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She’s right to be wary. She has to have seen us together. How comfortable we are with one another. The subtle flirting. The unspoken tension. I wouldn’t trust a woman he hung out with if he did the kinds of things for her that he does for me.
But he only wants me. He said so himself. A rush of gooey warmth runs through me at the reminder.
“Mackenzie?”
What was the question again? “Oh, um, Serena’s fine with it. Encourages it in fact.”
Not a lie technically. She wants me to handle everything and I’m including this under that umbrella of responsibility.
Geez, no wonder Diana’s suspicious.
“Oh, okay,” she says, appearing surprised. “What’re you going to watch?”
Just Gabriel most likely. The ocean blue of his eyes. The way his biceps pop when he wears a polo. And I may have checked out his ass one or two times already, especially during that tux fitting. “I’m not sure. Probably some action flick. You know how guys are.”
She uncrosses her arms, long hair swinging forward over her shoulder. “He’s the guy from the bar, right? From a few weeks ago?”
She’s never asked, so I never brought it up, hesitant to open that can of worms. Diana’s usually not one to meddle in private things, though.
“That was a misunderstanding.”
She picks at her fingernails, dirt visible beneath the white crescents. She must have been planting something. “He paid to have your office redone.”
“Yes.”
“He took you and your parents out to dinner.”
I nod. She must have overheard that from her spot at the register.
“He made sure you were taken care of when you were sick. I saw how worried he was.”
I find myself shrinking into my seat more and more with each thing she states. Not that they’re accusations, but they weigh heavy on me all the same. “Those are all things a friend would do.”
She nods in response, looking me in the eye. “Just be careful, okay?”
I’m silent as she stands and makes her way back to the main floor of the flower shop to greet someone as the bell dings over the door. I appreciate her concern, I really do. And from her point of view, I deserve the censure.
But she doesn’t know the whole story.
The engagement may be a farce, but what’s burgeoning between me and Gabriel?
That’s all real.
“Miss Sweet.”The liveried doorman to Gabriel’s building holds the door open for me and I cautiously walk through, staring at him. How does he know who I am?
“Ah, Miss Sweet.” A second man stands at attention once I’m inside the lobby, stepping out from behind his desk. “Mr. Bishop is expecting you. Right this way, if you please.”
I’m led over to the elevator, not exactly sure what’s happening. I thought there’d be an intercom or something. I wasn’t aware I’d be human ID’d.
He inserts a key into a special slot and steps back, tipping his hat at me.
“Um, thank you.”
“Anytime, miss. Mr. Bishop said you’re welcome whenever you like.”
He did?
The doors close, my reflection gazing back at me as I begin my ascent. I smooth my hair from my face, releasing a long breath as I adjust the wraparound tie on my blue dress.