Page 11 of Rules in Love
Old habits were hard to break, though, so while he ate his chicken salad in the common eating space, I ate my cup of noodles alone at my desk. Peeking up at him intermittently, I told myself that the earlier cheeky wink probably meant nothing.Looking like he does, he’s probably an outrageous flirt. Those winks could be handed out like lollies. I’ve not really witnessed that, though. Still, I’m sure every woman in this office has been on the receiving end of his dreamy eyes and long eyelashes. Why do hot guys always have nice lashes?
“SCARLETT ELIZABETH. WHAT ARE YOU STARING AT?”
Two hands braced my shoulders, and Teddy was before me, nose to nose. “Jesus Christ, Teddy! Why are you screaming in my face?”
“Well, I said your name twenty times, and you ignored me. You know how I feel about being ignored, Scar.”
“Yes, I know. You may as well be dead.”
“That’s right. So, what, or whom, were you thinking about? Hmmm. Let… Me… Guess….
Plopping in the chair at the empty desk beside me, he began to spin with his trigger finger pointed. Naturally, his immaculately polished Louboutin’s dropped to the carpet when aimed at Finn, who, thank God, had his face buried in his bowl. I slapped Teddy’s finger away, grabbed the back of his chair, and spun him back to me.
“For fuck’s sake, Teddy. Stop being such a dick.”
“What? I was just guessing.”
“Yes, well, stop it. If you must know, I was thinking about…umm…what to do for Ben’s birthday. It’s coming up, and I need to get organized.”
He smelled bullshit, and he was right. “Ben’s birthday?”
I casually flicked my hair. “Uh-huh.”
“Really? The birthday that’s a good ten months away? You’re going to use your child like that? Damn, that’s my mum’s level of cold, Scar.”
“Shut up. I was. I swear.”
“So, you overlooked Captain Koala and his blue suit? He looks very dapper. I wonder what he’s so dressed up for. Maybe he has a date? Hmmm.”
“Yes, perhaps he does, but it means nothing to me. I couldn’t give two hoots about Finn Austen’s dating habits.”
A throat cleared. It wasn’t Teddy’s. And it wasn’t mine. “Well, that’s disappointing. I would have thought the dating habits of an overworked homebody that lived with his sister would have been fascinating.”
FUCK. FINN.“It’s you. You’re here…I mean, Finn. You’re Finn from over there.” I pointed to his empty desk. “Hi… Hi, Finn.”
I could see Teddy covering his face in shame from the corner of my eye and wished I could do the same.
“Yes. It is I, Finn from over there. How are you, Scarlett from over here?” He smiled his dimpled smile and copied my desk pointing.
“I… Umm… I…”
That was all I could come up with, and Finn kindly moved on. “My aunt just sent me a message. She’s decided, and she wants to speak to us. I know it’s short notice, but would around three be okay for you? Otherwise, she can only come in later, and I know you leave at four.”
Showing every tooth in my mouth, I smiled and tried to bat my lashes. Teddy’s snort didn’t help my confidence. “Already? That was quick. Umm, yes, that would be fine—wait, you know I leave at four? You noticed that?”
Unruly curls flopped into his eyes as Finn smiled again and stepped closer—too close, but not nearly close enough. “Of course I noticed that. I notice a lot of things about you, Scarlett.”
Oh, good God.
My name had never sounded the way it did rolling fromthoselips, inthataccent. It was easy to imagine him calling it out again and again as he bent me over my desk and railed me. I felt the blush burning from breast to earlobe but was determined to remain calm and professional. Because that was what I was: mature, steady, and professional.
“Yes, I’m free for you anytime… I mean, Mrs. Crane. I’m free to see Mrs. Crane with you and us together.”What an idiot.“Why does she want to speak to both of us? Clients normally go via the senior partners. Especially in this case, when the outcome was predetermined.”
Finn furrowed his brows and made a cute little grunt. “Trust me, nothing is predetermined, Scarlett. This is an open race. As for why she wants to talk to us, I’m as clueless as you. The old girl is a woman of mystery. Obviously, I’ve known her my whole life, but I still have no idea what she’s up to. That’s part of her charm and why she’s such a success. Best poker face in town.”
“Well, if business success andnothaving a glass face are linked, I’m screwed.” His eyebrows shot up, and a smile, or more of an amused smirk, teased at the corners of his lips. It was devastatingly hot, and I did my best to remain breathing. “Yes, well, as I said, it’s fine. Let your aunt know I look forward to seeing you at three…her at three…I mean, seeing you both at three.”
“Ripper. Job done.”
