Total pages in book: 90
Estimated words: 89898 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 449(@200wpm)___ 360(@250wpm)___ 300(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 89898 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 449(@200wpm)___ 360(@250wpm)___ 300(@300wpm)
“She’d love Wade. Eventually,” Oliver jokes.
I laugh again. “What brought you here? Don’t you have class today?”
“You do know I have a father who’s perfectly capable of interrogating me, don’t you?”
“I do. But I thought I’d ask in case he’s slipping.”
It’s her smile that makes my stomach twist. Her lips part, foreshadowing mischief.
She scoots around in her chair before finally sitting on the edge and gripping her armrest with both hands. Her nose wrinkles.
“I’m glad we’re asking questions today,” she pokes. “Because I have one for you.”
“Don’t. Please don’t,” Oliver whines. “We have a … thing to do … and …” He sighs, falling back in his chair. “Please just let me keep him focused.”
Larissa looks satisfied. “Well, even though that didn’t come from you, and I didn’t ask my question, I think it answers it.”
Ignoring the glare from Oliver is harder than it should be.
I tuck my tie into my jacket and sit across from Larissa. I ignore her eyes too.
“So …” She prods. “The fam is saying a real live woman is at your house.”
“Thanks, Oliver,” I say, blowing out a breath.
“Oliver?” Larissa looks over her shoulder at my brother before turning back to me. “Wade told me.”
“Wade?” I must look surprised because Larissa laughs. “Wade told you?”
“I mean, he wasn’t celebrating it or anything. Actually, he said you were a … fool, I think was the word he chose. I’m just excited that it’s true.”
I dig around in my desk and find the envelope Larissa came for. Hopefully, she’ll take it and leave.
“Well, you need to settle down a little bit because it isn’t nearly as exciting as you’re making it out to be,” I say, giving her the package.
Her eyes light up as she takes it from me.
“I think the fact that Wade, of all people, brought it up means that it’s a little more exciting than just some ditz you’re bringing to an event,” she says.
I rock back in my chair. “I bring those ditzes, as you so affectionately call them, with me to places oftentimes as a favor. Someone needed a ticket to something or wanted to network a little bit. I’m not bringing them for me.”
“He picks the ones for him up at airports these days,” Oliver chimes in.
“That’s enough from the back of the room,” I say.
He laughs. “He met this girl at an airport, Riss.”
Larissa’s face breaks into a wide smile. “It’s like a movie!”
“It’s not,” I say with just as much gusto. “It’s a woman I met who can’t go home for a few days because her apartment is being renovated. And I offered my home out of kindness.”
She gets to her feet and tucks the envelope in her pocket. Half of it sticks out the top.
“That’s all well and good,” Larissa says, “but she’s staying at your house, Holtie. You’re practically marrying this girl in my book.”
“Oh, please,” I hiss, my stomach twisting tighter. “This is nothing more than … a business arrangement. She’s family of the Landrys, and this helps our situation—something Oliver has also forgotten about.” I look at him pointedly.
He rolls his eyes.
Larissa says nothing but doesn’t have to. Her smug little grin says it all.
I sigh.
“This is not a business arrangement,” Larissa says.
“How do you know?” I ask. “You just found out about this—from Wade, no less.”
“I know,” Larissa says, heading toward the door, “because I found out from Wade. If it wasn’t a big deal, Wade of all people wouldn’t have told me.”
She throws me a wink as if her point has been made.
“Riss, you need to be going. Oliver needs my help,” I say.
“Yeah, but I’ve needed your help all morning, and you’ve been as worthless as tits on a boar.”
“Gee, thanks,” I say.
He shrugs. “I think Riss needs to stay, and you need to … get this out of your system. Do it with her so I can get the Holt I know and need back, and we can go make money today.”
Larissa pats Oliver’s shoulder again. “I love your support of my nosiness.”
“It’s really just self-preservation,” he tells her. “I’ll see you at the concert?”
She taps the envelope in her pocket. “Yup. Are you bringing your new babe, Holt?”
I clear my throat.
The room gets hotter as I war mentally with her very, very simple question. The answer should be no. It should be a quick response that doesn’t require stumbling or thought.
I don’t bring random women to family events. My family isn’t a normal family, and they can overwhelm people. They can attract the wrong people. They can become a pass to all the glamorous events in the South—and elsewhere—and that doesn’t bode well for relationships.
In any case, Larissa’s question shouldn’t still be lingering in the room.
And Oliver, Larissa, and I all know it.
Oliver shakes his head.
“What?” I ask, my question bordering on hostile.