“Lex! Lex—please! Come back to me, Lex. I love you! ” I shout so loud my voice saws along my throat like a razor.

The beefed-up gym rat holding me back shoves me against a wall. “All right, dude. I know it hurts, but you need to relax. Do yourself a favor and give her some space. Now, I gotta ask you to leave.”

“Believe me, this is the last place I want to be.” The Moulin Rouge is a joke of a club that I’ve visited for a beer now and again, mostly sitting along the bar wishing it would magically morph into the Black Bear. In my fantasy, Lex would be there, long tan legs, huge red curls dripping down her back, and that ear-to-ear dirty grin going just for me. But this is New York, not North Carolina. Manhattan, not Hollow Brook. A pile of shit I’ve landed myself in, not paradise.

Keith O’Malley—the fucker I let talk me into meeting his sexed-up roommate, Charlize, struts over, laughing as he spills his beer. It’s Charlize’s birthday. One drink with his roommate. It was his gift to her. She has a crush were his ridiculously convincing words. She pulled me in, and the next thing I know her arms are around me, telling me a fucking knock-knock joke of all things. I was going to leave—alone. One beer and out. A favor for a guy I’ve known less than six weeks.

“Dude, that was a twofer. Thanks for making my roomie’s night. She says if you need any Southern comfort her bed is waiting for you.”

“I’ll pass.” I take off running up the stairs and out into the cold dark night, nothing but a steady stream of yellow cabs speeding by. An army of pedestrians throbs along the sidewalk in throngs.

“Lex!” I call out running left then right, spastically landing myself in the middle of the street, cars honking, every third person flipping me the bird. “Lex! Come back! I love you, Lex.” I let those last words die on my lips.

All night I text her to no avail. I hop the next plane to Hollow Brook, praying I’ll be on her flight. No such luck. Shep picks me up at the airport, his driver’s license not even a week old. Lex is living in north Hollow Brook with her little sister, Serena. We make a beeline for their apartment, and I bang on the door like a maniac until the manager calls the cops on me. We hit Hallowed Grounds, Barnes, the Black Bear looking for clues, but Lex is a ghost, the invisible woman. She won’t pick up the phone. She won’t text me back. Lex has never subjected herself to social media, no check-ins, no locations attached to a single picture that might lend me a hand. Nothing. After three days of torment, I head back to New York. The new me. Single and hopelessly mourning the only woman I will ever love, Lex Maxfield.

* * *

“Lex! Wait! Let me explain this!” I shout into the dark, and a vivid memory of that night back in New York comes flooding back to me. Lex had come to visit—surprise me, and I believe in my heart she was there to restore what we had. And for a time, we had restored it—made it better, made it shiny and new. But we’re barreling back to square one, and I can’t help but let out a roar into the night as I kick the tire on a neighboring Mercedes.

“Shit.” I head back into the Black Bear where the bodies seem to have multiplied.

I head to the back where Teagan’s party is still going strong. She’s out there dancing with her friends, laughing, having the time of her life, and as much as it warms me to see it, I’m frantic to find Shep. I caught a glimpse of him speaking to Lex moments before Abby pulled me over to thank me for getting her upstart off the ground. She was so enthusiastic she offered me an embrace, and I took it. No harm, no foul—that is, until Lex spotted us and became unhinged.

“Shep.” I wave to him through the crowd and speed my way over to where he stands with a group of girls. He excuses himself politely and takes a step toward me.

“Dude, where’s the fire? Can you relax? You look like someone just shit on your pillow.”

“Lex just took off. She’s pissed. She said something about Abby Wilcox working with Dad. What was she saying to you?” My heart does its best to kick its way out of my chest and go looking for Lex itself. But I need to know what I’m up against. Why would Lex care what Abby did with my father?

Shep sobers up. “She was asking me the same thing. I told her what I knew.”

“And what’s that?” I lean in, holding my breath so I can hear him above the riotous music.

“Something about the Social Elite. Hell, I don’t know what she’s calling her company. Dad liked it. So did you. Teagan said you gave it a green light, and she pulled out all the stops. Abby is in. That’s all I told her.”

“Social Elite?” I rack my brain trying to make sense of any of this. “Why does that sound familiar?”

Shit. A horrible thought occurs to me.

I head back into the bar, scouring the Black Bear from top to bottom in hopes of finding Abby. I don’t have her number, but The Pelican has it on file. A thousand thoughts crash through my brain. Head to The Pelican. Screw The Pelican—head to Lex’s place. Stay away from Lex’s place. Give Lex time. That’s what the bouncer at the Moulin Rouge suggested that fateful night. It didn’t work. I gave her six long years, and she’s still running from me.

I head back into the poolroom where I find Teagan swinging her hips into two wasted boys that I’m positive are far too young to drink.

