She watched as they exchanged looks; of course, the only time they were willing to admit they got along was when they had something to discuss with her and they both agreed neither wanted to bring it up.
She chose Autumn, who was always more willing to fold, spinning around as she crossed her arms. “What is it?”
Autumn sat up straighter in her chair, as if it were possible, and exchanged a look with Maya, who studiously stared down at her tablet again. Autumn glared before slowly turning back to Charlotte, cheeks flushed. “Um, well. It’s nothing, really. None of our business, actually.”
“Then why are you two staring at me as if I’ve lost my mind?” This time, she stared down Maya until she slowly looked up from her device.
“If you two exchange a look one more time?—”
“Oh! Your brother is calling, Senator.” Autumn couldn’t have sounded more relieved as she hopped up and handed Charlotte her phone from where it was perched on a side table.
Charlotte hummed as she slid her thumb over the screen to answer, watching both of her assistants scurry out of her office. “I’ll see you both in the morning, and when I do, I either want normal behavior oranswers.”
“Your reservation is at Gardenia, in twenty-seven minutes, so you might want to leave soon!” Maya poked her head back into the office before quickly pulling the door shut.
Caleb was laughing into her ear already. “Ah, I love when you answer the phone and you’re terrorizing those lovely women who work for you.”
“If anything, todaytheyare terrorizingme,” she muttered, tugging at the bottom of the blazer once more before she gave up.
She looked fucking fantastic; she knew she did. This blazer had been tailored to her body, just as all of her wardrobe had been. It was justSutton. Which was absolutely ridiculous because she’d never worried about what she was wearing, with just about anyone, even Sutton back in the days when they’d been sleeping together.
Sutton had always thought she looked fantastic, Charlotte knew it. It hadn’t mattered what she was wearing. And tonight they certainly weren’t doing that. Sleeping together, that is.
But after their last meeting, she felt something…more.
She did trust Sutton. She believed in her as a writer. And she did want to get to know her again, beyond that.
“What are they doing to you, my poor, poor sister?” Caleb pressed on.
“They’ve been staring at me like I’m insane all afternoon, for starters.”
“Well, what are you doing?” he asked in a way that implied he was entertaining the idea.
“Changing my blazer.” Four times.
Caleb was quiet for a few beats before asking, “Does this have anything to do with Sutton Spencer writing your biography?”
Charlotte tossed her hand into the air. “Itoldyour loudmouth husband to keep that to himself.”
“And he would never withhold that from me!” Caleb laughed raucously in her ear. “Oh, lord. You are going to meet Sutton Spencer today for her to write your biography, and you’re probably standing in that ostentatiously large office and trying on all of your fabulous blazers.”
Charlotte forced herself to stop fidgeting with her fucking outfit, especially because her brother could clearly see what she was doing from states away. “Must you full-name her whenever you say her name?”
“Yes. Why wouldn’t I?”
“Because it makes you sound crazy. We are just two…” She stared at herself in the mirror, thinking back to a week and a half ago when Sutton had been in this very office. They were simply professional women, with a bit of a personal history.
I don’t know you, Sutton’s words replayed in her head as they had many times in the last ten days.
Charlotte wouldn’t have thought that would sting, but it had. To her, Sutton was the only person who hadeverknown her intimately.
“We’re just two professionals,” she stated.
Caleb scoffed so loudly, it rang in her ear. “Professional! The last thing you think about Sutton Spencer isprofessional.”
“It’s been thirteen years, Caleb.” Exasperation rang through her tone. “I can be professional with her.”
“But you’ll want more. You’re opening a door, Charlotte. That’s why your assistants were looking at you like that. Dean told me that you requested Sutton Spencer after you saw her at that thing.” He sobered for a second, before he asked, more quietly, “What are you doing?”
