The Billionaire's Best Friend(30)

“When will you ask her?”

Kevin swallowed the last of his brandy. “I haven’t decided, but soon.” Since the retirement party and Lauren’s run-in with her former neighbor, he’d felt an urgency to keep their relationship moving forward. Even though she’d tried to play it cool, something about her mannerisms that night gave her away. She might want everyone to think she had no feelings for the guy, but Kevin suspected the two of them had a deep history. A history that remained unresolved, and it wasn’t only that night. Since the party, their phone conversations had changed, too.

“Good luck, then.” Clinton came to his feet. “Let me know how it goes.”



Once again, Lauren glanced over Olivia’s shoulder toward the doorway. Since Kevin’s sister continued speaking without so much as a pause, Lauren assumed she had not noticed. Although she found Olivia’s description of the fashions she’d seen at a recent Hollywood party interesting, Lauren wanted Kevin to walk through the doorway now. Being in a room full of strangers had never bothered her, yet tonight she wished she owned an invisibility cloak.

“And to say the designs by Marcella Horton were beautiful is an understatement. Photos just don’t do them justice,” Olivia said, referring to the newest designer to hit it big with the A-list celebrities in Hollywood.

Lauren nodded because it seemed like the thing to do. “I saw a picture of the gown she designed for Mia Troy. It was amazing.”

At the mention of the popular film actress, Olivia launched into details of the conversation she’d had with the woman during her last trip to California. Lauren once again fell silent, allowing Olivia to dominate the conversation, which in this instance she was okay with. Shifting in her chair, Lauren readjusted the hem of her dress once again, thankful Callie had given her such a present. While a layer of guilt remained because she could never give Callie a gift even half as expensive, she loved the way it looked on her, and it was perfect for this evening’s dinner party. Both Kevin’s mom and sister had complimented her on it. It also helped her fit in much better tonight. All the women at the dinner party wore gowns by some of the top designers. Granted, when she saw Callie or any of Callie’s family she never thought about the labels on her clothes, yet around Kevin’s family they stayed in the forefront of her mind, even though the Walshes didn’t possess the power and wealth the Sherbrookes and Talbots did.

“Kevin mentioned that you and Callie Talbot are close friends.” Olivia’s new topic grabbed Lauren’s full attention.

“We’ve known each other a long time. We even taught together before she married.” How she missed those days. Michelle, the teacher in Callie’s old classroom, was nice, but this was her first year with her own classroom. Often, rather than working as a team like they were supposed to, Lauren acted as more of a mentor, which she didn’t mind except that wasn’t her job. Tonya, the teacher across the hall who planned to teach for only another year, was supposed to be Michelle’s mentor.

“Have you met her brother Jake?” Olivia looked over toward her husband and then leaned a little closer. “Is he as hot in person as he is in pictures? I don’t care if I am married, if he ever asked me to sleep with him, I would in a heartbeat.”

Lauren cleared her throat in an attempt to cover her surprise. “I’ve met him several times.” Okay, so several was putting it mildly. She’d seen him at many Sherbrooke events Callie had invited her to, as well as at Callie and Dylan’s place in New York countless times when she’d gone to visit.

“I keep waiting to read he’s getting a divorce. It’s got to be just a matter of time. A man like him can’t be faithful forever. At some point he’ll be on the prowl for someone else, if he isn’t already.” Olivia spoke as if she was an authority on the matter.

Even though Jake Sherbrooke, Callie’s half-brother, was happily married, it appeared his reputation still followed him. Too bad Olivia, like most people, had it all wrong about him. “I don’t see that happening.”

“Don’t see what happening?” Kevin asked from behind her.

At the sound of his voice, Lauren turned around. Warmth crept up her cheeks. She didn’t want Kevin to know they had been discussing another man. “I didn’t see you come in,” Lauren said, ignoring his question.

“I came in the other door.” Kevin sat down next to her. “What don’t you see happening?” he asked again.

Across from them Olivia waved a hand toward her brother. “Just talking about how successful a celebrity marriage will be. Nothing that would interest you.”