Page 69 of Beauty
I look down at him, taking in the dark circles beneath his eyes. Shit. It’s late. Before we leave, though, I have to saysomethingto Sienna. But when I look up again, she’s heading toward the door, her back turned.
“Where’s she going?” I ask Hannah, my heart lurching. It’s been six years, and those three damn words—Hi, I’m Noah—can’t be all I say to her when we finally find each other again. She needs to know I remember. She needs to…fuck, I don’t know.
Hannah tilts her head, her eyes narrowing. “Um, home, I’m guessing. It’s late. We should go too.’”
I nod. “Right. Did she say how she’s getting home?”
“What’s going on with you?” my sister demands, a hand on her hip.
“Nothing. She’s just a young woman, and it’s late. It’s called being gentlemanly. And she’s my best friend’s sister,” I add with a bit more force, because that fact still pisses me off. “I’d hope my friends would make sure you got home if I wasn’t around.”
Hannah’s lips twitch like she’s holding back a laugh. “Right, but her brothers are here. Right there, in fact.” She points to the group of them.
All three in attendance tonight are standing around, oblivious to their sister’s sudden departure.
“They don’t seem the least bit concerned. Probably because she’s a grown woman. A grown woman who no doubt has a driver waiting right outside the doors.” With every word she speaks, her tone creeps higher and her eyes shine brighter, like she sees right through me. “Becauseshe’s a freaking Langfield. You realize that, right? She’s a Langfield.And your boss.”
I blow out a breath, keeping my expression flat. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“Sure you don’t,” she singsongs.
“Uncle Danny,” Ollie yells, startling me.
Daniel steps into the room behind me, and my little guy darts for him.
Mav bounces in Hannah’s arms, reaching for his father.
Damn. I never thought I’d be so grateful for my idiot of a brother-in-law, but when Hannah’s focus turns to her husband, I’m granted a momentary reprieve.
It’s the break I need to remind myself to shut the fuck up and stop talking about Sienna. She’s fine. Like Hannah says, there’s no way she doesn’t have a driver waiting for her.
And there’s no way she wants me to check on her anyway.
But now that I have her number, the dollar bill it’s printed on is burning a hole in my pocket.
I itch to text her. To check in. Make sure she’s okay. We need to talk. But I don’t have the first clue how that will go or where to start. Or even what I want to say.
All I know is that it’s been too damn long since I last touched Sienna Langfield. And now that she’s within reach, I’ve already fucked it all up.
TWENTY-TWO
SIENNA
The soundof my thigh-high black Louboutins tapping against the floor as I follow Gavin to my office soothes my raw nerves. I may not be a fashion designer anymore, but I can still dress the part.
I didn’t stop being me just because I’m no longerher.
Or so I keep telling myself.
The truth is, I’m not sure who I am anymore. But today is the start of a new era, and what better way to kick it off than in my favorite pair of boots? Paired, of course, with a black dress made of a fabric so smooth I practically cried when I slid it over my body this morning. I finished off the look with a red lipstick that will make a statement.
Don’t fuck with me.
Or maybeI’m the boss.
Anything, really. As long as it isn’tI’m so forgettable even the man I’ve been dreaming about for six years doesn’t remember me.
Yeah, I’m nowhere near ready to unpack my encounter with Noah last night.
