Page 61 of The Mad Marchams

“His girlfriend.”

He rubbed his thumb along the tense line of her neck. “She works with you?”

“She’s one of our contractors and was a friend of mine. I introduced her to the team, and Joss soon decided he liked her way better than me.”

“What a wanker.” Colin shook his head. “No one is better than you.”

He was disturbed when his comment barely raised a smile.

“She asked me to tell Joss to stop obsessing over me.”

Colin took a moment to digest that before asking carefully, “Is Joss still obsessed with you?”

“No. He’s just mad because I won’t come back and work myself into the grave just so he can be a tech billionaire.” She rested her cheek against his shoulder. “I told Sammy to sort out her own love life and to stop blaming me for Joss’s issues.”

“How did she take that?”

“She suggested I was jealous because Joss went out with her behind my back, which, by the way, was news to me.”

He winced. “You should tell her that you don’t need Joss because you have a future peer of the realm on the hook.”

She eased out of his embrace and looked at him, her hazel eyes serious. “I wouldn’t use you as some kind of one upmanship.”

“Upwomanship?” Colin suggested. “Have you told Joss you’re going out with someone else?”

“No, because I wanted Joss to leave me alone without having to use another man to get him to take me seriously.”

“Ah…” Colin nodded, not sure whether the fact that she was still keeping him a secret was a good thing or a bad thing. “I see.”

She cupped his chin. “And you’re… too precious to share with anyone yet.” She made a face. “I haven’t even told my mom.”

“I’m your little British love secret?” Colin asked, as a warm feeling surrounded his heart. “How thrilling.”

She winked at him. “Not so little.”

He wrapped his arm around her waist, drew her beneath him, and kissed her until she stopped laughing and kissed him back.

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

Mabel was just finishing taking the dogs for their morning walk when she saw Felicity heading up the drive with a large parcel in her arms.

Mabel dropped off the dogs, changed course, and went after her. “Hey!” she called out. “Slow down. Are you going to the village?”

Felicity jumped like she’d been shot and spun around, her parcel clutched to her chest. She wore a faded green waxed jacket over a large beige fluffy sweater and jeans. Her hair was pushed back from her face with an Alice band.

“Mabel! You scared me!”

“I’m sorry.” Mabel caught up with her. “I have to speak to Cheryl about the website she’s building for the house, and I thought I’d tag along with you.” She paused. “If that’s okay.”

Felicity managed a smile. “It’s fine! Why wouldn’t it be?”

“Because you look guilty as hell?” Mabel pointed out. “I know it’s none of my business, but are you a spy or something?”

“Of course not!”

Felicity started walking and Mabel kept pace with her. All the exercise with the dogs was finally paying off. She wasn’t even puffing.

“You know you can get your mail carrier to pick up and deliver parcels to your home, right?”