Deception (Carrington Hill Investigations Book 1) (7 page)

“What the hell?”
Garrett growled.

She pointed to the spray paint on her walls that read
,
Die Bitch.
“My money’s on Constanza’s goons.”

Sara put her arm around
Lexi’s shoulders. “Did you have anything here they could have found that would have given away your identity?”

She shook her head. “No, I shred everything
, and I don’t keep pictures here. They’re all at the other house.” Her brows dipped as she moved to her room. The black wig she’d worn was pinned to the wall with one of her kitchen knives. Lexi moved into the bathroom and stood on her toilet and pushed in the air vent. She was too short to see inside, so she ran her fingers around the surface until she found what she was looking for. She pulled the duffel bag down and let out a breath.

Sara wa
s already on her cell, calling her dad. The director would have someone at her house in less than ten minutes. Ethan who also made a call clicked end on his phone and clipped it to his belt. She grabbed Ethan by the arm. “We’ve got to go.”

He dug in his feet. “Shouldn’t we wait until the FBI shows up?”

She pulled him off to the side and whispered, “They’re going to want to know why you’re here, and I’d rather not explain. Not yet.”

He nodded as he followed behind her.

“Who did you call?”

Ethan c
leared his throat. “Trip.” He hurried to add more when she gave him a look. “I told him you were all right.”

She shook her head and rolled her eyes. “We’ve got to hurry if we’re going to make it in time for the party
, and we’ve got one more stop to make.”

Garrett
and Sara followed behind them; she knew each of them was scanning the area for any threats or possible attacks. She was in good hands, and it didn’t hurt that she had the best of the best at her back. She drove back to the other side of town and pulled up at the guard gate. “The SUV is with me.”

He nodded “Yes, ma’am.”

Ethan clucked his tongue. “You’re just full of all kinds of surprises.”

She pulled up in front of the mansion and got out of the car and was met by Jonathan. She glanced back at the gate. “Does he always announce when I’m here?”

He smiled and held the door open for her. “Of course, he does, Ms. Carrington…or is it now officially Hathaway?”

“Jonathan, this is Ethan
; he’s Trip’s younger brother.”

“Carrington?”
Ethan’s mouth parted. “As in
the
Carrington?”

She held out her hand to him
, and he shook it. “Alexandria Carrington. It’s nice to meet you.”

Ethan threw his head back and laughed a deep guttural laugh. He dropped her hand. “Did he know this when he proposed?”

She shook her head.

He chuckled again. “And everyone thinks he’s the smart one of the bunch.”

Jonathan patted him on the back as he approached. “He talked her into marriage. I would say that counts for something.”

Lexi crossed her arms over her chest. Yeah, it counted for something al
l right. It proved just how determined he was. “We’ll only be a minute. I need to grab some of my clothes.” She turned back to Jonathan. “Will you entertain them for me?”

Jo
nathan offered his arm to Sara, and she took it. “There’s nothing I would love more.”

Lexi
took the stairs two at a time and hollered over her shoulder. “No stories about me.”

She walked into her room
, pulled out one of her suitcases, and started grabbing clothes out of her closet and shoes from the rack. She had the latest styles of everything, always being prepared for whatever life throws her way; an impromptu board meeting or even a visit to her attorney’s office. She was always ready to dress the part, and she was thankful for that small miracle today. She moved to her panty drawer and grabbed an armful of all of her favorites, the one splurge she’d allowed herself to keep. She fingered the cup of the bra where it was slit. This was her hiding spot, where Catherine and Sara would look should anything happen to her. She had a majority of the lingerie back at her apartment, but kept some of her special ones here at this house, just in case she needed them. She dropped a handful of the silk and satin in her suitcase then went to the bathroom and carried out her cosmetic bag and rollers. She threw them in the bag too. She zipped it and went back into her closet and pulled out the garment bag hanging in the back.

She carried the suitcase and
bag down to the bottom of the stairs and went in search of her friends and, now, family. She heard the laughter in the kitchen and pushed through the swinging doors. “Jonathan, you didn’t pull out the photo albums, did you?”

Ethan’s face reddened when she stopped at the counter. “
You, dear sister, were a hellion, weren’t you?”

