Page 210 of Pure Recklessness

‘Now, Mr and Mrs Lewis, where are you staying whilst you’re in London?’

‘We weren’t planning to stay,’ Dad muttered. ‘We’d just come to take Ellie back home.’

‘As Ellie explained, I’m afraid that won’t be possible. Ellie’s my responsibility now. Not that she needs taking care of, she can do that all by herself. But to put your mind and ease, why don’t you come and stay with us for a few days. Let us take you out to dinner and show you around London.’

My eyes popped.

Seriously? Meeting the parents was one thing, but offering to let them stay?

‘Are you sure?’ I mouthed to Blake, letting him know he didn’t have to do this.

‘That would be lovely!’ Mum said. ‘I’ve always wanted to see more of London, but… I wasn’t always so cautious, you know. When your mother was alive, Ellie, we used to go out a lot. But when she passed, I… I just couldn’t bring myself to do that any more.’

‘You can’t get back those years now, but you can shape your future and start living again. Just like I have,’ I said. ‘And in case you’ve forgotten, you’re my mother,’ I reminded her. ‘And I love you.’

Mum pulled me into another hug and we squeezed each other tight before eventually peeling ourselves away.

‘Okay,’ Dad said. ‘We’ll stay. But maybe we should ask that George, the security guard, to come with us when we go out? Just in case?’

I shook my head and chuckled.

‘Only you, Dad. Only you.’ I smiled.

Valerie arrived with the tea and biscuits and Blake gestured for them to sit down and enjoy the refreshments.

‘Mum, Dad, I hate to leave you, but the subscriptions for our app open in a few hours and I’ve got a lot to do before then, so I have to get back to work.’

‘Oh, well, we’ll get out of your hair,’ Mum said.

‘No, no,’ I said. ‘Finish your tea.’

‘You can stay in my office for as long as you need to, Mr and Mrs Lewis,’ Blake said.

‘Please, call me Jan,’ Mum smiled.

‘You can stay here, Jan,’ Blake repeated. ‘I have some business to discuss with my brothers in their office. Once you’ve finished your tea, perhaps you’ll allow my driver to give you a little tour of London? We can do a proper one with Ellie another time, but he can take you around in comfort, so you won’t have to worry about wandering the streets.’

‘Is the car bulletproof?’ Dad asked.

‘It is indeed.’ Blake fought the urge to smile.

‘In that case, I suppose we can.’ Dad crossed his arms and I grinned.

Blake had done it. Despite the odds being stacked against us and everything that had happened, he’d charmed my parents.

Dad would deny it of course, but I could tell he was already warming to Blake and from the way Mum kept swooning, I could sense that she was a fan too.

As I kissed them all goodbye, relief washed over me.

Everything was going to be fine with Blake and my parents.

More than fine. It was going to be amazing.

Here’s hoping that in a few short hours I’d be able to say the same about the app…

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