Under Her Skin. Susan Mallery

a macho thing. So that’s how Cruz got his start, huh?”

      Lexi nodded. She didn’t know much about his past, but she’d had the occasional quirk of curiosity and had searched for his name on the Internet a few times. He’d started with nothing and had grown his business into an empire.

      “All the guys lost their cars to him,” Lexi said. “They were furious. The girls were more interested in Cruz than anything else.”

      Lexi still remembered how he’d looked that day. Tall, dark and dangerous-looking. He’d had an easy smile that promised things she wasn’t sure were legal. His laugh had made her break out in goose bumps. The sun had seemed to follow him, basking him in a golden glow as if it, too, wanted to be close enough to touch.

      She’d been unable to stop looking at him and he’d seemed interested in her. But she’d been unexpectedly shy and unable to flirt with him like the other girls.

      “Cruz started talking to me. I didn’t know what to say or how to act, so I said I wanted to race him.”

      “You didn’t!” Skye sounded horrified.

      “Impressive,” Dana murmured. “What happened?”

      “I was completely inexperienced.” Lexi shook her head at the double entendre. “I’d never even gotten a speeding ticket. I lost by a lot and he took my car.”

      “That’s not very nice,” Skye muttered.

      “It’s how he made his living,” Dana pointed out. “Lexi’s pretty, but not that pretty.”

      “Gee, thanks.”

      “You know what I mean.”

      Lexi did. Her car had been a new Mercedes, worth about sixty grand. What guy would give that up to win the girl?

      “That night I saw him at a party. We started talking. I was humiliated about losing the car, so I asked for a rematch. He kissed me instead. That’s where it started.”

      “You slept with him?” Skye stood and put her hands on her hips. “You slept with him after he took your car?”

      “You keep surprising me,” Dana said. “Good for you.”

      It had been better than good—until the next morning. Not that she was going to tell them that. “In the morning I got scared and ran,” she lied. “I knew it was a mistake.”

      “And he came after you,” Skye said with a sigh.

      Lexi didn’t know how her sister had gone through an arranged marriage, been widowed, raised a child on her own and still managed to be such a romantic.

      “Something like that,” Lexi murmured, knowing the truth was very different.

      The next morning, she’d awakened feeling all tingly and connected to Cruz. He’d looked panicked. She’d seen it in his eyes, in the way he’d scrambled out of bed as if terrified of being trapped by her.

      She’d been hurt and furious in equal measure. Until then, she’d always been the prize.

      It had taken every ounce of self-control and pride to stand there naked, offer a cool smile and words that she would never forget.

      “Don’t worry, Cruz. Girls like me don’t date guys like you. We only screw them for fun.”

      He’d been surprised and possibly hurt. It had been impossible to know. His expression had cleared and she couldn’t tell what he was thinking. She’d dressed quickly and left, feeling hurt and humiliated.

      Over the next few months she’d done her best to convince herself that Cruz didn’t matter. That she was lucky to have escaped—he wasn’t anyone she would want to be with. But she’d been unable to forget him.

      “There’s always been something between us,” she said, knowing it was true, but not in the way her sister would take it. “Last week, at your party, we spent the whole night talking. We realized we’ve been in love with each other all this time.” When had she become such a good liar? she thought with a sigh.

      “We got engaged. It was an impulse, but not one I regret. What I do regret is hurting you, Skye. I’d never do that willingly. I liked having the engagement as a delicious secret to think about all by myself, but I should have thought it through. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you sooner.”

      “Would you have told me before?” Skye asked. “Does this have to do with Jed?”

      Dana looked between them. “No switching topics,” she said calmly. “Fight about Cruz and nothing else.”

      Until recently, Lexi and Skye hadn’t needed a referee, Lexi thought sadly. Damn Jed and his games.

      “It’s not a power play,” she said quietly. “I swear.”

      Skye stared at her, as if trying to decide if she was telling the truth. Finally she sighed. “I guess I understand. You fell in love. It’s pretty amazing, if you think about it.”

      Lexi glanced to her left and saw Dana rolling her eyes.

      Skye hugged her. “I’m so happy for you.”

      “Thanks. I’m happy, too.”

      “Wow. Engaged. I wondered when you’d let your guard down enough to fall for anyone. I thought you were too scared to love, especially after Andrew, but all this time you’d already given your heart to someone else. It’s amazing.”

      Actually it was a crock, Lexi thought, wondering if her sister really thought of her as keeping up her guard. Lexi didn’t think that was true. She mostly didn’t connect with men because…because…Well, there were plenty of good reasons she couldn’t think of right now.

      Skye squeezed her hand. “We need to celebrate. I want to throw you a big engagement party.”

      Lexi pulled free. “Wait a minute. We don’t need a party. At least not right away. Let me get used to the idea of being engaged.”

      “Don’t be silly. I’ll do all the work. After all, that’s what I do, right? Throw parties. Throw parties and raise my daughter. It’s not like I have a real job.”

      Lexi frowned. “What’s wrong? Why are you saying it like that.”

      Skye grabbed her purse. “I’m not. Sorry. But this is good. All good. Congratulations. I can’t wait to meet him again and tell him he’d better plan to make you very happy. You deserve that, Lexi.”

      The sincerity in her sister’s words made her feel crappy. “Skye—”

      Her sister started for the door. “I need to get home before Erin gets off the bus. This is wonderful. I’m genuinely happy for you, Lexi. We’ll talk soon.”

      And then Skye was gone.

      Dana stretched her arms along the back of the sofa. “The weird thing is, she means it. She is happy for you. If not for the crap your dad’s putting all of you through, it would be great. Too bad everything you said is a lie.”

      Lexi sank back on the couch and closed her eyes. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

      “Sure you do. Come on. Skye’s a dreamer. She’s sweet and giving and would almost never believe anything bad about you. I’m a whole lot more cynical and I’ve known you since we were both ten years old. You waited for a guy? All this time? I don’t think so. It’s not in your nature to pine. You go out and get what you want.”

      This was the second assessment of her character in less than ten minutes and she was equally surprised by what Dana thought. Lexi tried to be strong and in control but always felt she fell way short.

      “I believe you did sleep with him,” Dana continued. “And that you’re engaged, but the rest of it? No way.”

      Lexi opened her eyes and looked at her friend. “You don’t want to