Page 112 of How to Kiss a Hawthorne Brother
I hang up with my sister, my finger hovering between the app I use to communicate with Lila and the search I already started for roadside assistance. Better to start with that. If it’s going to be a while, or if I can’t find anyone close by, maybe I’ll consider calling my assistant. It just feels wrong to ask this of her, after her business hours, when she specifically said her availability is not flexible.
She could be caring for an ailing husband. Or . . . I don’t know, crocheting something.
It occurs to me that I probably ought to make an effort to get to know my assistant a little better. Olivia and Brody are right. This isn’t like my situation with Ryan. She clearly isn’t the same, and she’s very good at respecting my boundaries. She only has access to what I give her, and she isn’t even a little bit pushy.
I should try to be more friendly.
But do I really want to start that effort on the side of the road in the middle of nowhere?
Except, I really do need help.
Shoving aside the last of my hesitations, I pull up her number and hitcall.
Chapter Five
Lila
Jack and I areplaying a game of Sleeping Queens—his favorite card game and one of the many sacrifices I make because I love him—when my phone rings, the screen lighting up with an unknown number. The city name attached to the number catches my eye because it reads Silver Creek, NC.
I only know one person who lives in Silver Creek.
It could be a coincidence.
A spam call from someone wanting to sell me an extended warranty on my car or asking for a donation to some political action committee. Maybe someone wanting to collect on imaginary debt or refinance the mortgage I don’t have.
But my bossdoeshave my number. And he’s allowed to use it during business hours, should we ever need to communicate.
We never have. Perry is an expert DM’er and a total phone-avoider. At least so far.
It can’t be him.
Can it? My palms are sweating, my heart beating so hard, I think Jack could probably see it pounding if he looked closely.
“Oh, this is ridiculous,” I say out loud.
Then I answer the call. “Hello?”
“Hello?” a deep voice replies. “Is this Lila?”
My heart drops into my stomach, and a queasy feeling starts swirling.
I’ve never heard Perry Hawthorne’s voice, but somehow, I know it’s him anyway. And his voice is every bit as sexy as I imagined it would be.
What I don’t know is why my body is acting like “Is this Lila?” actually means, “Hey, beautiful. Want to have dinner with me?”
Can a voice really do that to a person—cause such a visceral response?
“Hello?” Perry repeats. “Are you there?”
I clear my throat. “This is Lila.”
There’s a long pause before he responds. “It is?”
“Well, who else would I be?”
“No, I know. You just sound . . . younger.”
“Younger than who?”
