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I sat with that for a moment. Veronica and I hadn’t lived all that far away from everyone in Boston, but he was right. She had somehow never met any of my brothers, let alone Dad and Margaret.
“I guess I owe Madam London something, after all. I hate having to crash in Duncan’s place though, especially because it came partially occupied.”
I paused here in my story, placing our order for dumplings and drunken noodles and digging into the bread basket the waiter supplied on his return trip.
“Wait. What do you mean the apartment is occupied?” Preston continued as the waiter walked away to place our orders with the kitchen.
“Duncan’s previous assistant fucked up and offered the place to someone from Holly Ridge needing a place while she completes her internship. Margaret made the connection.”
“Oh, Duncan and his assistants. And if Margaret is involved, you?—”
“Can’t just kick the girl out,” I finished the sentence.
“So, what are you going to do?”
“Well, I didn’t exactly make the best first impression. I may have baited her and then chugged a beer wearing only my towel.”
Preston choked on his water.
“That’s definitely… an image.”
“I had just been kicked out of my home and then found a stranger claiming she was living in the condo I expected to be living in alone. It wasn’t my finest moment.”
“So, again, I ask, what are you going to do?” Preston said as our food arrived.
“I’m not really sure. I mean, I’d rather not have a roommate, but she seems harmless enough. She seemed to have picked herself up after having a bad day yesterday. If we’re both busy with work, what does it matter if we’re sleeping in separate rooms?”
“So, it’s a she, huh? A pretty she?” Preston asked slyly, cutting into his noodles.
“She’s a she. Just a body. In the condo I’m living in for now. I’ll need to find another place when Duncan gets back from Europe anyway, so what could a few months hurt?”
Preston looked at me in that smug way only older brothers have.
“Oh, I think it could hurt a lot.”
I rolled my eyes at him as I picked up my silverware and dug into my own lunch.
“Eat your noodles, Prez.”
He laughed through a mouthful of dumplings, looking entirely too pleased in my misery.
Chapter
Six
Charlotte
Arriving back at the condo after a successful second day, I was pleased things seemed back on track. Paula caught me up on the progress for the Storybook Ball Gala and handed a lot of the remaining planning off to me. It would be a busy time finishing everything off, but I was excited about the prospect of the money we raise and what it could do for the future of independent bookstores.
Walking into the kitchen, I jumped at the movement I caught out of the corner of my eye.
“Evening, Charlotte,” Hayden greeted me, his voice deep and silky. He twisted the cap off a bottle of beer, still wearing his jacket, shirt, and tie from the office this morning.
Right. My roommate. How could I have forgotten?
“Hey, Hayden,” I responded, as my eyes took in the way his jacket fit those broad shoulders. So far, I had known Hayden for twenty-four hours, and already I knew he looked fantastic in a towel, delicious in a sweaty grey T-shirt, and downright sinful in a suit. Plus, if I thought him swallowing down beer from a can was alluring, those lips wrapped around a bottle of beer was off the charts. I needed to find a flaw in this man, and quickly.
“See you managed to keep your outfit coffee-free today. Great job,” Hayden smirked as he lifted the bottle to his lips.
