Chapter Twelve
Oliver Wright crossed his arms, leaned on the doorframe between the hall and living area of Finlay’s flat, and stared at Finlay. ‘I honestly don’t know how we’re still friends.’
Finlay snorted and shoved the empty kettle under the tap.
‘Seriously, Fin, you’re setting yourself up to be one of my best clients in the future.’
‘Chance would be a fine thing.’
Oliver’s ribbing was nothing new, but Finlay couldn’t imagine ever needing him in his professional capacity. Why would he require a divorce lawyer? It wasn’t like he ever got further than the engagement stage.
‘I think you must have missed a few crucial lessons in dating and relationships.’ Oliver strolled up to the kitchen island and leaned his forearms on the bare work surface. Only the essentials were left in the flat now, and it was as sad and empty as Finlay himself.
‘And you think you’re the one to teach me?’ Finlay arched an eyebrow as he chucked a teaspoon of instant coffee into a mug. ‘The man who “doesn’t do long term”.’
‘That’s my choice,’ Oliver said. ‘But it’s not the point I’m making for you. How do you manage to go from hardly knowing someone to engaged in the space of a few hours?’
‘We were drunk.’
‘You didn’t look drunk in that film.’
‘Which is a miracle in itself. I can’t believe you watched the bloody thing. We were definitely drunk. I don’t really remember what made me do it. We were fooling around and—’
‘You mean you were at it in the garden? In public?’
‘No,’ Finlay said. ‘Just kissing. I think. Argh.’ He facepalmed. ‘I really don’t know what we were doing.’
‘That much seems clear. And why do you keep choosing your sister’s friends as dates? Of all the people you should be steering clear of.’
‘Why?’
‘It’s not exactly putting her in an easy position, is it?’
‘I guess not.’ Finlay turned his back to Oliver to pour the water into the mugs. Oliver made a good point. How did this affect Hayley’s relationship with her friends? First Elise and now Genevieve? Why hadn’t he thought of that before?
Add selfish to his list of failings.
‘It’s an unwritten rule. Don’t date a friend’s sibling. Far too complicated.’
‘A sibling’s friend, don’t you mean?’ Finlay handed Oliver a mug.
‘What?’ Oliver frowned, then gave a brief headshake. ‘Yes. Both, in fact.’
‘Well, whatever. It’s not like it matters now.’
‘Why? What exactly is happening with you and Genevieve?’ Oliver sipped his coffee, peering over the mug almost like he wasn’t sure he wanted to know the answer to his own question.
‘Nothing. She gave me back the ring. I told you. We were drunk.’
‘So, it’s not real?’
‘Na.’ He made it sound as aloof as possible but a stabbing pain in chest prevented him saying anything else.
‘Have you told everyone that?’
‘Just you. It only happened last night. I haven’t had a chance to speak to anyone else.’
Oliver raised his dark eyebrow. ‘And what about her? Has she made another live appearance telling everyone it was a silly drunken moment and you’re not actually engaged?’
‘I don’t think she’s done it yet.’
‘Why not?’
‘I don’t know.’
‘You better get her to do it soon.’
‘You think? I’d quite like to slip off to Dubai and be there when the shit hits.’
Oliver sent him a stern look. ‘Like that’s going to work. If you go off to Dubai alone, everyone will wonder why she isn’t going with you. You made a mistake. Suck it up and move on.’
‘Yeah, yeah. I will.’ But it hurt. The whole thing was a sore spot. On top of the breakup with Elise, it made him look like such an idiot. He’d thought Genevieve would do it straight away, especially with Elise breathing down her neck, panicking that he was using Genevieve in the same way Elise had done to him. Ugh. Did she think everyone was like her?
The front door buzzer rang. Oliver glanced into the hall. ‘You’re not expecting viewers, are you?’
‘No. It might be Hayley. She hinted she’d drop in.’ No doubt she thought she could get a better story out of him in person. Hell knew how she would swallow the truth.
Oliver looked on the verge of rolling his eyes, but his expression stayed impassive. If Finlay hadn’t known him for a long time, he would probably have missed it.
