Page 47 of Finding Lord Landry

Cora came up behind us, waving her phone. “It’s all over the internet and social media. I’m afraid the world thinks you’re engaged whether you are or are not. It’s actually quite sweet. They’re comparing it to Harry and Meghan—a royal romance of sorts. ‘The Long-lost Lord and his American Sweetheart Reunite After Harrowing Ordeal in San Cordova.’ You have to admit it’s ready-made clickbait.” She sighed. “And the photos. Fucking Christ, Landry. You’re pretty and all, but did you have to have a beautiful boyfriend, too?”

Kenji’s body stiffened. “I’mnothis boyfriend,” he hissed in as polite a tone as possible. “We need to clear this up before it goes any further.”

“Clear it up?” Cora’s eyebrows lifted. “You think Landry should admit he lied to the prime minister?”

Kenji opened his mouth and shut it again. His face flushed.

The new housekeeper appeared around the corner from the main part of the house, wringing her hands. “Pardon me, my lord, but there’s a Mr. Jim Winthrop here to see you.”

I glared at her. “Mrs. Ashcombe, we’ve talked about this. Will you please call me Landry?”

Her eyes widened in a combination of shock and offense. “I apologize. I will certainly try to remember that… my lord.”

Cora murmured under her breath. “Might as well ask her to pole dance for cash, Landry. Christ.”

Nan hushed us both. “Mrs. Ashcombe, please let Mr. Winthrop know Lord Hawling will meet with him in the Anning Room in five minutes. Thank you.”

Mrs. Ashcombe raced off, her sturdy heels click-clacking on the worn tiles of the house’s lower west wing where our offices were located.

I glanced at Nan. “I thought we were meeting with the crisis management team.”

She shook her head. “It wouldn’t do to keep Jim waiting. We can get started without you.”

“You’re worried about upsetting Jim Winthrop?” I asked, surprised. “Since when?”

Nan’s face pinched. “Who do you think was responsible for informing the media who was on that plane yesterday and when it was landing?”

My stomach dropped. While my night had been long and rough, my thoughts during those hours had been centered on Kenji, not the paparazzi. I hadn’t even considered how they’d known to be there. In my world of modeling and my friend Zane’s world of musical celebrity, the press were like ants at a picnic—always where you didn’t want them to be. But this wasn’t a nightclub, a party, or even a commercial flight. So who had tipped them off?

The only people who’d known about that plane landing in London yesterday and who was on it were our own pilots and flight attendants, who’d been loyal to the Brotherhood for years… and Jim and Jamie Winthrop.

I bit out a curse. “I’m going to kill him,” I growled, turning down the hallway to follow Mrs. Ashcombe… until Kenji laid a hand on my arm.

I stopped instantly.

He stood straighter and threw his shoulders back. “You’re going to kill himwith kindness,” he instructed. “You’re going to spoon-feed him the story you want the media to know in the nicest way possible.”

Was he serious? Jim Winthrop had been so eager to use his son’s kidnapping to raise his profile he’d invaded our privacy—Kenji’sprivacy—and made Kenji a media target. I was ready to tell him where he could shove the favor he thought I owed him.

I shook my head once, nostrils flaring. “Sorry, no. I’m not capable of playing nice right now.”

Kenji’s hand tightened briefly on my arm before he stepped away. “Then you’re going to let me lead.”

I watched the slight bounce of his ass as he preceded me down the hallway, for all the world as if he knew where he was going. His sleek black hair swung from shoulder to shoulder the way it did when he was on a mission.

It was sexy as fuck.

But despite the momentary relief of having Kenji back on my side, even briefly, I recognized that this was Kenji’s MO. Throwing himself into work to avoid unpleasantness was his wheelhouse, and “managing Landry’s messes” was his quintessential life’s work.

I moved up beside him to guide him to the proper room.

When we entered, Jim and Jamie were standing near the fireplace.

Jim’s face lit up. “Ah, good to see you both. I assume you’re well recovered after a nice night’s sleep?”

Kenji turned on a smile. “Much better, thank you. I’d like to apologize for not thanking you yesterday for spearheading the rescue. I’m indebted to you for including me in the rescue.” He reached out a hand to shake.

Jim’s ego was immediately stroked. He shook Kenji’s hand before moving to shake mine. “Happy to help. Everett—sorry, Landry—here has already agreed to do me a big favor to show his gratitude. Maybe you wouldn’t mind helping him with it.”

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