“Guess the jig is up now that you know.” She checks her watch. “Almost time to pick him up and start planning our exit, I suppose.”
She stares at me, her expression pleading with me to consider another option.
“What exactly did you tell Dame Maxwell regarding our return?”
A devilish gleam I know all too well shows up in Del’s eyes. “That we’d need at least another week, possibly two, to disengagefrom the situation in such a way as to preserve Payton’s desire to stay incognito.”
I do something I’ve never done before—I hug her. “As you Brits say, that’s brilliant.”
She laughs. “Just playing my part as Cupid. What are you going to tell him?”
“Nothing yet. I don’t want him to know I know.”
“What are you scheming at?” She smiles as she studies me.
“I’m…not sure. May have to wing this one.”
Her expression turns mildly shocked. “No plan?”
“Nope.”
She grins. “I like this new version of you.”
“What are you talking about?”
Her epic eye roll reminds me of Mia. “The Lily who left England a few weeks ago never would have hugged me, let alone played things by ear.”
She’s right. I have changed. Here, I thought I was the one challenging Payton, but he’s challenged me to become more open and willing to consider a future that includes more than just a stable job.
I may not have a plan, but I do have some ideas. First, I need to know Payton’s really falling for me. That it’s not just because I’ve been the unavoidable elephant in his apartment. Part of the appeal for him has to have been the chase, but will he still feel the same about me once he knows he’s caught me?
“So what are you doing to do first, doll?”
“Let him think he’s won me over.”
“Which he has.”
I give her the side-eye.
“What? You just admitted it, didn’t you? If it’s true, then it’s not an act.”
“Right, but he won’t know that.”
Del’s eyes light up. “Oh, this is getting juicy. Then what?”
Tugging my bottom lip between my teeth, I debate whether to be real about this with her. ButI feel like I’ve gotten closer to Del in the last ten minutes than I have over the last several years. I had no idea she would do such a thing for me as breaking protocol for the sake of love.
I just hope she’s right. “Then we’ll see if he still thinks he’s in love with me.”
Realization lights up her eyes. “You want to make sure he’s really in it for you?”
I nod.
She rests a hand on mine, her expression earnest. “He’d be a fool not to want you more than anything, luv. More than that blasted puck of his.”
“Or maybe just as much?” Only trying to be realistic here.
“No, don’t you dare settle. Not now, not ever. And if he needs help sorting his priorities, give me a go at him.”
