Your Irresistible Love (The Bennett Family 1)

Typical.

“Well, it was nice meeting you, Anna.” Pippa’s words come out clipped. “But we must get going. We have a full schedule for today.”

Anna purses her lips. She doesn’t say anything more than, “It was nice meeting you too, Pippa. Bye, Ava.”

“She’s such a bitch,” Pippa hisses when Anna’s out of earshot.

“Yep.”

“You’re worried.” It’s a statement, not a question.

“Wouldn’t you be?”

“Listen, your boss won’t find out. And if he does, Sebastian will sort it out. We have shark lawyers, but it wouldn’t even come to that. Sebastian can be very persuasive.”

I straighten. “I don’t need Sebastian to save me. He’s got enough on his plate already, watching over your family.”

Pippa gives me a long look. “Oh, I could tell you weren’t looking for a knight in shining armor since I met you.” At my raised eyebrows, she adds, “I’m the people reader in the family, haven’t you heard that?”

I shrug noncommittally, even though I do remember Sebastian telling me that. It scares me.

“Anyway, as I was saying, you didn’t strike me as the type who needs a knight, but an equal—someone who doesn’t save you, but who you can count on.”

I gulp. Holy crap, she does read people well.

“He’s my brother, and I’m biased, obviously, but Sebastian fits that role perfectly.”

I burst out laughing. I can’t help it. “Pippa, I recognize a sales pitch when I hear one. I’ve moved in with your brother already. You don’t have to sell him to me.”

“Yeah, I do. You said Sebastian has enough on his plate with the family.” Pippa gives me a long look, and then her features light up in a smile. “You are part of the family now.”

Chapter Twenty-Six

Ava

The meeting with Anna didn’t have any consequences, but I know I’m playing with fire. For the next few weeks, I am careful. Dirk calls more often to check in, but that’s normal because we’re approaching the final phase of the project. Whenever I talk to him, I make sure to speak of Sebastian in the most impersonal way possible, and I asked Sebastian and Logan to follow suit in case Dirk contacts them. As the show approaches, the hard work pays off big time. We score a myriad of high-class and exclusive editorials, and there are more requests than ever from overseas giant luxury retailers to partner up for distribution. Martha and I are very pleased. Sadly, I don’t think she’ll remain at Bennett Enterprises too long after the show. She keeps talking about wanting to move to Seattle. The two of us come up with more publicity ideas to keep building on the momentum. I take it upon myself to sway Logan, the most rigid CFO I’ve met, to pour more budget into the campaign. Who would’ve thought that Logan, with his angelic eyes and I’m the nice brother line, would be so impossibly stubborn? I spend an entire Saturday at the office going over the new budget proposal with him and Sebastian. Thankfully, Sebastian sides with me—sleeping with the CEO totally has its perks—but it still takes hours to convince Logan.

“You know what’s unacceptable?” Logan asks, tossing the report on the desk and leaning back in his chair.

“That you’ve changed your mind about the budget? Again?” I give him a murderous look. I swear to God, I will forge his signature and call it a day if he goes back on his decision one more time. “Sebastian, you’re a very democratic CEO. Tell him it’s a done deal.”

Logan narrows his eyes, while Sebastian bursts out laughing and says from behind me, “We do things differently here. It’s unhealthy for a company if one person has too much decision-making power. Logan isn’t changing his mind again.” Stepping to my side, he gives Logan a pointed look. “Are you?”

Logan flinches. Almost imperceptibly, but he does, which brings me immense pleasure. “No, I was about to say that it’s unacceptable that it’s five o’clock on a Saturday, and we’re the only three morons in the office.”

“You want to call in more people?” Sebastian asks skeptically.

“I want to get out.” Logan leaps to his feet, pacing the room. “I need to stretch my legs.”

Sebastian grins. “Well, Alice did ask us—”

“And we stupidly said no. Can’t believe I turned her down so I could have you two crawling up my ass the entire day.” As is always the case when they tease each other, Logan sports a flashy smile.

“But we can still play a bit if we leave right now.”

“What are you guys talking about?”

“She’s officially part of the family, isn’t she?” Logan asks Sebastian, his thumb pointing at me.