Stand-In Saturday: (A standalone romcom. Book 2 in the Love For Days series)

by Kirsty Moseley

  I nod, keeping my eyes on her as I fan the cards out in one hand, holding them out to her. “I love it. I started when I was five after Aunt Theresa bought me a magic set in a box for Christmas.” I nod towards the pack. “Pick a card and look at it, but don’t let me see.”

  She turns in her seat and grins as she reaches out and picks one, stealthily looking at it behind her hand, her teeth biting into her bottom lip. I instruct her to put it back on the top of the pile. I make a grand show of shuffling them, and then I place my hand over the top of the cards and give them a dramatic shake. When I fan the cards back out again, one is upside down—her card.

  It’s only a simple trick, sleight of hand. I flipped it while distracting her with hand flourishes and showing her there was nothing up my sleeve. But she falls for it.

  Lucie gasps, her eyes widening with delight as she grips my forearm. “Oh my God. That’s amazing. Can you show me how to do it?”

  I tilt my head. “I could, but then I’d have to kill you.”

  She pouts, her eyes pleading with me, and I know I’m done for. I’m already whipped; this isn’t a good sign for me.

  I playfully roll my eyes and blow out a breath. “Fine. But if I get thrown out of The Magic Circle for revealing secrets, you’re in for it.”

  For the rest of the car journey, I show her how it’s done. She hangs on my every word, squealing with glee, beaming a megawatt smile as I slowly do it over and over, talking her through it. She has a couple of tries but is positively terrible.

  But by the time the Uber stops at our destination, I’ve done what I intended—distracted her and made her feel better. I’ve distracted myself, too, which is good. I don’t want to admit it, but I’m nervous too. I’m meeting Lucie’s parents tonight; I want to make a good impression. If I have my way, I’ll be dating their daughter soon, so I need them to like me.

  When I climb out of the car behind Lucie and look up at the substantial semi-detached three-story house, my eyes widen, and I let out an appreciative whistle. “Damn, this is your parents’ house?”

  Lucie nods mutely, pressing her hand over her tummy again. Her anxiousness is obviously back.

  “This is where you grew up?” I glance up the exclusive tree-lined street, cataloguing the expensive cars parked out front of the row of beautiful white Georgian houses.

  We’re in Chelsea, one of the most expensive postcodes in London. I can’t picture a young Lucie learning to ride a bike on a street like this; she’s too down to earth. I didn’t even realise she came from money.

  “Oh, heck no.” She vigorously shakes her head. “This is the product of my dad working pretty much seven days a week for the last twenty years to build his company. When my parents moved here from Italy, all they had was a lofty idea for a business but no money to their name. My dad and his best friend built their empire up from nothing. Most of my childhood was spent just above the poverty line. My parents only moved to this house about six years ago. I’ve never lived here; I moved out a couple of years before they bought it. Beautiful, isn’t it?”

  I nod, still digesting. “I don’t even want to ask what a house on this street sells for.” Probably anywhere between five and ten million would be my guess. I gulp, now even more intimidated with the thought of meeting her parents. I’m so out of my depth here, it’s ridiculous. I reach into my pocket and pull out my tie again. “Maybe I should put this on.”

  Lucie steps closer to me, reaching out to grip the lapels of my jacket; the flirty look she sends me makes the skin on my neck prickle. “No. I told you, you look perfect. Smart casual with a side of hot as fuck.”

  I burst out laughing at her choice of description. My arm darts out, wrapping around her waist, and I tug her against me. “You think I’m hot as fuck?”

  She grins teasingly. “Do you want me to come on your leg again to prove it?”

  Ah, hell. “Yes.” I nod eagerly, my fingers digging into her back so she can’t pull away.

  All week, I’ve been replaying my weekend with her, and she has to go and mention that right as I’m about to step into an expensive-looking house and meet her parents. Now, I’m battling an erection. Damn girl.

  She giggles, and pink climbs over her cheeks, making her look adorable. “Come on. Stop with the flirting, and let’s go inside.”

  “You started it.”

  “And I’m finishing it too.” She grips the sleeve of my jacket and gives me an encouraging pull towards the path that leads to the front door.

