Chapter 43 NANCY
“TO THE LEFT,” Alex said in a low, raspy voice. “A little more… I’m almost there.” He stretched wide and hooked the string of bulbs over the post.
I admired the warm lights zigzagging across the expansive garden. “Do you think that’s enough?”
“I should say so. It’s lit up like Harrods out here.” He looked over at Evan, who stood on the other side of the garden, fixing the last of the illuminations. “I think that’s everything for the moment, Evan. The guests will be here soon. Go and enjoy yourself.”
“Thank you, Lord Toverton. I’ll be around,” Evan said inscrutably before disappearing through a side door.
“Does he ever take any time off?”
Alex put his arm around me, leading us to the terrace. “Rarely, and I can guarantee you he won’t have a drop this evening.”
“Why? Is he teetotal?”
“No, I gave him the guest list, so he’s on high alert because of a certain someone.”
I rolled my eyes. “It’ll be fine. I’ve told AJ the score, and he’s chill with it.”
“Mmm,” was his only reply. The gate bell rang, setting off the chime in the conservatory. “That’s probably the caterers. Could you show them to the kitchen, bella? I’ll get the tables set up.” He leaned in for a tender kiss that made my tummy hum.
“No problem.” I strolled to the front to find William and Kim’s cheery faces on the monitor and hit Open. “Hi, you two.” I grinned as the pair approached hand-in-hand. “You’re early. We don’t get going for another hour.”
“We came to help set up.” William leaned in for a kiss.
“We?” I smirked at Kim. “William, you can help Alex in the conservatory if you like.”
“Is that your not-so-subtle way of getting rid of me so you two can gossip?” He grinned.
“Exactly, now piss off,” Kim spoke and signed.
William rewarded her with a snigger before pulling her into a passionate kiss.
“I’m right here,” I moaned, and he pulled back winking at me before ambling off to find his brother. “Bloody hell, Kim!”
“I know,” she said dreamily, watching him go.
“Come on.” I hooked her arm and led her to the bar. “I’ll make us drinks while you catch me up.”
“What the hell kinda room is this?” Kim took in the walnut and green leather finish.
“You know how eccentric posh people are. Brandy and cigars, dahling,” I put on my best RP. “It’s all expensive and impractical.” I went behind the bar to check what we had. Everything apparently. “You wanna kick the night off with a cosmopolitan?”
“Yeah, go on then.” Kim settled on a bar stool while I played barmaid, setting out two martini glasses and a cocktail mixer.
“So, what’s the deal with you two? I take it you’re officially together, given that unsubtle PDA.”
“Yeah, we’re going out. He’s asked me over on the days when he hasn’t had a shoot, and then yesterday…I stayed the night.”
“I’m so happy for you both!” I poured a generous measure of Stoli over ice. “William was obviously smitten when I spoke to him at the gala. Well, of course he was. You’re awesome, not to mention a fox.”
“Aw, you flirt.” Kim laughed off my compliment.
You’d never guess the woman had self-confidence issues, but I knew her better than most. Maybe better than anyone, and William was the perfect antidote to her malady.
“And what about you two? One minute Alex’s a dick, throwing it around with his ex, and next, he’s all over social, confessing his love for you. ”
“It’s been a whirlwind,” I said, wide-eyed, adding a dash of fresh lime juice. “But it’s all good. I told Alex everything, and it hasn’t changed how he feels about me.”
“Did you think it would?” Kim said with surprise.
I looked sheepish. “I didn’t think a guy could love me after what he did.”
“Nancy—”
“I know.” I smiled reassuringly at Kim’s frown. “I’m happy to be proved wrong. This last week with Alex has felt…perfect.”
She squeezed my hand. “And what about Mimi?”
“Turns out she was either lying her ass off to get her way or is totally delusional. The jury’s still out. Either way, it’s backfired.”
“Yeah, I saw the posts. They’ve really laid into her, especially about the mental health rumours. That’s ugly.” I gave her an assessing look while shaking the mixer. “I’m not on her side, babe! If you ask me, she made her bed with all this. It’s just everyone’s gone to town on her.”
“I know the feeling,” I murmured, straining the cocktail and passing a glass to Kim. We clinked. “Here’s to our happy ever after.”
She savoured the taste for a moment before leaning in. “So, Alex dropped the L-bomb to the world. Is the feeling mutual?”
“Yeah, I told him.” I gave her a sinful look. “Right after he blew my mind between the sheets.”
“Nancy!” she laughed. “You can’t tell a guy you love him after an orgasm!”
“What? I meant it… Maybe the sex helped loosen me up to say it out loud.”
Kim shook her head, amused, as we took our cocktails to find the brothers.
A couple of hours later, the garden party was buzzing.
A team of Notting Hill caterers circled with a mouth-watering mix of French and Caribbean canapés.
Meanwhile, a mixologist served at the cute beach bar, which Alex had hired alongside a Victorian bandstand with a sizeable chequerboard dancefloor.
He’d already taken me for a spin twice the day before to try it out.
