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I'd been curled up there for hours, skimming through books on British garden design and trying not to think about storm-gray eyes and the way Edward's tie had sat slightly askew at breakfast.
I’d failed spectacularly on that last part.
My phone buzzed. Cece.
"Finally!" I answered on the first ring. "I need an emergency best-friend consultation."
"Ooh, drama! I live for this. Wait, hold on—" I heard muffled conversation, then her voice again. "Sorry, client call. Okay, I'm all yours. What's the crisis?"
"I think I'm attracted to Daphne's brother."
Silence. Then, "The stuffy British lawyer?"
"Allegedly stuffy. Actually..." I sank deeper into the cushions, clutching a book on clematis varieties like a shield. "Actually, he's gorgeous. And last night, there was this moment—"
"What kind of moment?" Cece's voice sharpened with interest.
I told her everything. The bedroom incident, the almost-kiss, the charged breakfast. By the time I finished, she was making those little humming sounds that meant she was processing at maximum speed.
"Okay," she said finally. "Scale of one to ten, how forbidden are we talking?"
"Eleven. Maybe twelve."
"Mmm. And how attracted are you?"
"Cece."
"I'm serious. Are we talking mild crush or 'rip his clothes off with my teeth' attraction?"
Heat flooded my cheeks. "Definitely leaning toward the teeth scenario."
"Jesus, Lili."
"I know! It's insane. She's my best friend. I can't—"
"Hold up." Cece's voice cut through my spiral. "Has Daphne actually said anything about him being off-limits?"
I blinked. "Well, no, but—"
"But nothing. You're assuming she'd have a problem with it."
"Cece, use your brain. Of course she'd have a problem with it. It's her brother."
"Or," she drew out the word, "she might think you're perfect for each other. Some people actually like the idea of their sibling dating their best friend. Built-in trust, you know?"
Before I could formulate a response to that terrifying possibility, I heard voices in the hallway. Edward's voice, specifically. Arguing with someone in low, tense tones.
"I have to go," I whispered.
"Lili, wait—"
I ended the call and padded to the library door, pressing my ear against the wood. I could make out two voices—Edward's crisp British accent and another man's, slightly older, more gravelly.
"—concerned about the timeline, Edward. The board expects—"
"The board can bloody well wait until we've done proper due diligence."
"This isn't like you. You're usually eager to close deals quickly."