  My mouth is dry as dirt as we climb the front steps. My palms are sweating, so I wipe them on my trouser legs, trying to calm down. As we approach the door, I can hear the party already in full swing inside; people are talking and laughing, and the smell of food permeates the air. Lucie’s finger hovers over the doorbell, but she doesn’t press it. Instead, she looks back at me, her forehead creased with a frown, her eyes tight with worry.

  “Um … my parents don’t know why Lucas and I split, so please don’t mention the cheating. Oh, and I didn’t tell them we went to Scotland together last weekend, so don’t mention that either. Also, although I want you to look at me like you want to rip my clothes off, my parents can be a teeny bit old-fashioned, so don’t be grabbing a handful of arse or sticking your tongue down my throat in there, okay? Keep it subtle. The guests at the party will mostly be older business associates and their partners; it’s going to be a tad snooty.” She winces apologetically. “We only have to stay a couple of hours. We’ll show our faces, do the rounds and say hi to a few people, and make Lucas regret the day he ever met his personal trainer, and then we can leave.”

  I nod, clenching my teeth at the mention of Lucas’s name. Every time she says it, the ball of jealousy in my chest expands. I didn’t realise it was possible to hate someone you’d never met. “Why don’t your parents know about the cheating?”

  Lucie sighs and fiddles with her necklace. “His dad and mine are best friends and business partners, and Lucas works for the company too. We decided not to drag them into our mess, and so we told them the split was amicable so as not to cause friction for anyone.”

  I tilt my head to the side and raise one eyebrow. “Is that the royal we? Or did Lucas decide that was for the best? Seems to me like he came out smelling of roses, and you got the raw end of the deal there, Luce.”

  She blinks, her mouth opening for a reply but then closing again. She knows I’m right. He is the one in the wrong, but he gets to keep his reputation intact while she lost her home and job, and no one even knows the real reason. He’s even more of an arsehole than I thought.

  Smiling sympathetically, I lean in and press a kiss to her forehead, wrapping my arms around her and hugging. She whimpers and hugs me back tightly, clinging to me like I’m a life raft and she’s stuck out at sea. Her fingers dig into my back as she presses against me.

  Turning my head, I run my nose along the side of her jaw, breathing her in. Her perfume, mixed with the vanilla smell of her shampoo, makes my senses prickle with desire. She feels so right in my arms, as if she’s meant to be there. I don’t want to let go.

  Disappointment that she’s not mine hits me like a kick to the balls. I’m gutted that she’s still intending on using me tonight to make her ex jealous. I know that’s the agreement we made in the lift, but all week, we’ve been talking and messaging back and forth. I hoped maybe I was gaining ground, making her think of me as something other than a friend she had a hot weekend with once. We get on great, and it’s glaringly obvious that this sexual tension between us hasn’t gone anywhere during the week apart. I want her to want me here tonight, at her side, because she wants to spend time with me, not because she wants to use me as a point score against her cheating ex. I still don’t know if this farce is intended to hurt Lucas or win him back. I’m in limbo at the moment, waiting to see which way this goes.

  With her in my arms though, I know I need to put up more of a fight. I can’t just roll over and let Lucas waltz in and steal her bac
k from under my nose.

  I gulp and pull back a fraction, sliding my hands up her body until I cup her neck. Tilting her head so she has to look at me, I stroke her jawline with my thumbs.

  Her eyes appear slightly dazed as they meet mine. Her luscious ruby-red lips look so inviting that my brain almost malfunctions with the desperate need to kiss her.

  I want her. I’m crazy about her. All week, I’ve missed her so much that it’s like I have a gaping hole inside me. I’ve spent each day just looking forward to the next time I speak to her. FaceTiming with her every other day has been the high point of my week; seeing her smile lights me up. But it’s only served to prove to me that I want more.

  She needs to know I’m into her. She needs to know she has options. I need to man up and spell it out and see what happens. This might be my last opportunity. If she gets back with her ex tonight, it might actually kill me.

  “Luce …” I begin.

