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She turns to me with a smile Holds the sides of her dress Twirls

Her gown spins with her The skirt is straight It hugs her ample hips and just barely flares at the knee

She stops Raises an eyebrow, challenging me

"You clean up nice"

"Don't worry," she says to the wo her pull dresses, "that's his idea of a compliment"

The wo-ti time"

"How unfortunate for you," Briar says

"Do you need me to pull a tie, Mr Pierce?" She looks to me

Briar raises a brow Really, off your game today

She's right I forgot to put on a fucking tie How is that possible? I've got ten years of boarding school training Another half a dozen of corporate career

Souys complain about the monkey suit, but I don't mind It's not as co an ie

Perception is everything

I know that

I kno to do this I kno to convince people I's

Why is ainst my chest?

"Are you wearing that tonight, Ms West?" she asks

"Do I need so this fancy?" Briar asks me

"If you want to outdress Adam and Danielle," I say

Briar shakes her head "I want to convince her to go dancing" She turns to Bree "The short ivory dress Since I can't wear it to the wedding festivities"

"Ah, I know just the tie" Bree beaive you two a minute Fifteen, to be specific" She winks atbecause I don't want to walk in on that

She exits quietly

Leaving the two of us alone

Briar holds out her hand, asking me to help her off the podium "I could do it in my boots But these—" she pulls up the dress with her free hand, showing off a pair of silver sandals

Her fingers brush my palm Her hand closes around mine

I try to hold her steady, but she still stumbles

Lands in my arms

She looks up at et used to this"

"We should" She ss "And we still have fourteen minutes"

Right "We need to practice"

"We do"

"Are you ready? Or do you need a minute?"

Chapter Six

Liam

Briar's grey eyes fix on ers curl into my suit jacket

Her nails are that same shade of wine red

I still want to drink every drop Feel her hands on my cheek My back My cock

Shit

The e refuses to leave my brain