"I didn't see the point." I motion to Adley that I need another minute. She kisses the top of Pike's head.
"I want to see you." He exhales sharply. "I'm on my way to a meeting, but let's set a time now. Tell me when we can talk."
"There's nothing for us to talk about." I rub my fingertips across my jaw as I grind my teeth together.
"You're wrong." His voice lowers. "I thought we were friends. I know I hung out with Julian when we were younger, but we were friends too, Petal."
Friends? Friends don't stab each other in the back and twist the knife until it pierces the heart.
"You're Julian's friend. You were never my friend."
"That's not how I see it." His deep voice is husky. "I have to get into this meeting. Give some thought to sitting down with me. It could change your life."
He already changed my life in immeasurable ways.
I don't bother with the expected goodbye. Instead, I end the call, toss my phone back into my purse and try to reason away the pounding of my heart and the hunger for the man I've despised for the last three years.
CHAPTER SIX
Smith
Matthew?Tony? What the actual fuck happened when I called Brynn?
I called her out on her bullshit, but now, a day later, I'm second guessing whether she knew it was me on the phone or not. If not, I have my work cut out for me.
I don't doubt that I can compete with any man in her life. I have the secret weapon of friendship on my side, although she threw that back in my face before she hung up on me.
She's pissed. She has every reason to be. I shut her down when she was seventeen and drunk on cheap vodka. She tried to kiss me at Julian's birthday party, I dodged her lips and I've regretted it ever since.
She was too young. I was too loyal to her brother and once that ship sailed and I left for Buffalo, I pushed the memory of the moment to the back of my mind.
"A yearly membership to the gym would be a more economical option for you, Mr. Booth." The attractive blond behind the counter points out as she hands me back my creditcard. "I can sign you up right now with a special discounted rate."
"Is Brynn Bishop a regular?"
The question catches Heidi off guard. I assume her name is Heidi. That's what the small name tag pinned to the front of her tight yellow T-shirt reads.
"I can't disclose any information about our members, sir." She licks her lips as she looks at my mouth.
"She's my best friend's younger sister." I have no fucking problem using this woman's attraction to me to get more information on Brynn. If I make her believe my interest in Brynn is platonic, I stand a good chance of getting her to forget the rules and answer my questions. Having a face that women see first thing in the morning has its advantages. Fame comes with its own set of fucked up benefits and this is one of them. "I saw her here the other day but I didn't get a chance to say hello."
"Julian Bishop is your best friend?" Skepticism knits her brow. "If that's true, when is his birthday?"
How the fuck does this woman know when his birthday is? "September eighth."
She eyes me up. "That might be a lucky guess. What else can you tell me about him?"
"He'll be on Rise and Shine next Thursday during the eight o'clock hour." I lean an elbow on the counter. "He's going to announce that he's breaking ground early next year for the first Bishop Hotel in Paris."
The interview isn't a done deal yet, but we're close to making it happen. Julian reached out via email this morning to give me the heads-up. I asked for a sit-down and he's rearranging his schedule to accommodate. He'll make it happen. It's a great piece for me and an excellent marketing opportunity for him.
"You actually know him, don't you?" Her eyes widen. "What I wouldn't give to work for that man. Can you put in a good word for me?"
Since I know absolutely nothing about Heidi, other than her stalker like fascination with Julian, I'm leaning toward not sending her his way. "You want to work for Bishop Hotels?"
"They're rated one of the five best companies to work for in the country." She lets out a quiet laugh as if I'm an idiot for not knowing that. "I still can't understand why his sister didn't jump at the chance to work for him."
Heidi knows too much about the Bishops to just be the receptionist at this gym. "How well do you know Brynn?"
