Chapter 7 #2
She giggles. ‘Exactly. Miles had a massive sense of humour failure over all that. So I’m sure he’s thrilled to see him with someone as amazing as you.’
‘I don’t know about that,’ I mutter, but inwardly I’m punching the air. If that’s Saoirse’s initial take on me and my ‘boyfriend’, then Theo can consider Step One of his game plan accomplished.
Later, in bed with Olive (Elle and Josh have headed back to their hotel ahead of an early call time tomorrow) I cut myself enough slack to accept that my and Theo’s first foray as a couple has been a success.
I thought it would be a baptism of fire, facing Theo and Elle’s families in a false capacity, but actually, it was lovely.
Utterly lovely, aside from a brief moment of mortification when Theo tried to make out with my shoulder in front of everyone at lunch.
I was so embarrassed, both at his PDA and at my body’s reaction, that I bollocked him as soon as I could.
I reminded him that he needed his family to think he was capable of acting appropriately, and I needed his family to see me as a professional, so he’d better not pull any more stunts like that.
Anyway, having Elle and her parents there made me a lot more comfortable being thrown in the deep end with Theo’s family, who couldn’t have given me a warmer welcome.
After lunch, I was surreptitiously checking my phone in the garden when I got cornered by Laura and Elle’s mum, Charlotte, who kind of slithered up to me in perfect sync with knowing grins, like Siamese cats, or Ursula the Sea Witch’s eels.
I looked from one to the other in a panic. They really did look awfully alike. Two perfectly groomed, blonde English roses. Miles, Theo, and Stephen got their dark hair and outrageous olive skin from Charles.
‘What?’
Laura’s smile widened.
‘Seriously. Why does this feel like an ambush?’
‘Because it is.’ Charlotte patted my arm. ‘Spill.’
A sheen of sweat immediately flickered over my skin. We’d been rumbled. Already. We’d fallen at the first hurdle, for Christ’s sake.
I played for time. Batted my eyelashes. ‘What?’ I asked again.
Laura leant in. ‘You and my darling son. We want the full story. Tell us exactly how he managed to persuade someone as lovely and… levelheaded as you to go out with him. The boy’s reputation isn’t exactly glowing at the moment.’
Lovely and levelheaded might seem like a pedestrian compliment to you, but for me it’s the epitome of how I want to be perceived.
Especially by Laura frigging Montague, who built a ten-figure hotel empire with the love of her life, and who’s a bit of a career inspiration for me.
I haven’t admitted this to Theo yet, but I’ve listened to his mum on several podcasts.
She’s bloody amazing. I’m sure he doesn’t realise it, having grown up with it, but his mum is kick-ass.
So I was already basking in the warmth of her words when I answered her, choosing my words carefully.
‘I’m allowing myself to enjoy your son’s ridiculous good looks and dazzling charm without letting myself get totally sucked in, if that makes sense?’
They exchanged glances and grinned at me before speaking at once. They each had a hand on one of my arms now.
‘Good.’
‘As long as he hasn’t fooled you.’
‘He’s a sweetheart—’
‘—and honestly, he believes his own bullshit. That’s the real problem.’
‘Exactly. It’s not like he tries to hurt women. He’s just far too enthusiastic about the opposite sex for his own good.’
‘He’s like a kid in a sweet shop.’ Laura shook her head sagely.
‘And if you don’t mind my saying, Laura, he doesn’t think through the consequences of his actions. Which, at his age, is tricky.’
‘But you’—Laura’s hand tightened on my arm—‘are a real surprise. Normally he goes for easy targets. I hope you don’t mind my saying. But my instinct is that you won’t give him an easy ride of it. At least, I’d be vastly disappointed if you did.’
She took a breath, which was my chance to get a word in. I was touched by their concern for me. Flattered by their opinion of me. And a bit gutted for Theo that his mum and aunt still perceived him as a headstrong little boy. I mean, it was understandable. But sad.
‘I fully intend to make him work hard,’ I told them, before a stab of guilt hit me. ‘But he hasn’t put a foot wrong so far—he’s been lovely, actually—and I also fully intend to do him the courtesy of judging him on his merits and not on whatever unfortunate stunts he’s pulled in the recent past.’
They nodded, chastened.
‘Quite right.’ Laura patted my arm before releasing it. ‘He’s lucky you have his back.’
Because I have a moral code, I’ve been feeling horrible about deceiving them, but I’m pleased for Theo. He told me on the walk home that it was the first time in ages he’d seen the light of pride in his parents’ eyes, and that broke my heart for him a little.
The first challenge is down, but the next one will be a killer, because it’s a Montague Group social event, and Jonathan will be there.
And Theo tells me I need to understand that that makes our objective for the evening crystal clear.
Make Jonathan jealous as hell.
Which means he’s planning on kissing me.
Oh, crap.