Page 21 of Love is Fake (Love is Everything #1)

Chapter

Ten

“Holy shit, Iz you look fucking amazing!”

When Kiara uses that many curse words in one sentence, it’s usually either a very good or a very bad sign. This time, I know for sure it’s the former.

I turn in front of the mirror, my hands skimming over the silky material which fits me as if it were made for me.

“How the hell did he find a shade that matches your eyes in less than a day?” Kiara turns her head to one side and then the other on my phone screen. “Whoever his personal shopper is, they’re my guru.”

Mine too , I think to myself as I stare at my reflection in the mirror.

The floor-length dress is held up by two thin spaghetti straps that plunge down to a seriously low neckline, making it impossible to hide my substantial boobs, something I’ve been used to doing since high school when I developed early.

“Don’t you think it’s a little…revealing?” I gesture towards my cleavage. It’s not indecent, but it’s definitely more than I’m used to showing.

“I’m not even gonna answer that, Iz. We both know you look elegant as fuck and sexy as all shit! Own it!” The swearing is definitely a good sign, I decide.

I let out a deep breath, imagining I’m pushing out all my nerves with that sigh. It works for at least 30 seconds and then I take a step in the gold high-heeled sandals. Saying I’m unsteady on my feet is an understatement.

“Are you sure about this, Iz?” The nervousness in Kiara’s voice is so foreign it almost doesn’t sound like her.

“The heels?” I frown down at my feet. “I’ll be fine once I get used to them.”

Kiara waves her hand in front of the camera, dismissively.

“I’m not talking about the shoes, Iz. I’m talking about the guy .”

And there’s only one guy she could be talking about. There’s only one guy who’s been on my mind all day.

“It’s just business, Ki.” I shrug, repeating the words Lennox had said to me. “I thought you’d be pleased, there’ll be a lot of agents and managers there to talk to and get the word out about the clinic. It’s a good marketing opportunity for us, right?”

It makes a lot of sense, I reason as I talk. It’s a shame it’s only half the reason I’m going, or maybe not even half, I admit to myself.

“You been practicing that long?” Kiara asks with a smile and an arched eyebrow.

“A little while,” I shrug in her direction.

“Well, you’re not wrong, it’s PR we couldn’t buy , so I’m not going to tell you not to go. I’m just going to repeat what I said before. Be careful , okay?” Kiara has her big sister voice on and – growing up an only child – it sorta makes me love her even more.

“I will,” I promise her, although a voice in the back of my head tells me it might already be a little late for that.

“Then, knock ‘em dead, babe.” Kiara blows me a kiss, which I return and then I’m just staring at a black screen.

I give myself one final once-over in the mirror, making sure I don’t have lipstick on my teeth, before grabbing the gold purse that arrived with the rest of my outfit.

I’m grateful for the short walk to the main house.

Not only does it give me a chance to practice walking in my vertiginous heels, but it gives me time to at least try to settle some of the butterflies in my stomach.

I’d like to pretend it’s just the idea of being at a big-deal event like tonight’s which is causing the nerves, and that I’m good enough at lying to myself to buy it.

But the truth is that the person I’m going with is just as responsible for the queasiness I’m experiencing.

“Fake it ‘til you make it,” I repeat my mantra to myself, pulling my shoulders back and shaking my hair out before walking into the house.

I follow the sounds of conversation through to the main entrance which itself is bigger than my whole apartment.

“Have you pulled the plug on that crap yet?” Kai asks, in an unfamiliarly serious tone.

“Trying to, but Dec’s asked me to think it over.” Lennox rubs the back of his neck in frustration. “He thinks they’ll come back at us with some breach of contract bullshit, if we pull out now.”

“And what do you think?” Kai asks.

“I think I’d rather stick a fucking fork in my eye than go through with it, but it’s not just about me, Kai.

If she decides to sue, and knowing her, she damn well could, that’s gonna affect everyone who works for me.

People will lose their jobs because of me and I don’t want that shit on my conscience. ”

Kai shakes his head in annoyance. “You’re not responsible for everyone, Nox. I know you think a lot of yourself but you’re not the freakin’ Almighty! You don’t have to protect everyone all the damn time.”

I feel a little awkward walking in on what seems like a private conversation and I’m about to try to retreat when Kai looks around Lennox’s broad form. His eyes widen at me for a moment before he breaks out into a toothy smile as if I haven’t caught them in the middle of an argument.

