Page 43 of Her Brother's Billionaire Best Friend

I gestured to her, and she opened her mouth in shock.

“See, it’s Laura who convinced me…” I went on, “…that community’s the most important thing. I’ve been living in Caluga Falls for almost two years, but most of you know I don’t go out a lot.”

There were a few chuckles at that. I realized that up until now, I’d been the subject of some speculation.

“In fact, I didn’t even know about some of the challenges in this place until I bought the Parkland. A town without a hospital is no town at all. Same for a town without a library.”

There were nods and murmurs of approval.

“So, say thanks to Laura, if you get a chance. Because all the money in the world’s no good if…if…”

I was scrabbling for something to say, anything, and finally, I said—

“…if your heart isn’t in the right place. So, thank you, Laura,” I said. “For putting my heart in the right place.”

There were sighs and awwws. Then there were cheers (another woop from Kyle). Finally, the crowd broke into applause, and I smiled. It had been so long since I’d felt that good. And I was telling the truth. It was Laura’s doing.

I looked for her, but I could no longer see her in the crowd.

Had it been too much? Was she upset? I hadn’t meant to sound so sentimental about Laura. But what I’d said was true. I had to get to her and find out. The only reason I’d come to this stupid thing was to spend some more time with her anyway.

I nodded to the assembled guests as the applause died down and wandered off to look for her. But before I could get far in the crowd of well-wishers, a little guy with snowy hair and a pair of big, thick glasses with dark, circular rims tapped me on the shoulder. From behind the lenses, his eyes looked enormous.

“Mr. Barnes,” he said, excitedly, shaking my hand so fast I barely had time to hold his. “Erwin Marshall. I run the Caluga Collector. I wondered if you had time for a quick interview? I’m sure my readers would be delighted to hear from you…”

“Another time, perhaps,” I said. If showing up to this thing was a bad idea for my secret identity, getting my face printed in the local paper was a hundred times worse. “Say, Erwin, have you seen Laura?”

“Laura?” said Erwin. “Why, yes! She came down to my office asking for a job just the other day—”

“No, not in general, I mean, have you seen her now,” I began. “Wait. Did you say she wanted a job with you?”

“Well, of course. I told her that it would only be a part time gig. Maybe a few hours a week. But she seemed keen. Besides,” he chuckled, “we can’t have a talented journalist like Laura holed up at Lakeview forever answering your fanmail, can we?”

“No,” I said through gritted teeth. “Only, Laura didn’t tell me she wanted a job with you.”

“I didn’t see how it was relevant,” said Laura behind me. I span and breathed a sigh of relief.

“There you are,” I said.

“You managed to grill him, Erwin?” said Laura to the old man.

“Not quite yet,” he said, raising a finger and tapping me on my forehead. I blinked in dismay. “But I’ll get there. Don’t you worry. Have fun, you two!” said Erwin, as he shuffled off into the party.

“Didn’t see how it was relevant?” I hissed. “You’re already planning your escape?”

“I’m not escaping anywhere, Lucien,” said Laura drily. “Not yet.”

“I was just hoping you’d changed your mind. About finding something else.”

“Lucien, I’m sorry,” said Laura, and for a moment, I saw she really was sorry. “What you just said now, it was—really nice.”

“Nice?” I grunted.

“It was. And I really do like you—as a friend,” she added quickly. “But we both know that I need to be somewhere else.”

“Why?”

“Don’t give me ‘why’? You know what I’m talking about.”