Read Online Beautiful Secret (Beautiful Bastard #4) by Christina Lauren - Free Book Online Page A

napkin. “I was also impressed with the way you managed to get a hair pointed in each direction. Few can achieve that simply by napping in a hotel bed.”
    She shrugged, her smile nearly giddy over our verbal banter. “Many have tried to teach me the ways of sleek hairstyling. Many have failed.”
    I looked up to a table of grown men, watching us with rapt interest. I was definitely going to get the third degree from Max later.
    “So, no boyfriend,” George said, grinning wolfishly.
    “Nope,” she answered.
    “And not interested in anyone in particular?”
    Ruby’s mouth opened and immediately snapped closed as her cheeks bloomed pink. And then she blinked around the table, narrowing her eyes. “You can’t tell me you guys all get together for drinks and talk about relationships. Are we moving on to shoes next?”
    Bennett tilted his head toward George. “It’s this one. Get him in a bar and it’s always like this.”
    “I’ve told you a hundred times, Ben-Ben,” George drawled, “you’re the boss in the day, I’m the boss after dark.”
    Bennett stared at him coolly, and I watched George struggle to not fidget under the pressure. “George,” he said, finally, fighting a laugh, “you have never said that to me.”
    In a burst of relieved laughter, George said, “I know but it sounded so good. I’m just trying to impress Ruby.”
    “Ruby, you’re going to steal George away from me,”Will said, smiling.
    “Not likely.” George reached forward to tap Will’s nose with each word: “She. Doesn’t. Have. The. Right. Parts.”
    “Okay, then,” Bennett said, lifting his drink and taking a long swallow. “Back to discussing body parts. All is normal.”
----
    A silence fell over the table as everyone turned to watch Ruby leave the bar and head upstairs to bed. She had been utterly charming throughout dinner, and the group had groaned in unison when she’d excused herself because of our early morning. I, too, had been quite sad to see her go.
    “Well, well.”
    I looked up to see my brother’s smug expression.
    “Now that we’re alone,” Will began, “I think we can all agree to drop any pretense that we’re not ruined for civilized conversation, yes?” Each of them nodded in agreement and beside me, his glass now refilled, Will raised his tumbler to take a small swallow of scotch. “I also think we can all agree Bennett will be an important consultant on this case.”
    Max snickered.
    “The conference?” I asked, confused.
    “It’s an all-too-common predicament,” Bennett added dryly. “Knockout intern. Boss in denial. I’ll draft up a step-by-step plan of containment.”
    I blinked, swallowing thickly as I realized what they meant. “She’s not my intern. I have absolutely no say in her career.” I shook my head, frustrated becauseit was exactly the wrong thing to say. “I’m not . . . that is to say, she’s not interested. Nor I.”
    All four men laughed.
    “Niall,” Will said, leaning his elbows on his knees. “She nearly dropped her drink in your lap when George asked if she was interested in anyone.”
    “Was going to say the same thing,” Bennett said.
    “And something tells me she’d be first to volunteer to clean it up,” Will added.
    “Well, maybe that’s because she’s interested in someone who works with us at R-C.”
    “Yeah. You .” Max lifted his glass and finished the last of the amber liquid.
    “Sincerely,” I said, fighting a smile. “She’s a fantastic girl, but she’s certainly not a romantic option for me.”
    Tilting his head, Bennett asked, “What color are her eyes?”
    Green , I didn’t say. I shook my head as if I didn’t know.
    “What was she wearing?” Will asked.
    A blue dress that hit just above her knee , I didn’t say. A delicate gold chain around her neck and a ring on her right ring finger that I had to resist asking her about until George bulldozed in and asked about a boyfriend .
    I rolled my eyes, and my brother