reason I’m the liaison and he works with the team. He’s brilliant, so long as he doesn’t have to be social or meet new people.”
“I’m surprised he came last night,” Cam said lightly.
“Only because I made him,” Georgie admitted. “I thought if he saw Wasted Words in action, maybe he’d get it. Somewhere in the labyrinth of his brain, I know he did. Thank you, Laney, for handling him with so much grace.”
A laugh shot out of me. “Grace? I insulted him.”
“Because he insulted you. You could have done much worse. He deserved to be put in his place, and I hope you’ll keep doing it—I could use the backup. It’s been a long, lonely battle.” She offered me a conspiratorial smile.
“I get permission to tell Liam Darcy off when he’s out of line?” I asked. “Well, that certainly changes my perspective on working with him.”
Cam eyed me. “Within reason,” she warned.
I held up my hands in surrender. “I’ll be the picture of grace, by Georgie’s definition.”
Cam shook her head and changed the subject. “So what happens from here, Georgie?”
“Well”—she flipped open her portfolio—“the new locations will be ready for launch in six months. Our team has been working on preliminary plans and proposals, customized for each location by region. Since Laney will continue her social marketing here in the store, we were thinking we would have her two days a week at the firm in addition to relevant meetings. Would that work for you two?”
I didn’t frown or wrinkle my nose at the suggestion, which was a big deal. It’d been my idea to work with the team—how else could I make sure they didn’t botch the whole thing?—but I had all the doubts now.
Two days a week in a pencil skirt downtown was bad enough, but with Darcy as my director? I could think of myriad ways to better spend my time. Like being waterboarded or rolling around in broken glass.
The things I would do for this store knew no bounds.
“It works for us,” Cam said, speaking for me.
I wore a thin smile of submission.
“Great. So, just to explain a little about our roles, I’m your liaison, your primary contact for the project. Anything you need, any questions you have, I’m here for you. I’ll manage pitch meetings and briefs, and I’ll come here regularly to update you between meetings, check in, make sure you don’t need anything. The owners told me you’d be the liaison here, is that right?” she asked Cam.
“That’s right. Cooper has his own full-time career, and Rose is out on maternity leave, so I’m your girl.”
“With as much money as your store makes, I’m surprised he’s working anywhere else,” Georgie said. “Honestly, I’m surprised he works at all. I still remember when he was one of New York’s most eligible bachelors.”
Cam laughed. “Billionaire playboy, all settled down and married with kids. He’s mostly just an investor here. Rose normally runs the day-to-day, when she’s not on maternity leave. Which feels like every fourteen months lately,” she joked.
“Well, I for one am excited about what we’re going to accomplish together,” Georgie said with genuine enthusiasm. “We have a big creative meeting day after tomorrow, and the team is dying to meet you, Laney. Can we count on you to be there?”
“Tell me you’ll be there too,” I practically begged.
She chuckled. “I can be.”
“Then I’ll be there.”
Darcy or no Darcy.
4
Hereditary Insufferability
LANEY
Jett and I climbed the subway steps that evening in Greenwich Village, laughing over photos from the Fabio party on social media, which had gone mildly viral.
The day had gone by swiftly. Georgie stayed until after we opened, sipping coffee at the bar in a spot that was both visible and accessible to Jett. As he went about his duties, he’d made it a point to stop and talk to her, his attempt to appear casual thin.
“You are so into her,” I teased as we headed toward Mom’s. “Super-duper into her.”
“I’m super-duper into lots of things, Elaine.”
“Like romance novels, Julius?”
“So I like a happy ending. Sue me.”
I laughed. “You’re an anomaly.”
“Any guy who makes fun of romance has never read a good one. That’s all I’m saying. Oh, that reminds me …” He reached into his bag and pulled a novel out, extending it to me. “New rom-com just came in about a group of friends who swear off men. I thought you’d like it.”
“Am I really that transparent?” I joked, inspecting the cover.
Jett shrugged. “I liked it. It made me think of you. Because