Page 17 of Love is Fake

Lennox looks at me as if I’m some kind of foreign species, probably because he’s not used to being challenged by anyone other than the opposing team on game day.

“No.” It’s the monosyllabic answer I’m expecting, but the gall of the man is still astonishing.

Arrogance, thy name is Lennox Gray.

I change tack. “My treatment table was in that car!”

“You won’t need it,” he says as if that were the point I was making. “We have an in-house massage suite next to the gym. Dec didn’t show you around?”

I shake my head. “I guess he was a little busy arguing withyou.”

Lennox’s eyes flare at my back-chat and I wonder if I’ve just talked myself out of a job barely 5 minutes into the first day when a deep chuckle catches my attention.

Peering around Lennox’s huge frame, I see the older man he was talking to laughing at our exchange.

“I like this one, Lennox.” The Hispanic man winks at Lennox before setting his sights back on me. “Miguel,encantado,” he says and reaches his hand out to shake mine, smiling kindly at me. I return the gesture without hesitation, even though it means having to negotiate the heavyweight binder with one hand.

Although they look nothing alike, something in Miguel’s gentle demeanor reminds me of my dad. The feeling is odd, but comforting nonetheless.

“Izzy,” I respond, “pleased to meet you.”

“And what have you done, Lennox, to make this lovely woman so angry?” Miguel arches a brow as he rounds on his boss.

I half-expect Lennox to snap at Miguel, like he seems to do with everyone else. Instead he just rolls his eyes at the older man, huffing. “Why do you assume I’m to blame? Maybe Isabella here has just woken up on the wrong side of bed.”

I can practically feel the steam start to pour out of my ears when Miguel speaks, saving me from whatever verbal beat-down I was about to lay onto my new boss.

“And what is it you do, Izzy?” There’s genuine interest in his eyes as he asks the question, making it a pleasure to answer, except I don’t quite get the chance, though.

“She’s my physical therapist-” Lennox starts. I put up a hand, wanting the ball back in my field. God knows, left up to him, Lennox will find a way to drain the life out of the occupation I’ve worked my ass off to perfect.

“I’m a physical therapist,” I tell him, giving him all of my attention and Lennox none. “I’m here to help Mr. Gray get back to full health, if he’ll let me.”

Miguel snorts at my thinly concealed dig at Lennox.

“Beautifulandbright.” He looks between me and the immovable mountain of a man next to us and drops his voice as if he’s telling me a secret. “I think you’ll be very good for him.” He winks broadly, suggesting he’s not just talking about repairing Lennox’s knee and I feel my cheeks heat.

Lennox clearly hasn’t missed Miguel’s tone, looking distinctly uncomfortable, which makes my own embarrassment totally worthwhile. Anything that’ll knock Lennox down a peg or two to the level of us mere mortals is a boon in my opinion.

“Stop flirting with her, Miguel, unless you want Maria to hear about it.” Lennox gives the older man a pointed look and Miguel lifts his hands in a gesture of innocence.

“My wife,” Miguel confides in me, patting me on the hand like an old friend. “And she would love to meet you. You come for lunch one day, yes?”

He’s so sincere, it’s as if I can feel the warmth radiating off of him. “I’d love to -,” I start before Lennox interrupts.

“We don’t know how long Isabella is going to be with us for.”

Ouch. Talk about raining on a parade. As if I needed any reminding that I’m here on a trial basis.

“Ah, that is a shame.” Miguel shakes his head, looking curiously between the two of us glowering at each other, clearly picking up on the tension. “But if you find yourself staying, it’s an open invitation.”

Miguel gives me a friendly smile before heading back to his plants and I find myself wishing he’d stay if only to provide a distraction from the impossible man in front of me.

“He seems nice,” I offer in a bid to break the silence.

“Miguel’s the best,” Lennox agrees quietly. “He and Maria like to tell me they’re my New York family.” He smiles fondly as he looks in the direction the older man has gone.

The softness in his expression is something I haven’t seen before and it looks good on him, just like everything else.

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