Chapter 10

Lounging with her back against Lex’s chest, Mysti dosed. His warmth lulled her into a relaxed state she’d never experienced with any rock therapy or aroma therapy session. Sleepily she leaned her head back to look into his dreamy chocolate and caramel eyes. His pupils dilated. He brushed his lips across hers. She stretched her back to take his mouth into a full kiss. His tongue tantalized hers and she pressed harder into him. A fire blazed in her mid-section and she wanted more. So much more.

Her phone rang. What a buzz kill! Worse yet, it was Dad!

Lifting from his warmth, she sat straight and proper. A deep breath to restore her normal breathing. She slid her finger across the face of her iPhone to answer.

“Hi, Dad.”

“Nan—Mysti, whatcha doin’?”

Heat rose in her cheeks. “Nothin’, Dad. Just binge-watching a new series about Sherlock Holmes.”

“Is that the one with the Charlie’s Angel in it?”

“Yeah. It is.” She giggled. Her dad surprised her from time to time with what he knew.

“I’m calling because I’d like you and your boyfriend to come for dinner. I need to talk to him about something really important, and it involves you in the long run, so I want you here, too. Say, five-thirty? I’m smokin’ ribs. S’that okay for everybody? You’re mom’s fixin’ the other stuff.”

“Um. I guess so. Hold on.”

“Lex?” Mysti put down her phone.

“Hmm?”

“You want to have dinner with my folks?”

A huge grin lit up his face. “Meeting the folks, eh?”

She playfully shoved her elbow into his ribs. “You already met them when I hurt my ankle! Dad wants the two of us to come for dinner tonight. Says he has something important for us, well, you.”

“Hum.” Lex considered this. “Okay. Why not?”

She lifted the phone to her ear. “Sure. Why not? ... okay ... see you then.”

She bit her lip. What on earth could Dad want to talk to Lex about? It seemed like she vaguely remembered some conversation as she was being released from the ER. Fuzzy flashes of her dad talking to Lex about a New Age Church, Ordained Pastor, something about taking her home. It all swirled in her memory like a dust devil in a bare field.

She turned to Lex. “Did you talk to my dad about starting a church?”

He pondered her question. “He mentioned something about it when you were released from the ER. I didn’t think he was serious. You think that’s what he wants to talk to us, uh, me about?”

“I have no idea. Now, I’m really curious, though.”

“Me too.” Lex leaned back and pulled her onto his chest.

“I’m sorry. I’m too nervous now.” She sat back up.

“Me too.” He sat up with her and ran his fingers through his hair. He took a deep breath and let it go. Then a sparkle lit up in his eyes and an ornery grin creased his face. “You know what helps calm me down?”

He touched her shoulder with one finger. Electricity skipped down to her fingertips. He traced her shoulder and then the muscle in her bicep. His eyes fixed on hers. Gently, he pulled her closer and kissed her nose.

She closed her eyes and let the kisses float through her consciousness like smoke serpentining a fire. His kisses moved to her cheek, then her jaw, and ever so lightly trailed an intoxicating path to her neck. The pulse in her neck surged against his tender lips. Oh, how she wanted him.

She turned her face into his and enveloped his lips with hers. Her passion pressed against him as did her kiss. She turned to lie on his chest as he eased them both back down on the couch. She clawed at his shirt button. It popped and flew away somewhere. She pulled again and exposed the rough hair on his chest. Her fingers sought and combed through it until she found the center nub of his pec.

Suddenly he sat up, nearly knocking her to the floor. “Mystery! We can’t,” he panted. “I-I can’t.” He licked his lips and rubbed a hand down his face. “What-what time are we meeting your dad?”

Mysti stared at him. “Five-thirty.”

“I’ll come back to get you.” He leapt up and dashed for the door. Its closing echoed in deafening silence.

What just happened?

Lex returned at five o’clock sharp. He had obviously showered and changed into what Samantha would call Sunday School casual. “You didn’t have to change.”

“Yeah. I did. Believe me.”

“Oh.” She nodded. “You all right?”

“I’m fine. Listen, Mystery. I’ve been thinking and I don’t want you to misinterpret this, but I need to go out of town. Tomorrow. I’ll be back in three or four days.”

She glared at him. “What are you saying? Are you breaking up with me? Right before we go over to my parent’s house for dinner?”

“No.” Lex quickly took her hands into his. “No. See, I told you not to misinterpret this. I just need to take care of ... some things ... back home.”

“In Texas?”

“Yes, Bastrop, actually. Look. I promise it’s not anything other than I need to do this and when I get back, it’ll all make sense.”

“Why can’t you tell me now? So it can make sense now.” Her temper flared and with it, the sudden reddening of her ears.

“Mystery. Please. Let’s go do this dinner with your dad, see what he wants, and then I’ll be back in three days, four tops!” He kissed her nose. But she pulled away.

“Don’t be mad. It’s a good thing. I promise.” He smiled as he placed his hand into the small of her back to guide her to the door and down the stairs.

She fumed over this sudden need to leave town and didn’t notice when they pulled into Mom and Dad’s driveway. She opened her door and slid out before Lex could get around the truck to open her door. She didn’t want him to be chivalrous. Anger consumed any semblance of affection she had or wanted to display in front of her parents.

She strode to the front door, but Dad opened it before she could. What’s with men today? “Hi Daddy,” she muttered and headed to the kitchen to see if she could help Mom.

Henry cocked his head back. “Hi Honey, come on in.” His voice trailed behind her. She didn’t care. He greeted Lex and welcomed him into their home. Mysti found her mother pulling bowls, covered with saran wrap, from the refrigerator and took one from her. “You want these on the bar?”

“Yes, please. What’s wrong?”

“Nothing.”

“Honey, you’re obviously upset about something. Not nothing.” Mom reached to tuck a strand of hair behind Mysti’s ear, but Mysti dodged and moved the rebellious hair herself.

“I really don’t want to talk about it, Mom.” Mysti pulled out serving spoons and laid them next to the bowls of potato salad, macaroni salad, three-bean salad, and Jello fluff. A pan of Banana Pudding remained in the refrigerator. Mysti’s mouth watered as she caught a glimpse of it before Mom shut the French-style door.