She doesn’t like Cat, but London is not the kind of person to be outwardly mean to someone just because they aren’t friends. Cat, however, has a way of bringing out the worst in people.
“Oh, you know what I mean.” Cat placates her by patting her shoulder, which only annoys London more. “So why are you back in town anyway? Weren’t you supposed to be some famous dancer in New York?”
“Fate had other plans.”
“Couldn’t cut it?” I can hear the smile in Cat’s voice, as if London’s failure brings her great pleasure, and in truth, it probably does.
Emotion dances across London’s face. Cat’s blow landed right where she meant it to. Guess we’re past the fake pleasantries already.
This should make me happy, seeing London poked and goaded. So why all of a sudden do I feel on the verge of losing the contents of my stomach?
“Something like that.” London concedes without so much as a fight and I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t disappointed that she would let Cat win so easily. “Now if you’ll excuse me, my parents are waiting in the car to take me to dinner.” Without another word, she dips around Cat and slips outside.
I stare at the door long after it swings closed, trying to figure out what the hell just happened. The London Voss I knew would never step back from a challenge and make no mistake, Cat was most certainly challenging her. She certainly had no problem going toe to toe with me earlier, so why slip out with her tail between her legs like a dog who had been scolded?
“Can you believe her?” Cat spins back around, pinning me with a look. “All through high school, she thought she was so much better than everyone else. Now look at her. She’s like a scared little kitten who can’t find her mama.” She pouts out her bottom lip dramatically.
“You didn’t have to goad her like that.”
“Goad her? I was being nice. I even invited her to my party.”
“But to what end? We both know you have no interest in being London’s friend. So did you invite her because you knew she’d say no and you wanted an excuse to push her, or because you were actually hoping she’d say yes and then you and your vipers could really sink your teeth into her.”
“I invited her to be nice.”
“Sure you did.” I snort out a humorless laugh.
“What’s your problem all of a sudden? Mad that I ruffled your little princess’s feathers?”
“I don’t give a shit whose feathers you ruffle, but maybe next time, don’t do it in my place of business.”
“Seriously?” She huffs, crossing her arms in front of her ample chest.
“Like it or not, London is an employee here, thanks to your mother, and treating her as anything else is unprofessional.”
“I don’t know if you’ve noticed, Penn, but this isn’t exactly what I would call a professional business.”
“And what exactly does that mean?” I cock my head to the side.
“You know what, I’m not doing this with you right now. I’ll see you Sunday morning.” She grabs her bag off the top of my desk, spins around, and proceeds to stomp out of my office.
I blow out a slow breath of relief, thankful that she’s gone. I may have had my reasons for hooking up with Cat Stewart, but now even I’m starting to question my own sanity.
My mind quickly drifts back to London.
Why was she willing to let Cat think she won rather than tell her why she came home? Is it true that she couldn’t cut it? Or is it something else? If there’s one thing I know about London, it’s that she was the most talented person I had ever met. Talent like that doesn’t just go away. If she left New York and gave up on dance, it wasn’t because she couldn’t hack it. Of that much I’m sure.
CHAPTER SEVEN
London
“Damn, I much prefer walking in here to see your pretty face rather than my brother’s ugly mug.” Alec gives me a crooked smile as he fully enters the office, sauntering toward me.
When I left, Alec Kade was still a boy and had not yet outgrown that awkward teenage phase we all go through. It’s safe to say he finally did because I would even go as far as to call him hot, which is a stretch considering I’ve always looked at him like a little brother.
Where Penn is all sour-faced and brooding, Alec is easy smiles and infectious charm, something I have no doubt takes him far with the ladies.
“I could say the same to you.” I return his smile with one of my own.
