I’m smiling—barely—but it looks unnatural to me. Forced. And my ring is flashing for the world to see in a way that screamsstaged.
I examine my face harder, trying to figure out what the rest of the world might see when they look at me next to him. I’mbeing overly critical because I know our PR team wouldn’t have approved this if it didn’t look perfect.
But to me, I look scared and robotic. Not like a newlywed melting into her husband’s arms for comfort from the noise.
Boone, on the other hand, looks like a natural. He looks exactly like an adoring husband in that photo. The long, black peacoat and collared shirt he’d thrown on after his post-game interview make him look polished yet completely approachable.
His dark hair is still damp from his shower, and I swear I can almost smell the sweet cologne that had engulfed me that night after I got off the train and finally fell asleep in my bed in Brookhaven.Alone.
And then there’s his expression… it’s so calm, confident and protective. He looks like the kind of man who knows how to handle the chaos of the world while protecting you.
It’s infuriatingly convincing. And I’m annoyed he ever complained about ‘not being good at faking this.’
What I’d said over dinner couldn’t be truer. Boone Tremblay is the kind of guy a woman could fall for after just one dinner. And he’s exactly the type of man who’d fall for the right woman just as quickly. He wears his heart on his sleeve and from what little I know, he loves rarely but when he does, it'shard.
But I’m not that woman that he loves. And no matter how convincing this photo looks to the outside world, I know the truth. That I’m not the type of woman that a man would ever fall for after one date.
Get a grip, Rosie.
Oh…,” I sigh, tucking the paper under my arm and hurrying the rest of the way into the building with Cain. “Clearly Saturday night went well,” I murmur to Cain.
He shakes his head with a sad smile as he holds the door open for me. “I hate this for you.”
“I don’t,” I reply, forcing a smile. “Just three more months and I’ll make senior partner.”
That’s what I need to focus on. That’s all this is for me.
He folds his arms across his chest, giving me one of those big brother looks. “It’s a bit of a twisted deal, don’t you think?”
“Would you expect anything different from Dad?”
He chuckles softly. “No. I wouldn’t. As long as you’re safe and happy, and the guy isn’t coming onto you, I’m happy.”
I smile faintly as we step into the elevators. Boone definitely hasn’t come onto me. In fact, there was this one fleeting moment in the snow, right before I stepped onto the train, when I thought there might’ve been something—maybe a flicker of attraction between us.
And then… nothing. It disappeared just as quickly as it came, leaving me wondering if I’d imagined it entirely. That’s what I get for having an imagination. It’s better this way.
And if Boone still thinks I’m Rose the stripper? Well, good. Let him. At least Rose had the guts to go after what she wants. Do something radical and out of character for a change.
Rosie Prescott is still awkward. Too safe. Too much of a lawyer never wanting to step out of the confines of her carefully created world.
We make it only five steps off the elevator before our dad’s booming voice is cutting through the hallway, echoing so loudly the entire office probably hears it.
“Kids! Conference room K. Now.”
“Is this becoming his new thing?” I hiss to Cain as we pivot.
It’s been ages since Dad’s taken this much interest in what we’re doing during work hours. Usually, he just lets us run our cases without much interference unless he feels like we’re losing. And we rarely ever do.
“This case must be worth a lot of money,” Cain murmurs. “Makes sense, given the Mayhem are footing most of the bill. I’ll look up the financials to see what they’re paying the firm later.”
When we reach the room, it’s empty. A moment later, the glass conference room doors swing open and our dad strides inside. As soon as the door closes behind him, he turns on his heel, his tone already clipped and impatient.
“Rosie, clear your afternoon.”
I blink. “But I have court.”
He waves me off dismissively. “Give it to one of the other junior partners.”
