“It’s been a long time since you joined us for pink tea, Daddy,” Lexie said through a laugh as she sat next to Sean. She raised a cup to her lips and took a delicate sip.
“If I’d known John and Sean were joining us, I would have more to offer.” Georgeanne slid Geraldine’s cup toward her. “You should have given me a heads-up,” she told her husband.
Kicking back in his chair, dog in his lap, he shrugged. “When Knox mentioned his mother was here at Lexie’s, I thought I should drop in and say hello. Sean asked to tag along.”
Yes, so he could head off his mother if John asked too many questions, or if she happened to mention their daughter’s dusty attic. She’d been in town two days now, and he was fairly certain he’d convinced her that there wasn’t going to be a wedding anytime soon. He hoped she didn’t bring up her miraculous pancreas cure or her latest—diplopia. Or double vision.
“I’ve never been to such a fancy occasion.” Geraldine picked up a pair of silver tongs and placed a cream puff and a cucumber sandwich on her plate. For the “fancy” occasion, she wore a green pantsuit and yellow blouse. She’d curled her brown hair and put on some lipstick. If not for the eye patch, she would have passed for normal.
“We’re leaving in the morning, and I’d hate to miss the opportunity to meet Sean’s mother.” John tipped his chair back and looked across the table at Sean. “You met my daughter when she and Sean hightailed it to your place.”
“Oh yes.” Geraldine dipped a bag of Earl Grey into her cup. “It was all very romantic.”
“Huh.”
John still wasn’t totally buying the whole story and looked like he was gearing up to interrogate Sean’s mother. If that was the case, he and Lexie were screwed.
“John.” Georgeanne placed a hand on his shoulder. “We didn’t invite Mrs. Brown to tea so you could grill her about what took place in Canada.”
The legs of the chair hit the floor. John combed his fingers through the dog’s topknot. They’d agreed to shelve this discussion until after the season. When they talked hockey, they were on common ground. But this wasn’t hockey. This was about Lexie, and he still didn’t like the idea of Sean dating his daughter.
“I saw they were in love right away. That’s why I didn’t call Wendy and get that trip to Disney World. Or Hoda and Kathie Lee. Of course, I could never go to Cancun.” She paused to take a sip of tea. “I have sun sensitivity.”
Still with the Disney World. “Give it up, Mom.” But what did he expect from the most embarrassing woman on the planet?
“I’m still grateful for that.” Lexie leaned forward and looked at Geraldine. “You gave up a trip of a lifetime for true love.”
“Jesus. Pass the bucket.”
“Now, John.”
“Daddy!” Lexie reached for Sean’s hand on the table and entwined their fingers.
Yum Yum lifted her nose in the air and barked while Geraldine scooted as far from the dog as possible without falling on the floor.
Sean looked at the big man, the legend, surrounded by frilly, fluffy pink chaos, and he didn’t appear in the least threatened or miserable. He reached for a little square cake and tossed it above his head. He easily caught it in his mouth and chewed through a grin as if he was real pleased with himself. As if he’d maneuvered Sean into the perfect position for a slap shot to the nuts.
Sean wasn’t intimidated by anything. Least of all an explosion of tiny pink teacups and tinier food. He looked across the table at his coach and raised his and Lexie’s entwined fingers to his mouth. Sean fed him a one-timer and kissed the back of his daughter’s hand. Game over.
“Sean?”
She said his name, a hitch of surprise and a catch of wonder. He turned to look into Lexie’s deep blue eyes, and it would have been the most natural thing in the world to kiss her pink lips. To hover there for several breaths, teasing them both but giving in to neither. Within those teasing breaths, this game they played with each other suddenly felt real. So real, her eyes looked bluer and deeper. So real the edges of his solid world threatened to unravel. So real he felt held together by a thread so fragile he was afraid to breathe.
“More petits fours, Sean?” He let go of his breath and the feeling was gone. He shook his head and turned his attention to Georgeanne. “No thank you.” His throat felt dry, and he picked up his teacup in the palm of his hand. So fragile he could easily crush it. He downed the tea in two swallows and returned his attention to Lexie. She’d turned away, and all he could see was the shell of her ear, the single pearl in her lobe, and a tinge of pink climbing her throat. He’d seen color flush her neck before. When she’d been embarrassed or lying or making love. This flush in her throat and catch in his lungs wasn’t love, but it was more than desire. It was confusion and chaos.
It wasn’t a game anymore.
Chapter 12
•love: subtle as a sledgehammer
“Are we almost there yet?”
From behind the frames of her black sunglasses, Lexie gave a quick glance across her car at Geraldine. Sean’s mother held the armrest so tight, Lexie wouldn’t be in the least surprised to discover nail marks in the leather. “Almost.”
“Is there always this much traffic?”
“This isn’t bad.” It was one o’clock on a February afternoon. “Wait until five. That’s bad traffic.”