Private Player
Page 22
Nathan wanting children was news to me. “How far ahead were you thinking exactly?” I asked. Half an hour ago I was ordering food online, wondering whether or not tonight should be the night I headed back to my parents’ house. Now, not only had Nathan suggested moving in together, I’d learned he was planning how many children we were going to have. “Are you serious?” I asked as he collected the champagne glasses from the kitchen and brought them over to the table.
“About you? I’ve never been so serious about anyone. You’re the person I’m meant to be with for the rest of my life. If I’m moving too fast then I’ll wait. But when I know something works, I don’t see the point in pretending otherwise.”
“I’m not pretending,” I said, taking a seat opposite him as he dished out our food.
“I’m not saying you are. But leaving Astro has made me realize that I need to let go of things that don’t work and embrace things that do. And we work. We work on such a fundamental level that I know in my gut we’ll be together forever. You’ll move in, or we can get a new place together if that’s better. We’ll get married and have a family. We’re a happily ever after, Madison. You know it.”
I looked at him and saw the truth—all of what he was saying was right. He was everything I could ever want in my life and we were going to be together for the long haul. That thick hair would go grey, those beautiful green eyes would grow wrinkles around their edges, his muscles would soften and his body would slow. And I’d be there to trace every line wrinkle, and kiss him good morning every day. I knew I’d live my very best life doing so.
“Will you marry me?” I asked as I gazed at him.
He paused and glanced up. “Every day of the week. Only one problem,” he said.
“What’s that?” I asked as he rounded the table, sat, and slid me onto his lap.
“We both hate weddings.”
Another six weeks later
Nathan
She looked so bloody beautiful. I couldn’t believe how lucky I was. My parents’ garden was covered in trestle tables; wine-colored roses spilled out over every surface. Instead of white, Madison wore pink, just like the first time I’d met her.
“We did it,” she said, whispering into my ear and squeezing my hand.
“Did you think we wouldn’t?” Madison had asked me if I was sure a lot these past six weeks. I couldn’t help but think she was asking herself the question as well. But from today—our wedding day—she needn’t question us any longer. We were in love. We were married. We were forever.
“No, but I can’t believe how quickly it came together. Thank God for the wedding planner,” she said as we stood at the far end overlooking all our guests.
“I’m so happy for you guys,” Gretel said, coming up to hug us both. “I’ve been telling everyone how I was the one who introduced you.” Madison and I shot each other a look but didn’t correct her. “You never know, perhaps I’ll run some singles holidays from my bed and breakfast.”
“You’re definitely going ahead with that?” I asked her.
“Absolutely. On a flight to Canada next week. I’m scouting there and in the US for three weeks. Before that I’m going up to Scotland to see a couple of places.”
“Wow, from PR to running your own B&B,” Madison said. “You couldn’t get more different.”
“I guess. I’m going to mesh the two. Many of my PR contacts might be in need of a bit of rest and relaxation.”
“Well, that’s three of us following our dreams when it comes to our careers,” Madison said.
“Have you decided what you’re going to do yet?” Gretel asked me.
I shook my head. “Not yet. I have a few ideas.” I knew I wasn’t the kind of guy to have my finger in lots of pies. I needed something to focus on. Something to consume me. I’d been working on a couple of things, had a few meetings, but I wasn’t in a rush. For the first time in a long time, I was enjoying taking my time to find the right thing without feeling any pressure to perform.
“You’ll do fantastically, whatever you choose. You might have been a pain in my arse when I worked for you, but it was for all the right reasons,” she said. “And when I’m all set up, wherever that might be, you’ll both have to come and stay.”
“You couldn’t keep us away,” Madison said. “You introduced us, after all.”
Beaming, Gretel went back to the party and Madison and I wandered over to the first table, where my family was sitting.
“Here’s my new daughter-in-law,” my mum said, springing to her feet. “You look beautiful. And you make my son so happy. I couldn’t wish for more.” She paused and glanced over at the rest of the table. “Well, when I get a couple more of these boys off my hands, that would be good too. Do you have any friends, my dear?”