Lexi placed a
hand on her hip and sent a disapproving look toward her butler and friend. “I said no stories!”

Ethan pushed off the stool. “Trip
definitely needs to meet Jonathan.”

She disagreed
. There was no need for the two of them to meet. If she had her way, Trip wouldn’t be part of her life for long.

Lexi
rolled her neck to relieve the stress and walked back out into the foyer. Ethan grabbed her suitcase, and she grabbed the garment bag. Jonathan walked them out and pulled her into a hug.

“
Constanza’s goons broke into the apartment. They didn’t find anything, but just to be on the safe side, I want you to ramp up security.”

He nodded. “Maybe you should stay here and have Mr. Hathaway join you.”

She rubbed the old man’s arm. “I’ll be fine, Jonathan. If not, you know what to do.”

Ethan watched her with curiosity before he slid into the passenger seat.
She got in the driver’s side. He didn’t joke about anything Jonathan had told them. “You must really love her.” She glanced in his direction as she pulled through the gate. “Catherine.”

She nodded. “Ethan
, we’re more than just colleagues; she’s my best friend.” She paused. “She and Sara are the only family I’ve got.” After the words left her lips, she thought back to the conversation she’d had with Trip. She would have manipulated everyone to find Catherine. She would have done the exact same thing that Trip had done.   

He grinned. “Not anymore
.”

Lexi pulled up to the gate
s guarding the Hathaway grounds and punched in the code that Ethan rattled off. She drove into the garage and parked in the same spot, then opened the back door to grab her garment bag and black duffel bag as Ethan pulled the suitcase out of the trunk.

Trip stood
in the doorway of the house. She didn’t miss the questioning gaze that passed between the brothers. She paled, keenly aware of the scrutiny in his eyes as he stalked toward her. When he reached her, it seemed his features shifted to reflect concern.
What the hell was that?
He wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close. “Are you okay?”

She leaned back in his arms
, completely unfamiliar with a man’s concern. It dawned on her that she couldn’t remember the last time a male cared enough to ask. “I’m fine, Trip.”

Ethan patted him on the back
in passing. “Why the show, big brother, when you don’t have an audience?”

Exactly her thoughts
. Finally someone was on the same page with her. She took comfort that Ethan had voiced it for her.

Trip raised his brow. “I was worried
about my wife, Ethan. I’m sure you know how that feels.”

Ethan halfheartedly
chuckled as he lugged her suitcase up the garage stairs. He was walking out of the room she shared with Trip as they walked in.

Ethan managed to get one last dig in before he left.
“I still can’t get over the fact that you didn’t know who she was when you proposed, did ya?”

That question
confirmed it. Lexi and Ethan would turn out to be great friends. He turned the corner, and his full-body laugh could be heard all the way down the hall. She dropped her bags by the closet, plopped down on the bed, and fell backward, sinking into the divine feel of the Egyptian comforter. She’d had a long day, and the last thing she wanted to do was to meet the rest of his family. She pushed up on her elbows. “Can’t we call off the reception? Maybe have it tomorrow instead, or better yet, we can have a divorce party when it’s all over.”

He sat in the chair at the end of the bed
, completely ignoring her remark. “Who’s after you, Lexi? Who broke into your apartment?”

She
let out a long, exhausted sigh and wondered if he’d end up going cave man on her. “Anyone and everyone I’ve ever busted.” She rolled over on her side and propped her hand on her cheek. “But the break-in was Constanza’s guys. They pinned my black wig to the wall and spray painted my walls.” She slid off the bed. “And his threat the other day was another dead giveaway.”

It didn’t look like she
could get out of the meeting with the folks; she figured she had to start getting ready. She grabbed everything she needed and turned toward Trip, juggling her armful of stuff. “Hope you don’t mind, I’m taking over the bathroom.”

“What’s mine is yours, Lexi.”
His brow rose and he frowned as if it was just hitting him that they were indeed married.

“You say the sweetest things.” She blew him a fake kiss
then raised her brow, wondering if the investigation lasted more than a week if he might get used to her sense of humor, and her wild ideas, and bad attitude. She shook her head. Nah, she doubted it.

He stood and walked to the door. “You’ve still got a couple of hours before everyone starts to arrive.”

