Chapter 22
LONDON
I packed my overnight bag and Liam and I left our gorgeous suite behind. The Carringtons were nowhere to be found during breakfast or after we docked, but we disembarked with the other guests, stuffed but happy after what had proven to be an incredible outing.
Oddly enough, despite the opulence and grandeur of the yacht, the awesome people we’d met, and the gala itself, my favorite part of the night had been staying up late talking to Liam.
In so many ways, he really was my best friend, but some lines had definitely blurred for me after we’d slept together.
I’d be lying if I pretended that I hadn’t wanted him last night. Hadn’t been waiting for him to make a move. A few times, when our eyes had locked, I’d really thought he was going to kiss me and my body had lurched into overdrive as a result, but he’d been the perfect gentleman. Darn it.
Not even an accidental graze or a press of his foot against mine.
When I’d realized he wasn’t going to make a move, I’d considered doing it myself, but I’d known then just as I did now that it was a bad idea.
What had happened between us had been a one-time deal, and even though James hadn’t been anywhere near us when we’d tumbled into bed together, it’d only happened because we’d worked each other up while we had been play acting for him.
Because of that, we’d had an itch to scratch that night and we’d scratched it. End of story.
Only now, I had to live with the knowledge that my best friend was insanely good in bed and was, in fact, a perfect match for me physically. Knowledge I couldn’t do anything about because I didn’t have one of those handy memory erasers from the Men in Black movies.
Damn, that would be convenient right about now.
Since we’d showered on the yacht, Liam drove us straight to our offices and we got right to work.
We’d already received a few emails from people we’d met last night who were interested in meeting with us to find out more about what we might offer them.
Some of the other potential clients who had reached out before were starting to want to firm things up as well.
“Coffee?” he asked as we walked into our yet unoccupied lobby. Those sea-green eyes looked into mine, and I swore it looked like he wanted to say more, but he didn’t. Instead, he just raised his eyebrows a little in question.
I nodded. “Please. I’m going to need to stay caffeinated to get through this day. Some jerk kept me up so late last night.”
He chuckled. “Funny. The same thing happened to me.”
We rode up to our floor together in an elevator and separated at the end of the hall to go into our respective offices. He only went to put down his stuff, though. As I started up my computer and clicked into my emails, he strode over to the break room to fulfill my wish for caffeine.
I heard the coffee machine when it started, struck by how strange it was that our offices were still so quiet.
Soon enough though, this place would be a hive activity and the mere thought of it brought a smile to my face.
Liam and I spent most of the day in the office, clocking out a little early to go start cleaning up at home.
The rest of the week went by in a blur, and the next thing I knew, it was moving day for Lorelei and Jerry.
“Their flight gets in at four,” Liam said, checking his watch as we walked out of one of our first client meetings in the conference room.
All our new hires were starting next week, but the client requests had been trickling in steadily and we’d decided to start taking meetings before we got clogged up. Anticipation raced down my spine as I nodded at him.
“We can head out. I just need to grab my stuff.” I was really, really looking forward to having Lori here.
When Olivia, Liam, Lacey, and I had left New York, at least I’d moved with my sister and her best friend. It hadn’t been the same as having one of my girlfriends with me, but I’d had Liam and I’d had Olivia, and Lacey and I had grown close as well.
Then I’d started laying down roots in Houston. I’d made some friends, got along well with my neighbors, and although I’d traveled a lot, I’d liked it there. Until Dad had mentioned the possibility of a brand new office in Miami.
He’d flown Liam and me to New York to discuss it, and just like that, the ball had been rolling. It’d taken a while for him to get things set up for us to come over here and we’d had projects to finish out in Texas, but we’d both been ready for our next big adventure.
With the only drawback being that we’d be doing it alone.
Jerry’s news that his company was expanding to Florida as well had been a godsend. It meant that I’d have Lori here with me, a voice of reason when Liam was driving me nuts.
Since Liam had grown up with Jerry, he’d been really excited about it as well. We loved each other, but we really did also get on each other’s nerves. It would be nice to have other people around when things between the two of us got to be too much.
When we got to the airport, we parked and headed to the terminal without saying much, but I could tell he was looking forward to seeing his friend. As was I.
As always, the airport was a crazy place filled with the chaos of people trying to get to where they needed to be when they needed to be there. I looked up at Liam as we found a place near the baggage claim.
“So, I’m only going to ask this once and I’m going to trust that you’ll tell me the truth.”
His sharp features tightened for a moment before he glanced at me, those eyes hooking on mine for just a second before he smirked. “You want to know if I told Jerry?”
“Well, yeah, but I also want to know if you told him, then did you also happen to mention that it was a crazy night? A lapse in judgment that won’t repeat itself?”
He laughed, head shaking as his gaze darted back to the escalator leading up to the gates.
He scanned the group coming down before he sighed and looked back at me.
