Page 77 of A Lesson for Laurel

Philip didn’t have a lot of friends. Or the friends he had didn’t have significant others that she had anything in common with.

She always felt uncomfortable being around them. Everyone was superficial.

Even down to their wedding party. Which was small. A best man and maid of honor. Philip’s best friend and his wife.

She’d been talked into that and since she didn’t have any close friends in her mind that liked Philip, she didn’t argue it.

“Don’t be,” he said. “Liam is great. So is Nicole.”

Another attorney and Easton had told her he’d explained her reaction to finding out about his career.

“She’s not going to be annoyed over my opinion of attorneys?”

He laughed and yanked her into his arms. When he was staying at Abe’s he wasn’t much of a touchy-feely type of man. But since she’d been here, he was reaching for her nonstop.

Maybe the distance was a good thing for them.

“You don’t have a problem with me,” he said, poking his finger into her side. “Or are you just fibbing and overlooking it because you want my body?”

“Totally want your body, but I don’t fib,” she said, giving him a big kiss on the lips.

“Good,” he said, swatting her on the ass playfully. She wiggled her hips at him some and had him laughing. “If you keep that up we won’t leave here and then Nicole will be mad.”

“But not Liam?”

“He’s a dude, he’ll understand,” he said.

“I want to make a good impression with your friends.”

He sighed. “I want you to be you. They are going to love you for that. They don’t care about what you do or how you look.”

“I’m going to look good,” she said. “I always do.”

Laurel was smirking when she said it. But she had gotten a manicure and pedicure a few days ago and packed a few outfitsto figure out what she wanted to wear. Easton didn’t know the plan for today until last night and by then she was packed and on her way.

Typical men, waiting until the last minute.

It’s like he didn’t know how stressed she was over this.

“Yes, you do. But I’m sure you’re not wearing that.”

She had on jean capris and a T-shirt. “What’s wrong with this?”

His smile dropped. “Nothing,” he said. “You look great.”

She was only picking on him. “Thanks. I try. But no, I’m not wearing this. Or maybe I’ll keep these jeans on but I’ve got other shirts and accessories.”

He rolled his eyes. “I like you with nothing on at all. That’s your thing. As long as you don’t ever make us late, I don’t care.”

“No,” she said. “I don’t like being late for things.”

She went back to putting together the charcuterie board that she would bring. Meats, cheeses, crackers and fruit. Easton had said it didn’t have to be fancy, but she liked things to look pretty and kept rearranging it.

“That looks great,” he said, stopping her hands from moving them again.

“I know,” she said. “It’s done. I’ll go change now. Are you wearing that?”

He looked down at his jeans and a fitted T-shirt. “Yes. It’s my best friend’s house. Not a restaurant. I’m lucky there isn’t a stain on it. I eat with my fingers and those things happen.”

---