“Teagan”—I gently pull her aside—“I need to ask you a question.”

“Hey!” She looks longingly to the drunk boys I just dragged her from, and she cries out in frustration. “What do you want? Things were just getting good.”

“Abby Wilcox,” I growl her name out like a curse. “What kind of company did Dad partner with her in?”

“What?” Teagan looks pissed at the fact I’ve pulled her aside on this, the most important night of her life. “Who the hell cares! Jason Roderick is here!” She stomps over my toes with her high heel. “I swear, you are certifiable. Pull me aside once more to see what time Dad picks his nose, and I’ll make sure you won’t walk for a week.” She tries to take off, and I block her path.

“Was it called”—my mouth can’t bring itself to say the words—“Epicurean Elite?”

“Yes!” She shoots me with her finger and wrinkles her nose. “Weird, right? But you said she was brilliant, and, apparently, Dad thinks so, too.”

My body goes numb with rage. That bitch. Abby stole Lex’s company right from under her. I’m betting both concepts have more in common than just a name. “Teagan, did you file that copyright like I asked you?” My voice is shaking with anger. It’s all I can do not to hunt down Abby Wilcox and make her explain a few things to me.

“Of course. It’s a done deal. Abby and Dad have everything they need to run it. Dad was so excited he assigned her a team. It’s already gone down to tech.”

Tech is where the real work happens. If Abby needs a website, she’s got it. Any technical aspect of the company is graciously covered by my father and his minions—right along with his millions.

I’ve done this. I’ve unwittingly sold out Lex’s dream.

Teagan bops back to her guests, and I don’t stop her. Instead, I stagger to the door, stunned as shit, and a familiar body bumps into me.

“Whoa.” It’s Brody Wolf, another victim of my manipulation, and I can’t even find it in me to return the smile. “Dude, did someone piss in your beer?”

“Yes.” I head outside, and Brody follows. “I did.”

Brody sits next to that oversized bear, and I tell him everything—and I do mean everything.

“Are you dicking with me right now?” He gives my shoe a hard kick. “You have our accountants giving me busy work so you could chase a skirt at the bar? Shit.” He bangs the back of his head against the stone wall. “You could have told me to go to Cabo for a few months, and at least I would have had a good time.”

“You would have gotten killed by a drug lord.”

“That might be true, but at least I wouldn’t be having nightmares where numbers were chasing me down. Dude, I can’t breathe at night. You’ve given me anxiety that’s going to last a lifetime.”

“Yeah, well, it’s over. Just like Lex and me.”

“No way. That chick has cost me too much lost sleep—even if I didn’t know she was at fault. You’re getting her back, and I’m going to help you.”

“How are you going to do that?” I sink my head between my knees a moment and soak in the dizzying rush.

“Find Abby Wilcox. I don’t know—void everything to do with her connection to that company. Doesn’t your father have some sort of a fraud clause? You know, she stole it from Lex.”

“It’s a classic case of he said, she said.” Or in this case—she said, she said.

“What about Lex? She has a file, right? She’s been working on this. Her files are dated. I say you charge at Abby with a dozen different high-powered lawyers—you and half your family and get back what’s yours. Namely Lex.”

“Sue her. Huh.” Now there’s a concept. “You think she’ll roll over?”

“Hell yes. You throw enough legal-ease at her, and she’ll not only roll over, she’ll run out of town. Nobody wants that headache.” We think on this for a minute. “Why do you think she did it? I mean, she didn’t even bother to change the name. If she were smart, she would have at least basterdized the concept.”

“I have no clue. And for all I know, she could have botched the concept. One thing I do know is that Lex feels as though her life was just pulled from under her. I know that feeling well, and it sucks.” I’m experiencing it firsthand.

“I’ll help you in the morning.” He socks me on the arm. “That’s for messing with me. I’m sure Levi won’t mind half as much.”

“What are you doing here, anyway?”

Brody looks to the door and gives a wry smile. “Thought I’d keep an eye out on Raven—you know, for Levi. He’s been indisposed no thanks to you, and she’s been running around like a question mark.”

“Raven, huh.” I frown over at him, doubting his chaste intentions. I doubt Brody would be dumb enough to try anything with Raven. He and Levi grew up together. Hell, Raven is probably like a sister to him. “All right, man. I’m taking off.” I make a break for the parking lot, my head full of all the bullshit that just transpired.

I drive by Lex’s house and knock on the door, but she doesn’t answer. I didn’t think she would.

She doesn’t answer my calls or my texts. I know the routine. Text, call, repeat. If Lex says we’re over, we are done.

But I don’t happen to agree with her. And the last time I checked, I was a fifty percent partner in this relationship.