‘What do you have against my sister?’ Finlay muttered as he made his way into the hall. ‘She’s the nicest person on the planet.’
‘I don’t have anything against her.’
‘Hmm.’ Finlay didn’t believe him. Oliver had never warmed to Hayley, which seemed bizarre. Everyone liked her. She was that kind of person. He pressed the answer button on the intercom and the screen woke, displaying not Hayley’s face as he’d expected but Genevieve’s. ‘Er… Hello. What are you doing here?’
‘I don’t have your number and I need to talk to you.’
‘Ok.’ He glanced sideways, then leaned closer to the microphone. ‘Oliver’s here too.’
‘Who?’
‘My friend, Oliver.’
‘The lawyer?’
‘Yes.’
Genevieve looked around like she was thinking. ‘Can you come out here then? I need to speak in private.’
‘Ok. Hang on.’ He switched off the screen and returned to the living room. ‘I’m just nipping downstairs for a minute, back in five.’
Oliver looked at him, his expression loaded with curiosity. He was sharp and Finlay was aware of how totally suss this must look.
‘If it’s your sister and you want to talk to her without me, I’m happy to make myself scarce.’
‘It’s not her. Five minutes,’ he said, heading straight for the main door. He nipped down the stairs and out the back.
Genevieve stood fiddling with a bracelet and tapping her toe. Mitzi sniffed around the path near the wheelie bin on her long lead.
‘Hey,’ Finlay said, and Genevieve turned swiftly. Mitzi scuttled over to him and he gave her a quick tickle. ‘What’s up?’ Finlay straightened from patting Mitzi and frowned at Genevieve.
‘Oh my god, Finlay…’ Her expression was tense. ‘I don’t even know where to start.’ She shook her head dramatically.
‘Uh-oh… What now?’ Could anything worse have happened? If his new employers had got wind of the video, would they have contacted her? Or had he actually slept with her and she was pregnant? But she couldn’t know that after only a few hours. His mind did a hundred-mile-an-hour sprint through several wild ideas before she spoke again.
‘I need you to help me with something.’
‘Ok. What?’
‘Are you still free next weekend?’
‘Still free? Why? Did we arrange to do something I’ve forgotten about?’
‘Not exactly, but apparently you told my dad you were free nearly every weekend of the summer holidays except the Highland Games weekend, so you’d be available for a game of golf.’
‘Oh shit. So, he wants me to play a round with him?’
‘Ha! If only. It’s worse than that.’
‘Um… how?’
‘He asked me if I was free and stupidly I said yes before I realised where it was going.’
‘And where is it going?’
‘He wants us to spend a weekend in a castle.’
‘What? Have I slipped into the plot of Scooby Doo somewhere along the line?’
She let out a sigh and shook her head. ‘No, nothing like that.’
‘Then what? Is it some kind of initiation test your father subjects all your suitors to?’
A small smile played on her lips. ‘No. The castle belongs to a friend of his. She wants us to preview her couples’ retreat weekend. We’ll get a top-class room and free meals.’ She pulled a little face like she hoped that might be the clincher.
‘Hold up a minute. This sounds remarkably similar to yesterday.’
‘Yeah. And that reminds me. Can you also give me the ring back?’
‘Why?’
‘Because we have to pretend we’re still a thing.’
‘Wait, what?’
Mitzi jumped at his leg and yelped. He bent down to scratch her ears and she instantly dropped onto her back, throwing her legs in the air so he could tickle her tummy.
Genevieve let out a groan. ‘It’s a total nightmare.’
‘I still don’t get exactly what’s going on. Why do we have to do this? Have you still not learned to use that little word? You know the one that starts with N and ends with O?’
‘I can’t this time. Let me explain properly and you’ll see why.’
‘Ok, shoot me with the worst.’ He let out a sigh.
‘Remember Flora MacDonald?’
‘Are you on something?’ He crossed his arms. ‘First a castle, now Flora MacDonald? You mean the Skye boat woman?’
‘No, the lady who owns Storminch Castle.’
‘Who? Oh…’ A memory stirred. ‘Is that the lady who likes rugby?’
