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