Page 37 of See You Again

“Did they? Anymore is an interesting word choice, considering I never agreed in the first place.”

Luke narrowed his eyes, but the women seemed unfazed by his comment.

“We're sorry to interrupt you at work, but we need to get an answer from you today. The gala is at the end of next week, and we have to finalize the promotional material.”

James tapped the pages in front of him so that they lined up neatly. “I already gave you my answer. I am not interested in participating.”

“If it’s not serious between you and Camellia Messina, we could still consider you a bachelor,” the shorter one said.

Luke's eyebrow quirked. Damn it! Trust that his brother would jump on that phrase. James stared at him silently, imagining beating the smug look off of Luke’s face.

“We've seen the headlines and stuff, but we haven't seen the two of you together out in public. Except for the other night, of course. We thought maybe it was a casual thing. Normally when you’re out, there are photographs. You haven't made a statement, so we thought…”

“She’s never even posted you on her social media,” her friend piped up. If his life depended on it, he couldn’t have said which woman was which. “If I were your girlfriend, I’d claim you right away,” the woman simpered, turning James’s stomach.

Luke coughed to cover a laugh.

Fucker.

James’s temper rose, and he made a fist under the table even as a sharp stabbing pain started behind his eye.

Is this what he had to look forward to? Constant interruptions and the entire city making assumptions about his life based on one stupid photo.

Luke must have sensed his growing anger because, after several placating words, he ushered the women out.

James dug the heels of his palms into his eyes. Why wouldn't they leave him alone? James couldn't understand why his social life was so interesting to these people.

“What's going on?”

James's eyes flew open. He should have known his brother hadn't left. “Nothing is going on, Luke. I'm trying to do my job.”

“Part of our job is being seen in Atlanta society. Making connections, networking.”

“That might be how you see your job, but that's not how I view it.”

“James, look.” Luke's voice was serious. “This isn't like being in the prosecutor's office. You aren't assigned a caseload. We are no different from any other company offering a service. Are we popular? Yes. Because we're damn good. But it's not just that. We have to maintain a presence. It's important. There are plenty of defense attorneys in this city.”

“Easy for you to say,” James muttered. “They're not bothering you.”

“They did for years.”

“You liked it!” James accused.

Luke shrugged. “It's not that bad. Women fawning over you—that's not terrible.”

“I don't like it.”

Luke's eyes took on a knowing look. “Are you really dating Cami Messina?”

James looked away.

“If you are, then why not say it—publicly? It would make all of this go away.”

James grunted.

“If it is true, I find it hard to believe you never told me about it. I never understood what happened between the two of you. But something obviously did—something that wasn’t good. You’ve always refused to talk about it.”

“That hasn’t changed,” James ground out.