Avoiding Responsibility (Avoiding #2)(19)
Author: K.A. Linde

"I think talking can be helpful," he agreed, "but not now at least." He shot her a quick smirk his green eyes glowing. "For now, I’m on a date with a beautiful woman and I should be enjoying that."

"Oh you think we’re on a date do you?" Lexi asked playfully crossing her arms over her chest and giving him a devilish glance.

"Is this not what this is?" he questioned taking a step towards her.

"Well I don’t know. Are you going to take me out to dinner?" she asked him following his lead and stepping into him. "Sweep me off my feet? Walk to my doorstep and give me a lingering kiss good night?" she arched one perfectly shaped eyebrow.

Ramsey leaned into her pulling her body close to him. He dipped his head down close enough to huskily whisper into her ear, "Can I give you a lingering kiss on my doorstep and convince you to make it more than linger?"

Lexi let a faint gasp pass through her lips at his words, and the gentle nip on her ear sent shivers down her entire body. She forced her body to stay in check biting down forcefully on her lip to keep her emotions under control.

They were taking things slow.

She could take things slow. She repeated the words to herself over and over in her mind as he slowly backed away from her.

She had been impulsive in her past and look where that had gotten her. Nowhere. She certainly didn’t intend to keep repeating the same mistakes all over again. Ramsey was not Jack and though she liked him, she knew he didn’t have the same pull over her. He was different, but in a good way. All she had to do was talk down her body, which was always ten paces ahead of her, and things typically went just fine.

Taking a deep breath, Lexi glanced up into Ramsey glistening green eyes. He was laughing at her with those beautiful eyes. He had been teasing her with her desire. But she could tell there was more. Despite the playful look apparent in his eyes, she knew he had really only been half-joking. He wanted her to come over, and he wanted to do more than kiss.

"Perhaps I’ll grant you your wish then," she said just as playfully as he was acting, "but only if you can catch me." She tapped him on the shoulder and muttered, "You’re it," then darted off through the museum.

She knew it was childish and not to mention dangerous. If she made one wrong move, she could land in a priceless piece of artwork. She hadn’t been able to help herself though. It was completely irrational. He would be able to catch up to her in an instant in her tiny high-heeled boots, but she darted around the exhibits nonetheless. Ramsey followed in pursuit seemingly unaware of the older couples who were shooting them death stares.

Lexi dove behind a large statue stifling her giggles as she heard his approaching footsteps. Just as the steps came to a halt, she raced out from her hiding spot and through an open hallway filled with classic black and white photographs. She glanced over her shoulder to see him lightly jogging behind her more intent on her backside than actually catching up to her. Giggling Lexi turned around just in time to find her face to face with an imposing older gentleman.

"Excuse me, ma’am," he said briskly sidestepping her urgent run.

"Sorry," she cried teetering on her heels as she rounded the corner just barely avoiding colliding with the man.

She heard Ramsey mutter something which sounded apologetic to the man, but she didn’t slow down long enough to find out. She wasn’t certain what had come over her. A part of her felt so carefree like all the worries had been wiped from her mind. The sound of her feet clicking underneath her kept time for her movements. A bright smile played across her face as she darted past a young couple. They seemed annoyed at first by the disturbance, but when they saw Ramsey in pursuit, their soft chuckles rang in her ears.

"So what do I get if I catch you?" Ramsey called teasingly down the white expansive hallway.

"Didn’t you hear me the first time?" she asked between breaths.

"Oh I heard you," Ramsey said. Lexi could hear his steps smacking the floor harder as he picked up speed. "I just want to make sure I know what I’m getting."

"Me," she crowed making a risky pivot turn and nearly falling over as her shoes slid against the slick floorboards. She caught herself just before Ramsey reached her, taking a few hesitant stutter steps before breaking away from him and into a massive open room filled with modern art.

She raced across the room hoping to make it to the next exhibit before he got close, but there were no turns and no where to hide. She couldn’t evade him in here. She simply had to out run him. And that wasn’t going to be possible.

Lexi felt a hand graze her shoulder and she tried to duck out of the embrace, but Ramsey latched onto her. He grabbed her by the waist, turning her a full 180, and pulling her in towards him. He dipped his head down to her face and captured her lips in a searing kiss. Her breathe was coming out heavy, but she couldn’t decipher whether or not if was her from the chase or his steamy kiss.

"I caught you," he murmured against her lips.

"Indeed you did," she agreed.

"Can I change the terms of our arrangement?" he questioned formally.

"You don’t want me?" she asked giving him another peck on his cheek and flashing him a devious smile.

"Oh I’m still keeping you," he said gripping her tighter around the waist. "I just have a better idea."

"And that is?"

"I want you to meet my friends," he said suddenly.

Lexi stared at him perplexed. She had originally offered him her body and now he wanted her to meet his friends. A pretty abrupt change, but he had won after all. "Uh, sure," she said uncertainly.

