Page 27 of The Wedding Pact

‘Yeah, it’s one of Elliot’s best hotels,’ Raffa agrees.

‘Make sure you thank him for us, Raffa,’ Margot says with a wide smile.

Raffa just nods at this. ‘Is my dad here? And Carrie?’ he asks, glancing around the room at the other groups of guests.

‘They are,’ Darian says, ‘but Mum’s still exhausted after the journey here and she’s got a headache. But hopefully they’ll come a bit later, once she’s had a nap.’

‘Right,’ Raffa says.

There’s something in his tone that makes me think he’s not entirely happy about this. Like he thinks his stepmum is making unnecessary drama.

Clearly Darian picks up on this too because he frowns and says, ‘You know she doesn’t like flying. She had to take some Valium and it didn’t agree with her.’

‘Sorry to hear that,’ Raffa says, though he doesn’t actually sound sorry.

Darian’s frown deepens, but he doesn’t respond to that, like he’s biting his tongue to keep from snapping at Raffa, and another uncomfortable silence falls between us all.

‘We should let you circulate with the other guests,’ I say to Darian. ‘We don’t want to monopolise you. And to be honest, I can’t actually stand for long in these ridiculous heels!’ I add, flashing Margot a meaningful look.

Thankfully, she reads my implied plea. ‘Of course! Go and get yourselves a drink. They do amazing cocktails here. We’ll see you later.’

I give her a grateful smile and a nod and, taking Raffa’s hand again, lead us over towards the bar, which is mercifully empty of people.

‘Are you okay?’ I ask once we’re out of range of any curious ears. ‘It got a bit weird there for a moment.’

His smile is still tight. ‘I’m fine. Darian and I have a bit of a combative relationship, but it’s no big deal. Just normal stepbrother stuff.’

‘Hmm.’ From the tenseness in his expression, I don’t quite buy that.

Before I can ask any more, he lets out an amused snort. ‘You know, when we first walked in, I thought the staring and attention was because of me – because people hadn’t met me or seen me in a long time. But clearly that’s not the case.’ He cocks his head and his smile turns wry.

‘What do you mean?’ I ask guardedly.

‘I mean, it’s you all the guests recognise – particularly the younger ones it seems – but they’re all trying to be cool about it, like they’re actively stopping themselves coming over and asking for a selfie with you. And Darian and Margot clearly know who you are.’

‘Dude, I told you about my HelSkel channel and how it’s blown up recently.’

‘I don’t remember you telling me that exactly.’

I shrug. ‘I told you to check it out. You said you were going to.’

He runs a hand over his hair in agitation. ‘Yeah, I meant to. I had a quick look, but I got interrupted with a call and forgot to go back to it. I had no idea it had “blown up” though.’

‘Yeah, well, I felt a bit weird about saying anything more about it in case you thought I was boasting or something. And I thought we were just gonna mostly hang out here together so it wouldn’t be an issue since we have the whole island to ourselves with, I’m guessing, no press or influencers.’

He gives a low laugh. ‘Yeah, sure. And you’re right, it’s my bad. It just took me by surprise.’ He leans in a little, his gaze intent on mine. ‘Is there anything else I should know about you? I don’t want to look like an idiot by being the only one not aware of something everyone else is clued-in on.’

‘Nope. I don’t think so,’ I say, staring up into his beautiful green eyes.

Apart from the fact I find you incredibly attractive, I don’t say.

‘I swear, I’m not here to make a scene,’ I add.

We’re standing so close now I can feel the heat radiating from his body. The whole of my skin feels super sensitised, like it might crackle with energy if he touched me.

‘Except you are making a scene,’ he points out, one eyebrow dipped in jest.

I raise an eyebrow back. ‘Not intentionally. I genuinely didn’t think a billionaire’s family would be that interested in me and my show.’