Chapter 1 #2
‘It’s a difficult subject to bring up on the phone.
I thought I’d leave it until we were face to face.
We’ve texted and emailed, and I’m planning to keep it that way until we can talk properly.
’ At least then she could look Luna in the eye and persuade her gently.
‘Makes sense,’ he said thoughtfully.
‘Perhaps when you see them together, you’ll realise you’re worrying about nothing?
’
Rose had to fight the desire to shake her head.
‘You’ve known Marco for a while?
’ she asked, shifting her shoulder because it was beginning to go numb.
Ben nodded, shooting her another quick smile, clearly unable to stop his charm reflex, which told Rose everything she needed to know about how authentic it was.
‘Since university. We work together too – have done for over twelve years.’
‘Has he been married before?’ Rose shot back, staring into his hypnotising chocolate brown eyes and swallowing.
Ben’s smile grew brighter, lighting his face.
He was clearly delighted with the interrogation.
‘You’ll be pleased to know there has not been a Mrs Marco Marino to date.
He had a near miss too a couple of years ago.
Someone who cheated, and it’s taken him a while to get over that.
That’s why I’m so pleased to see him back on his feet.
’
‘I’m sorry to hear that,’ Rose said softly.
She’d seen enough heartbreak to know it could take someone years to heal.
Ben paused, the smile disappearing momentarily before it reappeared like a dolphin performing a spectacular somersault out of the sea.
‘When he asked me to be his best man, I dropped everything.’
‘I did the same for Luna,’ Rose said.
Her words were punctuated by a sudden bout of turbulence which made Ben’s cup of coffee tumble from his hand.
‘Damn!’ he exclaimed as it somersaulted before landing upside down in Rose’s lap, spilling the contents.
‘Ouch!’ she yelped, practically levitating as the hot liquid spilled onto her legs, seeping through the cream linen trousers and staining the material.
She quickly grabbed the cup, righted it and handed it back to Ben, wincing as she stared down at her clothes.
‘I’m so sorry, are you hurt?
’ he apologised, sounding upset.
‘I’m okay,’ Rose muttered as she tried to reach for her handbag which contained a bottle of water.
‘But I’ve ruined your wonderful suit,’ Ben said as the turbulence returned, shaking the plane, and the seatbelt sign was switched back on.
Rose’s neighbour grunted a couple of times, but thankfully didn’t wake.
‘I’ll get the lovely Mandy to bring you something to clean that up.
’ Ben grimaced as he took in the dark stain which had travelled from Rose’s knee to halfway up her thigh.
‘If it’s any consolation, I think you can pull it off.
’
Rose grimaced. It wasn’t Ben’s fault, but the suit was ruined – worse she knew she was going to be stuck in it for the rest of the journey, if not until tonight.
Unless she could change when they got to the airport?
‘I don’t think Mandy is going to be able to do much to help, and I think I’ll be putting up with it rather than pulling it off.
It’s fine,’ she muttered, finally getting to her handbag and grabbing the bottle of water so she could pour a little onto the stain.
It didn’t help.
‘It really was an accident,’ Ben promised.
‘I know.’ The stain wasn’t deliberate, but Rose hated looking untidy.
She brushed at the mark fitfully before giving up.
Hopefully, this wasn’t a premonition for how the rest of the trip was going to turn out.
Ben gave her a half smile.
‘Well, I owe you. Feel free to drop something on me another time. Maybe at the wedding?’ His eyes twinkled again, making the breath catch in her throat.
‘I wouldn’t do that.
’ Rose brushed at the stain again because she couldn’t help herself.
‘You were saying how you think the wedding’s a bad idea?
’ he probed, probably trying to distract her from the coffee disaster.
Rose sighed, dragging her attention away from her clothes.
It was pointless attempting to fix something that so clearly couldn’t be fixed.
She knew that from bitter experience with her parents.
But she still ran her finger over the material once more.
‘I just think…’ She paused, choosing her next words carefully.
If she could get Ben on side, it might be easier all round.
‘It’s all a bit rushed, don’t you think?
’ she asked. ‘I’m not saying they shouldn’t marry.
’ At least not out loud .
‘But I am saying they’ve only known each other for a few weeks.
’ A month if she was being generous, but Rose decided not to round it up.
‘It wouldn’t hurt to give it a little more time.
I’d hate for them to make a mistake.
They need to make sure they’re really compatible.
They haven’t had a chance to find that out.
’
They’d clearly hopped through multiple stages of the relationship ladder.
They had to go back and start again, following Rose’s strict ‘Love Rules’ which she used with all her clients.
Luna also needed time to ensure Marco wasn’t after her trust fund like a couple of her previous boyfriends – and they had to see each other through the lens of day-to-day life.
Ben’s eyes filled with sympathy, and, for a moment, Rose lost her breath.
‘It’s difficult to stand back and watch friends find happiness when we haven’t found it ourselves,’ he said kindly, his eyes dipping to her bare ring finger as the plane bounced a couple more times.
‘I understand that. I’ve been burned myself, but that doesn’t mean it’s not real for them.
’
Rose jerked back and her shoulder collided with her neighbour’s again.
She held her breath when the man inhaled sharply, but he didn’t wake up.
