The Bachelor And The Beauty Queen

The niece in question practically skipped over toward her two uncles before skidding to a halt when Lexi stood up. Things began to click in Lexi’s mind. Nate had come into the boutique followed by an entourage of women and their daughters. With him had been Philly and another girl. During the chaos, Kimber Reyes had appeared to be in the middle of an argument with someone on the phone. Lexi recalled the girl being close to tears and that she had allowed her to use the private bathroom in the loft—where the dress was kept. Given the teenager’s wide, deer-in-the-headlights stare and the way her barbaric uncle had overreacted, Lexi planned on keeping Kimber’s secret—for now.

“Kimber,” Stephen said, his eyes steady on Lexi, “you remember Lexi Pendergrass.”

Kimber chewed nervously on her gum and avoided eye contact with everyone. Instead she studied her canvas-covered feet. “Um, yeah, hi,” she said, tugging a strand of hair behind her ear.

“Hi, Kimber.” Lexi tried to keep her voice cheerful. Stephen stood behind Kimber with his arms folded across his judgmental chest. Screams from kids on death-defying rides filled in the awkward silence.

“Um, Uncle Nate, can me and Marvin get on the Ferris wheel?”

“Marvin and I,” Stephen corrected. Lexi mentally rolled her eyes. Of course he’d correct the child. The boy named Marvin gulped.

Kimber cocked her head to the side. “You want to go on the Ferris wheel with Marvin?”

“Girl, go,” Nate growled. “Be back in time for the pageant.”

Kimber took off, grabbing Marvin’s hand and dragging him away with her. Lexi shook her head and smiled, watching the two run off.

Her attention was captured by Stephen clearing his throat. “Well?”

“Well, what?” she asked him.

“Does seeing her bring back any memories for you?” Stephen asked. He stepped close to her, toe-to-toe. His dark eyes searched hers for an answer she did not want to give. Lexi did not waver. She folded her arms across her bibbed top and raised one brow, challenging him.

“What’s going on here?” asked Nate.

Behind them, someone sounded a cowbell. Lexi cringed at the noise. “Well, there’s the cue for me to get over to the judging table. I’ll see you all around.” Lexi smiled sweetly at Philly, waving toward her. “Don’t forget—have fun this evening.” Before leaving, she nodded at Nate, then purposely dropped her smile at Stephen.

A lot of cupcake dresses from Grits and Glam Gowns adorned the stage. The above-the-knee dresses with the layers of tulle were the bestsellers. The tulle material helped poof them out at the hem. The bigger the better and these dresses sold quickly.

Philly definitely stood out in her peach-colored OOAK, as Lexi had dubbed the garment. The one-of-a-kind dress stopped above the knees and was fluffed out with layers of tulle and stones. Andrew had worked hard and today it paid off. Nate had chosen the right color for his niece to represent the festival, as well as the state symbol. What did Stephen think?

Settling her nerves, Lexi took a seat next to the judges’ table beside one of Southwood’s first ladies, Mrs. Ramona Ramsey. Her daughter, Rosalind, had attended Cypress Boarding School for Girls with Lexi and was one of her best friends in the world. The Ramseys had encouraged Lexi to open up her boutique downtown.

“Stop turning around, dear,” Mrs. Ramona scolded, tilting her head to the side.

“Was I?” Lexi realized when her body relaxed that she had been twisting around.

Mrs. Ramona nodded her head and patted Lexi’s denim-clad thigh. “Who is the young man?”

“Who said I was staring at a man?”

“Because the stage has been filled with all types of gorgeous gowns and you have yet to coo over any of them,” Mrs. Ramona noted.

Lexi grinned. “Because I created most of them,” she replied with confidence. “But if you must know, there is a gentleman back there who accused me of selling something to his niece, and I did not.”

“Well, if you were honest, what’s the problem?”

“I don’t know.” Lexi shrugged. “It doesn’t sit well with me he thinks so little of me.”

Ramona Ramsey stopped fanning herself. “Since when do you, the Southern Hellion, care what other people think of you?”

The beauty walk for the young girls of the Peach Blossom began, and Lexi smiled and clapped for all those who attended her workshops. The Peach Blossom Pageant, held every year, was made up of girls from all four local counties. Not every parent took their child to a pageant coach, and Lexi respected and understood, but she easily picked out the girls who did not have any training. She also noticed the beauty walks of some girls whose parents clearly took them up to Atlanta for some coaching. The judges were going to have a hard time here. Things always took a turn during the talent portion.

