Serious Potential Read online

“Is she even single?” Betsy asked through light laughter.

  She sounded marginally intrigued even though she was pretending to play it off and Meg was so caught off guard at the possibility of Betsy’s interest that she couldn’t hide the fact she wasn’t sure of the answer to her question. She looked off to the right and contemplated Tracy’s romantic status.

  “See, you don’t even know if she’s single.”

  “She’s single,” Meg answered in spite of her uncertainty. “I’m pretty sure she’s single,” she repeated more emphatically, remembering as she said it that Tracy had made a vague reference to someone a while back, but nothing at all lately. Meg nodded at Betsy with conviction and was ready to bring the conversation to the next level. But Betsy cut her off.

  “Anyway, what’s new with you? How’s Sullivan?” Betsy asked, referring to Meg’s company by its abbreviated name.

  “Fine. Things are good.” She nodded. “Actually I just remembered this girl is starting next week. I can’t believe I almost forgot,” she muttered into her soda.

  Betsy leaned in and narrowed her eyes waiting for more of an explanation.

  Meg brushed her off. “Sorry, it’s nothing. Just this chick, Sasha.” Meg stretched her name out dramatically emphasizing both syllables. “She was supposed to transfer to New York from London last January and it’s just happening now.”

  “Is that a big deal?”

  “I guess not really,” Meg responded, undercutting her own statement. “I just don’t get the greatest vibe from her.” She shrugged. “I mean I’ve never met her, but I had to cover all her projects like a year ago,” she added with a shake of her head. “And now it even takes her six months to get her act in gear, so she conveniently shows up right in the middle of the slow season. I mean, give me a break.”

  “Hold on, I’m listening,” Betsy said while she read a message coming through on her phone. “Damn, Meg.” She started typing as she spoke. “I’m so sorry.” She pursed her lips tightly, still thumbing her keypad. “I have to go back to the hospital.” She met Meg’s eyes before quickly scanning the floor again for the waiter.

  “Go ahead, Bets.” Meg waved her hand back and forth between their drinks. “I got this.”

  Betsy grabbed her big leather bag and thin cardigan draped over the spare chair. “I hope you’re not mad.”

  Meg shook her head. “Of course I’m not mad.” She sipped her soda. “Go bring a life into the world. Show-off,” she finished with a friendly laugh.

  Meg paid their small tab and headed in the direction of her sister’s house across the island in search of free food and good company. On the way she called Lexi, prepared to spend the fifteen-minute drive continuing the pep talk she’d been giving on loop over the last few days. She hung up smiling when she got voice mail, confident Lexi’s choice not to talk could only be a good sign.

  Chapter Two

  Things were definitely looking up, Lexi thought, as she reached for two cold bottles of water from the top shelf of the fridge.

  Coming up to the Cape a day early had been a fantastic idea. She made a mental note to thank her amazing girlfriend for suggesting it. Even though Lexi didn’t have too many vacation days accumulated at her law gig at the Department of Education, alone time with Jesse was well worth burning a day. With the rest of the Ducane clan arriving on Saturday for the party, they had the whole place to themselves for a full twenty-four hours.

  Lexi knew her anxiety over this particular weekend didn’t have to do with the party or even the extended group of relatives and friends that would be there. She’d met a lot of them before, anyway. She wasn’t even overly bothered that Jesse’s former girlfriend Lauren Carlisle, a lifelong friend of the Ducanes, would be on hand. Lexi could get past that particular annoyance. Nope. Her angst over the weekend could be solely attributed to one person—Jesse’s mother. Liddy Ducane was classist and mean and completely clichéd in her efforts to make Lexi feel inferior. Every time their paths had crossed in the past year, she had spoken to Lexi with a predictable air of arrogance. And just in case her attitude wasn’t enough to show where her favor lay, Jesse’s mother made sure to repeatedly ask her daughter how Lauren was doing—in front of Lexi—making it no secret she still held out hope Jesse might rekindle with her ex.

  Lexi had braced herself, knowing this weekend would be more of the same. She knew it shouldn’t matter. Jesse never acted any differently toward her. But actually, now that she stopped to think about it, that was what had been needling at her. All week Lexi had sensed something different in Jesse. Even through her girlfriend’s stoic veneer, Lexi had felt an uncharacteristic edginess looming beneath the surface and she was sure it was because of goddamn Liddy Ducane.

