Love at the Little Wedding Shop by the Sea - Jane Linfoot Page 0,59

courier.’ There’s another shrug. ‘One of the perks of a five-star country club.’

My inner groan is so loud it bursts free. ‘That bad?’ That’s not the news I was hoping for. Sick on the gravel outside is bad enough, but on clothes takes it to another – totally unacceptable – level. And I’m really more interested in how the hell I got undressed than the choice of cleaners.

He sniffs. ‘Your hem took the brunt, my legs got the rest.’ He smiles for a second then it falls away again. ‘In case you’re worried, I did help you take it off, but the most I saw was the writing on your leg, and only as far as the speeches.’ He’s still going. ‘It was way less than you saw of me in the morning. In fact, I’d say we’re pretty much even again.’

‘Marvellous.’ As I catch sight of my phone on the bedside table and squeeze it on I gasp. ‘It can’t be eleven thirty already. I need to say goodbye to Cally before they leave for Paris!’

Nic’s shrugging again. ‘Sorry to disappoint you, but Nige and Cally are long gone.’ He’s biting his lip. ‘We did ask the airline if they’d postpone the flight until you woke up, but air traffic control wouldn’t agree.’

I give him an eye roll for that. ‘So that’s that then.’ There are so many reasons to kick myself – for stuffing last night up so spectacularly, for not waking up to wave them off, and now I’ve got the hangover from hell.

His face softens. ‘Cally said to tell you she’ll be in touch. And how grateful they both are for all your help.’

So at least my customer was happy. ‘What’s that noise?’ I know I’ve been listening to the distant crash of waves on the beach in my sleep, but this particular water rush is closer and more constant.

‘I’m running you a bath.’ Nic’s looking particularly pleased with himself as he darts towards to the en suite. ‘That reminds me, which bath oil would you like? Pomegranate and ginseng, bergamot and hibiscus, or gin fizz and rose.’

‘Anything but the gin.’ I’m not sure anyone has ever run me a bath before. Is there no limit to this guy and his hidden talents?

A couple of minutes later he’s back again, his shirt sleeves rolled up. As he drops a waffle robe on the bed and dries his hands on a super-fluffy towel I’m definitely not noticing how amazing his wrists are. Or wishing the bath was for both of us.

‘So, your bath’s almost ready, a French pastry breakfast with coffee will be here at twelve, and your taxi back to St Aidan is booked for one.’ With precision like that he could almost pass for Phoebe.

‘So what about you?’ I’m sure he mentioned breakfast for us both. As for imagining a lift back with him might be nicer than a taxi ride, that thought was never one of mine.

He’s looking at his watch. ‘I’m pretty much bang on schedule.’

‘I meant, what are you having for breakfast?’ With those sculpted forearms, I’m guessing it’ll be some kind of lean, carb-free, full English after porridge doused in chia seeds. Whatever, it’s going to take ages to eat.

He grins at me and nods at a trolley full of shiny silver domes by the sofa. ‘Catch up, Milla, I had mine hours ago, I’m heading off to the airport.’

‘To wave them off?’ I wouldn’t mind skipping breakfast for that.

He’s shaking his head. ‘No, I’m flying out too.

It comes out as a shriek. ‘Flying? Flying where?’

‘The Med.’

I can’t believe what I’m hearing. ‘But you can’t go away! What about the wedding planning?’

‘This delivery job’s been booked in since last year. We worked Nigel’s wedding around it and that has to take priority.’ He’s rubbing his jaw. ‘In any case, we haven’t exactly been moving forward.’

I have no idea why my neck is prickling. ‘We can’t possibly make progress if you’re not even in the damned country.’

He’s almost pouting. ‘Cally organised her wedding from New York.’

‘Yes, and look how that went! She got everything she didn’t want!’

He’s staring at me. ‘They both had fun, love triumphed in the end. Isn’t that what’s important?’

However much I agree, I can’t let him think he’s right. ‘Fine, but love won’t come out on top if you don’t book a venue, Nic.’

He’s totally ignoring that. ‘The break will do us good. I promise I’ll put in the effort when I’m back.’ He’s so full of bullshit.