‘Good evening, Abigail. How are you doing? Welcome to my home. Oh, no, there’s no need to thank me for hosting a beautiful engagement party for you. It’s absolutely my pleasure.’
Her face scrunched into a scowl. ‘Thank you for throwing a beautiful engagement party for meand your brother. Don’t be an ass about it.’
Alex laughed, and there was something strange about it. It wasn’t quite the burst of noise from earlier, but still something warmer and markedly different from the charm he’d used on the woman at the stationery shop. ‘What’s up, Squirt?’
She took a deep breath before letting her words tumble out. ‘I know it’s borderline impossible for you not to charm the pants off most women you meet’—over Abby’s shoulder, Alex’s eyes flicked to Sarah, then back before his lapse in attention was noticed—‘but I would greatly appreciate it if you refrain from breaking the heart of anyone who is going to attend my wedding.’
So.
She’d been right to peg him as a playboy.
Alex’s eyes hardened. ‘I make my intentions very clear—’
‘I know, hun. I also know that every woman you hook up with takes one look at those eyes and that smirk and those dimples and thinks, “I can change him.” And it’s not your fault, but I would like to avoid an incident at my wedding.’
A further reminder that kissing her best friend’s future brother-in-law was a terrible idea.
Sarah promised herself that her resolve wouldn’t crumble as she locked her gaze with those deep blue eyes again.
Told herself she wasn’t disappointed as Alex said, irritation coating his voice, ‘I’ll do my best.’
Much to Sarah’sfrustration, her eyes fell on Alex again and again over the course of the evening, as he moved from dancing to conversation and occasionally freshening a guest’s drink—including one of Abby’s uni friends Sarah had never much cared for, who had giggled hysterically.
Sarah blamed his loud, obnoxious laugh, audible even above the hum of conversation and music. It was like a beacon, demanding everyone focus on him. When she spied him slipping out of the living room to head upstairs, that annoyingly pretty brunette he’d handed a glass to following soon after him, she scoffed. He could at least attempt to be subtle.
Turning her attention back to the shelf of art books in front of her, Sarah found herself wishing to discover something hideously embarrassing. Something concrete she could judge him for. But sadly, his shelves were as well-adorned as his walls. Their book collections actually shared some similarities. And just like her Van Gogh biography—she would read itone day—his copy was pristine.
She’d wondered if the artworks on display were his own purchases, or paintings he’d had someone select for décor and status purposes. The books added to the image, certainly, particularly given they seemed untouched, but they’d also been organised the same way she would have. By artist, period, movement, rather than any care for aesthetics.
‘Is this your Lizzie Bennet seeing Pemberley moment?’ Zoe asked, sidling up to her. Sarah drew her hand back from the shelfas if she’d been shocked. ‘Changing your mind about him now that you’re hanging out in his nice house?’
‘Actually, her changing attitude towards him after visiting Pemberley is—’
‘Oh, pleasenot again. I forgot what a hot button that is for you. It was a joke, babe.’ Zoe linked their arms. ‘It is lovely though. And ahouse. Imagine life without hearing theEastenderstheme tune floating through your walls.’
Sarah grunted in agreement. A week after quitting her job to paint full time, she’d ordered the best noise-cancelling headphones she could find in an attempt to drown out her retired neighbour’s TV.
Her eyes danced over the room again, and as before, they landed on him.Huh.His rendezvous couldn’t have been great if he was already back. He was standing next to one of Erik’s co-workers now, chatting animatedly. The tattoo on his left forearm flexed obscenely where he leaned it on the mantle. She hadn’t quite figured out what it was yet, although the work was beautiful. Shapes swirling together in a maelstrom of colour that calmed her despite their chaos.
‘His en suite is very nice, in case you were thinking about continuing your little tradition,’ Zoe said from next to her.
‘Zo, you snooped in hisbathroom?’ Despite her shock, Sarah couldn’t tear her eyes from him to properly admonish her friend.
‘His bedroom door was open.’ Zoe’s voice was innocent. ‘It was very tidy, by the way. That’s a green flag in a man.’ It would be appealing to her famously messy friend.
‘He has a housekeeper,’ Sarah muttered, going rigid as Alex turned to look at her. Even with a room full of bodies betweenthem, his eyes were piercing, and her face warmed at being caught staring unabashedly. It looked as if he excused himself from his conversation, then—
Shit. Shitshitshit.
Sarah tried to grab Zoe’s wrist, desperate for her to stay, sure her easy manner could make the coming encounter less awkward, but she merely winked as she stepped away. ‘You made your bed. Lie in it. Maybe have your great sex init, this time.’
And then, Zoe’s petite frame was replaced by all of Alex’s bulk. Somehow he had acquired a fresh glass of wine on his way over, and she grabbed it reflexively when he held it out. Alcohol could only make this more bearable. His whiskey glass clinked against it.
‘Cheers, Princess.’
And for the second time that day, that awful nickname had Sarah squaring her shoulders, considering him with a tilt of her head. Getting flustered and anxious over a guy? That wasn’t her. Alex had agreed to keep their secret. Beyond that, he was no more intimidating than any other shamelessly flirty fuckboy. And those she knew how to handle.
‘Cheers, Aleksander.’
