“When?”
“Just before the video shoot.”
“And you didn’t ring me?”
“At the time? What would’ve been the point?”
As much as she tried to hide her strength of feeling, his aunt fumed. “I told Bruce to keep him away. If he’s upset you…”
“He hasn’t. I’m fine.” He could see she didn’t believe him. “Honestly. If anything, I ended up feeling a bit sorry for the bloke.”
“Sorry? For him?”
“Sounds daft, doesn’t it?” Nate’s gaze wandered as he resumed his search for Flick. Although he still didn’t have a clue what he was going to say once he’d found her.
“Nate, are you sure everything’s all right?” Julia asked, his sudden lack of attention failing to go unnoticed.
“Look, I know it’s important, but can we talk about this later?” He watched his aunt’s concern turn to bemusement. “I’m here to see Flick.”
A glint suddenly appeared in her eyes and as was the case with Jess, a knowing look swept across Julia’s face. “I see.”
Nate shook his head. What was it with these women?
His aunt laughed. “If you must know, she was heading for the courtyard the last I saw.”
“Thanks.” Nate kissed her cheek. “And don’t worry about Lenny, I’ll catch up with you in a bit, yeah?” Nate didn’t wait for an answer. Instead, he left his aunt standing there as he squeezed his way through the crowd to the patio doors.
As Nate slipped outside, the cold night air hit him full force. As did the image of Flick. Standing at the wall that separated the chateau from the lily pad lake, she looked beautiful under the moonlight, stunning, in fact, and so deep in thought he wasn’t sure if he should disturb her. Watching her, he shivered and realising that without a coat she must be freezing, he took off his jacket. “Flick,” he said, sounding his arrival.
She smiled as she turned. “Nate, what are you doing here? I thought parties weren’t your thing.”
He stepped towards her. “Here,” he said, holding his jacket aloft. “Put this on.” She appeared reluctant to take it, but he left his arm outstretched until she did as she was told.
“Thank you,” she said, placing it over her shoulders. “It is a bit chilly out here, isn’t it?”
“Everyone seems to be having a great time though.” Nate indicated inside.
“Thankfully. Mum’s having an absolute ball.”
Nate laughed. “I heard.” He watched her smile fade slightly and he suddenly felt concerned. “And you? Are you enjoying all this?”
“To tell you the truth, I’m finding it a bit nerve-wracking. I’m probably worrying over nothing, I mean everyone’s saying the right things. And Claire, she’s the director, has even mentioned something about an agency she knows that specialises in locations. Apparently, the chateau would make a great addition to their books.”
“Sounds promising.”
“But what if she’s just being kind? What if they’re all just being kind?”
“In that industry? You’ve got to be kidding.”
Flick smiled and Nate wondered if she thought he was simply being kind too.
“Time will tell, I suppose,” she said, returning her attention to the lake.
A companionable silence descended as they stared out at the water; the quiet only broken up every now and then by the tooting of an owl. Standing there, Nate knew he should say something, talk to her about how he felt, but summoning up the required courage proved harder than he’d imagined.
“Still think you’ve made the right decision?” he eventually asked.
“I do, yes. This place is what I needed. A clean break, a challenge.”
