Zach’s gaze. As if he could read her mind, he gave a small shake of his head. Lexi didn’t know if that made it better or worse. There was a tightness in his jaw, a seriousness in his eyes she didn’t know how to read.

  They were just starting to get back to where they used to be, and she was glad of that. She’d missed him, more than she cared to admit. So she would put whatever that imagined look was out of her mind. It wasn’t attraction. It couldn’t be. Because that wasn’t who they were to each other, and she didn’t want to screw up their rekindling friendship by giving in to the seduction of hope.

  Needing to get out of the room, away from her mother’s far too observant eyes, Lexi straightened her shoulders. “Right, well, it seems we have some work to do. Mom, can we finish the closet later?”

  “Of course, mija. I’ll sort through what you’ve already pulled out.”

  “Great. Zach, give me fifteen minutes to shower and change clothes, then we’ll go have a strategy session.”

  Without waiting for an answer, she strode out, hoping they didn’t realize she was running.

  “This is the official twenty-minute warning. Everybody finish getting dressed and get your butts down to the orchard for the ceremony. Got it?” Evan Applewhite spread a look over the assembled groomsmen who sprawled in various states of undress around the barn apartment at Applewhite Farms.

  From his position by the window, Zach snapped a picture, capturing the mix of stern and repressed laughter.

  “We’ve got it, Dad.” Jace shrugged into his vest. “Any last words of wisdom?”

  Evan crossed to his son, reaching up to straighten Jace’s tie.

  Click.

  “Never go to bed mad. She’s always right. And don’t ever take her for granted.” He squeezed Jace’s shoulders. “You already did the hard part. You found the right one.”

  “She’s one in a million.”

  Click.

  “I better get out there before your mother starts to fret. See you on the other side.”

  Zach adjusted a few settings as Evan departed, relieved that he could simply relax and be a part of the wedding party, taking prep shots of the groom and groomsmen getting ready. Lexi was serving the same function over at the big farmhouse, where the bride and her attendants were dressing. She’d had a much earlier start to the day, going with the women to the salon, documenting hair and makeup, and the thousand other details that went along with properly capturing the bride on her wedding day. Zach could have done those shots, but there’d be an intimacy another woman could capture that he simply couldn’t.

  He’d never worked with a partner before. Not really. He had the occasional intern to help tote equipment or swap out lenses, but he hadn’t ever had a true second shooter. Knowing she was here as backup dropped his stress level considerably. Thanks to Lexi, he wouldn’t have to rely on timers or worry about any kind of prospective malfunction during the ceremony. He wouldn’t have to stress about working with someone he didn’t know well. Jace was one of his best friends. He didn’t want to risk having anything but stellar shots of his wedding. Lexi would give him that.

  Over the past week, they’d spent time together every day, talking wedding strategy, scouting the location, and even tag-teaming a couple of smaller shoots. Their working relationship was seamless, and they’d slipped back into their friendship like a favorite pair of jeans. In many ways, it was like she’d never left. It was easy to imagine that this is how things would have been if she hadn’t.

  Except she had left. He’d gotten used to being without her. Now that she was back, he couldn’t quite seem to put her back in that Lexi-shaped hole in his life. Because favorite jeans or not, she wasn’t just friend Lexi. She was woman Lexi. That unfamiliar attraction hadn’t done anything but amp up in the days since the bonfire, and Zach had no idea what to do about it.

  “Hey Warren, you’re falling down on your job.” Eli’s taunting voice cut into his thoughts.

  “What?” Zach blinked, focusing on the room-at-large.

  Jace and his soon-to-be brother-in-law, Austin, were clearly in the middle of a Moment. Automatically, he lifted his camera and fired. In seventh grade and gawky with it, Austin was serving as best man. Zach knew the two had gotten tight over the past few years Jace and Tara had been dating, and he hoped he hadn’t missed anything important.

  Leo nudged his shoulder. “Maybe keep your head on the wedding instead of your pretty partner.”

  Despite his low voice, of course everybody heard.

  “You’ve got a thing for Lexi?” Reed asked.

  “You mean you didn’t see him practically drooling over her last weekend at the bonfire?” Eli asked.

  Oh hell. Was I that obvious? “I’m not dignifying that with a response.”

  “Evading the question. That counts as confirmation,” Reed said.

  “Oh for the love of—We all need to get down to the orchard.”

  “Don’t be so damned prickly,” Eli said. “It’s not like we didn’t all expect this.”

  Zach paused on his way to the door. “You what?”

  “You were best friends with one of the hottest girls in school,” Jace pointed out. “We just couldn’t figure out how you didn’t notice that back then.”

  Eli clapped him on the shoulder. “So you’re a slow bloomer. Better late than never, man.”

  Knowing any response he made would just gar
ner more crap, Zach did the only thing he could. He flipped all of them off and headed out the door. Their good-natured laughter followed him down the stairs.

  Down in the apple orchard, guests already filled the rows of white chairs bedecked with greenery and ribbons in the bride’s colors. Zach knew Jace was related to more than fifty percent of those in attendance. He paused to shake some hands and have a few words on his way down to the front. Zach took the opportunity to scan the setup. He’d already gotten shots earlier in the day showcasing the white runner aisle set up between the flowering trees. Likewise, he’d documented the waiting reception in the bigger barn. All the prepwork was done. Now it was time for the main event.

  Jace and Austin took their places up front. Was Jace nervous? Did you really get nervous when you knew it was right? Anybody seeing him and Tara together could see they were absolutely in sync and in love. It was a beautiful thing and one of the reasons Zach never got tired of shooting weddings. He loved seeing the hopes and dreams and new beginnings. But he’d have been lying if he didn’t admit to a little bit of envy.

  A whisper of movement in his periphery distracted Zach from the groom. Catching sight of Lexi moving along the outside of the bride’s side, he forgot about everyone else in the area. He hadn’t seen her since this morning. She’d changed for the wedding, bundling her hair into a neat, old-fashioned roll at her nape. She wore some kind of pantsuit and ballet flats she could easily move and crouch in, but it might as well have been satin and lace for how the sight of her sucker punched him in the gut.

  “You were best friends with one of the hottest girls in school. We just couldn’t figure out how you didn’t notice that back then.”

  He was noticing now.

  “It’s time!” the wedding planner, Whitney Harrington, hissed.

  Jerking his focus back to the matter at hand, Zach took his place to escort in one of Jace’s grandmothers. Once family was seated, the bridesmaid processional began. Hannah Wheeler was first, followed by Avery; Jessie; Jace’s sister, Livia; and concluding with Tara’s baby sister, Ginny, who practically bounced with excitement all the way down the aisle. Lexi smoothly stepped in and out of the aisle, unobtrusively grabbing each shot.