‘Yes. She’s loaded and always giving money to worthy schemes. My dad’s been courting her as an investor for years and she’s invested in small-scale projects, but he’s desperate to get her onboard with a big project he’s doing.’
‘Still don’t see what this has to do with me and you.’
‘I’m getting there. Before she started talking to you, she was telling me about this couples’ retreat she’d set up at the castle. I thought she was mentioning it as something I might like in the future, but no. She’s already been in touch with Dad and he wants me to do it ASAP. He thinks if we go along, try it out and I promote it on all my socials, she’ll reciprocate by agreeing to an investment deal.’
Finlay half-closed his eyes. ‘Seriously?’
‘Yes. Don’t you get it? They all think we’re engaged and we’ll be jumping at the chance to have a free romantic weekend in a luxury castle. My dad reckons the deal’s already in the bag. If I back out, he’ll go nuts.’
‘Haven’t you told your parents the truth?’
‘Have you?’ Her eyes pressed for an answer.
‘Well, no. Not yet.’
‘Have you told anyone?’ she asked.
‘Just Oliver. I told him when he arrived.’
‘Well, go and tell him not to say a word. You have to do this.’
‘Why? I’m sure it wouldn’t be that bad if we said no.’
‘Well, she’s also going to put money into your junior rugby team to make sure it lasts for another three years at the very least.’
‘What?’ How could he pass that up? The team was already on the verge of going under with him leaving, but if someone was willing to subsidise it, he could throw them that lifeline and not feel as bad about abandoning them.
‘That’s what she said. So, will you do it?’
Just call me Finlay, the sucker for the sad case.
He needed to learn to use the word ‘no’ too, but he couldn’t, not now when he had the chance to save the junior rugby squad. ‘This could get really messy, you realise that?’
‘It could, but it gave me another idea that might be the answer.’
‘Not another one.’
‘This one is good.’
He arched an eyebrow. ‘How good?’
‘How about we say I’m going to Dubai with you, then at the last minute, I’ll get cold feet, say I can’t bear to leave Mitzi and that we split for the best?’
‘Hmm. Can’t you take dogs to Dubai?’ He wasn’t sure, but part of him preferred her idea to confessing to a moment of drunken stupidity.
‘Maybe, but she doesn’t like it when it’s too hot, so taking her to a desert country would be cruel.’
‘Oh man.’ Finlay raked his fingers through his hair.
‘What else can we do? My parents are so nuts about you it’s impossible to tell them. They asked where the ring was and I lied that you’d taken it to get it engraved. It’s getting worse already, but I can’t stand letting them down so soon. They’ll think I’m even more in need of their matchmaking services and never stop shoving people under my nose. I can’t stand it.’
Finlay groaned and cocked his head. He understood how she felt, but with every move they made they were making this worse.
‘Finlay! Genevieve!’ A voice called and they both turned. Hayley came bounding towards them, her long dark hair bouncing over her shoulders. ‘Oh, my god. You beautiful pair. Come here.’ She grabbed them both and pulled them into a hug, almost breaking Finlay’s neck in the process as she attempted to make him the same height as her and Genevieve. The hug threw him closer to Genevieve and his body woke to memories of Saturday. Very pleasant memories of roses and kisses. He’d kiss her again in a heartbeat, which couldn’t be a good sign, could it? An undeniable attraction existed. Why had he never noticed it before?
‘Let’s see the ring then.’ Hayley beamed, and Genevieve’s cheeks turned pink.
‘Oh, I’ve got it to get it engraved,’ Finlay said, his eyes meeting Genevieve’s.
‘Ah, I see.’ Hayley smiled between the two of them. ‘This is so exciting. Unexpected but exciting.’
‘Isn’t it?’ Finlay said.
‘Why are you out here?’ Hayley asked. ‘Are there viewers inside?’
‘No, just Oliver.’
Hayley pulled a face. ‘Oh, him.’
‘What is it with you and him?’ Finlay muttered.
‘He’s such a grumpy guts,’ Hayley said.
‘He’s not that bad.’
