Contingent by Livia Jamerlan Page A

need?”
    “Baby girl, maybe you should go back to my place.”
    “Loren, I’m fine.” My nails dug into my palms, my fists tightening. “I was hired to help just like you were. I’m not letting him get in the way.”
    “Okay.” She smiled gently. “The servers are setting up the food stations. You can take a walk through and make sure nothing is out of place before I let Mrs. Cunningham know that the food is ready.”
    With an empty tray in my hand, I kept my head low as I strolled through the party. My mind was focused on what I was hired to do— not on the happy couple.
    “Braelynn?”
    I swallowed the uneasy feeling in my throat. Turning slowly at the male voice, my breath caught in my chest. I had been so focused on tuning out all of the guests that it didn’t register who he was until I faced him.
    “Landon . . . Hi.” Just what I needed. “What are you doing here?” I placed the tray on the table so my shaky hands wouldn’t drop the empty glasses on the floor.
    “I was going to ask you the same question. I thought you were a lawyer?”
    “Uh . . .” A nervous hand scratched the back of my head. “Yeah. My sister needed help and I thought this was Tiffany’s engagement party not—”
    “Your ex-boyfriend’s?”
    “Just my luck, huh?” I tried to joke, but only I would be caught in this twilight zone.
    “How are you?”
    “Good—working. Trying to make a good first impression at my job,” I rambled. “I’ve been assigned to some interesting cases and the people I work with are all really nice.”
    Landon chuckled. “You’re beautiful when you ramble.”
    I sucked in my lower lip pressing it between my teeth. “Why are you here?”
    “Tiffany and I are friends. She nagged me until I agreed to come.”
    “Oh.” I guess I couldn’t be surprised that Landon had female friends who looked like runway models.
    “We’re only friends. Strictly platonic,” Landon explained as if he could read my thoughts.
    “You don’t have to explain yourself.”
    “No, I do.” Landon reached for my hand, pulling me towards him. “I like you, Braelynn, and I think you like me too, but you don’t know how to let go of your past.” His words dug deep into my wounded cuts.
    Haas appeared behind him, and my eyes locked with his for a brief second before looking back at Landon. “You didn’t . . . I don’t . . . I do.” A nervous laugh escaped. “I’m sorry, Landon. I do like you, I just don’t know how to stop loving him.”
    “Can I see you again?”
    “Yeah.” The skin on my face warmed as I looked up at him.
    He chuckled, his hands reaching up to touch my cheek. “I’ll call you tomorrow?”
    I nodded. “I should get back to work.” Taking the tray from the table, I walked away. Haas had watched the whole conversation, and I could feel his eyes on me. Without giving him the satisfaction, I ignored his glare and marched to the kitchen.
    I needed to make new friends. Friends who didn’t know Haas or Landon. There was no other person in the world who would be stuck working their ex-boyfriends engagement party and have their potential—whatever Landon was—attend the same party. Not to mention a party where I was a freaking servant.
    The party continued and I stayed away from the guests. Working in the kitchen, I avoided the toast, and I avoided Tiffany when she squealed and giggled as she gave the bride-to-be her gift.
    I avoided everything.
    “I came to say goodbye,” Landon said, placing a kiss on my cheek. “I’ll talk to you soon.”
    I heard Loren grunt.
    “Um . . . Landon this is my sister, Loren. Loren this is—”
    “Landon Jenkins.” Loren finished.
    “It’s a pleasure to meet you.” Landon extended his hand out to her. Loren crossed her arms over her chest, pressing her lips together as she looked him up and down.
    “A protective older sister,” Landon said when Loren didn’t shake his hand.
    “I have to be,” Loren finally spoke. “You’re a professional