London Falling (Falling #2)(35)
“Remember that row of apartments we bought a couple years ago?” I reminded Nathaniel and he nodded. “Two of them have leases that are coming up. One already mentioned they are planning on moving out. It’s a perfect flat. Two bedrooms, two baths, a balcony with a view of the city.”
“Sounds like a dream. If and that’s still an ‘if’, I stay,” Emma reinforced.
“Okay, sister mine, have it your way.” I came around and hugged her petite body against me. “I’m going to have Jane set you up an account at Niemen Marcus. If you’re going to work here, you need to dress the part. I’ve seen that suit twice and it’s only Wednesday.” I playfully shook her shoulders back and forth until she smiled.
“You think anyone else noticed?” she asked worriedly.
“No, but we want you to be comfortable. Right mate?”
“Right. I’ll have my doorman send over one of my cars. Since Collier’s housing you and the business is clothing you, it’s my duty to set you up with some wheels and take you out to dinner to feed you. How does that sound, baby girl?”
She launched herself into Nate’s arms and pulled me in for a group hug. Nathaniel and I didn’t make a show of hugging but we did the man hug thing around our little sister’s body. It was actually really nice. It would be great having Emma here permanently. The more family around us the better.
“You guys are the best. I’m going to owe you big.”
“Yes, you are. And I expect it in home-cooked meals. You know I can’t cook worth a shite.” I poked her arm and went back to my desk. “Now that we’ve got everything settled. Can we get back to work? I’m bombed and want everything settled before the weekend.”
“Oh yeah, why? You have a hot date with that girl you mentioned?”
Nathaniel’s eyes went round. “That’s right! Dinner on Friday. Oh Em, you must come to dinner. The bird Collier’s hooked on is going to be there. Also, my client Aspen Reynolds and her fiancé, Hank, her assistant Oliver and his boyfriend, Dean. All a great group. Recently I’ve started hanging out with them. I think you’ll really like Aspen and his hottie, London.”
“You’re a wanker, you know that?” I threw a pen at him.
“He’s getting grumpy. He must really like this girl.” Emma added teasingly.
“Both of you, get. Scat! I have work to do and so do you!”
“Alright, alright. Em, you want to help with dinner on Friday?” Nathaniel asked as they headed out the door.
“Sure. What we cooking?”
“Cooking up some love, baby girl. A whole pot of love,” his voice trailed off as they closed the door.
“Arsehole!” I yelled, hoping they could still hear me.
Chapter - 9
“Stop fidgeting with your dress.” My sister’s lilting voice reached me over the sound of the heater blasting warm air against my bare legs from the car’s unit.
“You got ants in your pants?” Aspen’s fiancée Hank asked with his sweet southern accent. God, love a man with an accent.
I glared at both of them and tugged on my skirt one more time then flicked my hair to the side. A nice fat lock twirled perfectly round and round my index finger as I stared out the window.
“Oh no, she’s doing the hair twirl. Why are you nervous? We’re going to dinner at your client’s and my attorney’s house. Don’t you do pre-dinners all the time to check the place over?” Aspen tilted her head to the side, her lips curling at the edges. A set of blue eyes and a set of greens focused solely on me.
“Maybe I’m wondering if Collier’s going to be there.” I half-asked in case they knew and would spill the beans. And if he was there, Tripp wouldn’t be there to keep me balanced.
Tripp was finishing up his day shift at the restaurant and mentioned he’d be late to dinner but to let Nate know to leave him a place-setting. I planned on leaving him a setting right next to me. Close enough to allow a distance between me and any potentially sexy Englishmen I’d been avoiding. I just knew he was going to be there, too. It’s his brother’s house. He’s having a dinner party. Of course, Collier will be in attendance.
Twinges of excitement and panic warred in equal parts as the limo arrived at the curb. A taxi pulled up directly behind the limo as the three of us shuffled out. Our friends, Oliver and Dean looked dashing in long wool matching coats as they exited their taxi. I held my tongue at the instant jab that wanted to tell them how cute they looked as twinsies. Though one twin was a massive six-foot something firefighter with a body that showed he spent long hours in the gym and the other was very trim and sleek for a male. Oliver’s boyfriend Dean was the dichotomy in that relationship but helped prove you could never judge a book by its cover.
Oliver hugged me tight, and then fawned all over me and my sister’s clothing choices.
“I see you went with the slinky purple number,” Oliver fluttered over the tiny strings cinching the waist of the cocktail dress my sister wore to hide the tiny but growing bump. I held back the urge to stroke her stomach. It was starting to annoy her and she complained that she wasn’t far enough along to warrant a belly rub.
“Buddy, how many times do I have to tell you to keep your hands off my woman?” Hank growled and clapped a hand on Oliver’s shoulder. You could tell Hank was holding back his laughter but trying to hold onto his mock anger. It was an ongoing joke between the trio. Aspen’s best friend fiddled over her constantly and Hank was always thwarting his efforts. Oliver looked over at Aspen, his eyes narrowing, then back at Hank.