Page 22 of The Game Changer
I realize my mistake the second he exits the conference room. Miranda stands and sashays around the table, hitching her hip onto it right next to me.
“I find it hard to believe you don’t remember me, Luca. High school wasn’t that long ago,” she says, giggling.
“Over twenty years is a long time,” I reply drily. Her face barely moves, but I catch a slight narrowing of her eyes.
“You asked me to one of our school dances.” She has the audacity to place a hand on my upper arm. “I always regretted turning you down, you know.”
My eyebrows raise, but I say nothing.
“If you asked me out now, I’d have a different answer.”
Holy hell, the guts on this woman. Does she truly not remember the bitch she was in high school?
I settle my expression into one of cool indifference and stare her straight in the eyes. “Too bad I never ask twice.” I shake off her hand, push back from the table, and stand. “Excuse me, I’m going to check on where my employee is.”
“Don’t be shy, Luca, we’re old friends.” Miranda titters, standing as well and putting her fucking hand back on my arm, this time squeezing lightly.
I open my mouth, fed up with her antics and ready to burn this sponsorship to the ground if it gets me away from her, when a light knock precedes the opening of the conference room door. As soon as Isla breezes in, I feel my jaw unclench. I watch her take in the scene, Miranda leaning toward me, her hand on my bicep, my hands clenched tight at my side.Fuck.She better not think I want any of this. I give my head a subtle shake, keeping my eyes wide and lips in a thin line.
Mere seconds pass before she takes control in the most unexpected but not unwelcome way.
“Hey babe, sorry I’m late.”
My eyebrows twitch upward at the casual endearment, but I immediately let them fall, only to have a different body part twitch when she struts up beside me, sliding her hand over mine and leaning in to press a kiss to my cheek.
“How have things gone so far?” She turns to Miranda and adopts a smile, one I can tell is obviously fake. “Oh, I’m so sorry, how unprofessional of me. I’m Isla. I’mheading up the marketing for the Cedar Creek Thunder relaunch. And you are?”
It’s hard to tell underneath all the makeup, but I’m pretty sure Miranda turns bright red. For a brief moment, I worry she’s going to reveal how we know each other. Which in turn could lead to Isla learning about my leg, something I’m not ready for yet. But to my immense surprise, Miranda backs down.
Well, sort of.
“Miranda Mulaney. My father owns this company.” There’s no mistaking the haughty tone to her words, but she doesn’t make another move on me, thank fuck. “I’ll leave you to your meeting.” She turns her back partially on Isla and gives me what I would assume she intends to be a seductive gaze. “If things ever…change, you know how to find me.”
Damn, that’s bold.
Before I can say anything, Isla steps in again, sliding herself forward so she’s partially between me and Miranda, and taking my hand, plants it firmly on her hip. My fingertips dig in of their own accord. This is so wrong. But damn, it feels so right, having her by my side like this, even if it is fake.
“Don’t worry, he won’t be needing to find you.” She tips her head to the side and lifts her free hand in a small wave. “Bye now.”
Neither one of us moves a muscle until Miranda has stormed out of the room, trying to slam the door behind her but since it’s got soft-closing hinges, her dramatic exit loses a lot of its power.
“Holy shit, Forrester.” I exhale, letting my foreheadfall to her shoulder. Then, I freeze. “Sorry.” I drop my grip on her hip and lift my head quickly. “Thanks for the assist, you’re a lifesaver.”
Isla turns slowly to face me, a cautious expression on her face. “So, you’re not mad I basically just pretended we were together in front of a sponsor’s daughter? It wasn’t exactly professional of me.”
I let out a harsh laugh. “Definitely not mad. If anything, I should be apologizing for putting you in an uncomfortable situation.” I run my fingers through my hair, aware Sean could be back any second. And I owe Isla at least a partial explanation. “Miranda and I went to high school together. She might not have been interested in me then, but apparently, she is now. Too bad the feeling isn’t reciprocated.”
Isla lets out an indelicate snort, then claps a hand over her mouth in embarrassment. I grin and pull it away.
“Anyway. I owe you big time.”
“Great, you can buy lunch after we wrap this meeting.”
“Anythingyou want.”
I don’t intend that to sound as laden in innuendo as it comes out, but with the way Isla’s eyes darken, I don’t regret it. Fuck, I want to feel my hands on her again. For real this time.
Just then the door opens, and Sean re-enters. “Sorry about that, everything is under control now, but my daughter said she was late for an appointment so it’ll just be us,” he says by way of greeting.
