“A Little Bird Told Us ...” He looks up, not bothering to hide a shit-eating grin.
“Fucking hell,” I groan. “What now?” I may have created a monster in helping that woman get her name on the column.
“Already cursing.” Fin tuts playfully.
“Just get on with it. The quicker you read it, the quicker you leave.”
He clears his throat again, making me want to punch it.“Our London lovers were recently spotted coming out of a property in Chelsea looking a little worse for wear—”
I sit up straight. “Drunk? When? That is absolute rubbish and borderline libelous.”
“—coming out of the exclusive club, Century.”
“Oh. That.” Evewasa little tipsy. Delightfully so. “And this is what constitutes news these days?” I mutter, pulling my laptop closer, feeling suddenly a hundred years old. “They ought to be careful with their language usage.”
“Oh, they were. Listen to this.The besotted businessman and his American love were described as clinging to each other like honeymooners, their chemistry electric and their hands everywhere, before they were whisked away in a chauffeur-driven car. This Little Bird is still clutching her pearls, because she makes that, allegedly, alfresco naughty twice in two weeks!”
So we’d gotten a little handsy. But it was dark; there was no one around.Or so I thought.The strap of her top had slipped from her shoulder and ... “Is there an accompanying photograph?”
“No.”
“Good.” Una Smith must be bloody unhinged. This was not the deal we struck. At least she’s naming no names.Not that she needs to.
“Sounds like the real deal,” he teases.
“Sounds like a load of old rubbish. Speaking of deals, Northaby is done.”
“You got it? Well, that’s great.”
“Your enthusiasm underwhelms me, Phineas.”
He shrugs. “That place has been your hard-on.”
“The prospect of making money doesn’t excite you?”
“Money doesn’t make a person happy. Love does.”
I snort. Then frown. “How many glasses of wine did you have with lunch?”
“Oliver.” He draws out my name. “You’ve gotta admit the way you’ve been since Eve walked onto the scene is like night and day to how you were last year.”
“Last year was ...” A fucking mess. Atherton. Lucy. So much pain in those two names. I’m glad to finally feel as though I’m putting one of them behind me.Not that I’ll ever get over ...“Well, trying,” I say, settling on the word and banishing the rest from my thoughts.
“Oh, you weren’t irritated. You were a fucking beast. But I get it—you were under a lot of stress. But now? Now you’re a teddy bear.”
“Don’t be asinine.” Speaking of lunch, I think mine has given me a case of indigestion. I press my palm to my sternum at the sudden discomfort.
“Eve’s had a real calming influence on you.”
“Now you’re just being ridiculous. Eve makes me feel anything but calm—the woman is like a whirlwind.”
“I didn’t say she was calm. I said she madeyoucalm. Anyway, what are you gonna do with the place?”
“Northaby?” I should be relieved in the change of conversational direction, but this ache ... “What I always said I would.”
“I think turning the place into a hotel is an amazing idea. It’ll be like a whole holiday venue. Luxury for the parents—pool, spa, and fancy restaurants—and then animal entertainment for the kids.”
“Yes, come and feed your offspring to the lions. Sounds like a lawsuit in waiting.”
