Pride and Papercuts (The Austens #5) - Staci Hart Page 0,24
I’d almost kissed her.
Georgie would have loved the breach of the rules, leverage with which she would campaign to see that Bennet boy. She’d been dancing with him since we walked in, the two of them staring at each other, all moony-eyed. But rules were rules, and even to consider breaking that particular rule only spoke to the depths that Laney Bennet had burrowed into my brain.
And as if that wasn’t enough, she was supposed to be on a date with him.
Once my best friend. Now my sworn enemy.
I wondered if he knew Georgie and I were here. Maybe he’d show up to taunt me and torture Georgie. Knowing him, he’d set the whole thing up to make fools of all of us.
I caught sight of Cam and beelined for her with a dozen questions on my tongue. When she saw me approach, she stiffened into business mode.
“Liam,” she said in greeting. “Look at you. Having a good time?”
“Might I speak with you?” The words were dark, tight.
Her brows drew together. “Of course.” She took my arm and led me away. “What’s the matter?”
“I’d like to ask a question I have no right to, so please don’t answer if I’m crossing some line.”
Her frown deepened. “Okay.”
I drew a breath so hot and controlled, my ribs shuddered. “Wyatt Wickham. Is he writing a story about Wasted Words?”
“Yes,” she answered, confused. “Why?”
“It’s not relevant to our business relationship. Did Cooper call him in?”
“He did. Liam, what’s this about?”
Goddammit, Coop. “Is he supposed to come tonight?”
“Well, he was, but he texted to say he was indisposed.”
Relief washed over me like rain. The band around my ribs came unbound. “Good. That’s good.”
“Is there something I should know about him?”
“No. He’s a great journalist, and the piece will be valuable press.” Don’t let him near Laney, I wanted to beg. But it wasn’t my place. Laney wouldn’t believe me if I told her the truth about him anyway.
“Are you sure?” Her face quirked.
“Absolutely sure. Thank you, Cam. I’m sorry to interrupt your night.”
“It’s no trouble. Anything you need, all right?”
I nodded and sent her back to her people before drifting into the shadows to observe. To think.
Two people in this world sparked fierce and untethered reactions from me. One stood on the edge of the crowd, talking to Cam, her face falling when she no doubt learned that coward wouldn’t be coming. The other was the coward himself. The swindling opportunist who cared for nothing but himself and what served him. If he was going to be around here, would he cross paths with Georgie? Did he want to? I didn’t know what game he was playing, but one existed. He’d told Laney he’d be here tonight, immediately breaking the first of many unfulfilled promises.
And then there was the matter of what to do with Georgie. Did I tell her that the man who had nearly broken her was working with Wasted Words? That there was a chance she would not only see him, but see him with Laney? Or did I keep it to myself? Let her live in that blissful state of ignorance or tell her with the certainty that every time she stepped foot in this place, she’d worry he would be here too?
I couldn’t tell her, I realized. She’d be mad as all hell if she found out I knew and didn’t warn her, but I could endure that if it saved her from the sleepless nights his potential presence would trigger. And though I told myself it was to spare her feelings, I wondered if it was to spare mine too.
I watched Georgie dance with Jett, suddenly aware that he could be so much worse. I didn’t trust him, but if he was anything like his sister, he was as opaque as cellophane. Georgie couldn’t see him anyway, so the truth was that all of this was harmless. Just as harmless as whatever had just happened between me and Laney.
She was the embodiment of whiplash with all the predictability of a tornado. Her volatile nature made her impossible, impertinent, and for some incomprehensible reason, I felt the compulsion to storm over to where she stood, whip her around to face me, and force her to see reason by way of my lips, words or no words.
It would take the arrogance of a king to believe I could ever tame that particular tempest.
And contrary to her opinion, I’d never be so bold.