An hour later, Marian appeared in the living room wearing a skirt and a red blouse. Lexi, who had been chatting with Billy—whom she lately only saw at breakfast—smiled as she watched her godmother go over to where Sean was.
The two of them talked briefly and hugged. Lexi smiled.
They heard the doorbell ring, and Billy promptly said he would answer it.
Danny and Shannon had arrived.
— Auntie Lexi! — Danny sang out, going over to her for a hug. — Wow! Mum, Auntie Lexi looks like that girl from the film you like.
Shannon laughed, going over to Lexi and explaining that Danny was referring to the film "Legally Blonde," which made Lexi burst out laughing as well. She enjoyed it when the Dumanis were around. Shannon and Alex always lightened the atmosphere.
— I hope that's a compliment, Danny, — Lexi said as the boy went to greet his surrogate grandmother with great enthusiasm.
— Listen, — Shannon touched her arm. — Dad and Alex send their apologies. They'll be a bit late because they're at an event.
Lexi frowned.
— Oh, what a shame.
— Wait, what?
Sean appeared behind Lexi, bringing a glass of wine for her and one for Shannon.
— He didn't tell me which event, Sean, — Shannon informed him. — But don't worry. They'll surely find a way to make it in time for dinner. They said not to touch their puddings.
Lexi continued to watch Sean; he seemed slightly bothered by the absence of the two Dumanis, and she could understand why. Sean wanted to re-establish the bonds.
Suddenly the doorbell rang, and this time, Sean went to answer it.
— Wait, — Shannon said suddenly. — What's that on your finger?
Lexi, who had been watching her fiancé, took a moment to realise. Shannon was looking at Lexi's left hand, completely puzzled.
— Is that an engagement ring?! — the beautiful woman asked, her brown eyes widening, her lips stretching into a smile. — And... Sean invited us to dinner here. Does that mean you and Sean...?
— You didn't know? I thought Uncle Ed and Alex had told you, — Lexi replied with a rather embarrassed smile.
Shannon laughed and pulled Lexi's hand to get a better look at the ring.
— How crazy! No, they didn't tell me, — Shannon said, still marvelling at the piece. — I suppose I'm the only one at this party who didn't know.
— Don't feel bad, S., — Billy appeared, putting an arm around each of the women's shoulders. — I live in this bloody house, and no one tells me anything.
Lexi rolled her eyes.
— You'd know if you'd at least stayed home these past few days, — Lexi grumbled. — I only ever see you at breakfast.
— Oh, you and Sean didn't notice, but I was in the living room when you two went upstairs in the middle of the night, kissing and stumbling, — Billy informed her. — By the way, I collected your clothes from the kitchen. They're in my room. Thank me later. If Marian had seen that...
Lexi's cheeks turned very pink, and she poked her friend in the ribs, though she laughed along with Shannon.
She noticed Jacqueline's presence. She was walking towards the trio to greet Shannon.
— Hi, Shannon.
— Jac!
The two hugged, of course. They had always gotten along very well and were close friends, being of similar ages and having grown up covering for each other.
YOU ARE READING
E M P I R E
Romance"You could be a king. You could have an empire" Lexi and Sean had known each other since childhood and had lived a story for years that involved love, family, business, kisses and guns. When life's turns put both couple together, they try to figur...