I head to The Sloppy Pelican and pull Abby’s file before heading to the penthouse. I log in to the Collins and Associates mainframe and let myself into my father’s new acquisition files. I’ve got all the passwords I need to take me right to the nexus of what I’m looking for. Abby Wilcox, Epicurean Elite. I peruse the contextual outline and let out a breath. It’s laughable. A skeleton of what Lex described. Abby doesn’t know what the hell she’s talking about or doing. She needed an idea, and she ran with a good one.

And, of course, I paved the way with Lex’s dream.

Things couldn’t get any worse if they tried.

* * *

The rest of the weekend drones by—the air iced with Lex’s cold shoulder. Monday, she doesn’t bother showing up for her shift. But Tuesday evening—just after the lunch rush and prior to the dinner onslaught, she graces the bar with her presence once again. Only it’s not me she’s come to see. It’s Low and Levi. It’s the day of their rehearsal, and since they’ve decided to hold the nuptials right here in the bar, this is where the entire wedding party has congregated.

An anxious wedding planner buzzes around us, situating, organizing us in the banquet room where the special event will take place, followed immediately by the reception.

“Come, come.” The yippy brunette scuttles me to the mouth of the banquet hall before plucking Lex from the bar itself. Lex is breathtaking this afternoon. Some might think those bright pink lips are caustic, but to me they call out like a siren. Her shoulders are open, spine straight as a pin, head slightly tipped back, and with that spiked leather jacket, she might as well be lethal. But I’ve always liked the fact Lex had a bit of a twist to her, just the right amount of kick to make life interesting. “It’s show time, and there can be no delays! Stand right next to this handsome man right here, link arms. Quick! Quick!” She doesn’t bother waiting for Lex to perform the miracle. Instead, she stabs Lex’s arm through mine, and we both hold our limbs, stale in the air, avoiding any real contact. Not that I’m avoiding Lex in any way. I simply know better and am afraid I might go home without a limb in place. “Once the music gives the cue, I’ll motion you both down the aisle.” She snaps her finger. “And go!”

Lex practically yanks me across the runner like a kite, causing the animated brunette to blow that gilded whistle around her neck like a ref at the Super Bowl.

“No way, no how, young lady!” She runs Lex and me back to go and proceeds to demonstrate the proper cadence in which we should strut down the aisle. “Nice—and slow,” she says with each staccato step, her voice mimicking the rhythm. “Take—your time.” She takes another dramatic step forward. “It’s not—a race.” She motions for the two of us to begin. “And go!”

Levi stands at the opposite end of the room, which at the moment seems to have stretched infinitely. The white runner splits the banquet hall, and there’s an arc at the far end that waits to receive us.

“Don’t get any ideas, Collins,” she grits through her teeth—her eyes set dead ahead.

My stomach relaxes, and I feel as if I can breathe for the first time in four days. At least she’s speaking to me.

“Don’t you get any ideas, Maxfield.” I dish it right back, hoping she’s buying it. With a woman like Lex, there is no room for groveling, no room for shriveling and begging. For as much as she likes to be in control, she likes to be controlled.

“What?” she hisses as we slowly throb our way down the aisle. “Don’t you even waste your time with that ridiculous reverse psychology. You and I both know you messed up big time.”

The two of us keep our gazes locked ahead, but I can feel the heat index rising to my left. Lex is boiling mad, and I won’t lie—I don’t mind it one bit.

“No one says big time anymore.” I bite the inside of my cheek to keep from smiling.

“Oh hush. I don’t care what you or your trendy friends say. I’m saying it, and that’s all that matters. You made a mistake, and now we’re both paying for it.”

My heart jackknifes in my chest as if it’s just heard the magic words it’s been waiting for all night.

“Both paying for it?” I’m only slightly amused by this because I happen to believe it. “So you do want me back.”

“Never!” Her voice rises, incredulous.

We hit the makeshift altar, but instead of breaking separate ways, Lex remains glued to my side, and we both end up to the right of Levi. He looks at me a moment before ticking his head toward her, but I choose to ignore my good friend. I’m not as interested in the rules and regulations of his holy matrimony as I am in keeping Lex by my side.

“Face it, Lex”—I tip my head back as Raven and Brody come up next, and Low dances her way down the aisle with her sister—“you know we’re not finished by a long shot. Deep in your heart, you realize I wouldn’t do anything to spite you. You’re just too afraid to look at the facts for what they are.”

The human Chihuahua vibrates her way over, her red glasses oscillating over her nose. “What’s this?” she squawks, plucking Lex from me, and if I had to guess, Lex didn’t want to leave any more than I wanted her to.

“You’re to break left when he breaks right.” The jumpy wedding planner scuttles in a circle. “Under no circumstances are the two of you to remain together!”