‘I’m not jealous,’ she grumbled, insulted.
‘I’m happy being single.
I’ll meet the right person one day, but I’m going to wait until I know they’re perfect.
’
She wasn’t going to let her guard down too soon either – and she certainly wouldn’t be vaulting over all the careful stages of her relationship’s development.
When she finally let someone into her heart, it would be forever.
There would be no chance of getting hurt, and no rushed weddings leading to a lifetime of chaos.
She’d had a front-row seat to that already.
‘Right.’ Ben leaned back in his seat, holding onto Coco’s carrier with one hand and gripping the now-empty coffee cup, looking thoughtful.
‘So, what’s your plan?
Are you going to don a Bat Woman cape and storm the church shouting it’s all a terrible mistake?
’ His smile told Rose he was teasing, but there was a look in his eyes that suggested if she tried, he’d be there to stop her.
She chuckled. ‘That’s plan B.
I’m guessing it won’t make it that far,’ Rose admitted.
Ben’s forehead creased and he pushed his cup into the pouch under his tray table.
Then he poked a hand into the carrier so he could tickle Coco under her chin.
‘I’m not sure you should do that,’ she warned.
The dog practically purred, and Rose sighed.
If she tried to do the same, she’d probably lose a limb.
Despite being in the dog’s life since the shih tzu was a puppy, there was no love lost between her and Coco.
She had no clue as to where the creature’s antagonism stemmed but it hurt.
If only she had some Love Doctor rules to use on dogs.
‘So, what’s your alternative to the happy ever after?
’ Ben asked.
Rose shrugged.
‘I’m just going to talk to Luna – ask her to wait.
I’ve already reserved a venue for Christmas, close to where she lives in Brighton.
It’s a special place for her and her mum and they’re very close.
’
Ben’s eyes widened.
‘You don’t hang about.
I think the Marinos would be upset if the wedding wasn’t held in Italy.
Besides, the date is important to them.
’ He removed his hand from the dog carrier and shifted a little closer to her, his expression serious.
‘I think it’s only fair if I tell you that I’m going to do everything in my power to make sure this wedding goes ahead as scheduled.
It’s what Marco wants, so it’s what I want too.
’ He drummed his fingers on the dog carrier.
‘Well, I appreciate that, but I’m still going to try to get her to delay.
It’s for their own good,’ Rose insisted.
Ben regarded her for a moment longer, humour now colouring his expression which had morphed from serious to amused at a speed that had Rose’s head spinning.
How was she supposed to read this man if his emotions changed so often?
‘You know, usually my adversaries are ugly,’ he muttered as his dimple reappeared.
‘I don’t see how that’s relevant,’ Rose spluttered.
She was used to dealing with all kinds of people in her work, steering all types of odd conversations in the right direction.
She had no idea how he had the power to turn her brain to mush.
‘Hairy too.’ Ben grinned.
Rose sucked in a breath.
‘I’ll try harder to look the part,’ she muttered.
He eased forward, and his fresh masculine scent made her head spin.
‘I’d rather you didn’t.
’
What was he doing?
‘Are you flirting because you think it’ll make me change my mind?
’ Her voice rose an octave as her stomach turned over like a washing machine heading into full spin.
Ben considered her question.
‘Will it work?’
‘No!’ she said, sitting up straighter.
It was time to put a stop to this.
She was losing control of the situation, falling under his spell and that never happened.
‘We’re the best man and maid of honour, both travelling together to do the right thing for our friends,’ she said firmly.
‘Which means Luna and Marco will soon be married,’ Ben teased.
‘Which means Luna and Marco will be postponing their wedding,’ she shot back.
Ben grinned and held out a hand.
‘So may the best man win?’ he asked.
‘I think you’ll find it’ll be the best woman,’ Rose countered, taking his hand and shaking it once.
Ben chuckled, his dimple winking at her charmingly, and Rose had to steel her insides as they started to fizz.
He squeezed her fingers momentarily and she tugged them away from his grasp, shocked by the pure wave of lust that swept through her.
‘I’m suddenly looking forward to the next few days even more,’ he said as the glittering eyes came out to play again.
Rose leaned away and tried to get comfortable, wondering if she’d misjudged this man and whether the dazzling facade might just run a little deeper than skin.
In which case, her quest to delay the wedding might be more challenging than she’d hoped.
‘This is your captain speaking,’ a female voice suddenly rang out, pausing until the chatter in the aeroplane died down.
‘I just wanted to inform you that there’s an ongoing incident at Pisa airport which means we’re unable to land there at the moment.
’ Rose turned in her seat and caught Ben’s eye as the other passengers began to complain.
‘We can’t land?’ Rose twisted her hands together.
‘Doesn’t sound like it,’ Ben said, looking unsettled for the first time since they’d met.
‘We’re going to circle the airport until we have more news,’ the captain continued.
‘For now, please relax while our attendants serve you with a complimentary drink. I’ll tell you the minute I know more.
’
‘Relax?’ Rose protested as her shoulders went rigid.
A delay was the last thing she needed.
She didn’t want to spend any more time in this man’s company than necessary.
He was too confusing.
Besides, she had to get to Luna as soon as possible to ensure the wedding got called off, and every minute was wasted time.