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She gave me a knowing look. I wasn’t about to tell my parents about my secret rendezvous with Emilie in the garden. That kind of thing was forbidden, especially in the first session of the season.
“Emilie is a lovely young lady,” I said with a tight smile.
20
EMILIE
As I lay in bed that night, the anticipation of the next few days filled me with a sense of excitement and purpose. The prospect of traveling and working closely with Theo terrified me. I didn’t know if I could trust myself around the man. The feel of his lips on mine still lingered.
I was excited to show him my home and my country. I wasn’t sure what properties my father wanted us to visit, but it gave me a strange feeling. I felt a renewed sense of hope for our future. The Ashford family was renowned for their wealth and knowledge in matters of business and finance. If anyone could help me navigate the complexities of our properties and investments, it was Theo. He wasn’t like a lot of the other eligible men in our society. Most of them didn’t have jobs. They relied on family wealth and spent their days doing very little.
Theo worked. He understood business and he was damn good at it. With my determination and his knowledge of business, we would make a great team. But he wanted more. He wanted love. That terrified me. I was hoping he would understand the situation better once he saw the properties. He would see we didn’t have time for all that love nonsense. We had a big job to do.
Theo’s kindness and his willingness to listen had left a deep impression on me. Despite my initial reservations about love and romance, I found myself drawn to his genuine nature and the warmth in his eyes. He would be a good partner.
That was it.
Though my heart remained guarded, I couldn’t deny that Theo’s presence had already begun to soften the walls I had built around myself. And the physical stuff might actually be a nice way to blow off a little steam.
It was the morning of our departure. Astrid had packed everything the night before. My parents were apparently staying in England. It was a last-minute decision, which meant it was just going to be the four of us.
“Ready?” Astrid asked.
I finished putting my hair into a ponytail, happy to be in my jeans once again. “I am.”
I gave my parents a hug before rushing out to the waiting car. I was kind of glad to be getting away from them for a little while. They had been very intense the last few weeks. Ever since Nora left, they had been arguing more and putting more demands on me. I couldn’t wait to get away and spread my wings.
When we arrived at the airstrip, Theo was already there with his man, Jack. He had dark sunglasses and was wearing jeans as well. “Good morning,” he greeted us.
“Good morning,” I said, smiling.
“Our bags are already loaded,” he said.
A member of the flight crew was already carrying mine and Astrid’s toward the plane. The four of us climbed aboard with Jack and Astrid moving to the back. I took my seat with Theo sitting beside me. “You look nice,” he said.
“Nice?” I teased. “Normally you say beautiful.”
“Exactly, which is why I changed it up. I could say you look gorgeous.”
“Thank you.”
“Are you happy to be going home?” Theo asked.
“I am,” I said, smiling.
“I can’t wait to see it,” he said. “I’ve never been to Norway.”
“I bet you’re imagining lots of snow and fur,” I said, laughing.
“Honestly, I have no idea what it looks like.”
“It’s beautiful,” I said, realizing I just used his word. “I mean really beautiful. I’ve never been to America, but I do believe Norway is the most amazing place on earth.”
“I can’t wait to see it,” he said again. “I hope we’ll have time to see your home outside your actual home.”
I felt guilty. The guy was being put to work without actually earning anything. “We’ll make time,” I said.
Suddenly, Astrid’s laughter filled the cabin. She and Jack had been engaged in lively conversation since we sat down. I couldn’t help but smile at the sound of their happiness. Theo’s lips curved into a contented smile.
