On reflection, it was the perfect place to come. Serena, after all, cared far too much about appearances to make a scene in a crowded restaurant. Or whatever she planned to do that she needed Hailey to meet her alone.
Nerves tiptoed into her belly and she took another gulp of Perrier.
Never let them see you sweat, Hailey May.
Well, then, she needed another distraction, fast.
Hailey was musing on Ryder’s muscles—namely how many there were and how they’d feel under her fingers—when Serena walked in.
She saw the Choos first, a stunning pair of silver heels that made Hailey’s already-green eyes darken with envy. They elongated Serena’s already-stunning long legs and perfectly accented the white sundress she wore. The diamond on her finger flashed in the light that bathed the room as she waved away the hostess. More diamonds at her ears sparkled in her dark hair, a pair of designer sunglasses perched in the perfect waves.
“Bitch-Face,” Hailey muttered as she pushed back her chair to stand. Why must there be women who existed to make others feel inferior? She forced her lips into what she hoped was a smile and not anything that resembled constipation. “Serena. Nice to see you again.”
“Hailey.” Serena nodded as the waiter pulled her chair back. “I’m so glad you could make it.”
“Of course. Erica Pearce is a full-service company dedicated to you and your wedding.”
Serena’s lips twitched in a semblance of a bland smile. “There isn’t need to be so formal. That’s why I asked to speak with you alone.” Without looking at the waiter, she accepted the menu.
Hailey smiled at him as he passed over the other. “I assume you’re full of ideas,” she said, scanning the list of dishes. Something she couldn’t drop on herself or spill or choke on. Salad, it was.
“I am. Would it be corny to say I’ve been dreaming of this day since I was a little girl?”
Oh, so five years ago?
Play nice. Play nice. Play nice.
“Not at all. I think every woman dreams of her wedding.” Hailey’s grip tightened as the words left her mouth. After three years, she definitely had had images of white dresses and peach roses in her head, with Ethan so handsome in a tux at the end of the altar.
Serena did that twitchy smile again. Her nails were French manicured, her ring exquisite. “Yes.”
After they’d both ordered their salads, Serena took a sip of the white wine she’d ordered to go with lunch. She threaded her hands on the table. “May I be frank?”
Hailey scouted the exits as discreetly as she could. One directly ahead, one behind. “By all means.”
“Ethan has obviously told me of your past relationship.”
“Yes.”
“We don’t keep secrets.” Serena’s gaze was steady with a shadow of pity. “He told me why he ended it.”
She’d just bet he had. Turns out, someone’s blood really could boil.
Hailey put a lid on it and tried to simmer down, clenching the cloth napkin on her knee until her fingers whitened. “That was six months ago, Serena. I’m over it.”
“I don’t think you are. I saw the way you were looking at him in the meeting.”
“If I was looking, it was for nothing more than professional interest.” Hailey’s toes curled in their nude heels. “Erica has entrusted me with your wedding and I’m going to see to it that it dazzles you.”
“Hailey, I don’t doubt you will make sure our wedding is spectacular. Erica would allow no less. But I don’t want to see you making eyes at my fiancé every time I walk in the room. It makes me uncomfortable and it makes Ethan uncomfortable.”
Making eyes? If she’d been doing anything, it was trying not to show how bitter she still was. And apparently, she’d done too good a job.
“You’ve talked to him about this?” Hailey said through tight teeth.
Inwardly she began to count. One, two, three . . .
“We don’t keep secrets, remember? He felt very uncomfortable in that room with you. It’s obvious you haven’t moved on, and I understand.” Serena’s words might have been compassionate but her eyes were direct. “Ethan is everything a woman could hope to find. He’s handsome, kind, a dreamer. Someone who makes sure you notice life as it goes by. But he’s mine now. You need to move on and find somebody new.”
The pity was so thick, it choked. That it was coming from Ms. Perfect made it ten times harder to swallow.
Serena was right on one count: Hailey hadn’t moved past the breakup. How could she when she was all too aware of every flaw in her makeup after Ethan’s accusations?
