Page 55 of Finding Lord Landry

“Romantic headlines? You mean, about you and Jamie Winthrop? Landry told us about the rescue plans. Did the press think you and this Winthrop guy were together just because you were rescued together?”

I wanted to laugh, bark out a snort, and then explain it was all a big joke. If only it were that simple.

“No, actually. I, ah… I was holding Landry’s hand when we stepped off the plane. There was already a misunderstanding, and the image of the two of us together added fuel to the fire. It’s kind of exploded.”

Long story short, the world thinks we’re married.

Bash’s voice carried a smile. “Holding hands, huh? You mean you finally threw Landry a bone?”

I heard Rowe’s voice in the background making abah-dum-bumsound.

“I beg your pardon?” I asked, sounding more like a ninety-year-old butler than myself. I closed my eyes and breathed through my nose.

“Come on. Landry’s a good man, Kenji, and he’s pretty obviously had athingfor you for a while. Maybe don’t be so hard on him.”

Rowe’s snickering intensified. “No pun intended,” he called out.

“He’s a child,” I insisted, unsure whether I was referring to Bash’s husband or Landry.

“Landry’s a hard worker, and you know it. Unless you’ve forgotten about Milan Fashion week two years ago when he added a charity sponsorship to his already overpacked schedule, resulting in his working around the clock for two straight weeks while nearly comatose from jet lag. Or the times he’s had to skip our vacations to check on his dad back in England. Or that time he skipped the opportunity to be seen at the Oscars so he could bring you zosui soup from Hirohisa when you had the flu.Or the time he hired a fucking SEAL team rescue for you on the other side of the world.Or the time he got Rowe into that backroom couture lingerie sale so he could get?—”

Rowe squawked in the background.

Bash sucked in a breath. “Never mind. That’s… private. Anyway. Landry has a giant heart, an impeccable work ethic, and an overwhelming crush on his executive assistant. The two of you either need to fuck and get past it or go on a date. But stop whatever the hell this is because it’s killing Landry. He looked like a kicked puppy at Christmas.”

Another couple on the street had entered my field of vision. Two women walked arm in arm, bundled up in coats and scarves. They were talking with their heads together, unsmiling but obviously close. They reminded me of a couple who’d lived in my apartment building until last year when they’d decided to move to Vermont in search of a slower-paced life so they could spend more time together.

At the time, I’d thought they were crazy. I’d fully expected them to be bored within a month, but here we were, eight months later, and their Instagram feeds were full of photos of their happy life together in the mountains. Their house had a wide, sweeping view of a meadow leading to low peaks where the sun painted swaths of warm colors every morning and night.

It reminded me of the painting of Three Daughters in Majestic that hung over my bed.

Maybe I’d never let myself imagine a life like that because I didn’t think it would ever be within reach.

Maybe it never would be if I kept throwing up roadblocks and pretending I didn’t care when I did.

“Landry wanted me to go out to eat with him,” I admitted softly. “Like… like a date.”

Bash’s voice held a smirk. “For real? You have to admit it would be kind of funny if Landry never needs to reveal the secret of the Brotherhood billions to his life partner because the guy already?—”

Rowe squealed again. “Oh shit. Oh shitttt. That’s what he meant! Landry said at Christmas his partner already knew. Omigod omigod!”

At the time, I’d thought Landry was just being dramatic. I hadn’t been able to allow myself to consider any other reason for his comment. But now… “He told me he wanted to have a relationship with me. Something more than physical.” I swallowed. “He wanted me to be his boyfriend.”

There was silence over the line. I knew Bash well enough to know he was either lecturing himself in his mind to tread lightly, or he was staring wide-eyed at Rowe while mouthingwhat the fuck do I do?

“And you… declined?” he guessed.

“Obviously.”

“Why?”

I huffed out a laugh, causing the glass windowpane to fog in front of me.

All the reasons I’d given myself for years danced in my brain. IknewLandry Davis, I’d told myself. Knew everything about him. Landry was a playboy who didn’t know what responsibility was. Who didn’t take anything seriously. Who wasn’t the settling-down type. Who didn’t know what long-term commitment even looked like and wasn’t a family man.

But not only had Landry been faithful to me for three freaking years, but he was obviously dedicated to his family. And if there was anything that screamed long-term commitment more than a centuries-old family legacy, it was having a man lie to the freaking prime ministerfor me.

The true answer wasbecause I’m a fucking idiot.

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