Page 108 of Booked for Summer

‘Hey, I heard that.’ Kathy looked over at her daughter. ‘Five minutes. You finish your meals and we get to learn a bit more about this mysterious man who’s landed on our doorstep. Then you can escape next door.’

Jade smiled. ‘Deal.’

Liam looked down at his plate, shovelled a forkful of brown slop, and geared himself for five, painful minutes, knowing the time after that could be even more painful.

ChapterThirty-Seven

Frigging hell, she couldn’t believe Liam was here, in her house. Making stilted conversation with her family… okay, her mum, as she was the chatty one. She was also the one to blame for putting them all through the ordeal of the last twenty minutes. The fact Liam hadn’t actually turned around and walked straight out again after being threatened by her five-foot-nine, sixty-year-old dad, was remarkable in itself.

Even more remarkable was the fact that Liam had engaged in the conversation. He wasn’t Mr Chilled and Relaxed, never would be, it wasn’t his style, but he was courteous, polite, respectful. In fact, if it was possible to love him any more, she would have done after he’d valiantly not only eaten the stew, but requested a second helping.

Lauren’s eyes had nearly popped out, her dad had raised an eyebrow and her mum had giggled like a schoolgirl.

But enough was enough.I’ve come for you. Her heart crashed against her ribs. She was a mess of emotions; hope, longing, fear that she’d read the situation wrong.

She was making herself dizzy with all the scenarios playing out in her head.

Jerkily she jumped to her feet, the chair scraping across the tiles. ‘Interrogation time is over. You asked for five minutes, you’ve had way more than that.’

Her mum smiled. ‘That’s because Liam knows a good stew when he sees one. But fine, yes, you two go off and have your talk. We’ll clear up.’

As everyone stood and began to pick up the plates, Jade narrowed her eyes at her mother. ‘Do I have your guarantee we won’t find you camped outside the door with a glass to your ear?’

She chuckled. ‘Promise.’ Then she walked up to her and whispered. ‘Nobody has ever forced two helpings of my stew down their neck. That man is completely in love with you. And I heartily approve.’

In love with you.The words rang in her ears. Was he? Or was he a man who’d had manners drilled into him by boarding school, and his grandma.

Heart in her mouth, Jade glanced at Liam, who stood stiffly by the door, watching her. He appeared taller than she remembered, his physique more impressive. His looks far too glamorous for a three-bed terrace in Twickenham.

Silently she walked past him and into the living room opposite, her heart hammering so hard she was sure he could hear it. The door shut with a loud click.

‘What was worse, Mum’s cooking or her questions?’

He slid his hands into his jeans pockets. Note to self, faded denim jeans were her new favourite clothing on him. ‘Her questions. The stew was fine.’

Jade choked out a laugh. ‘Said nobody about Mum’s stew, ever.’

‘Yet, you all sit down and eat it.’

‘Only because she’d sulk for weeks if we didn’t.

‘Your family is very?—’

‘Crazy? Ridiculous?’

‘Protective.’

She thought of her dad, the beautiful words he’d said. The fact he’d faced up to a man half a foot taller, twenty-five years younger and significantly fitter. ‘I guess they are. That’s what you do for the people you love.’

A pair of shimmering silver eyes burned into hers. ‘Yes.’

Inside her chest, her heart tumbled. That’s what he’d done for her, she realised, with Lauren, then with Henry at the wedding. He’d stuck up for her, protected her. Just like she had, him.

‘You left early.’

‘Only a day.’ Oh shit, had she got this wrong? ‘Is that why you’re here? To sue me for breach of contract?’

He stared at her incredulously. ‘You think that’s why I travelled three thousand miles?’

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