Holiday with the Best Man

‘To be fair, she was delivering flowers to a woman at your house. If I’d been in her shoes, I would’ve been asking questions, too.’ She smiled. ‘Philly’s nice.’

‘Yeah, she is.’ He paused. ‘What did you tell her?’

‘That you’re putting me up while the flat dries out.’

‘And she didn’t ask anything else?’ He looked sceptical.

Best to admit the truth, Grace thought. ‘She did. So I told her about our deal.’

‘Uh-huh.’

She wasn’t going to tell him about what Philly had guessed. Because that was way outside the terms of their deal and he didn’t need to know about that. ‘She gets it. I think she’s glad you’re...’ She grimaced. ‘Sorry. That’s not tactful.’

‘Planning to get back in the land of the living,’ he said. ‘It’s fine. I’m sorry I was working and couldn’t take you out tonight to celebrate your new job. The flowers were sort of an apology as well as a congratulations.’

‘The flowers are absolutely lovely,’ she said.

‘And Bella’s away, so you couldn’t celebrate with her.’

‘And my parents are going on holiday; they’re on their way to the airport now. Plus my friends are all busy. So, actually, I was pretty glad that your sister came round,’ she admitted. ‘It stopped me feeling completely like Billy-No-Mates.’

‘I intend to make this up to you tomorrow—that is, if it’s not going to mess up any plans you’ve made?’ he asked.

She shook her head. ‘We agreed to keep ourselves free until Hugh and Bella got back, so I haven’t made any plans.’

‘Good. It’s going to be an early start, so can you be ready for six?’

‘Sure.’

‘Pack for a night away. Nothing bigger than a case you can take in the cabin of a plane. Shoes you can walk in, something dressy, a hat, sunglasses and your passport. And don’t ask where we’re going.’

‘Because you’re not going to tell me.’

‘Humour me. I want to see your face when we get there.’ He wrapped his arms round her. ‘Congrats again. I knew you’d do it.’

‘Thank you.’ She hugged him back. Funny how the world felt all right again when he was this close to her. But she’d have to get used to being on her own from next week onwards. So she needed to start putting that little bit of distance between them from now on.

CHAPTER NINE

THE NEXT MORNING, Grace was ready to leave at six. And Roland refused to tell her anything about where they were going until they were at the airport and their flight was called.

‘We’re going to Venice?’ Her eyes grew wide in wonder. ‘You’re taking me to Venice just for the day?’

‘And night,’ he corrected. ‘We fly back to London late tomorrow afternoon.’

‘Venice,’ she said again, seeming unable to quite take it in.

‘It’s my favourite place in the world,’ he said.

Then he saw the wariness creep into her expression. He could guess why. ‘Yes, I’ve been there a few times with Lyn,’ he said, ‘but you’re not going to be following in her footsteps. This is just you and me. We’re celebrating your new job.’

The beginning of her new life. And ending their deal on a high note. He didn’t say it, but he was pretty sure she was thinking it, too. He was sticking to the plan. Sweeping her off her feet—and then saying goodbye.

* * *

Venice.

Who else but Roland would think about going to Venice just for one night? Grace thought.

And she had a feeling that he’d planned this right from the beginning, when she’d first told him that she hadn’t travelled much. It would be the perfect end to their perfect few weeks together.

She was very aware that tomorrow was the last day of their agreement. And, as soon as Bella came back from honeymoon and discovered what had happened with the burst pipe, no doubt she’d insist that Grace came to stay with her and Hugh until the flat was habitable again. There was no reason for Grace to remain at Roland’s house.

Unless he asked her to stay.

Somehow, she didn’t think that was going to happen. Roland’s job meant that he was used to planning in advance and working to a schedule. This was no different, really. It had been a short-term project to brush up his dating skills and sweep her off her feet. Mission accomplished, just before the deadline.