Page 109 of A Lesson for Laurel

“What?” Nicole asked. “You have to share.”

“That Laurel is such a lady right now, but if my tire light comes on…”

“Sorry, Easton. If your tire light comes on when I’m dressed like this, you’re on your own.”

He leaned in and gave her a big kiss. “Okay. I’ll call someone to come fix it.”

“You will,” she said. “And by saying that doesn’t mean I’ll jump in and still do it.”

“Tell me he’s joking,” Nicole asked.

“No,” she said. “He’s not. I changed my ex’s tire once much to his frustration. I’d do it again, but not like this.”

“I wouldn’t know the first thing about changing a tire,” Nicole said. “And I don’t want to know.”

“You don’t need to know,” Liam said. “You’ve got plenty of other things you’re wonderful at. Like being the love of my life.”

“Okay, now it’s time to go,” Easton said. “Or I’m going to feel inferior because I’m not all romantic like that.”

“And I don’t need you to be that way,” Laurel said, leaning into his side. “I think we are perfect the way we are. Two imperfectly perfect people made for each other.”

36

PROVING ME WRONG

“This place is so modern,” Laurel whispered into Nicole’s ear. “I’m so out of my element here. I’m used to fancy country club things, not this. And even then I hated it.”

Philip’s country club was stuffy and almost old in its decor.

“Don’t worry,” Nicole said. “It’s a place we came to a few times. The food and drink are great, but I won’t be drinking. I don’t want anyone to know about the baby yet. Liam will be getting me tonic and lime.”

“Easy to hide that there is no alcohol in it,” she said, grinning.

“Nicole,” someone screamed. “I didn’t recognize you. Holy cow, you look stunning. Like you’ve come out of some shell.”

Nicole laughed and blushed. “Livi, this is Laurel Glasgow, Easton’s girlfriend.”

“Where the hell is he?” Livi asked, swiveling her head around. Laurel didn’t see Easton yet either, but he and Liam had gone to the bar while Nicole and she walked to the back room. “I’m Livi Spencer, one of the partners. Easton and I are colleagues for different divisions.”

Livi looked to be at least ten years older than her and was definitely on the loud end.

“It’s nice to meet you.”

“Where did he meet you?” Livi asked. “That’s the important question. Because you’re a hell of a lot better than the last chick that came in here all up in everyone’s face trying to kiss ass.”

She felt an arm come around her shoulder. “You don’t want to know how we met,” Easton said. She took her wine out of his hand. “It’s an embarrassment to me.”

She laughed and winked. “Nonsense. While Easton was staying at his cousin’s house, he witnessed me kicking my ex off my front porch. He thought he’d have to intervene, but I had it covered.”

“She scared me,” he said. “Literally.”

She knew he was joking. He wasn’t like this normally and she was starting to wonder if he was a different person at work when he said he was who he was.

Livi looked at Nicole. “Is this true? Easton doesn’t get scared of much and wouldn’t admit it if he was.”

Guess he wasn’t joking. “This story is true,” Nicole said, smirking.

“I don’t lie,” he said.

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