She shrugged, looking unsure of herself. “It seemed the least I could do. Sophie mentioned that you were in the middle of a tough deal, and when she orchestrated this entire charade, I thought maybe I could lend a hand. Or a boob.”
Gray’s head spun, both with the idea that the deal could be saved and that his sister had actually gone out on a limb for him. The only thing that didn’t surprise him about this conversation was Sophie’s interference.
“So you’re doing this because my pesky little assistant ambushed you in the airport? How did she even find you?”
Jenna smiled and snagged another cherry. “She was standing there at baggage claim holding a sign with my name on it. You know, kind of like a town car driver would have done?” She shot him a side look.
“At least a town car driver could have delivered you to my condo or wherever you wanted to go. Sophie’s meddling got you trapped into bowling.”
“Well, actually,” she said, spinning around on her bar stool to look at their group, “it’s been oddly fun. Sophie’s great.”
Gray grunted.
“Are you two…you know…?” Jenna wiggled her eyebrows.
He sputtered on his beer. “She’s my assistant, Jen. That would be…No. She’s an employee.”
“So? Does your company have a policy about coworkers dating?”
“What? I don’t know.” He did know. They didn’t have a policy.
She kept pressing. “How about subordinates dating bosses? Is that off-limits?”
“Who cares? Why are you bringing this up?”
She smiled her cat smile at him, and got to her feet. “Call it feminine intuition.”
“Or I could call it…delusion. And have you not noticed how much she resembles a certain almost-sister-in-law of yours?”
Jenna gave him a disgusted look. “I told you from day one to stay away from that one. And sure, they look a little alike, but it took me all of five minutes to see that Sophie is nothing like Jessica. Not in the way that matters.”
Gray’s stomach knotted as he considered Jenna’s words. If business had taught him anything, it was that tingling sense you got in your hands when you knew you’d made a mistake.
He flexed his fingers. Yup. Definitely tingling.
“How are things in New York?” he asked, annoyed to realize that his voice sounded gruff.
Jenna’s smirk showed she was on to him, but she’d apparently finally done some maturing because she let it go instead of pushing his buttons like she would have a year ago.
“You know, New York is pretty great. It feels like this one might stick.”
Gray had his doubts. Jenna thought every city would stick, but she rarely lasted more than a year. Still, if she could let things go, so could he, so he just nodded.
“Boyfriend?” he asked casually.
His sister gave him a look. “If I tell, are you gonna arrange for a background check?”
Gray winced. She knew about that?
“No,” he lied.
Jenna stood and dragged him to his feet. “No big-brother prying tonight. My life isn’t the one in deep crap right now. Come on, let’s go land you a hotel deal. And maybe improve your bowling skills. You’re embarrassing the Wyatt name.”
He followed her back to the group and tried to avoid looking at Sophie. She’d either give him a smug I told you so look, or she’d be grinning at him like a proud mother. But as usual, he lost the battle, and couldn’t seem to help glancing at her. What he saw was neither gloating nor pride. She looked almost…affectionate.
Which might have lifted his mood if Jack’s arm hadn’t been around the back of her chair.
Maybe it didn’t even matter if he’d been wrong about Sophie. Even if she lacked Jessica’s more manipulative qualities, they had one very important detail in common.
Neither one wanted him.
“Gray, my man,” Peter said in a whiskey-soaked boom. “Let’s get over here and discuss what you did in that fancy Chicago-based company of yours. Sophie and Jack tell me that a couple years ago you were responsible for turning around that set of fancy resorts on Barbados? Hell, those are five-star celebrity destinations now! I had no idea you had that kind of experience.”
Gray shot a glance at his brother and Sophie, who sent matching winks his way.
He couldn’t hide his victorious smile. Finally he was back in his element. He might suck at apologies, gratitude, and chitchat, but this? This he could do.
By the time the group was sitting at a long bench table at a nearby pizza parlor, Gray was feeling the best he’d felt in weeks. The Blackwells had just left to return to their hotel, but they were going to sign. He knew it. His business instincts were buzzing with victory, and they were never wrong.
He wondered if he should thank Sophie. It never would have happened without her interference. If it was up to him, the meeting would never have left the conference room and would have ended hours ago. Probably with the deal dead in the water.
“So, Sophie,” Jenna was saying as she wound a piece of mozzarella around her finger. “You seeing anyone?”