Ernie has a massive family and his father’s a High Court Judge. Our family is me and my parents plus a few distant relatives that my mother’s alienated over the years. I’ve promised Adam I’ll keep my mum in check, and the thought of doing it on my own fills me with horror. Please. You’re so good with them.’
She paused again, and when he didn’t immediately leap in to agree, deployed the big guns of guilt.
‘I thought this was what you wanted—everything back the way it was? I know I screwed up, and I’m sorry. But how many times have I helped you out at the last minute? What about that race meet where you landed your biggest client? You called me two hours before and I stepped in. Won’t you even consider doing this one tiny event for me?’
He hesitated. She had a point about the race meet.
‘Please, Dan. I want to make sure everything runs smoothly for Adam. You know how hard it is to please my mother.’
She’d lowered her voice now and a pang of sympathy twisted in his gut because he did know.
He could tell from her defeated tone that she thought he was going to refuse. This was his opportunity to bring things right back to where he wanted them. Their agreement had paid dividends—there was no denying that—but he’d let it run on far too long. He’d become complacent and let her become too important to drop easily. He couldn’t have someone like that in his life, even if it was supposed to be under the heading of ‘work’. She wanted a fake boyfriend for the wedding? He’d be the best fake boyfriend in the world. For old times’ sake. And then he’d dump their agreement without looking back for a second.
‘OK,’ he said.
Emma took a deep breath as sweet relief flooded her. It had absolutely nothing to do with the prospect of Dan’s company of course. She was way past that. It was just the thought of having an ally in what was bound to be a social minefield.
‘Really?’ she said. ‘I wasn’t sure you’d agree after I said no to your charity thing. Thank you so much. And you know I’m happy to step in next time you need someone—’
‘Please let me finish,’ he cut in. ‘I’ll do it. But this is the last time. I’ll stand in for you in acknowledgement of all the times you’ve stepped in for me at the last minute. But when we head back to London after the wedding, that’s it. Our agreement is over. I’ll manage my own socialising going forward, and you can carry on as before.’
Emma took a sharp breath, because for some reason that hurt in a way that the Alistair debacle hadn’t. He didn’t sound inclined even to retain a friendship between them. They would revert to being Mr Morgan and Ms Burney, businessman and lawyer, nothing more. Had she really meant so little to him?
It was a stupid, stupid pang of disappointment because she’d already dealt with the idea that nothing would ever happen between her and Dan. Her ridiculous crush on him was a thing of the past. She’d been planning to travel the world with Alistair, for Pete’s sake, never looking back.
It had somehow been much easier to deal with when she’d been the one making that choice.
* * *
Emma glanced around the lobby of the Cotswolds hotel that Adam and Ernie had chosen as their wedding venue, surprised at the stunning old-world charm of the place. Huge vases of spring flowers softened the dark wood panelling of the walls. Beautifully upholstered chairs and sofas stood in cosy groupings around the fireplace, which was taller than she was.
She would have expected Adam to want to make his vows somewhere screamingly modern in the midst of the buzz of London. Apparently Ernie’s family were a lot more old-school than that. They’d lived here in this honey-coloured stone village for generations. She felt a stab of envy at the give and take in her brother’s relationship. It seemed Adam didn’t have a problem putting his partner’s family first.
On the other hand it might have been less
She paused again, and when he didn’t immediately leap in to agree, deployed the big guns of guilt.
‘I thought this was what you wanted—everything back the way it was? I know I screwed up, and I’m sorry. But how many times have I helped you out at the last minute? What about that race meet where you landed your biggest client? You called me two hours before and I stepped in. Won’t you even consider doing this one tiny event for me?’
He hesitated. She had a point about the race meet.
‘Please, Dan. I want to make sure everything runs smoothly for Adam. You know how hard it is to please my mother.’
She’d lowered her voice now and a pang of sympathy twisted in his gut because he did know.
He could tell from her defeated tone that she thought he was going to refuse. This was his opportunity to bring things right back to where he wanted them. Their agreement had paid dividends—there was no denying that—but he’d let it run on far too long. He’d become complacent and let her become too important to drop easily. He couldn’t have someone like that in his life, even if it was supposed to be under the heading of ‘work’. She wanted a fake boyfriend for the wedding? He’d be the best fake boyfriend in the world. For old times’ sake. And then he’d dump their agreement without looking back for a second.
‘OK,’ he said.
Emma took a deep breath as sweet relief flooded her. It had absolutely nothing to do with the prospect of Dan’s company of course. She was way past that. It was just the thought of having an ally in what was bound to be a social minefield.
‘Really?’ she said. ‘I wasn’t sure you’d agree after I said no to your charity thing. Thank you so much. And you know I’m happy to step in next time you need someone—’
‘Please let me finish,’ he cut in. ‘I’ll do it. But this is the last time. I’ll stand in for you in acknowledgement of all the times you’ve stepped in for me at the last minute. But when we head back to London after the wedding, that’s it. Our agreement is over. I’ll manage my own socialising going forward, and you can carry on as before.’
Emma took a sharp breath, because for some reason that hurt in a way that the Alistair debacle hadn’t. He didn’t sound inclined even to retain a friendship between them. They would revert to being Mr Morgan and Ms Burney, businessman and lawyer, nothing more. Had she really meant so little to him?
It was a stupid, stupid pang of disappointment because she’d already dealt with the idea that nothing would ever happen between her and Dan. Her ridiculous crush on him was a thing of the past. She’d been planning to travel the world with Alistair, for Pete’s sake, never looking back.
It had somehow been much easier to deal with when she’d been the one making that choice.
* * *
Emma glanced around the lobby of the Cotswolds hotel that Adam and Ernie had chosen as their wedding venue, surprised at the stunning old-world charm of the place. Huge vases of spring flowers softened the dark wood panelling of the walls. Beautifully upholstered chairs and sofas stood in cosy groupings around the fireplace, which was taller than she was.
She would have expected Adam to want to make his vows somewhere screamingly modern in the midst of the buzz of London. Apparently Ernie’s family were a lot more old-school than that. They’d lived here in this honey-coloured stone village for generations. She felt a stab of envy at the give and take in her brother’s relationship. It seemed Adam didn’t have a problem putting his partner’s family first.
On the other hand it might have been less
Similar Books
