Page 10

TEN

LANDRY

I was drowning. Normally, Kenji managed my fuckups. When I made a colossal mistake, Kenji was the one to put it to rights. So I had no clue where to even begin sorting out a fuckup that involved ruining Kenji’s life by accidentally throwing him straight into the trash-fire that was the British press.

The photographers and reporters who’d been at the airport had been busy all night while we’d slept, and the headlines and social media stories were outrageous. Kenji couldn’t have been online this morning, or he wouldn’t have been able to calmly eat toast and talk with my father.

He proved this a moment later when we reached the hallway outside Nan’s closed office door and he stopped her with a friendly smile.

“Thank you so much for your hospitality last night, Nan. Obviously, if there’s a public relations situation involving—” He waved a hand in my direction but didn’t turn his head. “—I’m happy to help. I’m kind of an expert in cleaning up his messes by now. It’s literally my job.”

My gut clenched, my whole body hollowed out by regret and pain. The situation was even worse than I’d thought. His tone was cold. Precise. Businesslike. As though his body hadn’t dissolved under my touch yesterday. As though the unguarded looks and smiles he’d given me on the plane had never happened.

As though all he was to me was an employee.

“But I’m sure you understand that I need to get back to New York,” Kenji continued politely, “so if we could coordinate our response remotely?—”

“Kenji.” Nan hesitated, glancing back and forth between us before focusing on him. “I can’t begin to imagine what you’ve been through in the last few days, and I do understand your desire to be back on the other side of the Atlantic, but I cannot stress enough what a terrible idea that would be right now. The press is absolutely salivating over your story?—”

He shook his head. “They can salivate all they like. I have no comment about San Cordova.”

“Not that. I mean your story.” She ticked her finger between Kenji and me. “Surely you understand that when the heir to an earldom reappears out of thin air, whilst announcing an engagement to an unknown American, no less, the vultures will circle.”

Fuck . “Nobody announced anything—” I protested.

Kenji spoke as if he hadn’t heard me. He didn’t so much as spare me a look.

“The reporters at the airport yesterday saw us holding hands and standing close. They made up a narrative.” His dismissive tone was a dull blade shoved smoothly between my ribs. “There is no story there.”

I dropped my chin to my chest and tried not to remember the feel of his lips touching mine. Was it really just yesterday?

“The less we say about it, the quicker it will disappear,” Kenji continued. “No one will actually believe?—”

“They will,” Nan said bluntly. “Since the prime minister’s office, while refusing to give an official comment on your release or the hostage situation, did wish all the best to Lord Hawling on ‘his fiancé’s safe return.’”

Kenji’s body froze, and he let out a strangled puff of air. “The… he… what? Why would he?—?”

“Because I told him we were engaged,” I admitted. “I… I had to convince Teddy to put you on the rescue list. He wouldn’t add an American, so I… improvised.”

“Jesus.” Kenji rubbed at his forehead, still without looking at me— fuck, why wouldn’t he look at me?

Cora came up behind us, waving her phone. “It’s all over the internet and social media. I’m afraid the world thinks you’re engaged whether you are or are not. It’s actually quite sweet. They’re comparing it to Harry and Meghan—a royal romance of sorts. ‘The Long-lost Lord and his American Sweetheart Reunite After Harrowing Ordeal in San Cordova.’ You have to admit it’s ready-made clickbait.” She sighed. “And the photos. Fucking Christ, Landry. You’re pretty and all, but did you have to have a beautiful boyfriend, too?”

Kenji’s body stiffened. “I’m not his boyfriend,” he hissed in as polite a tone as possible. “We need to clear this up before it goes any further.”

“Clear it up?” Cora’s eyebrows lifted. “You think Landry should admit he lied to the prime minister?”

Kenji opened his mouth and shut it again. His face flushed.

The new housekeeper appeared around the corner from the main part of the house, wringing her hands. “Pardon me, my lord, but there’s a Mr. Jim Winthrop here to see you.”

I glared at her. “Mrs. Ashcombe, we’ve talked about this. Will you please call me Landry?”

Her eyes widened in a combination of shock and offense. “I apologize. I will certainly try to remember that… my lord.”

Cora murmured under her breath. “Might as well ask her to pole dance for cash, Landry. Christ.”

