Lexie by Kimberly Dean Read Free Book Online Page A

He set it down and wiped his hands on his jeans. He grabbed a chair from atop a nearby table and flipped it over. The legs scraped loudly as he set it on the floor. Not caring, he did the same with another chair and patted the seat. “Sit. Sit before I fall over,” he ordered. “Char-leee.”
    An ebony face appeared over the top of the half doors. “Keep your britches on, Skeeter. I’ll be there in a—” The man’s eyes widened to the size of saucers as he saw Roxie in duplicate.
    “Look, boss.” Skeeter’s index finger waggled as he pointed again. “Look at this.”
    “Sweet mother,” Charlie hissed. “Hold on. I’ll get the bourbon.”
    Lexie and Roxie edged together towards the seats. They were both shaking so badly, they clung to each other to stay on their collective feet. At some point, they’d taken each other’s hand. Their fingers were interlocked, and neither was letting go.
    Lexie had so many questions, but emotions were colliding inside her chest. She didn’t know where to start. “We have to figure this out.”
    “Make sure,” her reflection agreed.
    “What’s to figure out?” Skeeter bent closer, and his gaze ran over the two of them, this time with less confusion and a lot more interest. “You’re the same right down to the boobies.”
    Roxie’s reflexes were quick. She reached out and bopped the man upside the head.
    “Hey,” he said, rubbing the spot. “It’s true.”
    “But you don’t have to say it out loud.” Roxie grabbed the back of the closest chair and dropped into it. She glanced at Skeeter as he moved outside of arm’s length. “Sorry. He’s a nice guy, but if he’s around long enough, you’ll eventually want to swat him.”
    Lexie sat in the other seat, her knees finally giving way. “Do you work here with him?”
    “Barmaid, manager and all-around utility player.”
    “Don’t forget model.” Lexie pushed her hair back with a shaky hand. She couldn’t believe this day. From bad to worse… She didn’t think so! For once, the hatchet man had been wrong.
    She stiffened. Why was he, of all people, popping into her head now? She shifted uncomfortably and concentrated on the here and now. She didn’t want to miss out on a moment of this. This day and place were going to be imprinted on her brain forever. “I hated that billboard an hour ago, but now I’m so glad you did it.”
    “The billboard. Right. That’s what brought you here.” Roxie nibbled at her lower lip. “Has it been giving you problems?”
    Problems? Her family had practically disowned her because of that sensational shot, but all that seemed insignificant now. Problems could be fixed, but people didn’t find sisters every day. Lexie waved off the question. “I should have read the article in the newspaper.”
    Her gesture hitched midair. Had anyone taken time to actually read the article?
    “It wouldn’t have helped.” Roxie looked at their entwined hands and ran her thumb over Lexie’s pale pink nail polish. Her own fingernails were hot-rod red, yet she seemed as fascinated by their differences as she was by their similarities. “Charlie’s doing his best to keep my name out of the press.”
    “Yeah, but if any of those snooty reporters would come down here and interview the regulars, they’d have your name like that.” Skeeter snapped his fingers. He scratched his head as he studied them. “It’s like I’ve gone on a binge and I’m seeing double.”
    “You’ll be seeing four of them after we drink this.” Charlie came out from behind the bar. He handed out drinks to everybody and chewed on his bottom lip as he stared at the pair of them. “I’ll be damned.”
    Reaching out, he caught Lexie’s chin. She lifted it obediently as the man studied her. Finally, he just shook his head. “I take it neither of you knew about the other?”
    “No,” Roxie said, following it with a curse.
    Lexie swallowed hard. They’d been so close, yet so far away from each other.