She looked at Genevieve as if to say, ‘Oh yes, he is,’ and Finlay shook his head.
‘Shall we go in?’ Hayley said.
‘Oh…’ Fuck. He’d have to grab Oliver and tell him not to say anything to Hayley, or anyone, about the engagement not being legit. Oliver’s reaction was not going to be good.
Hayley and Genevieve were on their way up.
Shit.
‘Hold on,’ Finlay said, jogging past him on the stairs. ‘I… um, need to unlock the door.’
‘What? It’s already open,’ Hayley said, laughing. ‘I can see it.’
‘Oh, so it is.’ Hell, was there no way of getting to Oliver first.
As they entered, Oliver came to the living room door and looked into the hallway. He scanned over the three of them. As soon as his eyes landed on Hayley, he said, ‘I better go. You’ve got enough people here.’
Hayley huffed an impatient sigh.
Oliver frowned at Genevieve for a second, then glanced at Finlay, his partially raised eyebrow asking why she was there.
‘I’ll see you out. I need to show you something.’ Finlay practically shoved Oliver out of the door.
‘I thought you said it wasn’t your sister at the door. And why did she bring her? Is she totally insensitive?’
‘Hayley didn’t bring her. Genevieve came around herself and then Hayley turned up too. Listen, there’s been a development.’
‘What development?’
‘Genevieve and I are going to keep the engagement going until I leave for Dubai. That’s the official line, so don’t go telling anyone what we spoke about earlier.’
‘Are you insane?’
‘No. She’s come up with a plan for us to end this more amicably and not make me look like someone who gets engaged for a hobby, or her someone who needs her parents to find her a man pronto. It’s just another three weeks, but it’ll soften the blow for our families, so please, don’t blab.’
‘I won’t say a thing. I’m not a gossip.’
‘Yeah, I know. And thanks. You’re a good mate.’ Finlay clapped his shoulder.
‘So are you, but sometimes I think you need your head examined. Do you have any idea how crazy this is?’
‘Yup. But you try living my life for a bit and it’ll make more sense.’
‘No thanks. I’m fine as I am.’
Finlay leaned his elbows on the rail and watched Oliver go down the stairs. His friend had a point. He massaged his forehead, pressing deep, trying to coax some sense out of this situation. Just three and a bit weeks. He could do this. Except he still had a flat to sell and now a weekend at a castle to get through… With his fiancée, who wasn’t really his fiancée at all.
A fiancée who was in his flat with his sister. He went back in and found the two of them chatting at the French windows. Hayley pointed towards something on the other side of the river and they both laughed. Even if they hadn’t already been friends, this wouldn’t have been an unusual sight. Hayley was good with people and always had a knack for making people smile. Everyone except Oliver.
‘You managed to scare Oliver off again,’ Finlay said.
‘Nothing to do with me.’ Hayley pulled a face. ‘He’s such a grouch. He’s got a face that could curdle milk. I’m not sure why you stay friends with him.’
‘Because I like him. We’ve been together through some tough stuff and I know he’s always got my back.’
Genevieve smiled at Finlay. ‘You’re such a sweetie.’
‘Am I?’
‘Of course.’ She moved closer and winked. ‘Why else do you think I’d want to marry you?’
He held back a snort. ‘My good looks? Charm? Exceptional bedroom skills.’
‘Finlay!’ Hayley gaped at him. ‘I’m here, remember, and that is not something I want to think about.’
He smirked but his eyes were still on Genevieve. Weird maybe, but would it be so bad if this was real? That look on her face held so much. Some of it he’d got to know already, but there was more to unpack and he wanted to do it. But three weeks wasn’t really long enough.
‘Just wait until next weekend,’ Genevieve said with a wink. ‘For when we’re at the castle.’
‘Ah, yes. The castle.’ Finlay rubbed the back of his neck.
‘It sounds awesome,’ Hayley said. ‘You’re so lucky.’
It was on the tip of his tongue to say she could go instead of him if she was that interested, but that would give the game away. He had to act like this was an exciting event in his calendar.
‘I can’t wait,’ he said.