But the idea she still wanted Ethan—a man who’d put himself first, who’d always made her feel like she wasn’t trying hard enough, and a man who’d ultimately had torn her self-esteem into confetti? Well, if this wasn’t the Ritz-Carlton, she might have screamed the place down with laughter.
She wasn’t that pathetic, thank you.
A little pathetic, but hey, small steps.
Serena sighed. “I don’t want to come off as a bitch. I wanted to clear the air, make sure you understand my position in this. And I think, because it’s so clear you still entertain feelings for Ethan, you should only deal with me from now on. Limit your contact before the wedding.” Twitch, twitch went her lips. “If nothing else, it’ll be less painful for you.”
Hailey held on to her composure by her fingertips. She would not resort to name-calling, shouting, spitting, or reaching for any of the five colorful phrases she’d learned from her dad’s navy buddies when she’d been a teenager.
Though if anyone deserved to be called a—
A pair of hands landed on her shoulders. Before she could say “Wha—” she was swiveled in her seat and yanked upward to a pair of soft, warm lips. A familiar, delicious scent snuck through her senses.
Her mind blanked.
She blindly grasped Ryder’s shirt as his mouth coaxed and teased hers into following his lead. Her knees jellied; her grip tightened as she fought to stay upright. Everything disappeared but this kiss and the need for it to never end.
A gasp fled from her mouth to his as she remembered to breathe.
One hand cupped her cheek as they drew back to look at each other. His eyes were honeyed amber brown, sparkling with their own internal lights. Heat rippled to her core.
“Hi, baby,” Ryder said with a lazy grin as she continued to play mute. “I missed you.”
9.
He tasted like honey and mango and man.
Desire hummed in Hailey’s blood, little zigzags of pleasure, as she continued to cling onto Ryder’s biceps. Wow.
For the first time, her flaws were wiped from her mind. Now if only she could remember how to speak.
Fortunately—or unfortunately—Ryder hadn’t forgotten. “I’m sorry, Hales. I forgot you had a meeting today.” His voice lowered to an intimate pitch meant to carry. “But I didn’t kiss you good morning, and you know I can’t stand it when I start the day without your taste on my lips.”
“Kiss me,” she repeated dumbly. “Your lips.”
“Damn right.” He dropped another kiss on her lips, then the tip of her nose. As his breath warmed her skin, he whispered, “Go with it.”
As she swallowed, his lips stretched to a beaming smile. “You haven’t introduced me to your client.”
Hailey licked her lips, tasted him. She didn’t know why the hell he was doing this, but if she didn’t play along, she’d look even more foolish.
She released his biceps to an internal cry from her hormones. “Sorry, ah, muffin.” She turned to a trying-not-to-gawk-but-failing-worse-than-a-hick-in-a-limo Serena. “Serena, I’m sorry. This is Ryder Wood. Ryder, this is Serena Norwood. She’s getting married at the end of October.”
“October, right. I heard. Congratulations.” Ryder kneaded Hailey’s back with his fingers, teasing. He seemed unbothered by the amount of restaurant patrons rubbernecking.
Oh, God. Was that a camera flash?
&nbs
p; “You’re . . .” Serena pressed a hand against her chest. The diamond flashed as she composed herself. “Are you . . . the Ryder Wood? The Genie twin?”
Okay. So Ryder hadn’t been kidding when he said he and his brother were well-known. Apparently the circles they moved in were diamond encrusted. Why had she not recognized him?
Talking into a mirror, failing at life.
Oh, yeah.
Serena looked like she’d swallowed a bug.
Considering how pitying she’d been a few minutes ago, Hailey couldn’t drum up anything but satisfaction.
“I am,” Ryder said to Serena, his gaze on Hailey’s. The amber glow made her feel lightheaded, even as she drifted closer. Big magnet, iron filing. “Have we met?”
“No, but my good friend Susan Scheff won a wish from your twin in 2015.” Serena’s voice was helium pitched, like Hailey’s had been. Genies brought out the fangirl. “Are . . . are you two . . . ?”
Ryder linked his fingers with Hailey’s and brought them to his mouth. His lips brushed her knuckles. It felt like she’d stepped into static.
