Page 286 of The Christmas Wife

"Last I checked, we’re still civilized enough to drink out of a glass," Liam chides.

"You do the whole proper English gentleman thing. Right now, I need sustenance to get me through the rest of this shitty day." He raises the bottle of Macallan and chugs down more of the liquor.

"And I thought I was in the doldrums." I raise my cigar to my lips.

He lowers the bottle, wipes the back of his mouth with his hand, then places the bottle on the table. "Never fear. When itcomes to lessons in how to ruin a relationship, you can consider me the fore-runner."

"Surely, it can’t be that bad?" Liam leans back in his seat. Bastard looks all relaxed, with that happiness radiating off him that men who are settled in relationships seem to have. He’s temporarily back from his sojourns in Italy, and clearly, living abroad suits him.

"No, it’s worse." Declan lowers his arms between his legs. "But that’s what happens when you’re trying to juggle not one, but two careers, not to mention, a burgeoning relationship in the media limelight."

"Speaking of, should you even be here? Won’t your adoring fans have surrounded the club by now?"

"Nah, it’s a little better in London, as long as I keep my face hidden. I even took the tube over here."

"Impressive."

He reaches for the bottle again, and Liam moves it out of reach. He pours out a glass and slides it over to Declan who tosses it back. "Enough talk about me, anyway. How’s it going with your spin doctor?"

"She’s now the official PR manager for my campaign." I study the ash building up on the tip of my cigar.

Declan straightens in his seat. "That’s good, right?"

"Not the way he got her to accept the role, it isn’t," Liam interjects.

"Do I want to know?"

"No," Liam and I say simultaneously.

"O-k-a-y, but if it gets you time with her, perhaps it’s worth it?"

"I sure hope so."

"So what are you doing here?"

I narrow my gaze on him. "What do you mean?"

"If you want her, you need to go after her. Why are you wasting your time here with us?"

"Our relationship is now professional." I take a puff on the cigar and blow out a cloud of smoke. "So, I can’t exactly pop into her place without reason, the optics on that wouldn’t be great."

"But a work meeting wouldn’t attract the same scrutiny, would it?"

"Hmm." I place the cigar in the notch in the ashtray, then lean over and grab him by the scruff of his neck. Which, mind you, was easier when he was a skinny junior who always got ragged by the rest of the boys for being the scrawniest of the bunch. Now, he’s six-foot-three, with shoulders like a quarterback, yet I can’t get over the habit of treating him like a cheeky younger sibling.

"Hey, watch it, man." He grabs my neck back in return.

Yep, he’s definitely grown up. Doesn’t mean I’m going to stop behaving like a protective older sibling. "Sometimes you do have words of wisdom to offer."

Liam snaps his fingers. "The V&A Ball. That’s the one you need to attend, and invite her to it, as well."

I glance between them. "I’ll go on one condition."

39

Zara

"How do I look?" I pop out a hip and the light bounces off of the Swarovski crystals that decorate my shimmery-silver, one-shoulder dress. It clings to me like it was made for me, which it probably was, considering it arrived in a box by special delivery just a few hours ago. I almost turned it away, until I noticed the label on the box. Armani. Only a fool would turn away the chance to wear an Armani original, and a fool, I am not. Still, I hesitated when the courier handed over the second box. This one bore the Manolo Blahnik label. And if I had any doubt, the third box—this one sporting the Birkin brand—sealed the deal.

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