Page 118 of Beauty
“I am.” With a saucy wave of her hand, Lennox flips her bright pink hair.
The room erupts in laughter, and when we settle down, I promise Lex and Sara that I’ll design whatever they want.
“Me too?” Millie asks as she settles a hand on her small bump.
“Of course. A peachy pink color, right?”
She waggles her brows. “Gotta keep your brother happy.”
“Ew,” I groan.
Hannah cackles as she drops onto the couch.
“Speaking of brothers,” Lennox interjects. “My husband told me you spent some time with Noah while you were traveling.”
Every person in the room turns their attention on me, their scrutiny like a physical weight.
Keeping my expression neutral, I lift my chin. “Because Mav was sick and Hannah asked me to hang with Ollie, right?”
“Yup, she did me a solid.” Hannah nods and gives me a smile, though it quickly morphs into something more devious. “That one time. You decided to spend all thatextratime with him all on your own.”
Sara sits up, finally forcing her eyes open. “Oh, do tell. What did you do, exactly?”
I slump back against the couch. “Nothing. We went fishing. Did touristy things. Ollie told him how little I know about hockey, so he offered to help me so I don’t lose my job.”
And then we spent hours talking over FaceTime. About everything and absolutely nothing. The ease I feel when I’m with Noah is nonsensical. And the frequency with which I think about him when we’re not together? It’s downright ludicrous. So is how badly I crave him even after all this time.
I’d convinced myself that he wasn’t as perfect as my memories made him out to be. That the missed opportunity only added to the appeal. But I’m beginning to think he really was meant for me. That he’s my person. And I’m not sure what to do about that.
“You aren’t going to lose any job,” Liv says pointedly.
Unease swirls in my stomach. “Yeah, well, I don’t like not knowing things. Call it a personality defect.”
She lifts one shoulder. “I get it. And as a female CEO, I appreciate it. But your brothers wouldn’t have put you in this position if they didn’t think you could do it. You and I both know that.”
She’s right. And I know I can be useful. Still, the idea that any of my peers could think otherwise stings.
“Harry is single, though,” Lennox sings. “And oh so fine.”
“It’s the glasses,” Ava murmurs.
Hannah jackknifes up, her spine stick-straight. “Ava.”
Our redheaded friend’s cheeks go pink. “What?”
“He’s your husband’s best friend,” she shouts. “And your best friend’s brother.”
Lennox snickers. “Sounds like a trope you’d love.”
Ava eyes her best friend over her wineglass. “Sorry, but your brother is hot. I’d have to be dead not to notice. Every guy on that team is good-looking.”
“And off-limits,” I remind them all. “Because I’m their boss.”
Liv tilts her head thoughtfully. “Not exactly.”
“Right,” Millie chimes in, wearing a wicked grin. “And since when do you Langfields worry about inappropriate relationships?”
“Of course the woman who seduced her dad’s best friend would ask that,” Lennox teases.
