Total pages in book: 140
Estimated words: 138003 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 690(@200wpm)___ 552(@250wpm)___ 460(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 138003 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 690(@200wpm)___ 552(@250wpm)___ 460(@300wpm)
“How’d you know we’re not into an audience?”
“Keep going,” I mutter. “You’re helping the problem.”
Lavender gives another soft laugh. “You’re into that?”
“Stop it.”
“But not Primrose,” she whispers in my ear. “How about Leo?”
“How about I lock you in our bedroom for a year or two?”
“Do I get conjugal visits?”
“Try to keep me away.”
“Once again,” Prim utters loudly, “don’t mind me or my presence.”
“Oh, we don’t.”
“What can we help you with, Primrose?” A fuck-ton of exasperation fills my tone.
“You can put my sister down for a start,” she says, folding her arms. “I have a message for her.”
“My ears work just fine. They’re the only place not tingling,” she adds in a loud whisper.
“Urgh! I am still standing here!”
“Yes, I can smell you from over here.”
Man, these two have antagonization down to a T. And they’re both smiling.
“Fine. Whit just called to speak to you on my mobile because you aren’t answering yours. And now I see why. I can call him back if you like.” She shakes her cell phone to solidify her point. “Tell him you’re misappropriating company time?”
“It’s my company,” she retorts. “If I want to shag in the front window, it’s up to me.”
“Me,” I growl, lowering her leg.
“And him, apparently,” she adds as she shakes out her skirt.
“Anyway.” Primrose makes her answer sound like a thoroughly bored rolling of her eyes. “He says to call him because he can’t make this afternoon. He wants you to go to the house tonight.”
Lavender straightens, her body stiffening. “Well, he can get stuffed. I’m not his lackey. I have a life, too. He’s not the only one married!”
“Why don’t you call him back, princess,” I say, taking her face in my hands. “Invite him over. We’ll eat, you can have your meeting, and I’ll get to meet him.”
I take a step back, giving her a little space to think over my suggestion. I know she’s nervous and not about the gallery. The gallery is doing fine, not that I’ll admit to having any hand in that. She’s nervous about his reaction, and I get it. Her brother stepped into her dad’s shoes with his passing. How she feels about him is complicated. She’s grateful for his help but resentful of his involvement and opinion. I think she feels a sense of awe and amazement at his success, not that she’d admit to it, but those feelings don’t exactly help.
Myself, I’m impatient to meet him. I want to look him in the eye to see what kind of man he is. Can’t be any worse than Brin. We’ve never been introduced, though I’ve seen him around. London often feels like a small town. But I want to meet the man behind the name. I want to see how he deals with Lavender no longer being his responsibility.
“Actually, that’s a good idea,” Lavender says.
“I have them sometimes.” I gently chuck the chin of my best idea ever. Not that I had any idea when I—
Forced her to marry me.
“What is it?” she asks, catching my hand as it lowers.
“Nothing.” Nothing she’ll ever forgive me for, not that she’ll find out. “I’m fine.” I kiss the back of her hand and paste on a smile. “Just a work thing occurred to me.”
“I’m going to send him a text,” she says, moving to her desk where her phone lies. “I’ll invite the whole brood over if that’s okay?”
“It’s your home too, princess.”
Her smile seems almost surprised. “Yeah, you’re right. It is. But do you think Daisy would be okay with that?”
“I think she’d love it.”
“Yeah.” Tension seems to flow out of her. “The home ground advantage.”
Home. That feels so good to hear. She feels like home to me.
She picks up her phone, and her thumbs fly over the keyboard. “There. Done.”
“You’re not worried, are you?”
I look up from checking the time on my watch, noting in the periphery of my vision how Lavender’s hands spring behind her back. She bites her nails when she’s nervous. Was she doing that just then?
“You okay, princess?”
“Yes, of course!” She paints on a smile. “Business is booming. I only have good news for him.”
So it is seeing him? Could it be she’s nervous about me meeting him?
“I thought it was,” Prim says, leaning her arm against the doorframe. “It’s been really busy lately. In fact, I was thinking I might ask for a raise in my commission rate.”
Lavender snorts. “Dream on.”
Primrose huffs, pushing away from the doorframe. “That’s bullshit.”
Time to cut off this argument.
“Lunch?” My attention swings between the pair. “Primrose, do you want me to bring you something from Ottolenghi?” I know it’s her favorite lunch treat.
“Oh, yum! Yes, please. A salad, the one with the pomegranate and the cauliflower. And a sweet tahini roll, please.”
“Good choice. Thanks for looking after the place while I steal the boss away.”