“I didn’t tell him, but if I ever do, I’ll make sure to mention that you held me hostage for my rockin’ body so I gave you the best night of your life as a condition of my release. ”
I smacked the back of my hand against his rock-hard bicep. It stung me more than it probably did him, but it’d been worth it. “Good. That stays between us, okay? No one needs to know about it.”
He smirked at me. “Whatever you say, princess.”
I rolled my eyes, but I needed him to understand that if it ever got out, people were going to start expecting to see a ring on my finger real soon. Hell, someone was bound to show up to take me shopping for a freaking wedding dress.
“I’m serious, Jones. You know what it’s been like and that was before anything even happened. Can you imagine how much worse it’ll get if our friends find out about this? God forbid our families find out. That’ll be even worse.”
A flicker of worry passed over his expression, his brows furrowing slightly and his mouth turning into a hard line. “No, you’re right. Of course, you’re right. No one will believe that it was a one-time thing and that we haven’t actually realized that we’re head over heels in love.”
“Exactly.” I nodded curtly and narrowed my eyes as I stuck my hand out toward him. “Deal?”
“Deal.” He smacked his palm into mine, but as he did, a squeal rang out and we both let go of each other like we’d been burned, spinning to see Lorelei racing toward us.
My heart leaped with genuine, deep joy and I grinned, kicking into a run so I could meet her halfway. Her ruby red curls bounced on every step she took, her eyes wide with excitement. We crashed into each other, her soft body practically fusing with mine, and we hugged like we’d never let go.
“I’m so glad you’re here,” I murmured into her hair, holding her close and feeling for the first time like I might just be able to get through our stint in Florida with my sanity—and my integrity—intact.
Much as I loved Liam, my world had become way too small since we’d been here, shrinking down to the size of a two-person bubble. “How was your flight?”
“Horrible,” she said happily, her arms finally loosening their grip before she took a step back and raked her gaze over me. “Damn, honey. Miami suits you. You’re looking good.”
I pumped my eyebrows at her. “All the better to lure the boys in, my dear.”
She laughed, but her eyes left mine to land on something—some one —behind me. A flash of emotion across her features made me wonder if I’d imagined it, or if she seemed weirdly disappointed in me for some reason.
“Funny. I thought you ready to leave the boys behind and to move onto men .” When I glanced over my shoulder in the direction she was looking, I wasn’t surprised to find myself staring at Liam and Jerry, mid-bro hug and thumping each other’s backs like orangutans.
“Stop that,” I chided her playfully, reaching for the handle of the silver carry-on she’d been wheeling with her. “It’s not like that.”
“Yeah, but I thought it might finally be happening.” She sighed, but then she glanced at me and shook herself out of it, visibly rallying before she grinned again. “Miami, huh? How’s it been? You guys both seem really happy here so far.”
“We are,” I replied, completely honest. “It’s been this crazy, awesome rush.
First, we had to get everything ready at the office before the convention, then we needed to start vetting and hiring people.
We’ve also started seeing clients and now you guys are here.
There hasn’t been a dull moment, but it’s been amazing. ”
“Have you kissed him again?” she asked innocently.
I gave her a look that meant business, not giving a damn that my facial expression right then would probably land me on a watchlist somewhere. We were still in the airport, after all. Someone was always watching.
It turned out that in this case, that someone was Jerry and Liam.
Liam let out an exasperated sigh when we reached them and turned to Lori.
“Don’t worry. She looks at me like that at least half a dozen times on a good day.
You’ll be okay. Just make sure you keep some garlic in your pocket.
The creature doesn’t like that. If all else fails, throw food at her. That’s what I do.”
She laughed and opened her arms to embrace him. “If Jerry spoke about me that way, I’d want to kill him too. How are you doing, Jones?”
He pulled her into a tight hug and chuckled. “I was just kidding. London is amazing. I’m also going to have to stop for some food on our way home now that I’ve said that. Otherwise, she’ll be really mean by the time we get here.”
I rolled my eyes so hard, my head hurt, but I turned to smile at Jerry. Liam’s friend was a blond about my own height, with a cute, round face and a heart made of the purest gold. “How you’ve lived with that one most of your life without needing prescription medication is beyond me.”
Jerry laughed and gave me a quick hug. “The answer to that question is patience. And beer.”
I groaned. “They haven’t manufactured enough of either of those things for me to put up with him without you guys. Thank God, you’re here.”
Liam narrowed his eyes at me when I let go of his friend, but he didn’t really look angry.
In fact, I saw him trying to fight a smile as he shook his head.
“In other news, we’ve decided that we should all have some fun tonight.
Kick off your move Miami-style. We’re not entirely sure what that means yet, but how do you feel about going to get settled at the house and then grabbing your dancing shoes?
London and I both have a lot of steam to blow off and we couldn’t think of anyone better to do it with. ”