Passion on Park Avenue (Central Park Pact #1)(36)

“Okay, remember the little boy who lied to protect his father?”

“Yeah . . .” Audrey’s eyes went wide in realization. “No.”

“Yup.”

“Oliver was that boy?” she hissed.

“Yup.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes, Audrey, I’m pretty sure. Also, he has a girlfriend and yet he still came tonight with Claire,” Naomi said, still preoccupied with the thought of Claire and Oliver together.

Audrey’s nose wrinkled. “He doesn’t seem like the two-timing type.”

“Right, because we’re all so good at spotting those,” Naomi said.

“Shoot. You’re right. Still, he seems so nice . . .”

“He is not nice.”

“Well, maybe he wasn’t when he was ten,” Audrey said in exasperation. “But he’s a perfectly polite adult. And I’m glad she brought him. When we met him that first day, he seemed a little . . . lonely.”

Naomi tugged gently on her gold hoop earring, hating the little twist in her stomach at the thought of Oliver Cunningham being lonely. Hated, almost as much, that Audrey had taken enough interest to notice.

“I’m truly sorry, Naomi,” Audrey said, her tone contrite. “If I could get him out of here without being unbearably rude, I would.”

“No, don’t do that,” Naomi said, letting her hands drop and giving her arms a quick shake, trying to gather herself. “I’m a grown-up. I can do this.”

“Yes, you can,” Audrey said emphatically, reaching out and smoothing a flyaway on Naomi’s hair like a calming mother. At least Naomi assumed that’s what a soothing mother would do. She didn’t have much experience with that sort of maternal figure.

“Let’s do this,” Naomi said, opening the bathroom door.

Naomi followed Audrey into the kitchen area, her attention no longer on her friend’s stunning apartment but on the nemesis she knew awaited her.

“So sorry, everyone,” Audrey said as they joined the small group gathered around her kitchen counter. “This is Naomi Powell, the entrepreneur superstar I was telling you about. It was her first time over here. I just had to give her the grand tour.”

Naomi’s gaze sought and immediately found Oliver. She’d only ever seen him in suits, and tonight was no different, though he’d forgone the tie and left his light blue shirt open at the collar. She was annoyed to realize he pulled off the slightly more casual look every bit as well as he did the full formal attire.

Naomi waited for his shock of surprise at seeing her, but he merely raised his eyebrows slightly in acknowledgment of her presence. Her gaze flicked to Dylan, standing next to Oliver, but her date seemed more interested in checking out Audrey’s apartment, a vaguely assessing look on his face. Irritably, she wondered if Dylan was ever present in the moment, or if he was always looking for this next win, whether it be a woman or a new production idea.

Naomi glanced distractedly at the other man in the room, then did an immediate double take. He was absurdly good-looking. Like George Clooney, Hugh Jackman level of wow. Dark hair, golden-brown eyes, and twin dimples on either side of a rather fantastic smile.

“Dree must not have given you the full tour,” said the World’s Hottest Man. “In this mausoleum, that’s a two-hour venture.”

“Dree?” Naomi repeated, her brain finally catching up to his words, even as she gaped at his perfect face.

“Audrey. She loves the nickname,” he explained with a grin. Naomi’s ovaries fainted dead away.

“Really?” Audrey said dryly as she poured a glass of champagne and handed it to Naomi. “Because I could have sworn I’ve spent the past twenty-something years begging you to quit using it.”

“Twenty-something years,” Naomi said in surprise. Audrey was only twenty-seven. “You’re a . . . brother?”

“Might as well be,” the man replied, extending his hand. “Clarke West. Dree’s oldest and favorite friend.”

“I’ll give you the first one,” Audrey said. “But the persistent use of the nickname puts you on thin ice on the latter.”

Naomi’s gaze flicked between them, searching for any sign that the just-friends routine was a euphemism for complicated, but to her surprise, they both seemed completely easy around each other and, well, friends.

Clarke gave her a quick wink as though reading her thoughts, and Naomi was appalled to feel herself blushing.

“Ugh, Clarke, put that away,” Audrey said with a dismissive wave.

“Put what away?”

“You know exactly what. My friends are off-limits for your dubious charms.”

“I’ll try to keep my appeal under lock and key.”

Good luck with that.

Naomi gave Audrey’s friend another smile before looking over at Claire and smiling in greeting.

Claire’s purple sweater should have perfectly complemented her hazel eyes, but Naomi was dismayed to realize that the shadows under the gorgeous eyes were even darker than the last time she’d seen her.

“I guess you know everyone else,” Audrey said to Naomi. “Not quite the meet-new-people dinner party I expected, but at least we can skip some of the small talk.”

Dylan’s attention finally snapped back to the conversation, and he looked at Naomi in surprise. “You’ve met Owen?”