Lexi jerked her head to the side and glared at Jack. “What?” he asked defensively, a slow smirk creeping onto his face.

“You forced me to be here,” she muttered angrily.

“Well, it convinced you didn’t it?”

“Did you not want to come?” Bekah asked crestfallen.

She swore under her breath. Then she remembered where she was and furiously bit her lip. Lexi could not believe this! Why would she want to be here? This was the most awkward situation she had ever been in, and then Jack had dragged her tooth and nail to the one place she absolutely despised. Of course she didn’t want to be here! It was just dumb of Bekah to think that any outsider would want to be trapped in their dumb old-timey Country Club. But even Lexi couldn’t blurt that out in front of complete strangers. So she just smiled and said, “Oh no, it’s fine.”

Jack chuckled under his breath. The laugh turned into a cough as Bekah turned her blue eyes on him. “Well, I’m glad you made the trip,” Bekah said cheerfully.

Before Lexi could embarrass herself further, several stuffy-looking waiters entered the room and began to fill beverage orders. Lexi sighed as she listened to all the requests for sweet tea. She had forgotten how addicted Southerners were to the stuff. If they could have sweet tea poured directly into their veins, they would do it. What was even more disgusting was how the women, all diet-addicted forty year olds pretending to be twenty-five, ordered their drinks with Splenda, as if the alternative sugar option wouldn’t give them cancer like everything else. Lexi ordered coffee.

“Sugar and milk?” the man questioned, staring down at her through his thick black-rimmed glasses over the bridge of his large nose.

“Uh, no, thank you. Black is fine.”

“Mmm hmm,” he said hotly and turned on his heel.

“Sorry I’m late everyone,” a familiar voice said pushing past the snotty waiter and over to their table.

Lexi heard the chair in front of her scuff against the carpeted floor before she had a chance to glance up. When she did, a short gasp escaped her tight set lips. Recognition swept over her. No. She didn’t want to believe it. This couldn’t really be happening to her. Really, she should have just expected obnoxious bathroom guy to be Bekah’s brother. She had been rude enough that she should have been more surprised not to see him. The smile he sent her way was practically unbearable. Life couldn’t get any worse.

“Oh, hey you,” the guy said when he noticed her.

“Hi,” she managed to say through her gritted teeth.

“You know each other?” Bekah asked, the surprise exceedingly evident in her voice. She had perked up even further than Lexi had thought possible. Bekah’s eyes glittered as she glanced between the two of them several times catching Ramsey’s gaze briefly. A look passed between them.

“I wouldn’t say that exactly,” Lexi responded. She sat back against the hard-backed chair and began pushing her hair behind her ear forcefully. Jack peered at her reaction curiously.

“Oh, don’t be like that. We go way back,” he said openly smirking.

“Oh yeah?” Lexi asked leaning forward and crossing her arms on the table. “Then what’s my name?” she asked, raising her eyebrows in a challenge.

A voice from the other end of the table cut off his response. “Ramsey, where were you?” a man Lexi recognized as his father asked in an obviously controlled neutral tone. Ramsey just shrugged, his eyes remaining on Lexi’s face. “I’m talking to you son,” he growled. The room fell silent.

“Yeah, I heard,” Ramsey said finally turning his attention to his father. “I got lost.”

Lexi could tell his father was boiling over. The only thing holding him back was the fact that he was in the midst of friends and colleagues. “You’ve lived here since you were a boy,” his father pointed out. “It’s not possible for you to get lost.”

“Sure it is. I got lost in a broom closet,” Ramsey said shrugging his shoulders as if this was common place. He also said the words as if it were suggestive of foul behavior. Behavior that should not be spoken of over afternoon brunch at the Country Club...or perhaps anywhere. “Anyway, can I get back to my conversation?”

“Ramsey, may I have a word with you in the hallway?” his father asked menacingly.

“I just got here, remember?” he said smirking. “Wouldn’t want to miss brunch.”

“That’s enough Ramsey,” Bekah whispered letting her hand rest gently on his forearm. Bekah glanced down to her father’s seat and smiled sweetly. The implication was clear. She was going to handle the situation. No need to embarrass the family over something simple, even if these things pushed her father over the edge. Bekah whispered something in Ramsey’s ear that he didn’t appear to be too pleased about, but he cooled off nonetheless.

Ramsey’s smirk returned as his focus shifted back to the matter at hand. “Your name, right,” he said scratching the back of his head thoughtfully.

“You said you know her, but you can’t remember her name?” Jack asked dubiously glancing between the two of them.

“You’re telling me that’s never happened to you before?” Ramsey asked raising his eyebrows.

Jack chortled at Ramsey’s implication then turned back to Lexi. “I was pretty sure you didn’t know anyone here.” He sounded concerned, even a bit jealous. She smiled despite herself.

“He doesn’t know me, Jack.”

“But you recognized him,” Bekah pointed out. She reached forward and took a sip of the ice water that was placed before her. “I mean, right? You did recognize him.”

“Well yes,” she finally conceded.

“So, you do know him?” Jack asked. Yep, she could definitely detect a hint of jealousy. She reveled in it for a moment.

“I’m not sure why it matters whether or not I know him. He’s just messing with you guys,” she pointed out. Ramsey snickered. Her eyes turned fiery. “What, may I ask, is so funny?”

“I’m sorry,” Ramsey said stifling another laugh. “Did you just say you guys?”

“And if I did?” Lexi snapped. She clenched her teeth. Here it goes again. She was being rude. Why was she being rude? Why was she letting this guy—Ramsey—bring out the Yankee asshole in her when she had sworn she was going to stay in Southern hospitality mode?

“Oh nothing,” he remarked glancing into Bekah’s blue eyes, an all-knowing look passing between them.

“What? What’s wrong with that?” Lexi demanded turning her eyes from one to the other.

“Oh, it’s nothing,” Bekah muttered at the same time as Ramsey began asking, “You... you’re just not from around here, are you?” His green eyes glittered with humor.

“She’s from New York,” Bekah said cheerfully filling in some information for her brother.

“Oh, a Yankee in our midst.”

“I’m not from New York,” she quickly corrected. This girl obviously knew nothing about her. Lexi figured, at least for now, that was probably for the better.

“Yeah, she went to college down here with me,” Jack interjected, not enjoying the fact that his girlfriend was providing details about Lexi to Ramsey...or anyone.

“So, where are you from then?” Ramsey asked, his interest spiking with her annoyance.

“I’m sorry. The investigation begins later. You’ll just have to wait your turn.” Lexi announced abruptly. Bekah’s face instantly turned a bright pink hue, and Jack, hoping to quiet Lexi, nudged her in the arm. Lexi turned towards Jack and shrugged. It’s not like he had told her that her reason for being here and everything surrounding the awkward circumstances was supposed to be a big secret.

Ramsey smiled but his eyes held suspicion. “Okay. Just let me know when you are open for an investigation, and I’ll be there.”

Lexi rolled her eyes catching his sexual undertone. “Whatever.”

“But I have one condition.”

“There are no conditions.”

“Well, I need to know your name first.”