“Keeping it quiet,” he said. “I want her all to myself, but I’m sure you know how the paparazzi are when they smell a story.”
Serena looked about ready to faint. “Of course,” she said in a voice about as weak as her smile. “Quiet is best.”
Ryder squeezed Hailey’s hand. “I’ll go and let you two get back to your meeting. See you tonight?” He leaned in.
Hailey possessed enough brain cells to turn her head so he kissed her cheek. “Ryder,” she warned. “I’m working.”
“So cute. I love that about her.” Ryder grinned and nodded at Serena. “Nice to meet you.”
In dramatic fashion, he flashed out, leaving the restaurant in a stir.
Hailey’s cheeks flared with heat as she quickly sat down. She cleared her throat. “Sorry about that. He looks at boundaries as pesky things to cross.”
Serena waved a hand, her eyes huge. “No, don’t apologize. I . . . don’t believe it. You’re dating Ryder Wood?”
“Well. You know.” Hailey toyed with her cutlery as she tried to get her brain working. Her lips still tingled with Ryder’s kiss.
“How long have you been together?”
Maybe if she stabbed herself with the fork that’d get the old brain revving.
“Not long?” she said with a lilt at the end like it was a question. Then she mentally smacked herself. It was the first time since she’d met Serena the other woman hadn’t looked down her nose at her with pity. Which was probably the reason Hailey casually bragged, “But he’s besotted with me. It’s been a whirlwind.”
Serena shook her head, disbelief crinkling her face. Her Botox doctor wouldn’t be pleased. “Wow. A Genie.”
“Yep. That’s what he is.”
“What’s he like?” Serena pressed. “I’ve never met one before. Does he use magic for everything? Does he grant you wishes when you’re alone?”
Apparently, to Serena, boundaries were also things to cross. Hailey didn’t want to enlarge her lie too much—more chance she’d get busted then—but she’d have to say something.
None of your damned business worked well.
“I, ah . . .” Hailey fidgeted with her napkin and then smiled with perfect relief. “Salads are here.”
“I’m mortified,” Serena said as her salad was placed in front of her. “There’s me going on about you still having feelings for Ethan and all this time you’ve secretly been dating Ryder Wood.”
Nerves infused her laugh. “That’s his name.”
“How long did you say it was?”
Sweat misted her forehead. Pretty soon, she was sure Serena would break out the bright lights and rubber hoses. “I’ve known him about a week.”
“Wow.”
Yep. She might actually have succeeded in being more of a loser than she was before. Fake dating a Genie to prove she was over her ex—which she was—to his fiancée so she could plan their wedding and get her promotion.
She should have ordered tequila instead of mineral water.
* * *
“You summoned?” Luka drawled from the doorway of the Director’s office.
Clare stood by her wall of windows, a trim figure of a woman in a black pencil skirt and white silk blouse outlined by the September sunshine.
She didn’t turn around. “Close the door.”
Luka did as bid and wandered in with his hands in his pockets. He perched on the white leather couch’s arm. “What’s up, Doc?”
“Is there something you wish to tell me?” She continued to present him with that stiff spine. Her white-blond hair was sleekly held back in a low chignon, tied with a black ribbon. “Something I should know?”
Luka considered. “The body is around sixty percent water? Or, in your case, ice.”
She turned at that, thin blond eyebrows raised. Her eyes revealed her annoyance, arctic blue overcast by a blizzard of pearl-white specks. The most powerful woman this side of the country was seriously pissed.
Luka just grinned. “What gives with the look? You know you enjoy my jokes.”
“I enjoy it when they end and you leave.” She folded her arms and tapped in her stilettos across to her sleek chrome desk. “Television on, channel forty.”
Above her custom-built cabinets that housed endless (literally) files, the flat-screen that hung on the wall switched on.
Luka made himself comfortable. “Excellent. I hope it’s a GoT marathon.”
The commercial break ended and the familiar peppy music of Genie Gossip—the hugely popular show named after the network that broadcasted it—started.
Great. Now he’d have that in his head all day.
He slid Clare a look. “Something about Jax? What’d he do now?”