  All the more reason Jesse had been a genius to get them up here a day early. When it was just the two of them here together, all stress seemed to dissipate. They focused on each other, relaxed, and connected. The result was evident in the last sixteen hours. Starting right from sleeping soundly in each other’s arms the previous evening and carrying over into today when they hit the beach before noon, their moods were light and easy. Even now, hours later, they were calm and comfortable as they lounged in the late-day sun, enjoying a pre-dinner dip in the pool.

  From the kitchen Lexi caught a glimpse of Jesse out the back window as she adjusted her black two-piece bathing suit. She watched gratuitously as Jesse reached her long, toned arms over her head, stretching out her entire body before diving into the water. Lexi eyed the plastic bottles of water on the counter and quickly turned back to the fridge to trade them for two beers, grinning to herself over what she was about to do.

  Lexi sauntered into the backyard making her way alongside the pool up to the four-foot marker where Jesse was settled with her elbows resting on the pool’s tiled edge, her head tilted back in the sun. Lexi crouched down and handed her a beer.

  “Cheers, babe.” Lexi clinked their bottles together and took a long drink.

  Jesse smiled and took a sip. “What are we toasting?” she asked.

  Lexi wet her lips. “How about us.” She leaned down and kissed Jesse, surprising her with more tongue than Jesse was expecting. Lexi knew she’d caught Jesse off guard, but she could tell her girlfriend was into it. After a year together Lexi knew what made Jesse tick. She placed her beer on the concrete and walked to the front of the pool. Making an overly grand gesture she pulled her tank top over her head and released her hair from its rubber band, shaking her head as the dark curls fell past her shoulders. She stepped out of her wraparound beach skirt and descended the steps into the water slowly, untying the top of her bikini and tossing it aside as she walked. She dipped under the water up to her shoulders and glided over to Jesse.

  Jesse straightened up and the corner of her mouth turned up in a devilish smile. “Alexis Russo, what are you doing?” she asked, unable to keep her eyes or her hands off Lexi’s body.

  Lexi put her arms around Jesse, kissing the top of her shoulder and biting it gently before moving up to her neck. “Saying thank you,” she said, drawing in her lower lip as Jesse smoothed her hands along her body up to her breasts, “for the brilliant idea that we come up early, before everyone else gets here.”

  “You are very, very welcome.”

  Lexi brushed her mouth along Jesse’s collarbone, losing her breath a little as her nipples hardened against Jesse’s wet palms. “I know you’ve been stressed, but I think I may be able to help you release some of that tension.”

  “Is that so?” Jesse responded playfully, but it was clear from the huskiness in her voice she was game. She turned them around and pressed Lexi up against the wall of the pool, taking Lexi’s legs and wrapping them around her. She lowered her face and kissed Lexi’s bare chest.

  Lexi moved her hands through Jesse’s short, unruly hair. She ran her lips along the side of Jesse’s face. “Forget dinner,” she breathed in Jesse’s ear. “Take me upstairs. I want you inside me.”

  It was more than she ever s
aid and it got a reaction. Jesse responded with a guttural moan finding Lexi’s mouth and kissing her possessively. She felt Jesse’s hand moving down her torso and was pretty sure they weren’t going to make it to the house. Lexi didn’t care. She shut out the world, blocking out the distant hum of the boats in the bay and the planes passing overhead. It was just the two of them.

  The sudden piercing shriek got their attention. It was followed closely—simultaneously, almost—by a profane plea for divine intervention. At the exact same time, Lexi and Jesse turned their attention to the end of the swimming pool where Jesse’s mother, father, and brother were standing. Jesse nobly tried to shield a half-naked Lexi behind her, but it was too late. Jesse’s mother stormed away toward the house, her father a half step behind. Justin stayed right where he was, turning his body as he covered his mouth, his laughter coming through anyway.