I stood by the black, green, and gold painted hut, watching Winston and William lead Tracy and Kim in a romantic slow dance. Over on the terrace, Alex was chatting with the other guests. I eyed his tight black shirt and jeans.
Damn, all that man is mine.
I crossed to the terrace, unsuccessfully suppressing a smug grin, and sipped my rum punch. As people’s flutes were running dry, I requested more champagne and food to be brought out. When I reached Alex, he was watching me with a satisfied smile.
“You’re a natural host.” His fingers nestled into the curve of my waist and pulled me close.
“I worked my fair share of server gigs.” I looked up wryly, then scanned the varied group we’d brought together.
In particular, David’s husband, Jayden, was a surprise.
He wore a tailored white suit with a contrasting black shirt, undone a few buttons too far, so his waxed dark chest was on full display.
A chunky gold Rolex glinted on a slender wrist, and his pinky sported a signet ring engraved with a cursive J.
On his feet were Bottega woven loafers, adding to the summer vibe he clung to as the only member of the group still wearing sunglasses.
He looked like an extra from Miami Vice.
At the other end of the spectrum stood Rohan, looking somewhat more exhausted than the picture Ayesha had shown me. He’d loosened his tweed tie and was sipping an alcohol-free beer as he listened to Jayden’s lecture with good grace.
“Why would you choose the public sector when you could make a mint going private?”
“I suppose ambition. That’s why I chose to specialise in gastroenterology. It’s a demanding field that needs specialists and requires huge dedication. I’m only approaching the end of my training at thirty-two,” Rohan said, and shot Ayesha a charismatic smile.
“Plastic surgery makes a difference, too,” Jayden countered. “I’ve been considering a BBL, but Dave says my ass is perfect as is.”
“It’s the truth.” David patted his husband’s butt cheek. “And there’s no way it’s worth the 30k those Harley Street hacks quoted.”
“That hack, as you call him, is an artist. He’ll sort you out when you start to sag.” Jayden pinched David’s side.
“I was considering a boob job a few years back,” Sian joined in.
“When the hell was this?” Daniel exclaimed.
“Oh, before we met.” Sian waved off her husband’s astonishment, her long, wavy red hair catching the last of the sunlight and matching Daniel’s flustered cheeks.
“We met during our first term at Cambridge! You were going to get a boob job before you were eighteen?”
“Obviously, Mother wasn’t going to let me.” She winked at me and I hid a snigger. I knew from our chat at the gala that Sian enjoyed winding up her easily perturbed husband.
“How did we get onto this conversation?” Alex flashed his brows at Sian and clinked glasses with his goaded friend.
“Changing the subject, then.” David raised his glass. “I hear you’ve finally signed the Atlantra contract. Doesn’t that officially make Toverton PLC the top tech firm in London?”
Alex smiled graciously at our astounded looks.
I squeezed his arm. “Seriously? You didn’t say anything. I’m so happy for you.”
“For us both,” he whispered so sincerely I had to blink a few times. Then he continued to the rest. “Of course, we’re over the moon; the Atlantra deal pushes Toverton PLC into another league.”
“Hear, hear to that!” David cheered, and everyone joined him, clinking glasses. The group shifted around, chatting until the gate bell interrupted the banter. As we reached the door, Alex dipped me back into a heavy kiss.
“What’s that for?” I laughed, suspended in his arms.
“For being you.” He lifted me and kissed the tip of my nose. I opened the door, feeling giddy. Standing side by side were Evelyn and a person of roughly her age. Their short crop of copper curls contrasted with a pale, prim face and shrewd amber eyes.
“Alex!” Their cultured tone quickly took on a French lilt. “?a fait longtemps!”
“Far too long. It’s wonderful to see you, Dale. I’m glad you could make it.” Alex moved in for a round of kisses. “And may I introduce my girlfriend, Nancy Cooper. Nancy, this is Evelyn’s partner, Dale Richards.”
I almost lost my words, given my vision of Dale was very different. It’s true what they said about assumption. Thankfully, the surprise didn’t break my stride. “It’s wonderful to meet you, Dale.” I leaned in for a kiss.
“Nancy, don’t you look lovely.” Evelyn checked out my vintage check flare dress, jazzed up with a poufy underskirt.
“So do you, as always. Would you both like some punch? Alex organised a rum bar.”
“That’s rather novel for you,” Dale chortled.
“Actually, it was my request,” I said sheepishly, his arm encircling me. “But Alex’s offset it with a Victorian-style bandstand. It’s quite the sight when put together.”
“A compromise?” Dale’s eyes flashed. “It must be love, love, love.”
Evelyn laughed. “You’ll have to excuse my eccentric half; they're a barrister who likes nothing more than cross-examining the witness.”
Dale snickered and leaned in. “It’s true, Linny’s got my number, but it’s better than being deathly dull.
” They presented their arm. “And I can already tell you’re going to be a boon.
Now, tell me more about this rum punch.” Smiling triumphantly, Dale led me away while Alex escorted Evelyn with an amused eye roll.