Page 47 of Forever Finds Us
“He can’t stand her.”
“Oh right, it sure looks like he hates her,” I said miserably, watching as Gina leaned closer to Brand and brushed her lips against his cheek. To his credit, Brand didn’t react, but it still made me want to murder them both.
Tabitha shook her head. “He’s being professional. Gina is the lead architect in charge of the subsidy homes project Lee Construction is contracted to build in the spring.”
Really? Oh.
My face must’ve shown my irritation because Tabby Cat laughed. “They’re not together. I promise.”
“Yeah, but then why did he act like he didn’t even know me, like we haven’t—” Heat crawled up my neck and lit my face on fire. I was sure flames had burst into existence on my cheeks and a big, flashing text bubble had appeared above my head. It probably read: I’m having sex with Brand Lee, but I’m not good enough for him. Wisperites, discuss!
Tab didn’t flinch or react. She shrugged. “Brand doesn’t talk to me about his personal matters. We’re close, but he has firm boundaries about that kind of thing. Although, he’s loosened up a bit since he’s been back home. But I’m a very observant person. It’s part of what makes me so good at my job. I have to anticipate what my boss wants before he even knows he needs it.”
I raised my eyebrows. Sounded like a whole lot of boundary crossing to me.
“Not like that,” Tab said, and she swatted my hand on the table. “But I pay attention, and my keen observations tell me that Brand really dislikes Gina. You have to understand though. Brand has put his entire life into Lee Construction. He wouldn’t do or say anything to jeopardize his company, including saying no to Gina Scott.
“Especially now. He’s taken a big gamble, moving the company to Wisper. It’s a whole new ball game down here. New rules, new nuances, and new asses to kiss in order to win bids for jobs he wants. Gina is one of those asses. Or her bosses are.”
“How long did they date?” I asked as Brand and Gina Scott disappeared down the road. I leaned forward in my chair, craning my neck and hoping for a few more seconds of visibility, but they were all the way down by Franklin Street now.
“For a few months last year. Brand ended it.” Tab sipped her frothy, pea-green latte and licked the residual foam from her lip, and the investigator in me came out.
“Why?”
“Officially, I have no idea. Like I said, he doesn’t usually talk to me about that kind of thing. But unofficially?”
I rolled my eyes and nodded. Of course I wanted to know what she thought. “Unofficially, Brand and this Gina Scott broke up because…? Fill in the blank, please, Tabitha.”
“Because she’s a shallow asshole.”
Hm. I liked that answer.
“Go on.”
“Brand has a type.” She looked me up and down. “Or he used to, and Gina is it. I’ve only worked at Lee Construction for a year, so I wasn’t around before Gina, but from other employees, I learned that he’s always dated… mm, professional women. Not like you and me.”
“What?” How offensive! “You don’t think I’m professional?”
“No!” Tab rushed to say. “Of course I do. I meant, like, white-collar, architect, business-y kind of professional.”
“Oh,” I said, tapping my leg again. Okay, a tiny bit less offensive. “But you and I are nothin’ alike.”
“Really? You don’t think so?”
I shook my head. Tab was all seductress, Instagram Reel perfection, with a tiny frame, big boobs, sixty-watt smile, and I was… nerdy Roxi. Awkward, too tall, and too middle class for Brand. Okay fine, low, low middle class.
“You’re from Oklahoma. I’m from Missouri. Bible-Belt central and Tornado Alley. My guess is that you come from a small town and a big family. I have three brothers and a sister.”
“I have five sisters.”
She nodded. “Do your parents still go to church every Sunday morning and Wednesday evening?”
“How’d you guess?”
“’Cause mine still do too.”
“Okay, but people from small towns can still be CEOs.”
