Holiday with the Best Man

‘And I guess at least this is quick.’

‘Is there anything I can do?’ Philly asked.

‘Lay the table?’ Grace suggested, pretty sure that Roland’s sister knew her way around the kitchen.

‘Deal,’ Philly said.

Ten minutes later, they were sitting at Roland’s kitchen table with dinner in front of them.

‘All righty. I’m not living with Roland—I’m staying in his guest room,’ Grace said. ‘I’m Bella’s sister. There was a burst pipe in my flat—which used to be hers—and Bel left me Roland’s number in case of emergency. He said if something like that had happened to you, he knew Hugh and Tarq would look after you, so he was going to do the same for me, as I’m Hugh’s sister-in-law. And he offered me a place to store my stuff and stay until my flat dries out.’

‘I get that’s why you’re staying here, but what I don’t get is why he’s sending you flowers.’ Philly flapped a dismissive hand. ‘Well, obviously as he asked for helium balloons that said “New Job” and “Congratulations” and I wrote the message on the card, I realise you’ve just got a new job. But this is my brother we’re talking about and he hasn’t sent a woman flowers since—’ She stopped and narrowed her eyes. ‘I assume you know?’

‘About what happened to Lynette? Yes, he told me,’ Grace said.

Philly looked thoughtful. ‘And it’s something he doesn’t talk about very much. So are you seeing each other?’

How could she explain? ‘It’s complicated,’ Grace prevaricated.

Philly folded her arms. ‘Which tells me nothing. Spill, or I’ll make his life a misery until you do—and, trust me, only little sisters can be that annoying.’

Grace smiled. ‘Mine isn’t annoying. She’s lovely.’

‘I can be lovely. But I’m definitely the annoying variety,’ Philly said. ‘Explain complicated.’

‘We’re helping each other out for a few weeks. Which are practically at an end.’

Philly frowned. ‘What do you mean by helping each other out? And why is there a time limit?’

Grace knew that this was going to sound bad. ‘He’s practising his dating skills on me.’

Philly looked suspicious. ‘And what do you get out of it?’

‘Being swept off my feet.’

‘And what happens at the end of these few weeks? You’re going to be just good friends?’ Philly added quote marks with her fingers round the last phrase.

Grace felt herself blush. ‘Yes.’

‘And you’d swear that in court?’

‘I’d swear that he doesn’t think of me romantically.’

Bad move. Because Philly honed straight in on what Grace hadn’t said. ‘But you think of him that way.’

‘It’s not going to happen,’ Grace said. ‘I went into this with my eyes open. To be honest, although he says he wants to start dating again, I think he’s still in love with Lynette. But if I can help him take those first steps into coming back unto the world, then I’m glad I can do that.’

‘You’re in love with him,’ Philly said.

‘We barely know each other. We only met briefly at Hugh’s wedding and we’ve known each other a little over two weeks,’ Grace protested. But she had a nasty feeling that Philly was right. Even though it wasn’t the sensible thing to do, she’d let herself fall for Roland. A man who wasn’t available. Which was as stupid as it got.

‘A little over two weeks is long enough.’ Philly paused. ‘He’s seemed different whenever I’ve talked to him recently. Now I know why. I think you might be good for him.’

‘It’s not going to happen,’ Grace repeated. ‘I’m not what he’s looking for.’ And, even though a part of her really wished that she could be what Roland was looking for, she was sensible enough to know that she didn’t fit into his world. She wasn’t glamorous and exciting; she was sensible and slightly dull.

* * *

Philly had left by the time Roland returned, that evening.

‘Thank you for the flowers and balloons,’ Grace said.

‘My pleasure.’ He inspected them. ‘Philly did a good job.’

‘I like your sister.’ Grace paused. ‘I hope you don’t mind, but she stayed for dinner.’

‘And interrogated you?’ he asked wryly.