“I’m not sure if Audrey counts as my friend or yours, Nathan,” Madison answered, nodding over to the bar where Audrey stood with Jacob.
“I’m happy to share,” I said. “Jacob better not get any ideas though. Audrey’s been through and is going through a lot. She doesn’t need him adding to her stress.”
Madison tugged on my arm. “He might be a stress reliever, you never know.”
“Love has no perfect timing,” my mother said. “Your father and I were rushed off our feet when we first met. If you like someone when they’re under pressure, you’ll like someone forever.”
“Certainly worked for us,” I said.
My mother beamed. “I knew you two were going to work out as soon as you told me you were bringing her up here.”
“Who could resist falling in love with a man with such an amazing family?” Madison said. Mum pulled her in for a hug.
“Here come your parents,” I said to Madison, as her mum and dad strode toward us.
I was surprised by how quickly Mandy and I were able to make peace. Once I met the woman behind the gossip, I realized she was pursuing the same journalistic ideals that motivated Madison, just in a very different way. A few weeks ago, she’d happily announced to her readers that the City’s most notorious playboy had turned over a new leaf. I trusted Madison and I would manage to stay out of the gossip column for the foreseeable future. Now our parents greeted each other like long-lost friends and seemed to forget we were there.
“I think they like each other better than they like us,” I said.
“Wouldn’t surprise me,” Madison said. Her mother caught Madison’s eye and came over.
“You look very handsome, Nathan. But you, Madison.” She shook her head. “You are the most beautiful girl I’ve ever seen.” She slid her arm around her daughter’s waist. “I’ve never thought you needed a man to make you happy, but I’ve never seen you so radiant. I know you’re a part of that, Nathan.”
“I hope so. I’m going to do everything in my power to keep her happy.”
“You’re part of that too, Mum,” Madison said. “You’re part of what makes me, me. And you’re part of what makes me happy.”
Tears welled up in Madison’s mother’s eyes. “My cup runneth over, darling girl. You are everything to me.” She kissed her daughter on the cheek. “Now, go be with your other guests. I’m lucky enough to see you every week and I know some of the people here aren’t as fortunate.”
“Thank you, Mum. I love you.” Madison turned to me. “She’s right. I’m so happy. I have everything I’ve ever wanted in my life.”
“It’s no less than you deserve,” I replied. “And I feel the same way.”
“Do you think it’s a little unfair that we can be so happy?” she asked.
“I think we should enjoy it. And encourage it in other people.”
“Like Audrey and Jacob?”
“Definitely not Audrey and Jacob, at least not in the way you mean,” I said, circling my arms around Madison as I faced her. “Can you believe that six months ago we both hated weddings?”
“This wedding is the second-best day of my life,” I answered.
“What’s the first best?”
&nbs
p; “The day you told me you loved me.”
She smoothed her palm over my cheek. “I love you,” she whispered.
“And I love you,” I replied.
We were in love. We were married. We were more, forever.
The Cove brothers get their own books in 2022. Click to pre-order Jacob’s book, Dr. Off-limits now!
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Mr. Park Lane
Chapter One
Hartford
At twenty-nine, I was a doctor who’d travelled and worked in some of the most deprived places in the world, but just the thought of Joshua Luca had me sliding my sweaty palms down my jeans and wishing I could steady my racing heartbeat.
Despite not having seen him in a decade, Joshua could still get to me, and I hated it.
It wasn’t like we’d ever dated.
It wasn’t like I’d been pining after him for all these years.
It wasn’t like he’d even ever noticed me. Certainly not in the way I’d noticed him.
Joshua had been an-almost obsession until, at seventeen I broke my leg and swore off teenage infatuations for good. In one night, I grew up and let go of my silly pre-occupation.
My crush was something I’d almost forgotten until my mum announced she’d arranged for me to stay with Joshua. Just for a couple of months until I “found my feet”—unintentional irony, given the cast on my left leg. I didn’t argue. It wasn’t worth telling her that if I’d figured out living in a war zone, I was pretty sure getting settled in London would be a piece of cake.