Low glares at me, so does Raven, but I don’t dare look at Lex. I know for a fact that both Low and Raven have been apprised of the sorry state of our relationship.

“I couldn’t agree more,” Lex sings, practically giddy for the first time in her life, and I take a moment to steal a glance her way. She’s gloating, her lips pulled into a self-satisfied smile. “In fact”—she catches my gaze and holds it—“I don’t think we should ever be together again.”

Low jumps over to her flame-haired friend and nearly loses an eye on that spike strip Lex has lined herself with. “Ho, ho, ho!” she belts it out like old St. Nick. Only something tells me come Christmas morning, the odds of finding Lex in my stocking are slim to none. “Play nice, you two. The big day is less than a week away.” She turns to me, holding her papier-mâché bouquet smug to her hip. Low looks pissed, but deep inside, I’d like to think she’s rooting for us. “How about a ceasefire until after kickoff? Kickoff being the point in the evening when Levi and I make our grand exit.”

“There will be no ceasefire,” Lex spits it out like machine gunfire.

“Why would there be?” I raise my voice just a notch, and the wedding planner covers her mouth in fear. “You’ve never backed away from a good battle before, have you, Lex?”

“All right, you two.” Levi nods my way. “Behave. We’ve got about ten more minutes, and you can both go to your corners to sulk.”

“Sulk?” Lex bites the word at him, and Levi leans back as if it had the power to knock him over. “Don’t you accuse me of sulking.” She wags a finger at him in quick succession. “I’m over it. I’m over him.” Her voice curls as it rises in octave. “And I don’t need you of all people telling me to behave.”

“Ugh!” Low does a frustrated version of the bunny hop. “For the last time! He did not stick his tongue down your throat!”

Lex scoffs, not missing a beat. “He’s not called The Frencher for nothing, sweetheart!”

The wedding planner tosses her hands in the air and spins in a circle.

Raven doubles over, she’s laughing so hard, and Brody knocks me in the ribs.

“Dude, you really know how to get a party going. Remind me not to invite you to my wedding.”

“You won’t have a wedding,” I scowl up at him before reverting to Lex. “You’d have to actually single a girl out and carry out a relationship. A concept neither of us seems to grasp.”

“All right, no crying in your beer.” He slaps me over the shoulder. “You’ve had a relationship.” My stomach knots up when he uses the past tense. “It’s the art of holding on that’s eluding you.”

“Dude, be quiet while you’re ahead.” I refocus my attention on the chaos erupting on the girls’ side of the fence.

“Don’t get uptight over it.” Brody leans in. “Some chicks don’t want to be penned in.”

“And neither do some guys.” I slap him over the arm. “And that, my friend, is why you will never get married.”

Lex struts over in haste, her cheeks pinched pink, her mouth pouting while she glares my way. “Wipe that grin off your face. This is all your fault. I will not traipse down the aisle with you this Saturday or any day thereafter. Not as a bridesmaid, never as a bride.” The veins in her neck look as if they’re struggling to break free, and her face turns a peculiar shade of plum. “For the record, I have no intention of setting foot in this place ever again after the wedding. You’d better have my last check ready to go. After they say I do, I say I quit. You will grow old alone, Axel Collins. You will rot in that legal firm, on your decaying leather throne without anybody by your side—counting your shekels like a miser—just like your father.” Her eyes spear mine with something just this side of hatred, and my heart bleeds out with the laceration. The room grows strangely quiet as the tension pollutes the air, thick and smothering. Lex turns abruptly and wastes no time in speeding out of the banquet hall.

I take a step after her, and both Low and Raven block my path.

Low growls, “Oh no, you don’t, lover boy! The last thing I need is for her to mow you down before my big day. I need my bridesmaid sans a felony assault charge and a groomsman who’s not in traction!”

I step right, and Raven blocks me. “Be warned—that girl is rumored to have the ability to perform a sex change in a parking lot, and you’re not only the wrong sex, but that lot out there happens to be her favorite place to perform the elective surgery.”

“I’ll take my chances.” I dodge past the wedding planner, and she tosses an armful of tulle and paper flowers into the air, rife with exasperation.

I thread my way past the crowd in the restaurant and burst out into the fresh Hollow Brook night, sprayed with stars and a low hung moon. It’s clear there’s hope for any romantic on a magical night like this.

A black Range Rover comes close to clipping me as Lex barrels out of the lot. She won’t listen. There’s no way she’s stopping for me.

Lex might be stubborn to a fault, but then, so am I.

I’ve got an ace up my sleeve that will land us in the same room at the same time, and she will damn well have to listen to what I have to say.

I hope.

I drop to my knees and tip my head toward the glowing night sky.

“If anyone up there is open to performing a miracle or two, send them my way. God knows I need them.”