“Oh yeah,” Tabitha put in. “Your hot brother stormed in here and gave us all what for. It was quite spectacular.”
I groaned. “Oh no, he’s such an over-protective numpty.”
“I don’t think anyone could ever describe that man as a numpty,” Lottie said through a smile. “And he madequitethe impression on Vicky.”
“He did?”
“I’ve caught her looking at his website a few times. That photo of him next to his tools and that massive table he custom-made? Vicky stared at that for half an hour straight last week. I thought she’d had a stroke.”
“Vicky fancies my brother?” I had to swallow back laughter. Vicky and Mikey were total opposites. The last man I could see Vicky with would be my rough-and-ready, flannel-wearing, unshaven, bitter-drinking, scruffy brother. I’d never even seen Vicky wear a pair of jeans.
Lottie shrugged. “Weird I know. But since she found out about what happened to you, the only time she’s seemed at peace was when she was looking at that photo of your brother. I’ve never seen her behave like this. You wouldn’t believe the number of blokes that try to get in her pants, and she brushes them off like flies. But then they’re all pretty-boy business types, maybe she needs areal manlike Mike. No offence, Luce – I know you kind of like pretty-boy business types.” Lottie winked at me, and I gave her a shy smile.
“Enough about blokes,” Tabitha said, linking arms with Lottie and me and dragging us both further into the office. “Let’s show you round, Lucy. Look, the conference room wall has gone now as well. Felix wants a more open environment. No more silos and not sharing ideas. And it’s working. Way more communication, everyone pulling together. Profits are actually up. It’s crazy.”
We came around the corner and that’s when I saw him. He was sitting in the middle of the conference table, holding court. Everyone’s focus was on him and what he had to say. But whenhe glanced up from his laptop and opened his mouth to speak again his eyes locked with mine and he stopped mid-sentence. Surprise crossed his expression before that wide glamorous smile lit up his face. Everyone was still watching Felix. Some frowned in confusion at his silence. Others turned to see what he was looking at. I froze like a rabbit in the headlights as he rose from his seat.
Chapter 37
No to going slow
Felix
She was here.
For the last two weeks since that dinner at my parents, I thought I’d better give Lucy a bit of space, but it had been hellish. After apologising to the Mayweathers for the shitshow that was that evening, I’d left for London. What Lucy did for me, standing up to my father for me like that… I was totally overwhelmed by it, to be honest. And I realised that I still had to work on myself before I could deserve her properly. I had to become a better man for her. I couldn’t just continue to bulldoze her into forgiving me and being with me, or I was just as selfish and controlling as my father.
But if being around her and showing restraint was difficult, actually being completely apart from her was worse. At least when I was with her I could have some sort of Lucy fix without going cold turkey. Kissing her at the signing to snap her out of her funk had backfired on me spectacularly. I was craving her before the kiss, but feeling her in my arms again, having her soft body melt into mine and having her taste in mymouth made everything ten times worse. I barely slept at night and when I did I dreamt of her. I was an addict. So, when I saw her through the glass, right here in my space, my next move was automatic. Screw this meeting, screw these investors. Lucy was here. She was here and she was looking at me with that hope in her eyes again. Looking at me like she used to.
“Felix?” Paul, the head of a multinational investment company we were negotiating with, said. “You alright, mate?”
There was some confused muttering around the table as I rose to my feet, my eyes locked with Lucy’s still. I’m not sure if I even managed to mutter an apology as I strode away from the table and out of the room.
“Oh shit,” I heard Tabitha mutter as I walked directly to them. “Felix, you pillock. Can you please go back in there and finalise the deal before you snog your girlfriend? We’re just showing her round the… oh bloody hell, never mind.”
I hadn’t even spared her or Lottie a glance as I made my way straight to Lucy. To be honest, I wasn’t aware of much else at that moment. I just went to her as if on automatic pilot. All I knew is that I had to taste her again. I had to have her in my arms again. So, I didn’t even pause as one hand went to her jaw, the other arm wrapped around her back to lift her off her feet and I kissed her.
“Felix!” Tabitha snapped and I heard Lottie giggle. I lowered Lucy back to her feet and reluctantly broke the kiss to smile down at her.
“Hi,” I said through my smile. She blinked up at me in shock then the corners of her mouth turned up.
“Hi,” she whispered.
“Right, well, shall I actually save the bloody deal or what?” Tabitha said, but I’m afraid I was still beyond registering her.
“I missed you,” I said to Lucy. Tabitha huffed and I heardher stalk off to the conference room muttering aboutlovestruck weirdos.
“I missed you too,” Lucy said back.
“Er, Felix,” Lottie said, her voice shaking with amusement. “You know how you got rid of all the walls and put glass in instead? Well, pretty much everyone in the office is watching you right now.”
I managed to pull my gaze from Lucy’s and glanced around to confirm Lottie was right – everyone was indeed watching us. Some were pretending not to, but most were fairly blatant about it. Employees no longer worrying about pissing me off because I wasn’t a growly bastard anymore had its drawbacks. I shrugged, but then when I looked down at Lucy, I realised she was not quite as at peace with our public display as me. Her face was bright red, and her smile was faltering. I couldn’t have that.
“Right, come with me.” I grabbed her hand and led her away from Lottie and the rest of the office.
“Have fun kids,” Lottie called after us as I headed for the lift.
“What are you doing?” Lucy said as the lift doors closed after us. I looked down at her and smiled, still so ridiculously happy that she’d come here. That she was in London. That she came to find me. “You can’t just walk out of that meeting. Felix, you’ve worked on that deal for months. It means everything to you.”
