Work In Progress (Red Lipstick Coalition #3) - Staci Hart Page 0,27

huh?”

“Always with the cats. Yesterday, the collar of her shirt looked like a cat wrapped around her neck.”

He frowned. “That sounds weird.”

“It was actually really cute. She’s really cute.” I shook my head. “It really is a shame she’s a cat person.”

One of his brows rose. “Why, because that’d stop you?”

“Nah. But we could never get married—Gus would never survive. He’s too gentle for feline sensibilities.”

That time, when Theo laughed, it was bawdy and loud and shocking out of his strict mouth. “You. Married? That is fucking hilarious.”

I found myself smirking, pleased he’d taken the bait. “I know. Nobody’d ever put up with my shit long-term anyway.”

“Oh, don’t sell yourself short,” Genevieve said from my elbow.

She was just as beautiful as always—tall, sleek, enviable jawline and cheekbones, big eyes and wide mouth. Her dress was short enough that if she took a full stride, the entire bar would be able to determine her waxing preferences.

She laid her hand on my shoulder and leaned in to press her cheek to mine. My hand moved to her waist.

“Hey there, handsome,” she said through a smile.

“Heya, Gen. Congrats on New York Today.”

When she backed away, her hand stayed put, her hips leaning toward me. “Thanks, Tommy. I’m glad you came.” She glanced over my shoulder. “Hi, Theo.”

Theo raised his glass. “Gen.”

“Are you two having fun over here by yourselves?”

“Teddy won’t let me leave the bar,” I said petulantly.

Theo rolled his eyes. “Please. Somebody’s gotta keep you out of trouble. Chaining him to a chair’s my best bet.”

Genevieve laughed. “You let me know how that works out for you, Theo.” She turned back to me, crimson lips together in a smile as she toyed with the collar of my leather jacket. “You look good, Tommy. You doing okay?”

I nodded, squeezing her small waist. “You don’t look so bad yourself. And I’ve never been better.”

Her brow climbed, and she glanced at Theo again. “That true?”

Theo snorted. “Ask him when his book will be finished.”

My face flattened. “It’ll get done.”

She shook her head. “That bad, huh?”

I laughed. “It’s like you guys have never met me. It’ll get done.”

She chuckled. “Always does.”

I gave Theo a look. “See? Gen believes.”

Theo made a noncommittal sound and took a sip of his drink.

Genevieve’s voice lowered, her smile fading. “And how’s your mom?”

I smiled. “She’s good, Gen. Thanks for asking.”

“Give her my love,” she said before straightening up and putting on her show-stopping smile. “Come here—take a picture with me.”

She hooked her arm in mine as I stood, and one of a fleet of photographers wound his way over and pointed his lens at us.

The flash burst in our vision, and we took a moment to hug. We kissed on the cheek again, exchanging those pedestrian phrases one said when one didn’t know what to say or when others were listening. That flash burst fast enough to give somebody a seizure.

“Have fun tonight, Tommy. Don’t get into any trouble.”

I smirked down at her. “Why’d you think I brought Teddy?”

She laughed, shaking her head as she let me go. “See you later.”

“Bye, Gen.”

She strode through the crowd, which parted for her like the Red Sea, photographer in her wake. And when I looked around, there were at least a dozen cell phone cameras pointed at me.

So I took a second to offer my best smolder-smirk before taking a seat next to my brother again. My editor caught my eye from across the bar and raised his glass. Steven had all the no-nonsense affectation of a judge, which I supposed in a way he was. As one of the top editors at Blackbird, such was his right.

I nodded back, tipping my glass to him in answer.

Theo sighed in that way he did, a judgmental exhale, heavy with skepticism. “I really hope Amelia can help you.”

“She already has. She told me everything I had was the driveling nonsense I’d known it was. I’ve got a few ideas moving around. Just waiting on something to stick.”

A female squealed my name from behind me, and I turned with my best fake smile on. It was a damn good fake smile, one she bought completely as she gushed, blushing. I reminded her to breathe while we took a picture, asked her to tag me, and sent her on her way.

When I was seated again, Theo sighed, shaking his head. “Doesn’t this ever get tedious?”

“A little, sure. It’s all a pony show, just part of the gig. If I didn’t like being seen, I never woulda built my