Page 39 of Brighter Together

At work, he always seems to be holding himself slightly apart, even when he’s being friendly with staff or guests. Watching. Checking. Thinking about whatever comes next.

Here, he doesn’t.

He leans back in his chair.

He laughs without trying to hide it.

He interrupts Alex halfway through a story purely to tell him he’s talking bollocks only for Alex to tell him to fuck off with a big grin on his face.

I study Tommy and he catches me.

“What?” he asks.

“Nothing.”

His eyebrows lift, but I just smile into my wine.

This version of him is dangerous.

Lord Grumpiness was attractive enough.

Happy Tommy is ridiculously… hot.

“So, Ella,” Phil says from across the table, “how long have you been working at Greenview Manor?”

“Four months.”

“And you’re still there?” he jokes.

“Barely.”

Tommy looks worried for a second.

“You’re very demanding,” I explain with a laugh.

“I have standards.”

“You have spreadsheets.”

“They’re useful.”

“You colour-code them.”

“They’re more useful that way,” he argues back.

Alex starts laughing. “Oh, mate.”

Tommy points at him. “You run your own company. Don’t pretend you don’t have spreadsheets.”

“Not colour-coded ones.”

“Liar.”

Emma leans against Alex’s shoulder.

“He absolutely does,” she giggles.

Alex groans.