Page 76 of Boss Abroad
“Hi Mia, just letting you know I’m here, but there’s no need to hurry.” I lower my voice and turn to the peeping Tom. “Why are you in here? Couldn’t you wait anywhere else in the entire fucking building and give the girl some privacy?”
“Fuck off, she just came back. She wasn’t in your bathroom when I got here.” His eyes narrow with accusation. “You share your bathroom with your assistant and you tell me that I was the one begging for a lawsuit, brother?” I just laugh in reply because I know it will piss him off more than any worded answer. I pour myself a dose and join him on the other side of the sofa, mirroring his stance, because I know how to sit properly.
A few minutes later, Mia exits the bathroom and my brother starts drooling. She’s always generous with her layers of makeup, but tonight its darker tones make her look even older than usual. She’s almost unrecognizable. “Sorry, Gunn. I left my eyeliner in the car and ran there to grab it, so I came back for some final touches.”
“No need to apologize. The bathroom is all yours post-matches. If you ever need more time, just text me and I’ll keep the creeps out.” I add with a nod in my brother’s direction.
Making people uncomfortable is a talent I don’t take for granted. Mia will make me pay for this later, but right now? So worth it. Two birds with one stone. Neither of them blinks or fakes a laugh, they both glower at me.
“You look lovely, by the way, Mia.” I say because she does and to break the awkwardness.
She huffs an insincere “thanks”, before saying, “I should go.”
“Don’t be silly. Everyone is still getting ready. Get yourself a drink and sit with us.”
I don’t think I can list enough things in this life that scare me to use all five fingers in one hand. But the smile slowly spreading on Mia’s face? That shit is sending chills down my not-so-straight-anymore spine right now.
“Actually, Dr. Hadden looked more than ready.” Motherfucker is pure perkiness and sarcasm pointing her thumb back to the door. “I’m going to keep her company and see what’s going on with her life. New girl in town, I’m sure she could use a friend.” Noah chokes on my Macallan and it dribbles down his chin. “See you later, boys.” She’s turned on her heels and is out the door before I can conjure something to stop her.
My brother reverts back to his floppy form, spreading himself all over the sofa, seeming to be enjoying this more than if his team had won the game.
The club is ours for the night, security is tight, and there are no paparazzi in sight. Everyone is having a great time. Some more than others.
I don’t know what the fuck happened when Mia left my office, but she and April are having way too much fun on the dance floor. Right now? I equally trust Mia and worry for her wellbeing if she bonded with April over her knowledge of me.
April can move—I shouldn’t be surprised; I’ve seen her in the bedroom. I stress over if I’m staring too hard and giving too much away. Someone might notice and put two and two together. Noah stares just as hard at Mia but that serves me no consolation. I turn around, incapable of simply looking in another direction if she’s within my sight.
I down the last of my scotch and invite Noah to the garden. We both enjoy a celebratory cigar now and then. Well, in his case, tonight it’s a mournful one.
After my first puff, the sight of my brother leaning against the wall poses as the perfect opportunity for a cross-interrogation. “So why haven’t you asked Mia out yet? That’s the whole reason I hired her.”
“You hired her to piss me off,” he fires back.
I don’t bother removing the cigar from between my teeth before I speak again. “That too, Noah. I can multitask.”
“Nah, man. It’s one sided, I think.” Pussy. How convenient not to be his optimistic self when he chooses. “And I’m too old for her, anyway.”
What the fuck? Now I take the cigar out of my mouth to enunciate my words clearly. “Is that what you think of me and April? I’m too old for her?”
As if summoned, the woman who is not too young for me—hell, she might even be perfect for me—and Mia burst through the doors, giggling, arms tangled together. How the fuck do women become best friends after one bathroom visit?
“There you are!” Mia points at me. “Can I have mine?”
She knows me and my post-match traditions well. I hand her the cigar, cutter, and lighter. That’s another one of our winning night routines. Mia always has one of my cigars.
The four of us chat about the game and tease Noah for being a sore loser, and somehow, I end up standing between April and Mia.
April and I steal glances at each other and the teenager in me is living his best life. It’s fucking ridiculous. My pinky rubs against her hand and our eyes lock while Mia and Noah banter away. Then some motherfucker with a cell phone starts filming us, its bright flashlight right in my face, pulling me back to the real world.
“The Gunn brothers in action! Which one is ours, Liam? The brunette?” the stranger leers.
April hides her face with her hair, turning around in such a panic that she can’t push the door open.
Then Mia does the unthinkable.
“EEEERRRR!” She mimics a game show buzzer when you get the answer wrong. “It’s the redhead.” She hangs from my neck and kisses me, open mouth, but God be merciful, no tongue. I’m frozen in place while April figures out the door handle and the man I’m about to murder cheers us on.
Terry appears out of nowhere, chokeholds the paparazzi wannabe until he passes out, deletes everything, and crushes the phone under his boot. “Gunn! What the fuck? I ran here as soon as I spotted the motherfucker. Was doing my rounds. You were supposed to text if you came out.”