Page 79 of A Lesson for Laurel

Laurel didn’t know what to make of that bold statement from a wife to her husband, but both Liam and Easton laughed and they moved to the back and she got a good look at Nicole.

She was on the short side, her brown hair straight and down, a little bit of makeup on with jeans and a T-shirt.

“Hi,” she said. “I’m Laurel, which I’m sure you know. It’s so nice to meet you. I’ve heard a lot about you.”

“A lot about me and not Liam?” Nicole said, shaking her hand.

“More about Liam,” Easton said. “She knows I set you two up and I said I’d let you explain that. She found it funny I’d do that to a friend.”

“I don’t picture Easton the type to get involved in his friends’ love lives,” she said.

“I had to twist his arm,” Nicole said. “But I’d love to tell you if Liam doesn’t interrupt me. I love your headband too.”

“Oh shit,” he said. “Here they go. Give me the food, I’m hungry. I’ll pour the wine and you two can talk if you want.”

She looked at Easton. This was how he was with his cousin so she knew right away the comfort level he felt with Liam.

“Why, thank you,” she said. “I’d love a glass of wine. But you can sit in this room and listen to us too. Or does it scare you when women talk about fashion? You seem to like it well enough on me.”

Her eyes were looking him up and down with a massive grin on her face.

He walked over and grabbed her arm to yank her close, his lips smacking hers hard, causing his friends to look shocked and then laugh.

She wasn’t sure what that was about but was going to get to the bottom of it before the night was over.

27

GO WITH MY GUT

“So tell me about why Easton set you two up?” Laurel asked twenty minutes later.

They were sitting in the family room. Everyone had a drink in their hand, snacks they were picking at while dinner was cooking and he was trying to figure out why he was acting like a long lost lover who couldn’t get his hands on his woman enough.

He’d seen the shocked look on his friends’ faces and knew there’d be some explaining to do or they were going to start throwing the L word around again.

“It was my idea,” Nicole said. “I was having crappy luck with dating. I was working a lot and not getting out and, when I was out, the guys hitting on me were creeps. Then they’d find out what I did for a living and had two reactions.”

“Let me guess,” she said. “They loved it or were intimidated by it.”

“Exactly,” Nicole said. “I knew you’d understand.”

“Really?” she asked. “Why do you think that?”

“Because Easton told us that you looked one way and had a career not fitting to that at times. Just like him. You’d get what it’s like to be judged on something so stupid like that.”

He turned and saw Laurel’s face flush. “Did you tell Nicole everything about what happened with us early on?”

“He did,” Nicole said. “And the fact you are bringing it up now is even better. I told him it was great and important that you apologized.”

“I was wrong,” she said. “Just as you said. It’s happened to me enough and then for me to do it to him was stupid and silly.”

“But you were going through something or just went through something. It’s hard not to remember that. I don’t hold it against you.”

“Thanks,” she said. “That means a lot.”

“Besides, I want some advice on accessorizing when we are done.”

“From me?” she asked. “Why?”

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