Chapter 23
James
“Whoa, that’s some set of wheels.” She takes in my Jaguar and whistles. “Very different to the Wrangler you dropped me off in last time.”
Her words take me right back to the evening we met five years ago. So much has changed since. A part of me feels wistful for the people we were. Of how innocent we both were then.
I hold the passenger door open.
She steps up.
Instead of stepping back to give her space, I can’t resist moving slightly closer. She brushes past me, then stops and gives me a frown. “Excuse me.”
“You’re excused.”
She looks cute with the furrow between her eyebrows that I can’t stop myself from bending down and brushing my lips over hers.
Instantly, she melts into me. I allow the kiss to deepen. Allow that familiar heat to melt the coldness in my chest.
She moans, sways closer. Instantly, I’m hard. Fuck. I need to control myself better around her.
I step back. She looks up at me in confusion.
“There might be people watching. Didn’t want to embarrass you.” I shrug.
Considering it’s almost one a.m. and the roads are empty, the chances of someone watching us are very low. But hey, I’m not lying, am I? It was an excuse to both kiss her and to step back.
She gives me a smile which is, clearly, fake. “Duh, of course, I know that.”
She slips inside the car. I shut the door, round the car and slide into the driver’s seat. I turn on the ignition and classical music plays softly in the background.
“Oh, this hasn’t changed.” She turns to me with a big smile on her face. “You still play classical music in your car.”
“Still think it doesn’t suit my personality?”
That’s what she told me then.
She looks out the windshield, taking her time replying.
“I think…classical music is exactly like you. Precise, mathematical, complex and yet, so very creative.”
I turn on the heater, make sure her seat belt is locked in, then key her address into the navigation. It’s different from where I dropped her off five years ago.
I ease the car onto the road.
“Is that a compliment?” I shoot her a sideways glance.
“It’s a—” She shakes her head. “Yes, it’s a compliment,” she says with a small laugh.
The sound is like poetry. When my lips curve, I realize I’m smiling.
We drive in silence, past shuttered hipster cafés and swank boutiques, glowing corner shops, and kebab joints still open. The usual London mix.
She makes herself comfortable, then after a few minutes of driving, she turns to me.
"News of this wedding has spread. Phe informed our friend group, which has been messaging me like crazy.”
"And Connor is bound to inform my brothers," I acknowledge grimly.
We’re headed home after wrapping up dinner service. I insisted on dropping her, and Harper accepted.
Things seem to have taken on a life of their own since, first Phe, then Connor walked in on us.
He’s friends with Tristan and my brothers. He smirked at me, as if to say, 'finally.' Fuck.
Then he clapped my shoulder, gripped my hand hard, and said, “Your life’s about to change forever.”
I’d be lying if I said that didn’t give me pause for thought.
"I’ll meet Margot first thing tomorrow and tell her. Even if she hears about it from someone else."
It might be better if she did. But I wouldn’t hear the end of it from her. It makes sense to let her know right away.
"And I’ll have to tell my sister and my niece." She furrows her forehead. “It’s not an easy conversation."
I tighten my hold on the wheel. "I’m not looking forward to it. Margot is going to be elated that her not-so-subtle scheme to get me hitched has worked out."
Hopefully, this is a step toward getting Margot to stop interfering in my life.
"Your grandmother sounds formidable. I can’t wait to meet her. Actually—" She looks at me with speculation. "I could help you break the news to your grandmother, too. It might help soften her."
"The only person she listened to was my grandfather. When he died without warning, she took over as CEO. My father worked closely with her. He and my mother adopted me and my siblings."
Her features soften. "I didn’t know that."
"It’s to our parents’ credit; we turned out to be functional members of society. They were open and accommodating of each of our personalities. They gave us space to grow and find our identities."
She turns to me with her features lit up. "They sound amazing.”
"They are.”
Her features turn wistful. "I told you I was eighteen when my parents died. I’d just been awarded a scholarship to go to culinary school.
I was heartbroken and didn’t want to go, but Briar insisted.
If it hadn’t been for her, I wouldn't have had the courage to pursue my passion.” Her voice catches.
"When Freya’s father left, it was a no-brainer that I’d support them. "
I turn off the main road into a side street leading to Harper’s address. I park my car in front of her apartment block. It’s a new build in an up-and-coming area of London.
I’m out the car and opening the door for her before she can do it herself.
"Thank you." She slides out the car and walks up the path leading to the doorway to the building.
When she reaches it, she keys in her code and the door releases. She pushes it open, then turns to find me at her shoulder.
"I’ll be back at nine a.m. tomorrow to meet your sister and niece and take you to meet my grandmother."
She seems like she’s going to protest, then shrugs a shoulder.
"Might as well get it over with." Then she frowns. "The restaurant—"
"I’ll get Henrik to lead on the prep. So, there won’t be any delays in the service."
She nods slowly. "Makes sense."
"Henrik’s my general manager. He likes getting his hands dirty in the kitchen but prefers the admin side of things."
"Will he be upset when he finds out you’re considering me for head chef in the new restaurant?" She purses her lips.
"He thinks you’re brilliant. And he much prefers leading on the marketing and the management side of things, rather than the actual cooking. He’s a good ally to have, as you’ll find out."
Her features relax. "Thanks, Chef."
"It’s James." I narrow my gaze on her face. "I’m the man you’re going to marry. You need to get used to calling me by my name."