“It’s not Jax,” was all Clare said. Her lips, iced in pink, pursed.
Luka’s gaze flicked back to the TV. Inside a campy yellow-and-pink studio, a stacked blonde perched on the couch. Dressed in killer red, her lips the same, she smiled as the camera zoomed in. The music died off.
“Welcome back to Genie Gossip,” she exclaimed. “I’m Shawna Lopez, here to give you all the ins, outs, and unders”—she winked—“of the elite Genie circuit. Before the break, we were talking about that fabulous pair of hotties, the swooningly gorgeous bookends. Yes, that’s right, those tempting twins, Ryder and Leo Wood.”
Luka snorted. He got up and headed for Clare’s liquor cabinet. “Leo’s gonna hate this.” He got out two crystal glasses and poured a measure of scotch into each.
“Up till now, the bewitching brothers covered more ground than a pair of stallions—and that’s a fair comparison, judging from the reports I’ve heard from certain ladies.” Shawna’s lips turned teasing. “However, one of our tippers called in today, and I warn you, you might want to make sure you’re sitting down for this.”
“I think I’ll stand. Take it like a man.” Luka took a drink of scotch.
“It appears one of our rakes has finally hitched his star to only one woman.”
Luka choked as a photo appeared on the screen.
Shawna was beaming, viciously pleased about getting the scoop over her big-time rival, Lisette, who ran Lisette’s Hour. “Having a cozy kiss and cuddle at high tea, the two lovebirds weren’t afraid of showing off their newfound desire.”
Luka recognized the location in the slightly fuzzy photo—clearly from an iPhone camera—as one of the restaurants in the Ritz-Carlton. At one of the tables stood Ryder, bending a woman over her chair’s arm, lips locked. The next photo showed the moment after, zoomed in, one of Ryder and the woman gazing at each other. Dogs in heat were less subtle.
Damn it, Ryder. So much for keeping it off Clare’s radar.
“Rowr,” Shawna said, ear-to-ear smiles. “I don’t know about you, but I’m jealous. And we’re a curious lot here at GG, so we cozied up with the woman they were with, none other than Serena Norwood, society darling.” She winked again.
“She confirmed the new Juliet to our Ryder Romeo is Hailey Lawson, an employee of Erica Pearce Weddings. While we don’t know how these two met yet, could it be Ryder was doing research for his pal, Jax? Stay tuned as we investigate and bring you the latest updates from the Genie elite.”
“TV off.”
Luka swallowed the rest of his scotch and put the glass on the end table. A coaster appeared under it at Clare’s gesture.
She sat at her desk and threaded her hands. “Well?”
Luka shrugged. “Maybe a little headache, but I’m good, thanks.” He swiped up the other glass and carried it back to the couch.
“Luka . . .”
“What do you want me to say, Clare? It’s Ryder with another girl. Big whoop. Now if it were another Genie, fair enough, since you have that pesky no-intra-office dating rule—or is it inter-office?” he pondered, hiding his grin at the twitch under Clare’s eye. Nobody got cooler when riled.
She didn’t respond. “Do you know what Gregor told me when he advised me of this newsclip?”
“Did you know it’s bad form to answer a question with a question?”
Clare stared at him, stony. “Apparently she’s the bidder who won Ryder’s wish in the charity auction I signed off on. And according to Gregor, Ryder hasn’t filed her wish yet.” Her tone hit the chilled-champagne stage.
Luka pinched between his eyebrows. “Did I forget to mention she couldn’t afford the wish so Ryder worked out a deal with her?”
If he’d worn a watch, it would have ticked away the seconds as she continued to stare poker faced at him. Chiseled from ice.
He tossed back the drink and flashed the glass away. Holding Clare’s challenging gaze, he shrugged out of his leather jacket and threw it on the couch. “All right. So it’s not exactly the way we do things . . .”
“Luka, mortals win, they wish. That is the extent of it.” She put a hand up. “Please tell me we do not have another Charlie Donahue on our hands.”
“She’ll wish,” he assured her. “But because of Ryder’s deal, it means she won’t earn her wish until she concludes her service to him. Us.”
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