She glanced down at her watch and felt her eyes bug out of her head. She was going to need every minute she had. It wasn’t as if she got dressed up every day. Heck, she barely wore makeup unless her assignment was to pose as a streetwalker, and even then, someone else put it on for her.

He smiled. “I’ll be back in a little bit to bring you something to eat.”

“Thanks, I’m starving.” She couldn’t remember the last time she’d sat down to a good meal that she hadn’t cooked in a microwave.

He nodded
, leaving her with nothing but her thoughts, and that was a dangerous place to be. She reached into her bra and pulled out the memory stick and glanced around the room. She didn’t know his place. She didn’t know if there were security cameras or where the good hiding spots were, so she shoved it inside her favorite bra, the one that she’d be wearing tonight as she put on her best performance yet, hoping she remembered which fork she should use first and the other manners her mother had taught her.

True to his word, Trip
brought her a snack about an hour later and sat down with her to eat it. He disappeared shortly thereafter leaving her alone to continue getting ready, putting makeup on while she waited on her curlers. She grabbed one of the cocktail dresses from the garment bag and dragged it into the bathroom with her. She hated getting dressed up. She was always more comfortable in her preferred outfit of choice, T-shirt and jeans with gun holsters somewhere on her body.

She shoved the memory stick into
the compartment of her bra and emerged from the bathroom with half an hour to spare to find Trip sitting in a chair reading papers. He lowered the report and stood. His hungry stare sent her heart racing. His mouth parted as his gaze travelled down the rest of her body, inch by agonizing inch, as if he were devouring her. Seconds ticked by, though they seemed like minutes, until his gaze met hers again. “You look stunning.”

She twirled for him. “You don’t think I look like a hooker?
”

“You’re
beautiful.” He picked up a box from the table and stepped toward her as he opened the lid. “I know we were pressed for time before, but I still wanted to do things right.”

He pulled a
ring out of the box and slid the unfamiliar white gold band onto her finger. If she had to guess, the large diamond in the middle was about three carats, flanked by two more; though they were at least a carat each. “What, no confessions of undying love?”

He lifted an
amused brow. “Maybe next time. You’re absolutely beautiful. May I kiss you?”

Just breath
e
, she reminded herself.
It’s all smoke and mirrors, and besides, he probably compliments all of his women the same way
. He wrapped his arms around her. The look in his eyes was anything but innocent. Damn, she was in trouble.

“You’ve never asked before
. Why start now?” She placed her palms on his chest as he pulled her closer. His firm lips met hers, and his touch was gentle. He pulled back and held out his elbow. She hid the disappointment rolling through her body. He was capable of so much more than the peck he’d just given her. She linked her arm through his.

“I don’t remember if I told you, but thank you for helping us.”

“Thanks for letting me,” she said. His reminder cleared her head. It wasn’t as though she’d forgotten why she was there, but damn, his closeness screwed with her body and mind. All thoughts of this being anything more than it was instantly vanished.

T
hey reached the landing at the top of the stairs, and she glanced down. About thirty people waited below, talking in small groups. The women were wearing cocktail dresses, the men in suits. “I thought it was just family.”

He
lifted her palm and kissed her knuckles before placing her hand back in the crook of his arm and led her down the stairs. “And a few key players in the company. I thought we’d knock them all out at once.”

There was an edge
to his voice, as if he were saying, “hey, one of these ‘key players’ will soon find their butts in jail, all compliments of my new wife.” She smiled the best smile she could muster, considering the butterflies in her stomach were having a field day. Her gaze gravitated toward the only person she knew in the room. She almost stumbled when she saw a woman on his arm. She let Trip lead her over to the seemingly happy couple. She had to bite her tongue not to tear a new asshole into the cheating bastard. She struggled to keep from balling her fist and knocking Ethan on his ass.

“Lexi, I’d like you to meet…”
Trip was interrupted.

Ethan
appeared beside her and pointed to his twin. “This is Emmitt, my twin, and this is Celia, his wife.” Emmitt, well, what could she really say? The man looked just like Ethan. Tall, dark, and handsome was hardcoded into their DNA. Celia gave Lexi a friendly smile with her perfectly painted lips. She wondered if she was being too critical. Maybe she was. Only time would tell as she got to know the in-laws.

