Page 2 of Something Borrowed

“As do I, Terrence. Although this bum shoulder prevents me from playing tennis. How about you, Brigid? So, you play any sports?” Peterman turned his attention to her, eyebrow raised.

Flashbacks from school gym class had her breaking out in a sweat. Tripping over her own feet, picked last for every team. Sports were never her thing. Another set of genes that skipped the middle child in her family.

Before she could respond, Peterman’s wife, Louise, joined the group and slipped her arm around her husband. “Honey, I just talked to Susan. Her contractor is available for our formal living room. He’s brilliant at design and would be much better than your nephew, considering how badly he screwed up our kitchen.”

He patted her arm. “Did you get his card?”

She waved it in the air before tucking it into her purse. “Right here. Hello, Brigid and Terrence. Nice to see you again. Is my husband treating you well?” Without waiting for a response, she glanced around. “Terrence, where is your lovely girlfriend? Sarah, is it?”

He smiled, shooting a quick, satisfied glance at Brigid. “She’s my fiancé now. I proposed in the spring, and we’re planning a Christmas wedding.”

Brigid resisted the urge to gag. Leave it to Terrence to one-up everyone around. She refocused as the congratulations were shared, then realized Louise had asked her a question.

“I’m sorry, Louise. What did you say?”

The older woman smiled. “Of course, dear. I wish we could have used your sister. She is amazing, but her schedule was just too busy, and we absolutely need this done before the holidays. I wish you could have convinced her to make some time for us?” Louise’s voice rose on the suggestion and Peterman’s gaze narrowed at Brigid in an unspoken order.

As if her sister, Andrea, had any interest in helping Brigid’s career. Brigid obligingly pasted on a smile and said, “I’ll call her and see what I can do. I know her firm is often booked a year or two in advance now. Would you consider someone under her direction?”

Louise pouted briefly. “I would consider it, if your sister oversaw this person directly. I would appreciate anything you can do to persuade her.”

Peterman made a sound of agreement as he sipped his scotch and gave Brigid a meaningful arch of his eyebrow. Terrence watched the exchange with a tight smile on his face, and Brigid could almost smell the wheels turning in his brain. He’d be finding some amazing designer soon to offer to Louise and save her design efforts when Brigid failed, as she probably would. Andrea wouldn’t do a damn thing for her sister, especially not for a small potatoes account as this one was.

Louise turned her full attention to Brigid. “Are you seeing anyone, Brigid? Your partner at home is just as important as coworkers in the office. Look at me and Bill. He works hard, and I make sure everything runs smoothly at home, hosting his business colleagues and dinner parties. Look at Terrence. He’s dating a financial adviser, bringing in more contacts for him and the firm.”

Brigid closed her eyes briefly and sucked in a breath. She was going to kill Grady, abandoning her to this fresh hell with her boss and the biggest kiss-ass in the department. Matthew would just have to find another groomsman and brother. Matthew wouldn’t mind. He’d understand, right?

A warm hand settled on her lower back and a man leaned over her. His clean, masculine scent, not clouded by the heavy cologne so many of the law partners and associates wore, washed over her and she relaxed. Grady. Finally.

“Sorry I’m late, honey.” He pressed a kiss to her cheek. “Did I miss anything?”

She let out a relieved breath. “You’re right on time, honey. This is Bill Peterman, my boss, and his wife, Louise. This is Grady Coughlin.”

Grady shook Peterman’s hand. “Pleased to meet you, sir, and Mrs. Peterman.”

“Coughlin? Any relation to Matthew?” Louise asked.

Grady had no problem carrying on a conversation with anyone. Brigid envied that skill. She felt like his arm trophy, as if this was his event and she was his date. Within a few minutes, he and Louise were chatting as if they were old friends, casually, comfortably, as if they had known each other forever. Meanwhile, Brigid’s skin was crawling with a desperate need to escape. As if sensing her tension, he placed one hand on her lower back and rubbed in light circles, soothing her and igniting a different kind of heat. She sighed and relaxed into him.

“Yes, he’s my older brother,” Grady said, after Peterman asked about his relation to Matthew again. “In fact, I stopped to see him before I came over here. I got held up for a few minutes with Caroline’s parents.”

Terrence’s perfect girlfriend—tall, thin, blonde, and beautifully dressed—walked up and the Petermans turned their attention to them, congratulating them on their engagement. Meanwhile, Brigid leaned into Grady, who leaned down as if they were sharing sweet nothings. His body pressed against her, warming her against the chill of the air conditioning, and she longed to rest against him, but she resisted, needing to remain strong both as a lawyer and a woman. She could not afford to show any weakness, no matter how good his hand felt on her lower back and how much she relied on his steadying presence.

“Where have you been? Was I not clear on the time?” She kept a casual smile on her face, but the words were sharp.

“I waited outside until ten after, then Matthew found me and I’ve been trapped with him ever since. Where were you? Tied up at work again?” His voice roughened, a hint of anger in his tone, his hand stilling.

“I didn’t have to come from outside. This is where I work. I just took the elevator to the top floor. Why didn’t you call me?”

“I tried, and it went to voicemail. So, you were working late?” His tone held a note of censure, but she ignored it. He pulled his hand away, and she mourned the loss of the connection, but straightened. She didn’t need or want to be seen as dependent on him.

“I always work until seven or later. Damn, I left my cell downstairs.” She glanced back at him. “Nice suit.”

Seeing him in casual clothes hadn’t prepared her for how sexy the suit would look on him. The low hum of arousal that had started with his touch simmered hotter. It had been too long, and she’d been too busy with work to find some personal time. Maybe she needed to make the time before the wedding.

“You were very specific when you called.” His voice was neutral, but the undertone was still there and made her pause and stare up at him, wondering what the problem was.

Louise turned her attention back to them. “What do you do, Grady?”

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