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‘Is that meant to be funny?’
‘Get a room, you two.’
Startled, Tilda half-turned to where her brother was standing, scrolling through his phone.
‘Just wondering, have I got time to...? I’m half through the next level and Ezio hasn’t switched his phone off.’
‘No!’ she snapped, realising that to the casual onlooker, or her brother, their low-voiced interchange could have looked intimate. Ezio might even haveintendedthis to be the case. She glanced towards Ezio, who was indeed on his phone.
‘Fair enough, keep your hair on!’ Sam sniggered, strolling over to take up a position on the steps with the two witnesses who also had their phones out.
Her brother threw her an injured ‘I told you so’ look that drew a smile from Tilda.
Jake joined them—or rather, her. Ezio had moved away and was in the midst of what seemed to be an animated conversation.
‘I’m sorry I can’t stay around for the service but I’ve got the launch for the charity book later. I can’t really be a no-show, I need to press the flesh, and it’s all for a good cause. You know I’m really grateful for Ezio’s contribution, though it would have been even better if he’d have posed for me.’
She was desperately trying to think of a response that would not give away her total ignorance when Ezio appeared.
‘Jake, I think I should warn you that my bride doesn’t actually have a clue who you are, but she lives a very sheltered life, and we only allow her out at weekends.’
Tilda shot Ezio a look of simmering dislike and offered her best smile to the other man, who looked more amused than offended.
‘I used to work for him, so actually, it wasalternateweekends.’
‘Workaholic?’
‘Oh, I can tell you know him well.’ Tilda gave a husky laugh.
Ezio found it amusing that his bride seemed not to recognise the man who had not only shot the front cover ofLifemagazine twice but had appeared on it. He watched his friend respond to her warm, sexy laugh. There was something tactile about the throaty sound; he was pretty sure that he was going to have to get used to seeing men react to Tilda, while she remained oblivious to the effect that she had on men. What the hell was wrong with the men she’d dated that she didn’t already know how utterly bewitching and sexy she was?
Ifhe’ddated her she would sure as hell know! Before this thought could develop, his phone began to vibrate.
‘I think that... Sorry, got to take this,’ he tacked on, glancing at the screen of his vibrating phone as he moved away.
He returned a few moments later. Jake was hanging on to a smiling Tilda’s every word and she looked relaxed, as she didn’t with him. Ezio felt something move in his chest.
‘Sorry about that.’
‘Hope you’re going to switch it off for the actual ceremony,’ Jake joked.
‘Oh, the phone is going to the third person in our marriage.’ And that was the best possible option. It was much more likely to be a tall blonde... The depressing thought sent her mood spiraling down to her boots.
‘Right, guys, down to business... How about across the road? I mean, shame to waste an orange blossom in full flower, given the circumstances...? Jake smiled, not seeming to notice that Ezio looked distracted. Tilda, who had been reading his face for the past four years, did, and wondered about his phone call, the habit of being his PA being a hard one to break.
‘Will you hang onto my glasses for me?’ she asked, sliding them off her nose.
‘Why?’ Ezio asked, looking at her outstretched hand. For a nerve-shredding moment, their glances locked.
‘For the photos.’
Her fingers responded reluctantly to the mental instruction to unfold and, careful not to get lost in his stare again, she offered her palm, tensing against the deep little shiver when his fingers brushed the exposed flesh.
‘Great bones.’ The photographer approved, studying her face with a clinical intensity. ‘Classic. I’d love to do a series of portraits of you,’ he enthused.
‘Had we better get on before the world wakes up?’ Ezio intervened drily.
‘Sure,’ Jake responded as he fell into step beside Tilda, who was walking a few steps behind Ezio. He gave her an eye-roll and a silent whistle.