  She blinks up at me, but before I can attempt to formulate my jumbled thoughts into words, the front door swings open, and we both look over to see an older version of Lucie standing there, her eyes bouncing between the two of us, her mouth pressing into a thin, disapproving line.

  twenty

  Lucie

  My mother does not look pleased. I can tell by the way she doesn’t blink and the way her head tilts a fraction to the left. She smiles, but it’s the type of smile she gives to people who try to tell her that pasta is not a food group. Never tell my mother that pasta isn’t a food group—if you want proof of this, ask my old cookery teacher at school.

  Although she might have a smile on her face, in her head, she has already killed you twice over and is mentally swiping through suitable locations to bury your body. That polite smile is currently directed at Theo. I have the insane urge to dive in front of him and shield him with my body. Theo does not deserve the animosity I see building in her eyes.

  I step away from his warm embrace, missing the contact immediately, and his hands drop down to his sides. I blink and swallow. Being close to Theo like that hazes me out a bit; it’s like he weaves a spell over me, dazzles me so much sometimes that it’s as if I were in a bubble where it was just him and me and none of our problems could permeate through. Everyone else disappears. It’s nice. I kind of wish it would last forever.

  “Mamma, hi,” I greet. “The doorbell must be broken. We rang twice.” I shrug innocently.

  Without speaking, she leans out of the door and presses the bell. Chimes ring deafeningly loud in the hallway behind her. She doesn’t even flinch.

  “Ah, you fixed it. Great job.” I grin and step over the threshold, ignoring Theo as he lets out a little chuckle behind me. I wrap my arms around her because if there’s one thing my mother cannot resist, it’s hugs from her only child. “I missed you. I haven’t seen you for ages!”

  It’s not been ages; it’s been three days. She popped into my work on Wednesday to take me for a surprise lunch (basically so she could tell me again how important it is for me to attend tonight).

  I pull back, and her hands cup my face as she leans up and kisses the tip of my nose.

  “Ah, Luciella, I’m so pleased you could come. This is going to mean so much to Papà. He will be thrilled to see you.”

  I pat her elbows and nod. “Of course. I wouldn’t have missed it. You look beautiful, Mamma.”

  And she does. She’s wearing a flowy black gown that kisses the floor. My mother has always been glamorous, but tonight, she looks stunning. Her dark hair is pulled up, her ears and neck glitter with jewels, and her lips are painted the same colour as mine. It’s the Gordio signature shade for nights out—the one Theo said made my mouth look like his favourite childhood lollipops.

  “Thank you, darling. So do you. Magnifica.” She looks me up and down, her eyes glittering with affection as she gives a chef’s-kiss hand gesture that makes me laugh.

  I step back and motion to Theo, who is standing tall at my side, obviously blissfully unaware that the smile Mamma is giving him is not a warm welcome, but more of an if I see you touch my daughter again, you’ll lose the ability to wipe your own arse silent warning. “I’d like to introduce you to my date, Theo Stone. Theo, this is my mother, Stella Gordio.”

  Her eyes tighten again as she turns her attention to him, holding out her hand for a polite shake.

  “Mrs Gordio, it’s lovely to meet you. You have a beautiful home.” Theo gestures around the hallway in example, shooting her a charming smile.

  He looks so boyishly cute that I don’t know how she can retain her hard composure, but she does.

  She nods. “Thank you, Mr Stone.”

  “Call me Theo.” He grins and waves a hand.

  Mamma doesn’t answer or return the gesture of telling him to call her by her first name. Instead, she turns back to me and switches to speaking in Italian, so Theo won’t understand. “How long has this been going on?” She inclines her head at him, but her accusing eyes don’t leave mine.

  I switch to Italian too. “Not very long. Please be civil. He’s a genuinely lovely man. Besides, I wasn’t aware that I didn’t have a plus-one invitation for tonight.”

  “But Lucas will be here.”

  “Yes, you told me he would be.”

