Forever Love at Wildflower Lock (The Wildflower Lock #4)

Chapter 18

18

Daisy had to bite her tongue. Who made a comment about making towels dirty? And what did Penelope think she and Theo had been doing on the drive over? Stopping to have a mudbath? Still, Daisy had already been far less polite than she would ever normally dreamed possible. What she needed to do was try to make amends.

‘I’m sorry,’ Daisy said the moment they were out of earshot. ‘I know I was rude to her, only she was so condescending. The way she said the word waitress. Like waitresses don’t work damn hard.’

Theo nodded as he looked down at Daisy and placed a hand on her cheek.

‘I know. I get it. I understand how difficult she can be, but the thing with my mum is?—’

‘She’s your mum, I get it,’ Daisy said, anticipating what Theo was going to say next. ‘She’s your mum and you love her and I’ll learn to love her too if I just give her a chance. I get it. I do. And I’ll try. I promise.’

Theo paused and pressed his lips together.

‘Actually, that wasn’t what I was going to say at all.’

‘It wasn’t?’ Daisy frowned.

‘No, I was going to say that she just has to feel like she’s winning. That’s it. She has to have the last word with everything. And as much as I love to see you standing up to her – and believe me, I do love to see you standing up to her – the last thing I want is for her to decide she’s going to use that against you. You know, start being unpleasant.’

‘ Start being unpleasant?’ Daisy said. ‘Did you listen to anything she said?’

‘I know, I get it.’ Theo took her hands and squeezed them tightly. ‘It’s probably not going to make you feel any better, but she’s exactly the same with my sister. Always trying to get under her skin. You have every right to answer back and give her everything she deserves, but it’s just you I’m worried about. I’m worried about how difficult she can make things for us.’

‘We’re only staying here for one night,’ Daisy said, although she knew deep down that wasn’t what Theo was on about. They were getting married. That meant that whether she liked it or not, Penelope was in her life for good now.

‘Please, just this once, can you try to take the higher ground with her?’ As he spoke, Theo pushed out his bottom lip and offered Daisy his best puppy-dog eyes that were so good, even Johnny would have a hard time topping them. ‘I’ll promise I’ll make it up to you when we go to the hotel,’ he added.

‘Really? And how do you plan on doing that?’

Leaning forward, Theo whispered into Daisy’s ear, causing her to let out an uncontrollable burst of laughter.

‘Fine then, you’re on. But I’m holding you to that.’

‘Good,’ Theo said with a grin that was wide enough to make Daisy’s heart flutter. ‘I want you to.’