The Truce (London Suits 1)

“Keep your voice down, will you?” I hissed. “I do not have a ‘crush,’ as you so maturely put it. I just—argh!” I buried my face in my arms again.

I heard the sound of a chair wheeling closer, then felt a hand on my shoulder.

“Hey, I’m sorry for laughing,” Eddie said. He was silent for a moment. “No, that’s not true. I’m not sorry.” I could hear the amusement in his voice. “But I am sorry that you seem so stressed about it. Want to tell me what happened?”

I needed to talk to someone otherwise I’d go crazy, and this wasn’t something I wanted to dissect with my best friend, Avery, at the moment. Not until I could get my head around it, whatever it was that I was feeling.

Opening

up the communal calendar, I booked the meeting room for myself, then dragged Eddie into the empty room, grabbing a random notepad and pen so it looked like we were working. I gave him a quick rundown of the situation, telling him how I’d gone to Luke’s and somehow fallen asleep there, then rehashed this morning’s lift encounter.

Eddie sat in enthralled silence the entire time, mouth hanging open.

When I’d finished, he leaned forward, clasping my hands.

“You are absolutely, one hundred percent, in lust with Luke Davenport. You should have seen your face when you talked about him pressed up against you in the lift.” He fanned himself. “Why didn’t I think to video you telling me?” he muttered under his breath.

I rolled my eyes.

“Okay, serious question, please. What am I going to do, Ed?” I implored plaintively.

“What do you want to do, darling? Does he feel the same way?”

“I don’t know.” I shrugged helplessly. “My head is so messed up right now. To go from being enemies, to tolerating each other, to, well, whatever this is, it feels like my brain is trying to play catch-up.”

“If I were you, I’d chill. There’s no need to work out all the answers right now, is there? Take one day at a time, give your brain time to deal with everything, and see what happens.”

I mulled over Eddie’s words. “You’re right. I’m not going to worry about it anymore.”

“I’m always right.” His tone was smugly satisfied. “And for what it’s worth, I personally think you two are perfect for each other.”

I arched an eyebrow.

“You’re both headstrong, don’t take crap from each other, you work well together when you’re not fighting, and you’re both beyond gorgeous.” He sighed, batting his eyelids at me.

“If you say so. I haven’t even really decided how I feel about him yet—” I was interrupted by a knock at the door.

“Come in,” I called. The door opened and Luke stood there, eyes sparkling and his gorgeous mouth curved into a smile directed at me. A blush stole across my cheeks, turning them hot, and I smiled back inanely.

Eddie laughed in delight, looking between us.

I kicked his shin under the table.

“Ouch! What was that for?” he hissed, smirking knowingly.

“Out. Now.” I pointed my finger at the doorway.

He shook his head and stood to leave. Bending down, he whispered in my ear, “You are so screwed. You luurve him.” He strolled out, stopping to make a kissing face behind Luke’s back, and I threw my middle finger up at him.

“Bugger off, Ed,” I called.

“With pleasure, darling.” He grinned and disappeared around the corner.

“What was all that about?” Luke asked curiously, sinking into the chair Eddie had just vacated.

“You don’t want to know,” I muttered darkly. I took a giant sip of coffee, willing my heated cheeks to cool.

He laughed. “Knowing Eddie? Probably not.”