  She holds my gaze for longer than necessary before giving a barely perceptible nod and pulling back, clasping her hands together. Her expression is that of a polite host now, and she switches back to English. “Well, come on in and enjoy the party. Are you hungry? We have lots of food laid out.” She turns to me. “I’ve ordered a big cake for Papà as a surprise. When they do the speeches, the catering staff is going to bring it out. Chocolate cake with vanilla buttercream and fresh raspberries inside. He is going to love it.”

  “He will.” I grin and nod, loving the idea.

  My parents live in this huge house, have several cars, and can jet off on month-long holidays at the drop of a hat, but at their core, they are still such simple folk. My father will be delighted when he’s presented with his favourite cake.

  “Well, come on. We can’t stand in the hallway all night. Let’s go join the party,” Mamma says.

  We follow her up the hallway, two pairs of stiletto shoes clacking on the marble tiles. As we walk, I reach out and slip my hand into Theo’s, holding on tightly, trying to soak up some of his confidence and the general air of ease he always has about him. With each step further into my parents’ house, my anxiety grows. My heartbeat pounds in my ears, and I feel a swirl of panic brewing inside. The thought of seeing Lucas and his new girlfriend is making my stomach roll. I don’t really know what to expect to happen tonight … or what I want to happen. I clearly haven’t thought this through properly. My brain is a bit muffled, like it’s stuffed with cotton wool.

  Theo brings my hand up to his mouth, planting a gentle kiss on my knuckles, and my heart stutters in my chest as I look over at him. He sends me a cheeky wink and gives my hand a squeeze. And just like that, my panic subsides.

  As we all step into the formal living room, Mamma turns and smiles. “I’m going to go find your father and tell him you’re here. You go say hello to everyone.” She waves to the room as she saunters off through the crowd.

  My eyes widen as I take in the array of people standing around, drinking flutes of champagne the catering staff is handing out from silver trays. Everyone is dressed in posh evening wear—suits and formal dresses. My eyes scan the women, and I groan. They’re all in muted colours—blacks, navy blues, dark purples, greys.

  My eyes drop to the floor as I brush some non-existent lint from my thigh, now wishing I’d worn something more inconspicuous. I’m going to stick out like a sore thumb in this red hooker dress. What was I thinking?

  At my side, Theo steps closer to me, his free hand brushing against my hip as he dips his head to talk to me. “Are you okay? What did I miss in the hallway?”

  “I’m fine. It was nothing.”

  He frowns, and I long to reach up and smooth the
lines away with my fingertips.

  Going up on my tiptoes, I press a kiss on the edge of his jaw. “Honestly, Theo, it was nothing. She thought I was coming alone; that’s all.”

  He nods, his arm snaking around my waist, hand resting on the small of my back as he pulls me closer to him. “Okay. So, give me the skinny on these people. Any good gossip I should know about as we’re going around and saying hi?”

  “Nope. They’re all pretty boring.”

  Over his shoulder, I see my dad heading through the crowd, patting people on the back, nodding greetings, but his eyes are firmly latched on me. I smile widely and pull away from Theo, readying for the bear hug I know I’ll get. I’ll freely admit, I am a bit of a daddy’s girl.

  “Hey, Papà!”

  My father grins, too, crinkles forming around his eyes as he holds out his arms and engulfs me into his embrace. “Ciao, bambina.” He pulls back and plants a kiss on each of my cheeks. “Now that you’re here, the real party can begin.”

  I chuckle and beam at him. My dad is my hero. He’s a brilliant husband and father. All his life, he has worked hard, sacrificed so much to give my mother and me a wonderfully full life. Though he is as soft as a teddy bear with my mother and me (he really does love his girls), woe betide anyone who upsets them. I wouldn’t want to get on the wrong side of him.

  “Papà, this is Theo Stone.” I wave at my fake date for the night. “And this is my father, Tomas Gordio.” I wave back at my dad, biting the inside of my cheek as I watch the exchange between them. “Theo is an incredible illustrator who does freelance work at my company. We met at my office.”

  Theo sticks out his hand. “It’s nice to meet you, sir. Thank you for allowing me to come to your retirement party. Lucie’s told me all about you.”

  My dad glances down at the outstretched hand and then looks up at me questioningly.

  Holding my breath, I nod in encouragement and shoot him the begging eyes.