The other judges were Mrs. Beaumont, Lexi’s retired Sunday school teacher; a veterinarian from the nearby town Samaritan; and a teacher from Peachville. From peering over everyone’s shoulders, Lexi guessed the judges gave tens to their hometown heroes. But after the talent completion, they were all on the same page. Every time the judges smiled and nodded at Philly Reyes singing on stage, Lexi cast a glance over her shoulder to catch Stephen Reyes clenching his powerful jaws together.

“So that’s him?”

Lexi turned her attention to her best friend’s mother and accepted the napkin-covered plate she handed her. Mrs. Ramona blinked aimlessly at Stephen.

“Yes.”

“Well, he is hot, if you like the type.” Mrs. Ramona shrugged her shoulders.

Afraid he was her type, Lexi took one last glance over her shoulder. Stephen returned the glance, his dark eyes frowning toward her. She dismissed the cold chill and turned her attention back to the stage. As the judges took a break to deliberate and grab a bite to eat, the contestants were allowed to wander off. Philly stayed on stage with a few girls from the workshop and played ring-around-the-rosy. She clearly stood out from the rest. She sported a natural smile and knew how to work the judges, even when the spotlight wasn’t on her.

“I am not shallow,” Lexi said. “I care more about a man’s character than his appearance.”

“Right,” Mrs. Ramona drawled out. “How long has it been since you went on a date?”

A date? What was a date? Where a man came to her house to pick her up in his vehicle and took her to dinner and a show without expecting anything? Since the falling-out with her parents, she had no one setting her up on blind dates. Who would have thought she’d miss those not-so-random meetings her mother used to arrange?

Single men without children did not come into her shop—well, not every day, she thought, refusing to cast another glance in Stephen’s direction. To get out and find a date for herself took too much effort. After working at the shop, doing alterations, making calls and critiques, or whatever her daily routine called for, she was too tired. Thankfully, her neurotic brides had already picked up their dresses for the June weddings. Dealing with them was a job all in itself.

Lexi sighed sadly and lifted the paper napkin. She smiled at the powdered-sugar-covered elephant ear and mentally tacked on another thirty minutes for her workout regime. “A while.”

“I understand, but you need to make time, Lexi.” Mrs. Ramsey gave a sad sigh. “Now, what are we going to do about McHottie?”

Caught off guard, Lexi inhaled a bit of the confectioners’ sugar and began to cough. “Who?”

Mrs. Ramona jutted her chin in the direction of Stephen Reyes. “Him.”

“He’s the uncle of a potential client,” Lexi said as if that explained everything.

“Nathaniel Reyes filled out the paperwork for Philly as her guardian, not McHottie. So there’s your opening, dear.”

She thought about Stephen’s pending sale on the property next door to her shop. Hell-bent on avenging his niece’s mishap, he clearly planned on being a daily bane of Lexi’s existence. Recalling his pettiness reminded Lexi of the low score he’d earned in congeniality. No amount of hotness would bring his score up from such an act. This was a man to hate, not desire. Pondering her decision, Lexi cast one last glance over her shoulder before vowing not look at him ever again. He met her eyes with a raised brow and a smug smirk across his devilishly handsome face.

By the end of the afternoon, thirteen girls stood on the stage. The three judges never turned to Lexi for her input. The votes were unanimous and their scorecards all matched. In with a group of other girls ranging from five to thirteen, Philly stood perfectly still in front of the smaller trophies she’d already won—most photogenic, best walk and best face. The poor girl’s arm had to be sore from constantly raising her hand when her name was called. No one seemed surprised when little Philly Reyes won the overall title. Lexi’s services, part of the package for the winner, allowed her to stand onstage with Philly.

Team Reyes approached for a photograph. Nate stood on one side of her with Philly in his arms; due to their height, Lexi and Stephen were forced to stand together. Bulbs flashed, blinding them. Through it all, Lexi smiled and gritted her teeth.

“Well, neighbor, looks like I’ll be spending more time than you thought with at least one of your nieces.”

* * *

Stephen Reyes hated to lose.

He hated being proven wrong more. The tables of revenge had turned on him and karma bit him hard. He watched his family circle around Lexi Pendergrass as if she were a celebrity. Nate nearly tripped over his tongue.