Total pages in book: 114
Estimated words: 107639 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 538(@200wpm)___ 431(@250wpm)___ 359(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 107639 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 538(@200wpm)___ 431(@250wpm)___ 359(@300wpm)
Rowe’s snickering intensified. “No pun intended,” he called out.
“He’s a child,” I insisted, unsure whether I was referring to Bash’s husband or Landry.
“Landry’s a hard worker, and you know it. Unless you’ve forgotten about Milan Fashion week two years ago when he added a charity sponsorship to his already overpacked schedule, resulting in his working around the clock for two straight weeks while nearly comatose from jet lag. Or the times he’s had to skip our vacations to check on his dad back in England. Or that time he skipped the opportunity to be seen at the Oscars so he could bring you zosui soup from Hirohisa when you had the flu. Or the time he hired a fucking SEAL team rescue for you on the other side of the world. Or the time he got Rowe into that backroom couture lingerie sale so he could get—”
Rowe squawked in the background.
Bash sucked in a breath. “Never mind. That’s… private. Anyway. Landry has a giant heart, an impeccable work ethic, and an overwhelming crush on his executive assistant. The two of you either need to fuck and get past it or go on a date. But stop whatever the hell this is because it’s killing Landry. He looked like a kicked puppy at Christmas.”
Another couple on the street had entered my field of vision. Two women walked arm in arm, bundled up in coats and scarves. They were talking with their heads together, unsmiling but obviously close. They reminded me of a couple who’d lived in my apartment building until last year when they’d decided to move to Vermont in search of a slower-paced life so they could spend more time together.
At the time, I’d thought they were crazy. I’d fully expected them to be bored within a month, but here we were, eight months later, and their Instagram feeds were full of photos of their happy life together in the mountains. Their house had a wide, sweeping view of a meadow leading to low peaks where the sun painted swaths of warm colors every morning and night.
It reminded me of the painting of Three Daughters in Majestic that hung over my bed.
Maybe I’d never let myself imagine a life like that because I didn’t think it would ever be within reach.
Maybe it never would be if I kept throwing up roadblocks and pretending I didn’t care when I did.
“Landry wanted me to go out to eat with him,” I admitted softly. “Like… like a date.”
Bash’s voice held a smirk. “For real? You have to admit it would be kind of funny if Landry never needs to reveal the secret of the Brotherhood billions to his life partner because the guy already—”
Rowe squealed again. “Oh shit. Oh shitttt. That’s what he meant! Landry said at Christmas his partner already knew. Omigod omigod!”
At the time, I’d thought Landry was just being dramatic. I hadn’t been able to allow myself to consider any other reason for his comment. But now… “He told me he wanted to have a relationship with me. Something more than physical.” I swallowed. “He wanted me to be his boyfriend.”
There was silence over the line. I knew Bash well enough to know he was either lecturing himself in his mind to tread lightly, or he was staring wide-eyed at Rowe while mouthing what the fuck do I do?
“And you… declined?” he guessed.
“Obviously.”
“Why?”
I huffed out a laugh, causing the glass windowpane to fog in front of me.
All the reasons I’d given myself for years danced in my brain. I knew Landry Davis, I’d told myself. Knew everything about him. Landry was a playboy who didn’t know what responsibility was. Who didn’t take anything seriously. Who wasn’t the settling-down type. Who didn’t know what long-term commitment even looked like and wasn’t a family man.
But not only had Landry been faithful to me for three freaking years, but he was obviously dedicated to his family. And if there was anything that screamed long-term commitment more than a centuries-old family legacy, it was having a man lie to the freaking prime minister for me.
The true answer was because I’m a fucking idiot.
But what came out of my mouth was, “Because he’s a freaking lord who’s going to get talked into serving in Parliament, and I wouldn’t make a good countess. I have to go.”
I ended the call and threw myself onto the bed again, yanking up the duvet and trying hard not to feel the tsunami of guilt pour over me.
I really was a fucking idiot.
And it was becoming clearer and clearer to me I was also in love with one.
TWELVE
LANDRY
I would not love him against his will.
Alright, fine, I would, only because I couldn’t help myself, and I’d been doing it too long to stop now, but I wouldn’t let it show. I wouldn’t keep trying to get him to love me back. That way lay madness.