Page 41 of Benidorm Again

‘Whatever,’ he says, quickly dismissing it. ‘The point is I think you might be right.’

I blow my cheeks out. ‘Luke. I’m not sure I did come up with that idea, but anyway, what are you saying?’

‘I think I’m running out of time. I need to do something, and I need to do it quickly.’

I swallow. ‘And you’re asking me to help?’

He nods.

‘As in, find someone for you to marry?’ I had jokingly mentioned Liberty, but in all honesty, I can’t see them making a good match. She’d eat him alive.

Luke shakes his head slowly. He’s about to say something when the car pulls up outside of the theatre, and the driver jumps out toopen the door.

We are just about to go back on stage for the matinee finale and the bigMi Amore Mi Amorenumber when Luke drops a bombshell.

‘My parents just messaged me. The palace has been in touch to begin tentative protocols and background checks.’

He sounds unbelievably sad. Not a great frame of mind to be in, considering the song we are about to sing together.

I reach for his fingertips. ‘Try not to worry. No one will make you marry someone you don’t love.’

He gives me an intense look, and it’s a moment before we realise the Maestro is calling us onto the stage.

Our duet ofMi Amore Mi Amoreis turbo charged with emotion. Luke is belting out the lyrics as though this is his final performance as a free man. The emotion in the tone and delivery is his best yet. When it comes to the part where we sing together, and he holds me in his arms, the electricity crackles between us. It throws me completely off guard. His lips hover over mine as he sings the final lament.

He is literally taking my breath away. It’s as though he has become the character, and I am caught up in his spell, enthralled by him. I am his one true love, and he mustleave me to go off and fight in a war he doesn’t believe in, knowing he will never see me again.

In response, I can’t help but be swept along. I give such a soulful rendition of the aria that you can hear a pin drop at the end.

He has me clamped to him. His heart is beating out of control. Our lungs are contracting and expanding against each other. His lips are millimetres from mine while his eyes search my own. I feel his hand on the small of my back, bringing me closer. He wants to kiss me. I can feel it. There’s an energy drawing us together. I look up at him through my huge fake stuck on lashes, my lips, parted and primed for action, and my boobs, bursting to be free of this corset, are crushed against his chest.

‘Christ,’ he growls in a low voice that only I can hear.

For a second, it is as though we are lost in our own little world, before the audience erupt into applause and brings us back to reality.

Luke gazes lustfully at me before a look of panic spreads slowly across his face. I feel something gently nudge my thigh.

Nudge. Nudge. Nudge.

My eyes snap wide open.

Good God Almighty.

We’re on stage, and Luke has a raging hard-on.

‘What do I do?’ he whispers between his clenched teeth.

I have no idea. I’m a blank. The moment I move away, his massive cucumber will be on full display. Even the back row will get an eyeful. I dread to think how the Maestro will react. This may well be his tipping point.

Suddenly, I get the giggles. I bite my lips together, but that doesn’t stop my shoulders from shaking.

Luke is horrified. ‘This isn’t funny.’

‘Isn’t it?’ I snort.

The Maestro points his baton, directing the applause our way.

Luke gives me a pleading look. It is time for us to relinquish the embrace and for Luke to hold my hand at arm’s length while I curtsy to the audience, and he takes a bow. Instead, we stay facing each other, my bustling skirt hiding his embarrassment, and we try to do a sort of uncomfortable side-bow as though we are conjoined twins. We are met with a sea of confused faces.

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