Cake. My much-missed friend. Not something there was a lot—or any of—in Yemen. As soon as I’d dumped my bag and showered, I’d go on the hunt for something lemony. With sprinkles.
I should try and keep my focus on cake. Anything but the memories of Joshua’s summer sun-streaked hair. His long, lean, tan legs. The way the dimple in his left cheek would appear whenever my sister was around. His permanent half-smile hinted that he was always in on the joke. And his cool confidence meant that if he ever ended up in trouble, he managed to talk his way into forgiveness. He’d seemed like a god to my teenage self.
I wasn’t sure he would remember anything about me. Maybe the unibrow? Maybe the braces?
Our parents had been friends since I could remember. Joshua was the same age as my brother. My sister was a year younger, and to my eternal frustration, I was the baby. The baby with a crush on her older brother’s best friend.
I was just a lurking spectator during games of tennis, dares, and talks about girls. Almost like I’d been a part of the scenery—the background in Joshua and my brother’s summers. Unlike my uber-hot sister, who embraced the denim mini-skirt trend like it had been invented for her. Thea was always at the center of everything. I’d watched as she twirled and giggled in front of Joshua, who responded in cocky grins and pouty lips. He’d definitely remember Thea. Unlike forgettable, invisible me.
Maybe people guessed, but I’d never told a soul my fantasies about Joshua. And at seventeen I’d swallowed them down, for them never to resurface.
Now, standing in the airport, about to come face to face with him, an unwelcome familiar shiver breezed across my skin and tripped my pulse.
My phone buzzed. I dipped out of the queue so I didn’t breach the mobile ban. It was my mum. I released my right crutch and slid open the phone.
“Have you landed, darling?”
The thing about working in war zones was that your parents always worried. War zones didn’t worry me. Reunions did.
“Yep. Will be heading to get my bag in a minute. Can I call you when I get back to Joshua’s place?”
“Of course. Marian said it’s a wonderful flat. He’s such a good boy. Has his own company, a marketing agency. Just bought them a new car, you know.”
I must have heard about the new car at least three times. “Yes. The Lexus. I remember.” I was never going to be the daughter who bought her parents a brand-new car. I didn’t earn that kind of money. And even if I did—they didn’t need one.
“He’s done very well for himself. Very reliable. I’m sure he’ll be waiting for you.”
“I could have made it into town on the Heathrow Express.” I hated the thought of Joshua going out of his way for me. I’m sure he had better things to be doing on a Tuesday than play chauffeur to me.
“You have a broken leg, Hartford.” She said it in her you-don’t-get-a-say tone. As soon as I’d told my parents I was coming back to London, my mother had pushed her interfering into a higher gear. I knew it was an expression of her relief. After three years abroad, I’d be a couple of hours away instead of a couple of time zones. Now I was back, I’d have to get better
at dodging her well-intentioned help bombs.
I glanced over my shoulder at the wave of people herding down the corridor heading for the queue. A flight must have just landed, and I didn’t want to be stuck behind them all. “I shouldn’t keep him waiting. I’ll call you later.”
“Send my love to Joshua and call me when you’ve settled in.”
There was my ice-breaker with Joshua. I could tell him I’d spoken to my mother and she sent her love.
I re-joined the queue and told myself that if I could handle treating sick kids on folding beds in searing heat, I could handle Joshua Luca.
No. Big. Deal.
The doors out onto the landside concourse slid open and I scanned the audience of cab drivers with signs and people waiting for loved ones to appear. Set back from the crowd, as if a spotlight was positioned over him, Joshua stood, leaning against a post, head down, focus on his phone.
A fizzle of desire bloomed in my chest. I had to remind myself to breath. He was still gorgeous. And I was furious about it. I’d set my torch for Joshua down a long time ago and I wasn’t about to pick it back up. It could only lead to trouble. Again.
His shoulders had broadened but the dirty blond hair still had a way of looking perfectly tousled. And that magnetic confidence? It was still palpable from ten meters away.