Page 19 of Linc
“We’ll see,” I quickly say as the doors close, leaving me alone as the elevators descend.Technically, Levi and Reid didn’t get to meet Everly at the bar Friday night so I think I’m covered for now.
When I reach the lobby, the rotating door catches my eyes as my angel walks in, in a denim romper with brown wedges.Her hair is curled in soft waves, she’s still short in the tall shoes but her legs look like they go on for days.She looks perfect.Like the magnets we are, our bodies start to gravitate towards each other.I’m sure the lustful look on my face says it all to everyone passing by but I don’t care.I’m almost to her when some blonde blocks my sight of Everly and wraps around me.
“Surprise!”I hear and feel a pair of lips pressed against the crease of my lip.Thank God I was able to dodge her or else she’d have caught my full lips.
Extracting her from my chest, I hold her at arm’s length at the tops of her bony shoulders.
“What are you doing?”I ask as I stare down at Linley in confusion.
“I’m here to surprise you, silly,” she says like I’m supposed to know what she means.“I got back in last night and thought you’d want to see me.”She tries to maneuver out from my grip and wrap her arms back around me but I hold firm not letting her move an inch.
I peek over her shoulder and watch as Everly looks crushed as she glances back and forth between the two of us at a distance.She starts to back away from the lobby and towards the glass door at the entrance.
Not going to happen.
Pushing off of Linley and ignoring her completely, I stride over to Everly and engulf her in a bear hug with my chest against her back.She goes ridged in my arms and doesn’t move to hug me back or touch me with her hands.Leaning down so that my lips are next to her ear I speak softly.
“She’s a client.”I give the best explanation I can without having to hash out my past with Linley here in the lobby.
“Do all of your clients greet you that way?”She grits out.I can actually hear her teeth grinding as she tries to pry my hands off her.
Turning her around to face me, I see hurt in her eyes but also jealousy and for some reason I love it.It means she’s just as interested in me as I am with her.
“Linley and I…”
“Ah, excuse me!”I hear a high-pitched voice like nails on a chalkboard.We both turn to the noise and see Linley standing there with her hands on her hips and narrowing eyes.“What the hell is going on here?”
Everly stiffens even more, and I tighten my hold on her.
“Everly this is Linley Lewis, a client.Ms.Lewis this my girlfriend, Everly,” I announce.Surely, Linley will get the hint and take a hike leaving us alone, but Linley was never the brightest light in the room, and she’d never skip the chance to draw in drama.She lives by the rule that all media attention is great for her career, good or bad.
“Girlfriend?I’m gone for a month and already I’ve been replaced by,” Linley’s eyes scrutinize Everly from the top of her head to the tip of her toes.“Her?”she says the word like it’s dirty and I want to have her thrown out of the building on her ass.
“Ms.Lewis I’d suggest you make an appointment if you’re wanting to discuss your modeling contracts otherwise you have no business here and need to leave.”
“I’m more than a client and you know it, Lincoln.”She bites back.“She’s not even like the rest of us, she’s short and thick.”
Linley would think a straw was thick, as she thinks eating is for fat people.You can strip her naked and count every one of her bones with how obscenely skinny her frame is.
“That’s enough, Ms.Lewis.If you aren’t here for business, I’ll have you escorted out.”
“Ha, have your fun but I’ll wait for a call when you’re done poking the pork,” she sneers and storms out of the building.
It takes a second to calm myself and not run after Linley to toss her out myself, but I manage to hang onto Everly and remember she’s much better to be around than that vapid bitch who just vacated the building.
“I’m sorry about that,” I start to say but Everly holds her hands up stopping me.
“You know, I forgot I’ve got a training thing at work and need to get going.”She starts to turn and leave the same way Linley just exited, but I catch her elbow, stopping her in her tracks.
“No, you don’t.Let’s go have some lunch and talk.Give me a chance to explain what just happened.”She doesn’t look convinced.“Please.”I tuck a strand of hair behind her ear and lift her chin with my finger.
She takes a step back and gives me a hard look shaking her head.
“Listen, I’m not into “other women” drama.If you and she are an item, or even on the cusp of any type of relationship, then I’m out.I’ve learned a lot over the last three years from clients and friends, and I don’t want any of that in my life.I get that this is Hollywood, and gossip sells but I refuse to be put in a position where I’m splashed across the media in a negative way.”
“There is nothing going on with Ms.Lewis and I.I’m not even sure why she thought we were a thing,” I say.“Let’s head out like we planned and have some lunch.”
Finally, after she wrings her hands looking around the lobby she says, “Okay but I meant what I said.No drama, Linc.”