Nan hushed us both. “Mrs. Ashcombe, please let Mr. Winthrop know Lord Hawling will meet with him in the Anning Room in five minutes. Thank you.”

Mrs. Ashcombe raced off, her sturdy heels click-clacking on the worn tiles of the house’s lower west wing where our offices were located.

I glanced at Nan. “I thought we were meeting with the crisis management team.”

She shook her head. “It wouldn’t do to keep Jim waiting. We can get started without you.”

“You’re worried about upsetting Jim Winthrop?” I asked, surprised. “Since when?”

Nan’s face pinched. “Who do you think was responsible for informing the media who was on that plane yesterday and when it was landing?”

My stomach dropped. While my night had been long and rough, my thoughts during those hours had been centered on Kenji, not the paparazzi. I hadn’t even considered how they’d known to be there. In my world of modeling and my friend Zane’s world of musical celebrity, the press were like ants at a picnic—always where you didn’t want them to be. But this wasn’t a nightclub, a party, or even a commercial flight. So who had tipped them off?

The only people who’d known about that plane landing in London yesterday and who was on it were our own pilots and flight attendants, who’d been loyal to the Brotherhood for years… and Jim and Jamie Winthrop.

I bit out a curse. “I’m going to kill him,” I growled, turning down the hallway to follow Mrs. Ashcombe… until Kenji laid a hand on my arm.

I stopped instantly.

He stood straighter and threw his shoulders back. “You’re going to kill him with kindness ,” he instructed. “You’re going to spoon-feed him the story you want the media to know in the nicest way possible.”

Was he serious? Jim Winthrop had been so eager to use his son’s kidnapping to raise his profile he’d invaded our privacy— Kenji ’s privacy — and made Kenji a media target. I was ready to tell him where he could shove the favor he thought I owed him.

I shook my head once, nostrils flaring. “Sorry, no. I’m not capable of playing nice right now.”

Kenji’s hand tightened briefly on my arm before he stepped away. “Then you’re going to let me lead.”

I watched the slight bounce of his ass as he preceded me down the hallway, for all the world as if he knew where he was going. His sleek black hair swung from shoulder to shoulder the way it did when he was on a mission.

It was sexy as fuck.

But despite the momentary relief of having Kenji back on my side, even briefly, I recognized that this was Kenji’s MO. Throwing himself into work to avoid unpleasantness was his wheelhouse, and “managing Landry’s messes” was his quintessential life’s work.

I moved up beside him to guide him to the proper room.

When we entered, Jim and Jamie were standing near the fireplace.

Jim’s face lit up. “Ah, good to see you both. I assume you’re well recovered after a nice night’s sleep?”

Kenji turned on a smile. “Much better, thank you. I’d like to apologize for not thanking you yesterday for spearheading the rescue. I’m indebted to you for including me in the rescue.” He reached out a hand to shake.

Jim’s ego was immediately stroked. He shook Kenji’s hand before moving to shake mine. “Happy to help. Everett—sorry, Landry—here has already agreed to do me a big favor to show his gratitude. Maybe you wouldn’t mind helping him with it.”

I opened my mouth to remind him that there’d only been one person offering one favor in this scenario, and Kenji hadn’t had a part in any of it, but Kenji clasped his hands around my forearm. His touch was enough to stop me in my tracks.

His smile stayed calm and genuine. “Why don’t you tell me what you had in mind, and I’ll see what I can do to help? Please, have a seat, and we can all talk for a few moments.”

As we moved to take seats in twin settees opposite each other over a low coffee table, Jamie leaned in and pressed a kiss to Kenji’s cheek. “You sure you’re okay?” he murmured to him as they pulled apart.

Needless to say, I wanted to rip his fucking head off and chuck it in the fire.

“Definitely. Thank you for asking,” Kenji said before taking the seat next to me.

I wasn’t surprised to see Kenji lie to him, but I was secretly chuffed.

Jim rubbed his hands together before leaning forward and placing his elbows on his thighs. “Alright, here’s the plan. Landry agreed to accompany us to several high-profile social events over the next few weeks to help Winthrop & Meyers break into the old-money set. But seeing the media’s reaction to your…” He waved a hand between Kenji and me. “Your love story has made this even more exciting. The two of you are about to be the hot ticket in town, the perfect mix of old and new. What better way to make the case that an old, storied family from the peerage is embracing new ways of doing things than to have both of you accompanying us?”

