Page 72 of Flame
“Banks, shut up,” Foxx says.
“I spoke too soon.” Banks winces. “It’s a work in progress, I guess.”
Before I can inject my opinion, the women congregate on us. They are all so friendly and kind with giant, genuine smiles.
I’m not sure what to do with them. I’ve never been one to really fit in with the girls, and I’ve never had close girlfriends. My stomach twists as I beg myself not to screw this up.
“We understand that we just met,” Brooke says. “And you might have this under control and want us to go away. But we’dloveto help you with the wedding.”
“Damaris said it was a spur-of-the-moment thing,” Ashley says. “Do you have a dress and flowers and all of that?”
Damaris smirks at Foxx. He tries to glare at her but can’t quite pull it off. I want to laugh, but Pippa pulls my attention away.
“Tell us about yourself, Bianca. Not in some weird interview kind of way. But where did you live before here? What do you do for a living?”
The question is gentle and asked with a sweet curiosity. It’s oddly comforting.
“Well, I live, or lived, in Nashville,” I say, glancing up at Foxx. “I was the interim president of Brewer Group but have taken a leave of absence since this guy demanded to marry me.”
“That’s such a Foxx thing to do,” Brooke says, laughing. “I wondered how he proposed. A demand seems fitting.”
I laugh, laying a hand on his stomach.My God, the man is made of steel.
“How did you meet?” Ashley asks.
“Foxx works for my family.”
“Doing what, exactly?” Maddox asks from across the room.
“I’m going with she owns a strip club, and he’s a stripper,” Jess says.
Foxx groans. “Can we not do this?”
“My money is on a spy,” Moss says. “And I say that because of the binoculars.”
I furrow a brow and look up at Foxx. “Binoculars?”
“I think he’s secretly like a children’s surgeon or something. And that’s why he’s always stressed out and in a bad mood,” Maddox says.
“I think he inseminates baby goats,” Banks says.
“What?” everyone says in unison.
“Not …personally,” Banks says. “With a syringe or something.”
Jess shakes his head. “What goes through your head, Sparkles?”
Sparkles?
Banks shrugs much in the same way Foxx does. It’s adorable.
“Fascinating guesses. But he’s just a part of our security detail,” I say. “No baby goats.”
The brothers exchange a look. I can’t tell if they don’t believe me or are bored by the explanation.
“He used to be on my team,” I say, hoping context will help them understand the situation. “But he’s been on my brother Renn’s detail for a while.”
Maddox stands, a look of incredulity on his face. “Renn Brewer? Like, the rugby player Renn Brewer?”
