Chapter 27 #2
“That’s what’s implied with the barge pole, Jamie.
You didn’t have to specify.” Callum sat down beside me, looking surprisingly concerned for someone who didn’t know me at all.
“Whatever she said to you, ignore her, Laney. Honestly, you should be flattered. Cassandra only torpedoes women who scare her.”
I tried to smile. I really did, but my ankle was killing me and my leg was getting hotter by the second.
I was still mortified about what had happened and the fact that they’d found me that way.
Garvey returned with a silver tray bearing ice packs, and a quiet, warm-eyed woman I didn’t recognize came with him. Instantly, my guard slammed up.
“So this is where all the drama went.” She strode in like she owned the place, but as soon as I saw the curious playfulness in her eyes, I realized she wasn’t like the other women I’d encountered from Sterling’s world.
“I saw Garvey rushing up here with ice packs and I knew I’d missed out on something fun. ”
Garvey turned to glance at her over his shoulder, nodding respectfully before he knelt beside me again. “Miss Shepard.”
She flashed me a warm smile. As her gaze landed on mine, something softened in her features. “You must be Laney. God, I’ve been looking everywhere for you.”
I felt Sterling’s steady presence at my side, trusting that he would have stepped in if this girl was some kind of threat. I blinked at her. “Um, you were looking for me?”
“All damn day,” she said, breezing past to plop herself elegantly on the arm of a nearby chair. “I’m Sadie. Sadie Shepard. It’s lovely to finally meet you.”
“It is?”
“Of course.” She smiled again, but concern darkened her eyes as she glanced at Garvey gently icing my ankle. “I heard some of what you guys were talking about as I was coming down the hall. Cassandra and the flying monkeys did this?”
Callum nodded. “We never should’ve left her alone with those turd rockets on the property.”
Sadie sniffed elegantly, arching a perfectly manicured eyebrow at him. “No, you shouldn’t have.”
Sterling shoved a hand through his hair, still standing silently beside me but practically vibrating with barely restrained rage.
Sadie ignored him and very pointedly didn’t even glance toward Jameson, but turned back to me.
“I’m sorry Cassandra and her fleas hazed you.
They’re awful, but they’re harmless once you figure out how to swat them. ”
She leaned forward conspiratorially and tapped one surprisingly worn, flat pump against the hardwood floor. “I’ll make sure their gowns get the same treatment as yours. Let’s see how they like tripping over their own egos.”
Despite myself, I laughed and Sadie looked pleased, perking up again as the worry disappeared from her gaze. “Good. You’ve got a spine. I like that. We’re going to be friends, you and me. Just you wait and see. It’s long overdue that someone worth talking to joined this wretched group of snobs.”
She stood swiftly and gave a little wave to Callum. “Goodbye, Trouble.”
Jameson stiffened a little, but she was out of the room without ever having acknowledged that he’d been in it. Sterling and I shared a glance, and a quiet agreement seemed to pass between us that Sadie had definitely deliberately ignored his brother.
I tensed as Garvey started wrapping a bandage around my ankle. The blood drained from my cheeks as I turned to Callum. “My friend, Gwen, is around here somewhere. Would you mind going to find her for me?”
“Gwen? Oh, yeah. I met her and I know where she is.” He didn’t even hesitate. “She’s been with Nathan at the bar for, like, an hour.”
Sterling groaned. “Great. I’ll deal with that later.”
Callum disappeared as Garvey pushed to his feet. He left us quietly and quickly, disappearing like Casper, the helpful ghost.
Sterling didn’t hesitate. “It looks like you’re all done. Let’s get you out of here, shall we? I think we’ve partied enough for one day.”
“No, we don’t have to?—”
He shook his head. “You’re hurt, Laney. We’re leaving.”
Garvey seemed to be five steps ahead, giving a courteous nod from the doorway. I hadn’t even realized he’d still been waiting there, but it seemed like he’d known instructions would be forthcoming. “I’ll pull the car around, sir.”
Jameson filed out after him, muttering something I couldn’t make out under his breath.
Now that we were alone, Sterling sank to one knee beside me so naturally, it was like he was acting on instinct.
“Do you want to go to the hospital? Maybe we should have you checked out by a doctor just in case. Garvey is good, but he’s no medical professional. ”
My ankle was throbbing and my head was starting to follow suit. “No, I’m fine. If you’re sure you’re okay with leaving, I’d really like to just go home.”
His jaw clenched slightly, but he nodded. For a second, although the decision had been made, neither of us moved. He was so close to me. Close enough that I could smell the cedar of his cologne and the subtle hint of whiskey on his breath.
His hand hovered near mine, not quite touching, but I could feel the heat radiating from his skin.
His eyes searched mine like he was trying to decipher something in them, and maybe I should’ve looked away.
I definitely should’ve reminded myself this was still nothing more than a business arrangement, but I didn’t do either of those things.
Because right then, with his concern wrapping around me like a blanket and his eyes on mine like he could see all the way to my soul, I didn’t feel like a business partner. I felt like his wife.