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I a asshole sometimes

"I think I' to throw up" She holds her stomach "Is there food here? That was too much tea on an empty stomach"

"In the kitchen, yeah—"

Someone rounds the corner Steps into the lobby of the office

My oldest brother, Si me apart

I motion to him "Get out while there's still time"

"He's not that bad"

"He's worse" I check my watch "I'll send a car for your appointment"

"My appointment?"

"At the department store"

"Is that really—"

"Do you want free clothes or not?"

"Good point" She looks to me "Are you okay?"

"No Siot twenty seconds until you're screwed"

"Hoill I—"

"Take the stairs"

She nods right "And we're convincing him too?"

"Yeah"

"So I guess this is, uh…" She looks at me aardly for a second, then she throws her arms around me

I pull her closer reflexively She's ware

A feeling I've never had before

Not with a woman

Not with anyone

"Shit, we look so aard You're right" She presses her lips to my cheek "We have to practice Good luck" She releases oodbye to Simon on her way out

He stands there, in his fancy designer suit, staring at me the way he always does What have you done now, Liam?

But I don't care the way I usually do

I'm too tuned to Briar

"Nice to see you too" I stretch my arms over ht How could I when the Preston Charles is dying neon sign kept flashing in my head?

"What are you doing here?"

I motion to my desk

"You fucked your assistant on your desk?"

"If I did, do you really think I'd let it go unsaid?"

He nods probably not "What are you doing here?"

"Work"

"It's Saturday"

"You're here"

Yeah, I don't have an argument Only I'?"

"To say hello before I go to my office"

Right I' an asshole But he's always an asshole So we're even "Hey"

He scans the space suspiciously Notes the raised blinds, the clear desk, the quiet co here?"

"She works with me"

"Her lipstick is on your cheek"

"It is" There's a sed

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