"Just meet at my house tomorrow around five. You’ll have a good time," he said smiling reassuringly. "Oh and wear something warm."

"Warm?" she asked glancing down at her outfit.

He did the same taking in her small body and the clothing that covered every curve wonderfully. After a second of thought, he added, "And practical."

The next day Lexi arrived at Ramsey’s apartment at five o’clock on the dot. She had dressed as practical as she could muster in a pair of worn blue jeans, red long-sleeve t-shirt covered by an old college sweatshirt, and her running sneakers. Her dark hair was pulled up into a high ponytail with her bangs pinned back from her face. She snatched a purple and white jacket from the backseat just in case and stuck her hands in her back pockets as she approached his apartment warily.

This was the first time that she had been in Atlanta since August, and memories of this very apartment flooded her mind. The way she had scandalously danced with Ramsey in an effort to forget Jack. Then just as Jack peered through the backdoor window to the balcony, she had impulsively leaned into Ramsey’s kiss, their first kiss. She had ended up staying the night after arguing with Jack, but Ramsey hadn’t tried anything, even then, in her weakened position.

And then she’d ended up here again, broken, destroyed, torn to pieces. She had been used, abused, and she was no longer the Lexi that she had once been. Her carefree side had vanished into thin air with Jack’s callous behavior. Ramsey had tried to help her, but after almost giving into his desires, she had run out of his house in the middle of the night. She hadn’t even been able to trust her own shadow that day. It was a low point for her, and neither of them had ever brought it up. As she gazed up at his ritzy townhouse, she couldn’t help but feel overwhelmed with all that had occurred.

Taking a deep breath, Lexi knocked on the door and waited for Ramsey quick response. His smile lit up at the sight of her, and how beautiful she was even in her most practical clothing. He liked her this way without all the luxuries that frequently felt like a necessity. "You’re here," he said snatching her up into his arms, turning in place, and planting her on the floor in his apartment.

"Yep," she said unable to keep from smiling at his boyish exuberance. He looked as gorgeous as ever in a heather grey, long-sleeve, Henley shirt, dark jeans, and boots.

Just then Ramsey’s two roommates bounded down the stairs, and Lexi was momentarily frozen as she realized she didn’t remember either of their names. She had met them briefly several months ago and wasn’t entirely certain whether or not she had learned names even then.

"Is she here finally?" one of them asked snottily.

Lexi smiled at his false annoyance. "Lexi, I doubt you remember my charming roommates," Ramsey states sarcastically alleviating her brief moment of stress, "Brad and Jason."

"Sorry about your first meeting," Jason said walking forward and shaking her hand. "We’re not ourselves wasted." He added a shrug for good measure.

"Speak for yourself," Brad said sending a quick jab in Jason’s direction.

Ramsey shook his head at his two roommates as he yanked the door back open to gesture for them to exit. Lexi followed them to the parking garage and once inside stared in shock. She knew Ramsey had his pretty little Mercedes, but there were several other cars inside as well. She wasn’t even sure why they kept them all there.

"The Jeep is Brad’s which we’ll be taking today," Ramsey instructed her seeing her shock and awe. "Jason loves his little red Porsche. He thinks it helps him pick up girls."

"It does," Jason whispered to her just before sliding into the front seat of the bright yellow Jeep.

"But then…is that…?" she opened the door to the Jeep, but couldn’t tear her eyes from the Italian sports car she had only ever seen on Entourage.

"Yeah you like that?" Brad asked popping the key in the ignition and revving the engine.

"Uh yeah," Ramsey said scratching the back of his head thoughtfully. "It’s a Maserati."

Lexi’s mouth dropped open. She knew how much that car cost. "Hell yea," Brad cried, "You should see the Ferrari he keeps in storage. It’s a damn tragedy not to drive that beaut around the city."

Lexi swiveled instantly catching Ramsey’s eye. She could tell he was embarrassed by the display of exorbitant wealth before her. He typically tried to tone it down for her, but she knew he had money. She just didn’t really know as much as she thought she did. She took a large gulp and slid into the back seat beside Ramsey still taking in the knowledge that he owned two cars that cost more than any house her parents had ever owned.

"Maybe if you’re lucky, he’ll take you out on the Ducati," Jason said turning around to look at her as Brad pulled out of the driveway.

"The what?" she asked unfamiliar with that name.

"Ducati, it’s a motorcycle," Ramsey informed her.

"You have a motorcycle?" Lexi asked a shiver of anticipation going down her back.

"Yeah if he can ever get the damn thing working," Brad interjected. "You should just take it to a mechanic."

Ramsey shrugged the comment off as if he’d heard it time and time again. "I like to work on it myself. Makes me know that it’s getting done right."

"You work on motorcycles?" she asked in disbelief. Her mind was spinning with all the new information about him. How had she ever thought he was just some stereotypical Country Clubber? There was obviously much more to Ramsey that she had no idea about. He was an enigma.

She tried to force out Bekah’s words, but she couldn’t help hearing them over and over.