Page 6 of He Loves Me Knot
The event space was crowded, and Liddy picked out the familiar faces of Quinn’s brothers, Mason and Logan, near the front. They all looked alike, really. Quinn’s parents were also there, but that’s where the familiar people ended.
As Aiden introduced Liddy to the strangers in the room, her head spun. She could hardly keep up with the names, let alone the polite inquiries and who she’d already told about how her flight went or when she’d moved over from the States.
Anxiety bloomed in her.
Moving to a new country is more terrifying than I thought.
She didn’t know anyone outside of the Camdens.
Feeling slightly ill, she excused herself from an introduction, made a beeline for the bar, and then set her hands on it. “I’ll have a glass of white wine,” she told the bartender.
Beside her, a man shifted and turned to give her a smile. “You’re the guest of honor, aren’t you?”
She nodded, and he turned, holding out a hand. “Luca Harris. We’ll be coworkers. Different departments, though.”
“I’m Liddy Winnick.” She shook his hand.
He had a kind smile, his sandy-blond bangs sweeping low over his eyes. He pushed it back to reveal soft blue eyes. “You’re a brave one, working for Scott. Don’t tell Aiden I said so, but Scott’s the toughest sod at Camden Enterprises.”
“Oh, that’s a relief,” Liddy said with a sarcastic laugh. She shook her head. “And here I was feeling overwhelmed with just meeting people.”
Luca smiled. “I’m sorry. I’m not doing a good job at helping you relax when clearly you just need a drink. Let’s try again.” He held out a hand. “Luca Harris. Always with my foot in my mouth and perpetually in the wrong place at the wrong time. I also tend to make an arse out of myself.”
Somehow, his self-deprecating humordidmake her feel better.
Maybe because I can relate to it.
“Nice to meet you,” she said with a more genuine smile this time. “I . . . have social anxiety and always feel like an outsider.”
“Perfect.” Luca winked and took a swig from his beer. “Just what we need at Camden Enterprises. You’ll fit in perfectly with us nutters.”
She laughed, feeling immediately more at ease.
“Liddy, there you are,” Aiden said from behind her. “I wanted to introduce you to the head of your department.”Yikes. Her boss.
She turned toward him, and her smile froze at the sight of the man beside Aiden.
The hot guy from the bookshop.
Her heart gave a heavy lurch.
What are the chances?
And then she thought about his words, causing a seed of dread to form in the pit of her stomach.
“. . . she can start by proving she deserves to be there . . .”
“. . . And now you want me to accept some twat . . .”
“. . . for some glorified intern I’m being forced to work with. I’m an arsehole and will do my best to see her fired in the first month.”
She blinked, swallowing hard as she searched the guy’s handsome face. Red had crept into his neck, but his eyes were like flint now, not an ounce of the friendliness from before.
I’m the twat.
I’m the one he doesn’t want working for him.
Aiden looked from Liddy to her boss. “Liddy, this is Callum Scott.”