Page 33 of Snowed In with My Best Friend's Dad

“So an art broker?”

She shrugged. “I guess. I was thinking Mira and I could do it together.”

My stomach clenched. “I thought she wanted to be a teacher.”

“She does, but she won’t ever rise out of her financial situation on a teacher’s salary. She knows so much stuff about art and history.”

I remembered how Miranda kicked my ass inTrivial Pursuit.

Lindsay pouted. “You’re just not understanding.”

“That’s not my fault, Linds. If you want to start a business, you need to develop your ideas. Create a business plan. Study the market to know if there are buyers and if so, who and where are they? Perhaps you should take a business course next semester.”

She let out a frustrated grunt.

“Enthusiasm and excitement are all well and good, but they don’t build a business.”

“All right. I’ll think about it.”

“Good.” Deciding to change the subject, I asked, “So, what are your plans for New Year’s?”

“Liam and I are going out. I’m trying to get Mira and Liam’s brother, Oliver, to come too. They’d be perfect for each other, both total study nerds.”

A ball of jealousy formed in the pit of my stomach at the idea of Miranda with another man. Goddamn it. Would I ever be rid of this woman?

12

Miranda

"Ican't believe I let you talk me into this." I stared at myself in the full-length mirror, not recognizing myself. The red, satiny dress hugged my body so close, it looked like I had been dipped in the fabric. My long hair that I normally just washed and let dry had been styled by Lindsay, so it was fluffed into a wild main. I’d done my own makeup, except then Lindsay came in after me, darkening my eyes and putting on red lipstick over the more subtle shade I'd had on before.

"You look fabulous, Mira. Every guy at the club tonight is going to be drooling over you. I'd be shocked if Oliver didn't notice as well, and he's always got his head in a computer."

I didn't want every guy drooling over me. I wasn't the type of woman who liked to get attention, especially the sexual kind. Unless, of course, it was Brett. But I knew my time with him was over. I pushed thoughts of Brett aside as they were always accompanied by guilt when Lindsay was around.

Since the moment I arrived home the day after Christmas, Lindsay had been working on me to go out with her and Liam and Liam's brother, Oliver, for New Year’s Eve until I finally gave in. Sometimes, it was just easier to go along with her than to try and fight the constant barrage.

Lindsay stood next to me, her dress a shimmery silver, making her look like an old Hollywood starlet. The sides of her long blonde locks were pulled up with the rest hanging down in wavy streams, highlighted with pink strands. Maybe if I stayed next to her tonight, I wouldn’t have to worry about male attention as it would all go to her.

"We look hot. Maybe I should cancel with Liam and Oliver and we could go out on our own."

"I doubt Liam would like it if you went out alone to attract men."

She shrugged. "Maybe he'd appreciate me more if he knew that other men would want me."

I looked at her and frowned. "Is there trouble in paradise?"

"I just feel like he sometimes takes me for granted. That's all."

"You talk like you two have been an item for a long time, but you haven't." I worried that maybe Lindsay was too attached to Liam, who sounded like he didn't feel the same about her.

She ignored me. "Come on, Mira, let's go give them hell."

Reluctantly, I put on my nicest wool coat and headed out into the cold night with Lindsay. She'd arranged for a ride for us, and it took us to the most exclusive club in Boston, The Blueblood Club. Where I had come from a blue-collared background, the Bluebloods were considered rich old money in Boston. Of course, new money could show up there as well. Money was the key factor in this place. It was unlikely I was going to see anybody from my old neighborhood here.

Lindsay leaned closer to me as we approached the bouncers. "I’m using my dad’s name to get us in, okay?"

My stomach tightened. “Is he here?”

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