“Emmitt
and Celia both head up my marketing department,” Trip explained. “And this is Lexi Carrington…” He looked down at her, and the familiar sparkle flared in his eyes as he winked. “… my wife.”

Emmitt glanced from Ethan to Trip and then to her. He cleared his throat and held out his hand. “
Wow, this is a surprise. It’s a pleasure to meet you, and I guess congratulations are in order.”

Celia held out her hand and shook
Lexi’s. “Welcome to the family. If you need anything, anything at all, please don’t hesitate to give me a call.”

Lexi smiled
. “Thank you, that’s very kind. I may just take you up on your offer.”

Moments later they were joined by an older couple. Trip looked just like
a younger version of his father. His mother had regal gray hair and was dressed in a long silver gown. Diamonds covered her ears, neck, wrist, and fingers. She raised one of her perfectly plucked brows and gave Lexi a look of almost disdain. His mother didn’t hide the obvious disliked she’d developed before Lexi had even opened her mouth. Lexi squeezed Trip’s arm, realizing she had completely forgotten to ask exactly who was in on this game.

“Trip
, I was hoping you’d bring Margaritte as your date.” Her southern accent didn’t shock Lexi, but her rudeness did.

“Lexi this is my mother Lillian Hathaway.” Trip said.

Lexi held out her hand. “Lexi Carrington. It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Hathaway.”

Lillian glanced down at the extended hand and dismissed Lexi
, returning her gaze to Trip. Lexi let her hand drop to her side.

Trip leaned into her. “Don’t you mean Lexi Hathaway?”
Lexi’s face heated. She’d already forgotten her name. How embarrassing was that?

“Mother, you’re being rude to my
wife
and your new daughter-in-law.”

Lillian raised a hand to he
r chest and gasped, making Lexi want to laugh, but she refrained, no matter how much she was enjoying the woman’s shock. His mom was an actress all right. She fanned her flushed face as if Trip’s news were going to send her to an early grave.

“You got married
?” She glanced down at Lexi’s stomach, and without even lowering her voice, she spoke words Lexi never thought she’d hear. “Is she pregnant?”

Lexi’s
mouth parted as fire raced through her veins. If the old bat wanted to play, then game on. Trip placed his arm around Lexi’s waist. “No mother. I met her jogging on the beach, and it was love at first sight.”

Lillian crossed her arms over her chest and
raised her brow. “I bet it was.”

“Mother….”
he said, his tone holding a hint of warning. “I knew she was the one when I saw her. It took me days to convince her that I was the one for her. But I eventually won her over, didn’t I, honey?”

Lexi turned in his arms and placed a palm on his chest. “He wo
uldn’t take no for an answer. I tried to tell him it was just great sex…but he insisted it was love and finally talked me into the dreaded M-word.”

Trip was having a much harder time keeping a straight face. He gave her a lopsided grin.
His eyes crinkled at the corners.
One point for Lexi
, she thought vindictively.

Lexi held back her grin. “We plan on having lots and lots of babies
. Isn’t that right, tiger?” She kissed his lips before leaning toward his mother and feigning a whisper. “He just can’t keep his hands off me.” She straightened. “It’s okay if the little darlins’ call you Grams, right?”

Score two, three and four
, Lexi thought smugly.

Celia practically choked on her drink and raised a hand to cover her mouth.

Trips father, laughed and was much more pleasant to deal with. He pulled her in for a hug. “Welcome to the family, Lexi.” He placed his hand on the small of Lillian’s back. “I hope you’re getting settled in.”

She smiled
, remembering that Trip had told her that Catherine was set to meet Trip and his father, Charles with the update when she’d went missing. His father was in on the charade. “I’m starting to learn my way around.”

Lillian clasped her hands in front of her. “What is it you do
, dear? Are you just planning on being a housewife?”

“Lillian…” Charles said
, using a stern voice.

She
gave Charles an appalled look. “What, dear? It’s a valid question. I just want to know if she plans to live on Trip’s money or if she has a profession… besides gold digger.”

Okay, Grams ha
d two points and was catching on quick. Maybe Lexi had underestimated the old woman.