Page 18 of Friends with Benefits

I point to them both. ‘No. Shut the hell up with the mind trickery. Both of you. She’s here to stop me doing or saying anything stupid. That’s all.’

Brooks raises a brow and Drew tells him, ‘Emily is here. Her parents own the house next door.’

Brooks nods slowly and whistles. ‘Ouch.’

I give them a what-the-heck-would-you-know look right before I’m saved by Kit and Madge coming into the kitchen.

‘Hey, I thought I heard you, buddy.’ After the obligatory introductions, Kit says, ‘We were upstairs singing the kids to sleep. Yeah, there’s no need to look at me like that. I know it sounds wacko but they can’t sleep without us singing the “Biggle Wiggle Bear” song.’

I can’t help but laugh. A couple of years ago, Kit and Madge wouldn’t have been caught dead singing about wiggly bears. ‘They’re here then, the kids?’

‘Christ, no,’ Madge says, retrieving a glass of wine from the large kitchen island. ‘This is much needed respite. We were singing to them through FaceTime.’

‘Jess, what can I get you to drink?’ Drew asks. ‘We’re grilling for dinner.’

‘Oh, just a sec.’ She heads over to her hand luggage and pulls out the two bottles of champagne we picked up in duty free. ‘Jake and I brought these, as a thank you.’

‘I don’t think anyone will turn down champagne. Thanks, Jess. Why don’t you head outside and catch the sunset? I’ll fix you a drink.’

Actually, it’s me that fixes the drinks. I hand everyone a glass of fizz from a bottle Drew already had chilling and, after being told there’s nothing I can do to prep food for the grill, I head out to where Jess has wandered out on the deck. She’s taken off her scarf, causing her sweater to fall off one shoulder. She’s taken down her hair too, the long waves falling down her back. It blows in the sea breeze, making her look like a portrait as she watches the red-orange sun fall. I take a moment to just enjoy the view. The serenity of it. Her peacefulness. Her aunt and uncle would be proud. They travel the world searching for this kind of peace and the incredible woman they raised is the picture of it.

As if she senses me, she turns and I hand her a glass of champagne. ‘It’s beautiful out here.’

I clink her glass with mine and look out across the pool, to the beach and the gentle roll of the waves against the sand. ‘It really is.’

‘I thought there was supposed to be a party?’ I recognize Marty’s voice before I turn to see him, stowing his cell phone in the back pocket of his jeans. He was always my least favorite of the group but the way he runs his eyes all over Jess, he just fell to the bottom rung of the friendship ladder.

‘Good to see you, Jake.’

‘Yeah, you too.’ Keep your eyes to yourself, though. ‘This is Jess.’

He winks at her. Like, actually winks, as an introduction. Who does that?

Brooks must sense my hackles standing on end because he gives me a look from behind Marty that says, Don’t worry about him.

‘Would you two like me to show you to your room?’ Becky asks, coming out to the deck.

I carry our bags as we follow her up the spiral staircase, along a whitewashed hallway, under a ceiling made of glass. The place is incredible.

Our room is last on the corridor. Becky holds the door open and we follow her inside, both noting the one double bed.

‘The en suite is through there. We’re sorry about the double bed. It hadn’t occurred to me to furnish the rooms differently until about ten minutes ago.’

‘Don’t worry at all,’ Jess says. ‘Thank you for having us in your home.’

Becky blushes and tucks her hair behind her ear. ‘Well, it’s actually Drew’s place, not mine.’

‘Becky, if you think for one second he’s not already thinking that what’s yours is yours and his is yours and all that, you’re very mistaken. I know my brother and I know he is 100 per cent, prime time in love with you.’

She giggles but seems nervous. ‘Did you just quote Meg Ryan in Top Gun?’

‘See, that’s why you can be my sister.’

She laughs this time, genuinely. ‘I’ll leave you guys to it. If you need anything, give me a shout.’

I check out the bathroom and the huge shower. Hell, yeah, I’ d like to get Jess in that. Right on cue, Jess clears her throat in the main room.

‘Erm, what are we going to do about this? Take turns in the bed and the other take the floor?’

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