  *

  The Friday night dinner she was forced to endure with Jesse’s mother, father, and brother was beyond awkward and Lexi didn’t relax at all until she was finally back at the house having a glass of wine with Jesse and Justin in the downstairs rec room. Right from the very beginning, Lexi had felt completely herself with Justin, and she’d seen right away why he was Jesse’s favorite of her three brothers. Just a few years older than she, Justin was down to earth, funny, and kind. True, he teased Lexi relentlessly throughout the night, but he also genuinely tried his best to make her feel better. He told her their mother was uptight, privileged, and narrow-minded, and thought no one worthy of her children. He cited his brothers’ wives as examples. Not even attempting to hide his smile, he also pointed out that Lexi had surely made an impression on their father. In fact, he told her she had probably already given him the best birthday gift he was going to get this year. Jesse glared at him, but he laughed it off, saying she knew it was true and he was positive the three of them would be joking about it for years to come. Lexi wasn’t ready to laugh about it just yet, but something in the way he said it made her feel like part of their family.

  When Jesse excused herself to use the bathroom, Justin lowered his voice and got serious. “Honestly, Lex, who cares about my mother.” He checked a look back to the bathroom door. “My sister is crazy about you. You realize she’s only ever brought one other girl out here to meet the whole family?”

  Lexi sighed. “Believe me, I know all about Lauren. Your mother never stops talking about her.”

  Justin laughed. “Not Lauren. Lauren’s a sycophant who is only around because her mother is an integral part of Mom’s high society coffee klatch.” He rubbed his thick hipster beard. “And because of her relentless efforts to win my sister back.” He widened his eyes, making it no secret what he thought of those odds. He scratched his dark curly hair. “No, the woman’s name was Mary, I think. And it was like forever ago.” He’d meant to be reassuring, Lexi was sure of it. There was no way he could know that in naming Jesse’s former girlfriend, he was also referencing Lexi’s godmother, her mothers’ best friend and the co-owner of Bay West. No doubt about it, Mary Brown was the biggest sore spot in their relationship.

  *

  “Jess?” Lexi could hear the heightened pitch in her own voice and was immediately annoyed at herself for pursuing this topic. “When did you bring Mary Brown here?” She rubbed one finger repeatedly over the textured fabric of her seersucker shorts lying on top of the dresser, unsure if she even wanted to know the answer. Glancing at the mirror in front of her, she made eye contact as Jesse poked her head around the bathroom door frame, her brow crinkling at the question.

  Jesse grabbed a hand towel and patted her face dry. “A long, long time ago,” she answered, killing the lights in the bathroom. “Where is this coming from?”

  “Nothing,” Lexi said quietly. “It’s just your brother mentioned you introduced her to your family, and, honestly, it caught me off guard.”

  Jesse took a few steps until she was behind Lexi. She dropped a sweet kiss on Lexi’s shoulder next to the thin strap of her cami. “I know that face.” Their eyes met in the mirror once more and Lexi felt Jesse’s arms loop around her midsection, bringing her in close. “Don’t, Lex.” Jesse shook her head slowly, brushing her lips gently along Lexi’s neck. “Mary was a million years ago. You’re who I want to be with. Not Mary or Lauren, or anybody. You. I’m in love with you.”

  Lexi turned around and smiled, the faith in her relationship easily restored. “You better be,” she said playfully. “Cause I’m not going down without a major catfight.” She touched her finger to Jesse’s lips, grazing over them slowly as she spoke. “And I’m not sure your mother would ever recover from that particular social faux pas.”

  Jesse kissed the tip of Lexi’s finger. “Mmm, enough about my mother. She’s already sabotaged me once tonight, if I’m not mistaken.” She kissed Lexi’s palm, then her wrist, working all the way up her arm until their lips met. She reached down and hooked Lexi’s legs, lifting her onto the dresser. “Where were we before?” Jesse’s smile was impish and sexy and so full of desire that Lexi felt herself blush.

  The connection they had was nothing new, certainly not after a year together, but it was that single exchange that gave Lexi the confidence to hold her head high at the party. As promised, Lauren was there, and as expected, Jesse’s mother fawned over her. Lexi had seen Lauren in pictures but of course she was prettier in person. Tall, tan, and blond, she was everything you didn’t want your girlfriend’s ex to be. And she was obviously still into Jesse even if Jesse politely pretended not to notice. Instead Jesse spent the entire day doting on Lexi, introducing her around and making sure she was never alone.

