Every Little Piece of Me: Orchid Valley, Book 1 by Ryan Lexi

Author:Ryan, Lexi
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Ever After, LLC
Published: 2020-05-18T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Ten

Brinley

“Knock-knock.”

I look up from my computer to see Julian standing at my door. He’s dressed for meetings today in a plum shirt and pressed black slacks. His sandy-blond hair is artfully messy in a sexy-casual look that takes him a special blend of three hair products and ten minutes in front of a mirror. I push out of my chair, relieved to see him after our fight two nights ago. “Hey, I didn’t think you’d be back until tonight. How was your trip?”

Grinning, he strides into my office, hands tucked into his pockets. “It was good, but I decided to come back early and take my fiancée out for lunch.” He peeks over his shoulder then lowers his voice. “I heard you’ve had a rough couple of days.”

My stomach sinks. From the moment Stella told me Marston was acting as a consultant for The Orchid yesterday morning, I expected Julian wouldn’t like it. I’ve been preparing for the conversation but didn’t think I’d have to have it here. I school my expression and cock my head to the side. “Where’d you hear that?”

“The grapevine.” He rocks back on his heels. “Mrs. Wright’s eldest is an acquaintance. When I ran into him in Atlanta, he mentioned that Marston’s consulting for them. He was crowing about it, actually.”

“It was a bit of a shock,” I admit, “but it hasn’t been bad. In fact, if I’m looking at it objectively, having Marston’s critical eye on The Orchid for a few weeks will only strengthen my future business.” I force a smile, but the harder I try to cling to our plans—get married, buy The Orchid, live a simple, happy life—the more they feel like they’re slipping through my fingers.

“I hope so,” Julian says, a wrinkle forming between his brows. “I’d hate to think he took the position to have some power over you.”

I open my mouth to explain that Marston wouldn’t do that then snap it shut again, afraid any defense of Marston will be salt in the wound for Julian. “Lunch sounds good.” I grab my purse. If I want to make this work, I need to start giving my fiancé more of my attention and energy, and that starts now.

Julian beams. “You just made my day.”

It takes so little to make this guy happy. I’m a total jerk for not trying more often. “Where do you want to go?”

“Let’s see what the specials on The Patio are.” He misses my frown as he takes my hand and heads in the direction of The Orchid’s in-house restaurant.

I’ve suggested The Patio for a quick lunch many times, but Julian always said there was no point in taking a lunch break if I wasn’t even going to get away from work. “I can leave,” I say, quickening my pace to keep up with his long strides. “We don’t need to eat here.”

He slows his steps and narrows his eyes. “Are you ashamed to be seen with me?”

I blink at him. “Wha— Why— No. Of course not.

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