Once again, I opened my mouth to give this man a piece of my mind, and once again, Kenji stopped me again with a hand on my arm. “The problem is that the media has gotten it wrong. We’re not actually, ah…”

My jaw ached from where I forced my mouth not to stop him. To plead with him. To beg the universe to make it right.

He cleared his throat. “Engaged.”

Jim frowned. “You’re not? But…”

Jamie ignored his father’s confusion. He looked at Kenji strangely for a long moment, then smiled. “You know, I did wonder if there was some misunderstanding, given our conversation the other day. This media circus must be a nightmare for you, then, Kenji.” He wrinkled his nose sympathetically. “But I think I have an idea that will work out well for everyone.”

“You do?” Jim asked.

“You do?” Kenji echoed, narrowing his eyes suspiciously.

Jamie nudged his father. “We’ll tell the press they got it wrong and it’s actually Everett and I who are together. That I’m his American fiancé who was being held. It’ll be brilliant.”

Jamie and me? I nearly snorted in surprise. “Sorry, how would that help anyone?”

“Well, if we really sold the bit, it would mean Kenji could go back to his life in America unmolested by the press. And Winthrop & Meyers would get plenty of publicity.” Jamie pursed his lips thoughtfully. “I figure we’ll need to do a few casual appearances together to make the paps believe it. Exchange a few smiles, a few loving glances. Wrap our arms around each other, you know? Oh, and definitely hold hands while we walk down the street.” He glanced at Kenji’s hands on my arm. “There’d probably need to be a few steamy kisses, too, I imagine, to seal the deal… but it wouldn’t be so bad, Everett. I promise.” He shot me a cheeky smile. “You might even like it.”

I wouldn’t. Not at all. But I’d agree to the pretense temporarily if it meant giving Kenji the freedom to go back to the States and get away from this mess. Nothing about this media situation was okay, but I’d signed up for it willingly in exchange for Kenji’s safety. I hated that I was bringing Kenji down with me when he hadn’t been the one making up lies.

“That would be—” I began.

Kenji clamped his hands around my arm like an angry bear trap. “Awful,” he said through his teeth. “Utterly terrible. Because… because the reason we aren’t engaged is that… is that…” He forced a laugh. “Is that we’re already married.”

I turned to stare at him, wondering how it was possible to mishear someone from eighteen inches away. “We… what?”

He blinked slowly, as if he’d surprised himself as much as everyone else in the room. “I, ah… I know you didn’t want to tell anyone yet, b-baby, but now the media have gotten a hold of the story, it’s only fair to make it public.”

Sharp sparkles of bright light flicked at the edges of my vision. “What?” I asked again, very stupidly. Because I knew I hadn’t heard it right, but my brain couldn’t figure out what words he’d actually said or meant.

Someone in the back of my brain was doing a swoon about the “baby” he’d dropped. What would I have to do to get him to say that to me and mean it?

Kenji’s eyes met mine, and the force of it, after a morning of him refusing to look in my direction, hit me like a fire hose. The combination of emotions swirling in his gaze was hard to interpret, but there was for sure something fierce in it. “I’m not letting you go to those events with Jamie Winthrop on your arm,” he gritted out before remembering himself and plastering the polite smile on again while turning back to Jim and Jamie. “When I’m happy to take my rightful place there.”

He transferred his double grip to my hand and pulled our joined fists into his lap.

I glanced to the Winthrops, expecting to see them laughing. Instead, Jamie looked almost smug, and Jim looked relieved.

“Even better,” Jim said. “And congratulations. I was almost positive you’d said fiancé when we were at Downing Street?—”

Kenji answered while I continued to stare at Jim in continued shock. “No doubt he did, in an effort to protect me,” Kenji explained, sitting up and taking on an all-business tone. “Right, darling?”

It took me precious seconds and Kenji’s nearly painful squeeze of my hand to realize darling was… me.

“Uh, yes. Definitely. Always,” I said, meaning it.

Kenji inhaled sharply. “You see, the wedding was an impromptu affair, and I haven’t had a chance to tell my… my grandmother. But now, the cat’s out of the bag. I’ll call her after our meeting.”

Jim’s smile faded. “When exactly did you?—”

My brain finally kicked into gear. I did want to protect Kenji, even if I had no idea what he was trying to accomplish at the moment.

