Page 40 of Benidorm Again

I dither over my answer.

First the hot tub, then the locket and now private fine dining. On the surface it seems very like he is wining and dining me, but I’m really hoping it is much more of a kind-hearted innocent gesture. Which is how I will be explaining myself to Ged later on. He is hugely suspiciousof Luke, especially now Liam seems to be camp Luke. It’s the frilly sleeves and buttocks thing. Bridgerton has a lot to answer for.

‘I need to tell you something,’ I say, looking from Luke to the concierge. They wait for me to spit it out. ‘The dinner. It’s just… erm, food. Not a dinner date as such. More of a food arrangement.’

‘Yes, madam. Food will be served at dinner.’

Gah!What I mean is that this is not a DATE DATE!

‘Seven-thirty it is. Table for two,’ says the concierge, disappearing down the corridor before I have time to reply.

Oh, what’s the point.

‘Need a hand with those?’ Luke indicates the costumes draped over my arms. He is trying not to smile. ‘My outfits are already at the theatre.’

‘Yes, please. I only need a few minutes to get all my stuff together.’

Luke nods and waits at the door. I go back in, but it feels rude to shut the door on him and even ruder to leave him standing there holding all my gowns.

‘It’s okay. You can come in,’ I tell him.

‘No, really. I’m fine here.’

He’s certainly quite the gentleman. I immediately soften. It’s not his fault I’m finding him attractive. And I’m certainI can ignore whatever feelings I’m having and not act on them. ‘No. It’s fine. Come in.’

As soon as he is through the door, I immediately regret it. He looks from me to the huge four-poster bed with its many cushions and sumptuous quilts and blankets and swirls of silks and back to me. His cheeks have pink spots growing by the second.

We stand for a beat too long.

He clears his throat, laying the gowns out carefully on the bed. ‘I think I’ll wait outside for you. Wouldn’t want any rumours to spread, would we?’

Now, he’s made the atmosphere awkward by insinuating that something untoward might happen if he didn’t step outside. It’s not like I’m going to rip his clothes off with my teeth and milk him dry. I must stop using that vulgar phrase.

But it is so handy.

‘No. I’ll only be a second.’ I must make it clear that this is nothing but a platonic working relationship. ‘Besides, you’re quite safe.’

‘I am?’ he half-smiles. He must be so used to women constantly throwing themselves at him.

‘I mean, nothing will happen. I have no sexual interest in you whatsoever.’

Gah!Matteo said the same exact thing to me the night we first met. And look how that turned out?

Luke seems surprised. ‘Good to know. That’s just what every man wants to hear.’

A nervous laugh escapes my lips.

I’m relieved to see Luke jokes along, quoting me from earlier. ‘I get that a lot.’

‘I really can’t imagine you do.’ Oh, God. It just slipped out. Now Luke is giving me cow eyes. I’m going to tell him I’m spoken for as soon as we get the next performance overwith. It’s time to clear the air so that his obvious attraction does not get out of hand. I will add it to the list of all the other things that also need doing immediately: nipple tassles, Barbie pink waistcoat with fringing, tell Luke that I’m practically a married woman.

The ride to the theatre is fraught with tension. We are sitting in the back of a traditional black cab. There is a screen between us and the driver. Luke is sitting next to me on the spacious leather seat, but I am keeping as much distance between us as I can, sharp bends in the road notwithstanding. He leans towards me and in a low voice he says, ‘You know I’ve been thinking about your idea.’

‘What idea?’

‘Your idea to ask someone else to marry me. To stop the fake wedding going ahead.’

‘Was that my idea?’ I cast my mind back. I’m not sure who said what.

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