Page 91 of Love In Hiding

He always did.

Austin leaned back, studying him. “You worked for the firm West mentioned he didn’t like doing business with.”

“I did,” he said. Though he hadn’t known when he interviewed West didn’t care for his boss or some of the others. Just another thing that made him wonder if he had been hired as some spite.

But someone as powerful as West Carlisle wouldn’t do something like that. He’d have no need to.

“You don’t strike me as a guy who likes being told how to walk. Or where he has to and when. I’m surprised you stayed as long as you had.”

London’s gaze flicked to him like she’d been waiting to see how he’d answer.

“I probably did overstay my welcome since I don’t particularly like working seven days a week fifty-two weeks a year,” he said. “I like being able to make my own decisions and now I can.”

Her foot brushed his ankle under the table. Not accidental.

Not even close.

He kept his face neutral, but it took everything he had. It was as if she knew that too.

Baiting him. Challenging like she loved to do.

“Are you from New York?” Carolina asked.

He cleared his throat and tried to ignore London’s presence making his pulse pick up. “I’m originally from Philly. My sister is a dentist on Amore Island.”

“Spencer’s sister is married to Coy Bond, who is brother-in-law to Charlotte’s sister,” she said. There was no reason to hide that from the people here.

It was as if the conversation got more comfortable after they’d heard that.

As if Austin wasn’t interrogating him, suspecting there could be more than a working relationship between London and him.

“That’s wonderful,” Carolina said. “Charlotte talked so fondly of the island that I told Austin we’d have to take a trip there.”

“I’ve been a lot. Coy and I are best friends. We met in college our freshman year. I was in law school when he was in dental school, so we had six years together.”

“Sounds as if he was almost like a brother to you. And now he is by marriage,” Carolina said, her smile growing.

“It feels that way.”

“We love when families expand that way. Almost like fate. Maybe one day you’ll bring someone home like your sister did,” Carolina said.

London coughed. Paris choked on a piece of bread.

He fought the instinct to look directly at London.

He lost.

He glanced.

She was staring at him with wide eyes and cheeks flushed as if they had been caught lying about sneaking out after curfew.

“Maybe,” he said carefully. “When the time is right.”

Austin let out a short laugh. “That’s a hell of a diplomatic answer.”

“He’s great at lawyer speak,” she said. “Just like you, Dad.”

The table laughed.