“None of that is important right now,” I told Jim firmly. “What’s important is planning out our appearances for Winthrop & Meyers so Kenji and I can get back to the States as soon as possible.”

Jim frowned. “I thought you hoped to take your father’s place in Parliament. Teddy seemed impressed by your resourcefulness regarding the hostage situation when I spoke to him this morning. He said something about bringing that energy to the Lords.”

The sparkles returned to the edges of my vision, only this time, they were accompanied by an anvil in my stomach. “That remains to be seen?—”

My father’s voice rang out behind me. “Jim Winthrop? What are you doing here?”

Kenji’s hand tightened around mine as I nearly lost my shit completely. I stood up, releasing Kenji’s hand before it could cause my father further confusion. “Dad. I wanted to thank Jim for his help getting Kenji back from San Cordova.”

“Oh. Kind of you, Winthrop.” Dad walked further into the room and held his hand out to shake Jim’s. I held my breath and hoped he wouldn’t say anything to reveal his fragile grasp on the present.

In the end, of course, Kenji saved the day. He stepped forward with a warm smile as my father finished greeting Jim and Jamie. “Ed, I’m sorry to be rude to the Winthrops, but would you mind showing me that portrait of Lady Davencourt you told me about this morning? I’m desperate to see it so I can tell my grandmother about it when I call her.”

He gracefully distracted my father from any confusion he may have had about being ushered out of the room. Once they were gone, Jim looked back at me, his head tilted in confusion. “Why did Kenji rush your father out of the room?”

I froze for a minute before remembering that I had, in fact, had many, many sessions of media and PR training, not only in my job as a model but as the son of a British peer.

I lifted an eyebrow at him and grinned. “I believe he’s trying to protect me from the earl’s wrath if my father learns I’ve made a deal with the devil.”

The three of us sat back down. Jim chuckled. “Fair enough, I guess. Although he’ll see the media coverage of the two of you with Jamie at these events.”

I nodded. “At that point, I can explain we’ve mended bridges after San Cordova, maybe even as a result of today’s meeting. Now. What events did you have in mind?”

Once they were finally gone, I made my way to Nan’s office to discover her conference table full of people working on laptops and tablets. My mood was at the bottom of the Mariana Trench, and I anticipated it going even lower once Kenji got a hold of me.

“Oh good,” Cora said, spotting me from across the room. “The happy husband is here.”

I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. “About that?—”

“Yes,” she said with obscenely wide eyes. “We were just discussing with the PR team how to announce your nuptials with the least amount of personal details possible .”

Her eyes frantically flicked to one side, trying to send me a message I was struggling to interpret. I followed her twitch to see a familiar messy bun in one of the seats. Kenji had removed his sweater and rolled up his sleeves. His hair was mostly off his face with only a few wispy strands escaping the hairband, and a laptop lay open in front of him. Discarded Apple Store packaging lay to one side.

“You found the computer,” I said, meeting his eyes.

“Yes. Thank you. Uh, darling.” He winced as the word clanged awkwardly around the room. “I explained to the team that we needed to wait for you before continuing to strategize because I wasn’t sure what you wanted me to tell everyone about the question of you… uh… running for…” He glanced at Cora. “Or, er… being selected for…” He closed his eyes and seemed to take a moment to come up with the word “Parliament.”

“I’m not ready to address that,” I said quickly. “That’s not on the table.”

His eyes met mine. “Are you running or not? A PR campaign works better when all the cards are on the table.”

I walked up to him and reached out a finger to brush an errant strand of hair behind his ear. His eyelashes fluttered.

I suddenly had a ridiculous idea. If everyone in this room thought we were actual newlyweds, we needed to act like it.

He smelled like the fancy toiletries in our guest bathrooms as I leaned in and ran my nose across his cheek. “Are we putting all the cards on the table,” I murmured into his ear. “ Husband ?”

And then I kissed him on the mouth. Soft and sweet at first but then firmly enough to assert a microscopic amount of control back into the situation.

A puff of air came out of his nose as he surrendered to the kiss. As soon as he did, I pulled away quickly.

“Alright,” I said, addressing the room. “My answer is no. I am not ready to consider a role in Parliament at this time. As the son of the Earl of Davencourt, I hold a deep respect for the role of hereditary peers in the House of Lords and the centuries-old traditions they represent. Serving in this capacity is a noble responsibility, and I have immense admiration for my father’s dedication and service over the years. His tireless work and steadfast commitment to the House of Lords have set an extraordinary standard, and I do not feel that I would be able to live up to the expectations of his incredible reputation by acting too quickly. Will that do for a statement?”

