Page 72 of Lilacs and Leather
I stand back for a moment as I watch the pack interact. Alexandra kisses Lucas’s temple affectionately as she fills a plate. Rhett moves past me to elbow Mateo out of the way for a plate, squeezing Lucas’s shoulder as he passes him. Lucas unloads the last tray and notices me as he pushes the cart back over toward the elevator.
“Well, don’t just stand there! There’s plenty,” Lucas says with an encouraging smile.
I return the smile with a shy one of my own, moving forward toward the food. Lucas hands me a plate and rests a gentle hand on the small of my back as he points out what each tray contains. I blush at the casual affection, looking to Rhett for assurance. But he’s already moving to the dining table, plate in hand, not concerned in the slightest.
“I saw the champagne on the coffee table when we got back. What are we celebrating?” Mateo asks, scooping some sort of mixed vegetable sauté onto my plate.
I freeze, even as my mind kicks into overdrive. How much do I have to tell them? Would they ask follow-up questions? I didn’t feel like going through my trauma for a second time today. I’m staring at my plate, watching as the food piles up as Mateo moves on to another tray to give me a scoop of the potato dish. But I can’t get my brain to form words.
“Her brother is getting married,” Rhett cuts in smoothly.
I let out a slow breath and cast a grateful look in Rhett’s direction. He winks ever so subtly in reply, but otherwise doesn’t acknowledge my momentary panic.
“Mazel tov. When and where are they tying the knot?” Lucas asks, an excited gleam in his eye.
“It’s going to be in September, and they’ve booked Southern Oaks, in New Orleans,” I respond, recalling the information Wila gave me over the phone.
“Shame they aren’t going local. Bright Hills needs more fall weddings,” Lucas comments with a shrug.
I chuckle, walking away toward the table with my full plate. “That is local for them. All of my family lives about an hour from New Orleans.”
“Interesting. How did you end up in Georgia?” Alexandra asks as I sit.
I hesitate again, taking a put to try to buy some time. But Rhett is there again, covering with ease and giving me a soft landing on this treacherous ground.
“You moved here with a friend of your brother’s after college, right?” he prompts.
“Right. Dani needed a roommate, and I wanted to try something new,” I continue with a shrug.
“What did you study?” Alexandra asks, leaning forward with a bright glint to her hazel eyes.
I blush under the intensity of her stare, taking a bite of my food to collect myself before answering. “Hospitality. Event management, specifically.”
The dinner continues as the pack peppers me with questions, occasionally drifting off on a tangent together, laughing and joking all the while. They talk about their days, Lucas complaining more about the event he worked on, Mateo showing off photos from a house they’re considering for restoration. Alexandra listens the most, asking questions about business matters, and slinging barbed words back and forth with Mateo. I relax while they banter, content to listen to them interact.
It hits me as they work together to clean up the food that this is how most families are. They don’t eat in silence, listening to a conversation between two people, only speaking when spoken to. They don’t keep their eyes on the table, and it isn’t the end of the world if someone’s cell phone happens to go off during the meal. I sit at the table trying to wrap my head around that while Mateo, Rhett, and Lucas do the dishes. I look around at the art hanging on the walls, avoiding Alexandra’s eyes.
“I’m sorry if I startled you earlier,” she starts softly.
I jump and look back at her with wide eyes. “Yeah, no, it’s okay. You didn’t startle me. I just… sort of got blown away.” I trail off, twisting my hands in my lap.
Her little chuckle is just as dignified and refined as the rest of her. “You’re very sweet.”
“Thank you, ma’am—I mean Alexandra,” I stumble, blushing deep.
“The flowers Rhett got me. You did the arrangement, correct?” she questions.
I nod eagerly. “They’re probably about ready to turn. I can do another for you if you want?” I ask, a little breathless.
Her wide smile is enough to make my head spin, her scent shifting to citrus and cinnamon. “Would you? I’d like one for my home office, too, if it’s not too much trouble.”
“Absolutely, no trouble at all, ma’am—Alexandra,” I correct myself.
She cocks her head, eyes curious. “If only I could get Lucas to be so respectful,” she sighs, almost wistfully.
“I’ll be respectful when I feel like it, and not a moment sooner,” Lucas snaps from the kitchen.
Alexandra rolls her eyes but doesn’t turn her head. “He’s nothing but trouble. I don’t know why we keep him,” she says with a scoff.