Dear Sexy Lexie (Red Stilettos, Book Three)

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An Excerpt From: DEAR SEXY LEXIE

Copyright © ASHLYN CHASE, 2010

All Rights Reserved, Ellora's Cave Publishing, Inc.

Chapter One

"Lexie! I´m so glad you made it this year. We missed you and Sam at last year´s cookout." The old woman glanced around. "Where is he, anyway?"

Oh, no. Please don´t tell me Maude didn´t hear about Sam.

As soon as that thought rolled through Lexie´s brain, the hostess rushed over and whispered furiously in Maude´s ear.

Maude gasped. "Oh, you poor dear! Oh, I´m so sorry. How did he die? No. Never mind. I´m just a nosy old woman."

You got that right. The last thing Lexie wanted to do was relive the horror of her late husband´s cancer at a cookout when she was finally moving on.

Maude waited, obviously hoping Lexie would answer the question anyway. When she didn´t, Maude said, "Here, let me get you a chair, you should sit down."

"I´m fine, Maude. It´s been a year and a half."

"Oh. Are you sure you don´t want to sit? I could load up a plate for you."

And tell you all about it while I try to digest a greasy burger? No thanks. "No, really. I´m fine."

Tyler Black strolled over. He looked just as hot in his off-duty Dockers as he did in his San Francisco police officer´s uniform. Six feet of solid muscle, dark brown hair and blue eyes with black lashes were only the start of his sex appeal. His twin dimples and wolfish grin gave him a boyish charm he might never outgrow.

"Hey, Lexie. You are lookin´ fine." He winked.

His flirtation made her feel like a normal woman who happened to be single again and she grinned.

"So, have you started dating yet?"

Maude gaped at him. "Tyler Black! What an outrageous question."

Lexie had had just about enough of people speaking for her. "Actually, Tyler, I´ve been thinking it´s about time."

Maude´s jaw almost hit the patio, then she whirled and stomped off in a huff.

He sidled up next to Lexie and said in a low voice that made her shiver, "Good, then I can be your first."

When she laughed, he leaned in closer and whispered, "And who knows, maybe your last."

"Why? Are you gonna kill me?"

Tyler burst out laughing.

Lexie sighed. "Maude´s right about one thing, Tyler. You are outrageous."

"It´s part of my charm. And come to think of it, you´re pretty outrageous yourself, Sexy Lexie. Think of how much fun we can have together. So how about it? Are you busy Friday night?"

Lexie placed a hand on her hip. "How old are you?"

"Just turned twenty-seven."

"Ha! Do you know how old I am?"

He stepped back and studied her. "I think you´re legal. At least I hope so."

She snickered. "You´re charming all right. But to answer my own question, I´m thirty-nine and only for a few more weeks."

"So, your fortieth birthday is coming up? Congratulations! We´ll have to celebrate in some special way."

Lexie tipped her head. "Did you not hear me? I´m a dozen years older than you."

"Yup. I did the math."

"I´ll be getting gray and wrinkled any day now. And that doesn´t bother you?"

"Nope. I see more than a beautiful woman, maybe five foot eight with dark wavy hair I´d like to run my fingers through. I see an interesting, intelligent woman with a sense of humor, who I´d like to get to know better."

I don´t think he´s kidding. Better change the subject. "Jolie said she and Gabe were coming but I don´t see them. Did your partner get called in to work today?"

"Not that I know of. I´m sure they´ll be here. Hey, maybe since your friend is dating my partner, we can double some time."

Lexie gave him a slow eye-roll and headed off to the bar.