“There she is!”

Lennox turns around smoothly and my throat goes dry at the sight of him all dressed up. If I thought he was irresistible in gym-wear, in the charcoal-grey suit he’s wearing, he’s positively devastating.

“Hi.” I swallow, forcing myself to say something as they both look at me. “If you guys are in the middle of something, I can come back.” I take a step back, not wanting to intrude on whatever’s got them both so tense.

“You look…” Lennox stares at me, more than just a little slack-jawed.

“You look like you’re gonna have to be beating every dude in that place off with a stick, Iz-meister!

” Kai interrupts, looking me up and down with frank admiration.

“But we all know you only have space in your heart for one man.” He waggles his eyebrows at me, making me giggle and I wish he was coming too.

Having Kai there would make this thing a whole lot less daunting.

One on one time with Lennox while we’re working is one thing, but this is a whole new ballgame.

“We should make a move,” Lennox rumbles, setting off butterflies in my stomach.

“Sure.” I try to smile the nerves away, but one look at Lennox in all his suited glory makes that impossible.

As we step out of the front door, I’m half-expecting to see a limo, but instead I’m faced with a classic sportscar. My eyebrows lift all the way up to my hairline and I realize how much my dad would love to see this thing of beauty.

I circle the car, taking in its mint condition, right down to the black paintjob that’s been waxed to a high shine.

“69 Mustang?” I ask, thinking out loud. I don’t miss Lennox’s surprised glance as he nods, confirming my guess.

I shrug. “Daughter of a mechanic, remember? Just because I can’t drive for crap, doesn’t mean I can’t appreciate a classic. This our ride?” I ask, not above feeling excited at the prospect of driving around in one of these rare babies.

“Figured it was a good occasion to break out the batmobile.” Lennox winks at me, making me laugh. “Besides, it’s easier for you to get in and out of than the truck.”

I’m touched by his thoughtfulness, but I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t also a little disappointed not to need Lennox to help me into this car.

“After you.” Lennox opens the passenger side door for me, and I manage to slide in without making a fool of myself, which I count as an early win.

As Lennox hops into the driver seat I’m immediately aware of how much smaller the Mustang is than the truck. He seems to fill up the space with his body, with his presence, with the cedar smokiness of his scent. God, I could get drunk off that smell.

Our seats are close together, making it impossible for me to ignore him and even more impossible to avoid thinking about how good he looks in his suit.

I’m grateful Lennox receives a call almost as soon as we start the short drive to the resort where the party’s being held. I look out of the window, watching the world go by while I try to calm my heart. It’s beating so loudly it’s impossible for Lennox not to hear it.

“Sorry about that,” he clicks off his earpiece, ending the call as we stop in front of the valet of the resort.

“It’s fine.” I wave his concern away, my nerves already re-focusing on the task at hand; walking into a room full of powerful people, none of whom I know.

Lennox puts his hand on my lower back, guiding me gently through the lobby, smiling and nodding at people as we go. “You’ll be fine,” he says. “I’ll be right next to you the whole time.”

His words and his hand on me both comfort and stir something deep inside of me. I smile up at him gratefully and my heart catches in my throat as our eyes meet and, for a moment, I forget everything apart from the man in front of me and the way he’s looking at me.

“Breathe, Isabella,” he says quietly, and I snap out of staring at him like a psycho.

Please let me get through this without making an idiot out of myself .

I take a deep breath as instructed and feel less like I might be about to pass out. That is until we walk into the function room and it feels like every eye in the place swivels towards us.

“Is this what it’s like?” I ask under my breath.

“What what’s like?” I hear the frown in his voice, but I’m too busy looking at the floor so I don’t trip down the damn stairs to see it.

“Being you, having everyone stare at you as soon as you walk into a room,” I explain.

Lennox chuckles, a low, warm sound that makes the deepest parts of me vibrate with awareness.

“You think they’re looking at me ?” His hand on my waist tightens automatically as I misstep, stopping me from toppling over. I send him a grateful glance, my heart stopping in my chest at the way he’s watching me. “They’re looking at you, Isabella. You’re stunning.”

My face warms at his compliment, but I’m saved from having to respond by a group of people welcoming us to the event.

“Lennox, great to see you.”

“We can’t wait for the season to start.”