Page 66 of How to Resist Prince Charming

“You’re just what, dear?”

Lenna swallowed. “I’m...I...I’m just...just lagged. I’m really tired for some reason.” She winced at the feebleness of her own lie. Man, she hated deceiving her innocent mother.

“Goodness,” Maxine answered. “Do you think you’re coming down with a cold?”

“I don’t know. Maybe.” Lenna latched onto the neck of that little scapegoat and rode the hell out of Dodge. “My throat is scratchy.”

“Then maybe you should stay home tonight. I don’t want you out and about, making yourself worse.”

“But...you wouldn’t mind?” Lenna bit her lip, hating herself.

“Of course not.” Her mother’s voice soothed. “We’d much rather you be healthy. Just stay in bed and gargle a glass of salt water. Get yourself some rest, okay, sweetheart?”

Lenna nodded. “Okay, Mom. Thanks. I...I love you.”

“I love you too, dear. Now, go take care of that throat.”

Lenna disconnected and stared at the receiver for ten seconds before she burst into tears.

She didn’t want to hide anymore. She wanted the world to know how crazy she was about Braxton Farris. It wasn’t fair her dad would condemn their relationship if he knew. He’d probably disown her, never talk to her again, and sell her off to some middle-eastern goat-herding family. But that was nothing compared to what he’d do to Braxton. She knew Brax would bear the brunt of Thomas Davenport’s wrath if he ever found out she was sleeping with his boss. The bad thing was, she had no idea exactly what it was Tom would do. She just knew she didn’t want to find out.

So she would keep up the distressing subterfuge. For Braxton.

CHAPTER 16

Braxton strolled into Farris Industries Monday morning, whistling and sending a greeting smile to every employee he passed. Most of them paused to gape after him, frowning in confusion over his unusual

ly good mood.

He found Davenport in the break room, pouring a cup of coffee.

“Hey, Tom,” he called, making the man turn and eye him with a leery frown. Lifting the wrapped package under his arm, he held it out. “I got that thing you wanted from Paris.”

Tom stared down at the cream package and blue bow. “What thing?” he asked blankly.

Braxton hesitated and glanced at the other two people in the room. Ben Hendricks and Braxton’s secretary, Tasha, watched in open curiosity. He turned back to Lenna’s dad. “Umm...you wanted me to pick up a souvenir...for your daughter,” he prompted.

“Oh!” Tom took the gift from Braxton and frowned down at it, turning it over in his hands. “What the heck is it?”

“It’s an art print. By some guy, Too Loose La Track, or something like that.” He shrugged. “I don’t know. Len—” He stopped quickly to clear his throat. His face turned purple as he coughed and pounded on his chest. “I mean, the lady...in the store...said he was famous.”

Tom nodded slowly. “I think you’re right. I’m sure I’ve heard Lenna mention that name.”

He continued to stare at the wrapped picture, making Braxton antsy. “Is that okay? I mean, was there something else you had in mind? Because you didn’t specify—”

“No!” Tom quickly cut him off. He lifted his eyes to Braxton and sent him a solemn look. “No, this is...perfect actually. I just assumed you’d buy a miniature Eiffel Tower figurine or the like. But, no. I think she’d prefer this. It’s more...Lenna.” Then he shocked the snot out of Braxton and said, “Thanks.”

For a moment, Brax couldn’t respond.

After clearing his throat again, he gave the man a brief nod and turned to leave.

But Tasha stopped him. “How was Paris?”

Braxton paused. “Paris,” he murmured and exhaled a breath of air, “was amazing.”

“So...business went well?” Tasha pressed.

“Oh!” Shit. For some reason, he hadn’t known she’d been asking about business. “Yeah,” he said. “Yes, as a matter of fact, our contact with Renault, Richard Trousseau, seemed very impressed with our product. He signed on with us, and I have a good feeling he’s not just going to renew his contract at the end of our term, but he might become one of our biggest buyers before long.”

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