  Sometime after the catered barbecue had been served and cleared, Lexi managed to slip away by herself, escaping through a line of trees along the perimeter down to the boat slip at the edge of the property. She could hear the steel drum band quieting as she made her way down to the dock. Leaning against the wooden post she allowed herself a minute to decompress as she took in the absolute beauty before her. Somewhere the sun was setting, turning the sky a deep orangey pink, the dark water below her barely rippling in the still night.

  Her heart sank a little when she heard footsteps behind her but then lifted again when she saw it was Jesse.

  “Planning a water escape?” Jesse asked playfully. She slipped her arms around Lexi’s waist and stood behind her enjoying the view. “Oddly enough, I suppose, we’re not boat people.” She dropped a kiss on Lexi’s neck, pulling her in close. “But I’m pretty sure there’s a blow-up raft in the garage. I can go get it,” she whispered, “but you have to promise to take me with you.”

  Lexi smiled and leaned back into Jesse. She slid her hands over Jesse’s and caressed the tops of her toned forearms.

  “Is the bourgeois madness getting to you?” she asked, kissing Lexi again.

  “It’s fine. I just needed a little break.” She squeezed Jesse’s arms around her belly. “This is perfect.”

  “I love you.”

  “I love you too.” Lexi only had to tilt her head back a little and Jesse’s lips were there. “Jess?”

  “Yeah, babe?”

  “I am so, so sorry about yesterday.”

  Jesse laughed her deep sexy laugh. “It’s okay. If you take a step back it is actually hilarious.”

  “No, it’s not.” Lexi’s voice was serious. “It’s not okay either.” She turned around to face Jesse. “I know you’re stressed about me and your mom. I just…” She looked down shaking her head at the ground. “I still can’t believe that happened.”

  Jesse held Lexi’s waist and bent down a little so they were eye to eye. “I’m not stressed about my mother.”

  “I know you are. I know that’s why you’ve been acting so weird lately. And I just thought…” She trailed off. “God, I don’t know what I was thinking.”

  Jesse found Lexi’s hands with her own and laced their fingers together. “Babe, it’s not my mother. Yes, I hate the way she treats you because it’s ridiculous an
d pretentious. I have told her to back off. Numerous times.” She shook her head, indicating it was a lost cause. “But I don’t care what she thinks. Truthfully, I don’t.”

  “But—” Lexi stopped herself, her face twisted with confusion.

  Jesse shoved her hands in the pockets of her linen shorts. “I know I’ve been a little off the last week or so.” She dropped her chin, averting her eyes and chewing on a smile. “There is something I’m a little nervous about.” She looked back toward the house and then out along the open water. “I wanted everything to be perfect. I thought if we came out here Thursday night, well, you know this is our place.” She rolled her neck back and looked up at the pink, fiery sky. “I had it all planned. Relax together Thursday night. Hang out at the beach Friday. Follow that with a romantic dinner.” She bit her bottom lip hiding her smile. “It was all lining up too. But then my parents had to show up and put a damper on everything.” She shook her head and swallowed a chuckle at the recent memory. “Suffice it to say, last night—not perfect.” She laughed, looking around them again before she spoke.

  “The thing is, Lex, I think right now may be as perfect as it’s going to get this weekend.” She shuffled a little, looking around again as she fidgeted in her pocket. “And honestly, with this sky, plus the water, and music in the background…” Her sexy grin was virtually irresistible. “It’s almost like this was the plan.”

  By now, Lexi knew it was coming, but she was still shocked to her very core. Her mouth hung open a little and she covered it with both of her hands blinking slowly as she savored the moment. She opened her eyes again and Jesse was on one knee holding the diamond ring. She didn’t even attempt to hide her enormous smile as she listened to Jesse ask the question.

  Chapter Three

  Coming over right now.

  Meg barely had a chance to read the text, much less answer it, before she heard a succession of repeated taps on her screen door. She opened the latch and ushered Lexi and Jesse in, quickly closing the door behind them to keep the air conditioning from escaping.