“You want to tell me what was wrong with you when you arrived?”
“Bad morning at work. That’s all.” Obviously, I can’t tell him what the catalyst for my shit-tastic day was.
“Working on a Saturday will do that to you, I guess.”
We settle on the verandah with a post-race beer. Will’s buying, so Nick and I decide to stay, and Ben heads off on one of his many secretive adventures. There’s something going on with him. I can’t put my finger on it, but it doesn’t add up. He bounces in and out of the country all the time without explanation. He’s living in some fancy apartment loaned to him by a mysterious friend. I hope he’s not into something dangerous. Or illegal. Harry would freak. At least he has the right connections to get help if he is.
Which brings my thoughts around to the message Ty sent me earlier. It seems his mother has extended her stay at the ‘spa’ and won’t be home anytime soon. I’m in no way qualified to take care of a seventeen-year-old, but if it’s not me, I don’t know who will. Maybe I’ll see about getting him into some sailing lessons to keep him occupied and out of trouble. And somehow I have to help him find a job, because paying off the repairs to his car and his legal bill is a non-negotiable.
“Speaking of women …” Will starts, which we weren’t, but they’re never far from his mind, “there’s someone I’d like to introduce you to, Josh. She’s an interior designer and artist. Fun, beautiful, talented. Exactly your type.”
“Cut it out, Will. It’s thoroughly inappropriate to be pimping out a work colleague. Do you even know if she’s single? Or straight?” Nick appears unusually pissed off by Will’s comments. Interesting. He’s normally what you’d call inscrutable, so the show of emotion makes me wonder what might be going on there.
“I’m not pimping her out. I’m simply offering to introduce them. Josh hasn’t been seeing anyone since he got back, and maybe Lulu might break his dry spell. And yes. I checked. She’s single.” Will seems oblivious to the dirty look he’s getting from Nick. Despite his overly serious nature, I’ve always admired Nick. He’s got a sharp mind, and you can trust him with anything. I’m not sure what he thinks about me. Probably that I’m a bit of a screw up. Points to him that he’s never let on.
“Believe me, mate, dating drama is the last thing I need. Good race today.” I try to change the subject, but it goes from bad to worse.
“And speaking of getting laid, I think Greer might’ve had a gentleman caller.” Will prattles on. I’m too scared to take another mouthful of beer in case I choke on it. “I called around to her place this morning to see her. Anyway, there she was in her bathrobe with two sets of breakfast dishes still on the kitchen counter and a definite just-been-had look about her.”
Fuck me sideways. I’m glad I didn’t take that mouthful of beer. I must’ve missed him by minutes. My gaze connects with Nick’s and I get the feeling he knows what I’ve been up to. As I said, he has a sharp mind. Funnily enough, I don’t fear he will rat me out to Will. Thank Christ.
“Guess I must’ve just missed him.” Will unknowingly echoes my thoughts. “She was cagey about it, though. Wouldn’t give me any details. Not even a name. I’m thinking it might be someone from her new job.”
It takes me a minute to register that Will has stopped talking and is looking at me expectantly, like I need to respond.
“You know, it’s in really poor taste talking about your sister like that, Will. Harry would string you up if he heard you.”
Will rolls his eyes. “Cool your jets. Anyone would think she’s your sister.”
Chapter Twenty
Greer
It’sonlymysecondweek on the job, but I skulk into work on Monday morning, dressed as unobtrusively as possible in a grey pant suit, thoroughly embarrassed. And furious.
It wasn’t until Saturday night when the hormones finally worked their way out of my system that I registered what had happened on Friday night. At the club. In front of the people I’ve only been working with for a week. At my ‘Welcome to the Firm’ drinks. How am I supposed to present a professional, businesslike image when I have a Neanderthal dragging me off the dance floor in front of most of the staff? If there’s a saving grace, it’s that Jonathan wasn’t there.
Maybe I should’ve stood my ground and told Josh to sod off, but at the time, all I wanted to do was get him as far away from my colleagues as possible. As quickly as possible. Defusing volatile situations by getting the hell out is my instinctive response. When faced with fight, flight or freeze, flight wins more often than not. Until I’m forced to fight.
The office is a big, open-plan space, which makes it very hard to hide. I haven’t been at my desk for more than five minutes before Tony wanders over.
“Hey, Greer. How are you?” He approaches with caution, and who could blame him?
“Hi, Tony. I’m fine. How are you? How was your weekend?” I don’t expect there’s any chance we can sweep Friday under the rug, but I’ll give it the good old college try.
“I’m okay. I just wanted to check on you. You know, after Friday…” Well, that didn’t take long. Looks like I’ll have to brazen it out.
“Oh—yeah. Friday. Look, I’m sorry. Josh was so rude. It’s … he’s—”
“Jealous? Is he your boyfriend?”
“No. No. Nothing like that. I was going to say protective. He’s my oldest brother’s best friend, and he’s known me since I was a kid. So …”
“Huh. Well, he didn’t look at you like he thinks you’re a kid, that’s for sure.”
And he sure didn’t treat me like a kid once we got back to my place. A tremor runs through me as I feel phantom hands on my thighs. Yikes. Focus.
“Anyway, I’m sorry he was rude to you. Are we okay?”
