Page 14 of Built to Last

It was super sexy. He looked at me and asked if I trusted him and I said no, and he winked and suddenly I was leaning back and he was holding me. My heart did this weird flip-flop thing. But my leg around his does not constitute humping.

Even if I kind of wanted it to.

“I thought they hated each other.” Darnell blatantly ignores me.

This is how we gossip. In front of each other. No keeping the weird, awkward stuff behind the backs. Nope. We put it all out there for all our friends to see.

Ivy’s head shakes as she picks up another… It has a fancy name, but it’s a pig in a blanket. “No. She hated him because he thought she was hot and therefore couldn’t possibly spend her life in a hard hat.”

“Uh, not how that went down.” I mean a little. But I wasn’t upset with him for thinking I’m hot. “He tried to get me fired.”

“Are we on this again?” Luca slides in behind his bride. “Darling, did he ever actually talk to you about firing Harper? Or was it something he said to his brother when he didn’t realize everyone could hear him? Sorry, I have to be on Reid’s side in this. We both know the pain. I once talked to my aunt about not liking the pear tarts a certain German politician served and there was a reporter at the restaurant. It caused an international incident.”

Being royal must be hard.

Anika leans back against her husband, a dreamy smile on her face. “He never mentioned it beyond apologizing for causing trouble. And he sent a lovely bouquet to my mom’s place.”

At least I got cookies. Flowers die. Cookies are forever. That’s what my mom says. They’ll be on my hips forever, and then how will I get a husband? I might have mommy issues.

“Anyway, we talked and now we’re getting to know each other,” I explain.

Five pairs of eyes stare at me knowingly.

“Not in a biblical sense,” I shoot back. I look to Luca, who said something I have questions about. “Did you know Reid before Ani hired him?”

“Yes. I met him and his brother years ago. He did some work for people I know in London and then helped us out with some projects after the flood,” Luca admits. “He moves in some of the same circles. We’re not close, but I’ve met him several times. He’s dated a couple of women I know.”

Oh, I want that gossip. I know I shouldn’t. I know it’s a slippery slope, but I can’t help myself. I’m right back to where I was the first time I saw him. Well, not exactly, but I’m definitely back to being interested in the man. “Really? What kind of a woman does he like?”

Luca suddenly finds his wife’s hair endlessly fascinating. “Very much like uhm…what I mean to say is… His relationships are somewhat complex. At least his last one certainly was. He tends to like…”

“Bitches.” Anika nods her head and puts it out there. “He’s good at finding the ones who are super sweet to him and mean to everyone else. Or at least that’s what Jeremiah told me. We had lunch a couple of days ago and I asked. Because I still think you would be a cute couple.”

I groan. This is precisely why I should have kept my curiosity to myself. My friends have spent way too much time with Lydia. They think they’re matchmakers. “Guys, it’s not happening. Well, the couple thing isn’t happening, but I have to admit, I might not mind spending more time with him. But like you said, I’m not his type.”

I glance toward the bar, and he’s talking to a woman. Or rather she’s talking to him. He’s holding two glasses of whiskey and obviously trying to get away. The woman is roughly my age and dressed to kill in a slinky black dress and five-inch heels. She’s pretty but she’s got a definite pick-me vibe going. I know because I recognize her. I heard her talking at lunch about how she couldn’t understand why the king would choose an American, and a mouthy one at that. Anika, it seems, isn’t demure enough, isn’t willing to defer to her husband the way a good woman should. It was obvious she was a much better catch, but Luca got tempted by American television.

The good news is Reid does not seem at all interested. He seems wary, trying to back up though making it look like he’s not trying to back up.

“Oh, that one doesn’t like you, Ani.” Ivy sat by me at the luncheon. She heard it all, too. “I guess she’s decided to change directions since Luca actually went through with the wedding.”

“Why wouldn’t I go through with the wedding?” Luca asks, a confused expression on his face. “I’m surprised at all the press surrounding us. They’re very negative.”

Ani turns and gives her new husband a grin. “Babe, we met on the set of a reality dating show. They are not known for long-lasting marriages. More than half the couples aren’t together by the time the show airs. They have their reasons to be suspicious. Also, it sells papers and brings in viewers. There were definitely rumors out there that we did this all for press and would break up right before the wedding. And then there are the people who think I’m using you. I’ve been called a gold digger more times than I can count.”

Luca huffs. “Oh, well, then they do not know the state of my wealth.” He puts a hand on his wife’s cheek, cupping it and looking adoringly into her eyes. “They don’t know that you’re the one who will save an entire country with your brilliance. I’m the gold digger. I’m the one who found the real treasure.”

Ivy and I exchange looks. Because…I mean, it’s a lot of mushy stuff. In this Ivy and I are in synch. I almost snort though when I see Heath staring at them indulgently.

Darnell shakes his head. “This is a messed-up group. And Harper,” he begins, gesturing toward the bar, “the man you are absolutely never going to be a couple with looks like he could use some help. It’s hard on some men to deal with aggressive women. Not me. I tell them in a loud voice to get back, temptress. Or I yell she tried to touch my no-no zone. It makes them think twice.”

I glance over and sure enough, that harpy of a Euro minor royal has Reid backed up against the wall where he’s trying to keep two glasses of whiskey in his hands while protecting his no-no zone. He’s not doing a good job of it. She’s got one hand on his chest and is way too close. I’m not sure what she thinks she’s doing. If the genders were reversed, every woman in the place would be stepping in to help, but as a society we tend to think men want all sexual attention all the time.

“I have to save him, don’t I?” I kind of want to save him. I’ll admit I don’t like seeing that woman put her hands on him, and it’s not merely about social justice.

“If you don’t, I will,” Ivy promises. I’m pretty sure her willingness is about social justice. She worked in tech for like a thousand years and understands what it means to be vulnerable. “It’s been a while since I put someone in their place. Or I could send CeCe after her. But then I would have to save him from CeCe. She calls them Hot Designer and Gay Designer. The fact that they both get an adjective means she’s practically in love.”

The last thing this wedding needs is CeCe in a fight. Especially since Lydia and Diane are here, and they’ve started acting like CeCe’s backup. Heath’s grandmother and Ivy’s mom once told me they didn’t like to fight, but you have to back up your friends.

---