Page 79 of Feuding with the Fashion Princess

If he wanted to play, then fine. “How’s your sex life, Liam?”

Liam’s normally pale skin turned bright red as he sputtered, “That’s none of your damn business!”

Smirking, I raised an eyebrow at him, making the implication clear about why I broke down Lucy’s door. “Then I think the same should apply to mine, don’t you think?”

Eyes wide, he muttered, “Jesus.”

“What can I say? Your sister is a freak in the sheets.”

“Enough! I get it!” Liam raised both hands to cover his ears.

Smugly, I leaned back in my chair. “I trust this will be the last time we discuss the damn door?”

Shuddering, Liam replied, “Yeah.”

“Now, can we get back to the topic of me doing something to keep my mind occupied before I lose it completely?”

Sympathetic, he sighed. “I want to help you, I really do. But work is about to be set to the side anyway.”

“What are you talking about?”

“The circus known as my wedding is about to begin. It’ll require all hands on deck.”

Frowning, I ran the date through my head. “Your wedding is two weeks away.”

“Tell me something I don’t know,” he muttered. “It’s going to be the giant spectacle I never wanted.”

“You do know you’re already married, right?” I stated the obvious.

Liam’s blue eyes, an exact replica of Lucy’s, rolled dramatically. “I’m well aware. It’s . . . complicated.”

The way he said it didn’t invite clarifying questions, so I let it go. “What are we expected to do for two weeks? The wedding is a single day.”

“Theextravaganzais set to kick off on Friday night with the joint bachelor and bachelorette parties.”

“Again, I’ll point out you’re already married, but who am I to say no to a night out? And why are we starting with that and not ending with that?”

“One, we aren’t going out; we’re staying in. Most of the younger wedding guests are set to arrive on Thursday, turning this palace into a hotel bursting with people. Two, the girls will be so busy with preparations—final dress fittings and all that—that this is a good way for them to unwind before reality sets in. And three, we want to do it before Amy’s parents arrive.”

The first two points I could understand, but the third gave me pause. “What’s wrong with her parents?”

That question was enough to have Liam leaving his chair to pour two glasses of bourbon, offering me one before retaking his seat. “For starters, they haven’t met my parents yet, so there’s no telling which waythatwill go. Then, there’s the fact that they hold Leo’s sins against me.”

I winced from more than the burn of the bourbon as it worked down my throat. “Yikes.”

“Yeah. Beyond all that, Amy and her mom tend to butt heads. Her mother wanted her to be a society wife, and Amy was hell-bent on having a career, independent of reliance on a man.”

Tipping my glass in his direction, I made a toast. “To strong women.”

“Amen to that.” We both sipped our drinks before he added, “In-laws, am I right?” Catching himself, he amended, “On second thought, maybe don’t answer that.”

“I have no complaints,” I offered.

Satisfied with that answer, he took another sip. “I’m sorry I couldn’t do more to help you today. Let’s get through the next couple of weeks. Then, I can take my wife on a proper honeymoon while you and Lucy head back to Milan. Well, at least until planning for your own wedding ramps up.”

“Right.” I threw the remaining contents of my glass down my throat.

“Hey, Liam, do you think tonight we could—” Amy’s sultry voice filtered into the room as she entered the office but stopped abruptly when she realized Liam wasn’t alone. I turned my head just in time to catch the hint of a blush that crept up her neck and onto her cheeks. “Oh, Preston. What a pleasant surprise.”