Everyone, including Kenji, stared at me. Nan’s face held an expression of resignation that made my hands clammy.

Kenji stood up and faced me. “Well said… husband.”

He was so close, so mind-blowingly beautiful, it was impossible to think. “Well, you were the one who said the thing about the cards.”

Kenji’s hand slid into mine as he turned back to the team at the table. “I need to speak to Lan… Ev… Lord… my husband, for a moment in private.” He turned to Cora and tilted his head at the door. “You’re coming, too.”

I clung to his hand, knowing it was all for show and wanting to wring every possible moment from the experience before he dropped it like a hot potato in the hallway. But once we were out of the office, he continued to hold it until Cora had led the three of us into the privacy of my office and closed the door.

Then he dropped it and returned to the familiar Kenji who was all about business strategy. “I need to know what Jim Winthrop said. What exactly are you on the hook for?”

“Why did you say we were married?” I shot back, suddenly feeling like I could speak freely. “I had it all settled. They offered us the perfect out, and you were free! All you had to do was go back to the States, and you wouldn’t have had to deal with any of this shit. What the fuck, Kenji? Why did you do it?”

“Because… because…” He narrowed his dark, glittering eyes at me. “Because I couldn’t leave you to your own devices in the middle of a PR crisis, could I? Are you insane?”

“Maybe,” I breathed.

Honestly? I felt like it. What had happened to him “coordinating” things with Nan remotely?

My life was spinning wildly out of control, and all I could think about was the way Kenji’s smooth skin felt against the pads of my fingers. The way his hair tasted when I kissed the back of his head as I pressed my cock deep inside him from behind. The small rush I felt whenever I called his phone to find out what ringtone he’d assigned me. The way I felt when he’d brushed his lips against mine and let out the faintest whimper of surrender.

“Kenji’s right,” Cora said matter-of-factly, reminding me of her presence in the room.

“He usually is,” I agreed, trying to shake myself out of my obsession.

“No, but, like, this is perfect,” she continued. “He’ll be next to you for all of these public events with the Winthrops and can…” Her eyes flicked to Kenji.

“Manage me,” I said drily.

“I mean… kinda,” Cora said with a guilty shrug.

“You do realize we’re not married,” I stated. “But the entire Crisis Team seems to think we are. Does that not wave red flags and clang noisy sirens to you?”

Kenji propped his hip on the edge of my desk. “I made a judgment call. It’s not ideal, but we’re going with it. When the interest in our story dies down, we can let it slip that the ‘wedding’ was never official or legal or whatever but that we’d simply had a ceremony among close friends. People will be disappointed, and then they’ll move on.”

“Until Landry decides to serve in Parliament,” Cora pointed out.

“I’m not doing that. And even if I wanted to, I wouldn’t get elected.”

Cora huffed out a laugh. “You forget that what Teddy Baines wants, Teddy Baines gets. If he wants you in that spot, he’ll find a way to make it happen.”

Kenji didn’t say anything.

Cora looked between the two of us and sighed. “Fine, we’ll punt that. First, we need to decide if you’re Landry or Everett.”

“Everett,” Kenji said at the same time I said, “Landry.”

His choice was hurtful. As if he wanted me to be someone I wasn’t. Someone he didn’t know.

“Landry,” I repeated with a growl, piercing him with my glare. He could take over my life in a lot of ways, but not this. He couldn’t tell me who I was if he was going to get it wrong .

“Cora,” Kenji said in a lighter tone, as if there wasn’t a stew of noxious tension in the room. “Would you mind terribly if Lord Hawling and I take a break for a couple of hours? I’m afraid the jet lag is getting the best of me, and I need to lie down.”

Lord Hawling? Fuck .

Cora bit her lip to keep from grinning. “’Course not. Take all the time you need.”

I followed him through the house and up the stairs like a petulant child. I knew I was in for a brutal tongue-lashing once we were alone. Kenji was going to ream me out. Flay me wide open and take me to church about secrets and betrayal. About lies and disrespect.

But when we entered his bedroom and closed the door, that wasn’t exactly what happened.