Chapter 10 #2
Not for one of us to compromise on something as massive as having children.
‘I’ll make it worth your while,’ I tell him now.
He raises an eyebrow sexily. ‘Will you, now?’
‘Stop it.’ The innuendo has me unnecessarily flustered. ‘I’ll cook all your favourite things. Still a fan of bread and butter pudding?’
‘If it’s your bread and butter pudding, I’d do even worse things than look after your children.’
I nod, smiling. ‘Done. And I promise, I’ll speak to the kids tonight. We have to find a way to make this vaguely bearable for you.’
‘That would be very much appreciated. Definitely not keen for a re-run of that shit-show.’ He rakes his hand through his hair.
Why such a simple act is so obscenely hot, I cannot tell you.
Clearly something’s wrong in my hard-wiring.
Or the man is just sex on legs, and no one’s immune.
From the way Remi’s been hovering, it may be the latter.
‘For what it’s worth,’ he continues, ‘Toby was a fucking rockstar. He was able to answer every question I had, including how to brush his sister’s hair. I just hated how anxious he was about being late. Poor little guy.’
‘I know.’ I twist the hem of my top around my hands. ‘I hate it too. It’s such an unhealthy atmosphere for him in the mornings, and I’m usually too wound up to be there the way he needs it.’
He drums his fingertips on the table, thinking. ‘There must be something. If I can play the clown a bit, maybe lighten up the mood, do you think that world work? It might distract Daisy enough for her to play ball and relax Toby.’
‘Distraction is the number one parenting weapon,’ I tell him. ‘That and hard bribery. Forget trying to find an intrinsic motivation. Just work out what they want and use it as leverage. Shamelessly.’
‘Hard bribery and distraction.’ He nods, presses his lips together. ‘I can definitely work with that. They’ll be putty in my hands.’
‘If you can get them to school in one piece and vaguely on time, I’ll be putty in your hands, too.’ It’s meant as a quip, but until I hear the words out loud, I don’t realise how physical they sound.
‘See?’ He shoots me a grin that’s way too sexy, way too devastating, for someone who has no business weaselling his way into my heart.
Or my knickers. ‘Hard bribery. You worked out what I want, and you’re using it as leverage.
’ He tuts. ‘I’m clearly dealing with a master here. I don’t stand a chance.’
I’m smiling at him in an attempt to communicate my desperate gratitude—and low-level arousal—when Sadie’s voice pops up behind me.
‘Hi, guys.’
I groan inwardly.
‘Sadie, meet Angus’ brother, Max. Max, Sadie runs the PR side of things, and she’s looking after our social media too, at the moment.’
Max puts down his now-half-eaten bap and extends a hand and a broad smile.
‘Hiya, Sadie. Good to meet you.’
‘So nice to meet you.’ She shakes. ‘I knew you reminded me of someone. So. Another Rutherford man, eh? Come to stir up the monotony here and make us all fall in love with you?’
I interject before Max can answer. ‘I thought you were going to go and annoy your husband?’
She pouts. ‘He’s building a pivot table. He sent me packing.’ She turns to Max. ‘I married the Finance Director here. Please don’t judge me. I’m a lot cooler than him. And more fun.’
Max’s grin widens. ‘I have no doubt. And no judgement here.’
‘Ned is a seriously wonderful guy,’ I say. I shoot Sadie a stern glare. ‘And a living saint, if you ask me.’
She sighs. ‘He really is. And when you find a total brainiac with a heart of gold and the body of a professional athlete, you don’t say no. Even if he’s the world’s biggest dork, most of the time.’
‘You love it,’ I tell her.
She sighs, a soft, dreamy look on her face. ‘I really, really do.’
Max looks like he’s about to have a fit of the giggles. ‘I’m happy for you,’ he says before wisely diving into his breakfast again.
‘Did you need something, Sade?’ I ask her pointedly.
‘Only to ask what time you’re tackling the gingerbread stuff today.’ She taps her fancy phone in its glossy rose-gold case. ‘I want to record some step-by-step stuff for Instagram Stories.’
‘Sure,’ I say. ‘Elevenish?’
‘Excellent.’ She turns back to Max. ‘Molly here is a big hit on Insta and TikTok. She has a lot of fans, online and offline. She always gets the most views.’
Max’s gaze rakes over my face. ‘That doesn’t surprise me in the slightest,’ he says in a gruff voice.
I swallow, my neck heating. ‘You should take everything Sadie says with a pinch of salt. She’s always trying to make things sound more exciting than they actually are—that’s why she’s so great at her job.’
Sadie bats her eyelashes at me. ‘Speaking of your offline fans, when’s your date again?’
I glare at her. She couldn’t be more transparent, but Max doesn’t seem to get that he’s playing right into her hands when he frowns at me.
‘Date?’
‘There’s a local big-shot entrepreneur who’s a member here,’ Sadie explains helpfully. ‘He’s hot as fuck, and he’s been following our resident blonde bombshell around for ages. She finally took pity on him and agreed to a date. Friday night, isn’t it?’ She pretends to rack her brain.
‘It’s not a big deal.’ I run my fingertip along some stray hot chocolate powder on the saucer of my cappuccino. ‘It’s a couple of drinks. I don’t think anyone here would begrudge me a few hours away from my kids.’
‘As long as you don’t expect me to babysit while you go out on your date,’ Max says, cocking an eyebrow at me. His mouth is a grim line.
‘Wouldn’t dream of it,’ I say. Annoyingly, I can’t cock a single eyebrow, but I raise both of mine right back at him.