Page 78 of The Broker

“I like ittoomuch. That color looks fabulous on all of you.” Brianna let out a sound of frustration. “Damn. Am I going to have to change my wedding colors again?”

Noah:You could still buy the dress and wear it when you clean. Spin off brand: Fancy Girl Cleans.

I chuckled and thumbed out my next message, which was a huge mistake because it drew everyone’s attention.

Me:I’m not spending $1200 on a cleaning dress.

“Who are you texting?” Sasha asked.

Shit. I dropped my hand so my phone was hidden in the layers of my skirt. “Just a friend.”

That was the wrong answer, because Sasha’s eyes narrowed. “Tell me you’re not texting Zach.”

“Oh, fuck no.” I flashed an apologetic smile for my profanity to the saleswoman, who didn’t seem to care.

Sasha knew all my friends, and I was being secretive, which set her on alert—so I was going to have to give her something. She wasn’t the type to let things go. I’d specifically agreed not to tell my parents about Noah, and it had seemed safest to keep our whole relationship under wraps.

How would I explain it, anyway?

“It’s Noah,” I said simply.

Cait exchanged a look with the other two girls, checking to see if she was out of the loop, but Brianna looked just as lost.

“Who?” they asked in unison.

Sasha wrinkled her nose. “The guy whose house you’re cleaning?”

“Yeah.” I forced casualness into my voice. “He’s helping me with some business stuff too.”

An evil, knowing grin spread across her face. “Is he? And what’s he getting out of this arrangement?” She straightened like whatever thought had just hit her filled her with excitement. “Did you go with my idea of the French maid costume?”

“No,” I said quickly—tooquickly.

“Oh, my God, you did!”

“No,” I was firmer this time, “I didn’t. I mean, I may have thought about it, but just for my videos.” I tacked it on for good measure. “Not for him.”

It wasn’t the least bit convincing, and Brianna chuckled. “Why am I not surprised you’re sleeping with the guy you work for?”

The saleswoman acted like she suddenly had somewhere else to be. She excused herself and disappeared into the rack of dresses.

I sighed loudly. “I am not sleeping with Noah.”

“But she wants to,” Sasha pointed out to the girls.

I didn’t say anything, because what was there to say? And when I didn’t deny it, they knew she was right.

I didn’tjustwant to sleep with him, but to be with him completely... but it could never happen. I wasn’t at a point in my life right now where I was allowed to fall in love with anyone.

Most of all him.

“It doesn’t matter if I want to—because I’m not going to.” I said it mostly to remind myself. “It’s the last thing I need right now.”

The girls nodded in understanding and turned their attention back to the dresses.

The irony wasn’t lost on me either. I was building a brand, claiming to be an expert on cleaning things up, and yet... my life was a huge fucking mess.

I had cleaned every area of Noah’s house except for his bedroom because I’d been saving that for last. As usual, his bedwasn’t made and there were clothes on the floor, so my first order of business was to grab a laundry basket and tidy up.

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