Say Hello, Kiss Goodbye - Jacquelyn Middleton Page 0,25

hall’s antique furniture and extravagant orchid arrangements worthy of the Chelsea Flower Show. Leia seemed mesmerized.

She’s looking at Mum’s dress? Tarquin pointed at the two boys to Kiki’s left, the taller, older one wearing eyeglasses. “Me and Rupert are like Dad’s side of the family. Green eyes, a reddish tinge to our hair, but not quite ginge. We both have his bad vision, too, but I dumped my glasses for contacts.” He glanced at Leia close up, captivated by the photo. She’s got freckles, sprinkled across her nose! He couldn’t tear his eyes away.

“Rupert seems…” Lost in thought, the tip of her tongue slid across her bottom lip. “Distracted.”

Like I am now? He followed the slow flick of her tongue. Leia, Leia, Leia. A slight sigh escaped from his throat, just loud enough that a ghost of a smile flirted with Leia’s cheeks. She caught that?

“Are you close to your brothers?” Her eyes swayed from the phone to Tarquin and back again.

“I am, yeah, but in different ways. Nico and I both love travel and restaurants, meeting new people. He works for the BBC in New York. Rupert is more…earthy. He’s most at home in his Hunter wellies, herding sheep and milking cows. I share a love of the outdoors with Rupes.” Tarquin chuckled at the photo. “You’re right—he is distracted here. I bet he was pining after the macarons on the catering table.”

“Oh, I love macarons!” Leia closed her eyes and swooned. “Especially raspberry ones. They taste like heaven.”

“I don’t think Rupes tasted heaven or anything else. Those macarons barely touched the sides.” Tarquin chuckled. “Look at him, the skinny git. I’d kill for his metabolism.” He scrolled to the next image, the three Balfour boys wearing white breeches and blue polo shirts inside a luxurious horse stable with two floors, stalls as far as the eye could see, and a majestic cathedral ceiling.

“Holy—!” A mischievous snicker poked through Leia’s words. “The horses have chandeliers?! Their stables are nicer than my apartment.” She scooted closer, her bare arm grazing his sleeve as she enlarged the image. “Your eyes look a bit teary in this one.”

“Yeah, I’m allergic to horses.” Tarquin grimaced. “Mum was adamant we pose in there, all of us in daft polo gear.”

“Aw, you look mortified…but cute.” Her shoulder collided with Tarquin’s and refused to leave. “I bet you broke a lot of hearts growing up.” She met his gaze with a coquettish grin.

She’s practically in my lap. Not that I mind! Her close warmth and the flowery scent of her perfume sent his pulse on a sprint. She smells like summer and swimming and happy memories. He pressed closer, inhaling. “Hey, what can I say? Girls liked me.”

“I can’t imagine why,” she teased, her eyes bright and lingering.

Come closer and I’ll show you. Tarquin swallowed, a shiver tingling down his spine as his eyes hovered over her lips. Or help yourself. Make a move and my mouth is yours, Ginger. “I bet you were a heartbreaker, too, Leia Scott.”

She smiled and glanced back at the phone. “So, Mr. Popularity, how old are you here?”

Ah, okay. She likes to take it slow. That’s fine. Some things deserve to be savored. Tarquin tilted in, angling toward the photos. “Fifteen, I think? I was all about skateboarding, hanging with my best mate Harry, and well, girls.” Skateboarding aside, not much has changed.

A slow grin met her cheeks. She picked up her drink and took a long sip of the orangey lemonade.

Tarquin couldn’t look away. My god, those lips… they could unravel me.

“Where was this, anyway?” Leia hovered over the edge of her glass. “Did you break into Downton Abbey for the day?”

Should I lie and say yes? He inhaled and slowly let the air leave his lungs, his body deflating into the bench. Ugh, she’s going to find out sooner or later. “That’s in Berkshire, our country house.” Quick, change the subject. “So, where did you—”

“Wait! House? It looks like a castle!” Wide-eyed, she let out a strangled giggle. “So…I guess your family has more than one home, then? If this estate is the country one…”

Okay, here we go. Here’s where her interest skyrockets for all the wrong reasons. Tarquin’s heart flinched. Might as well get it over with. Skirting her gaze, he rubbed the back of his neck. “Uh…yeah. My family owns several in the UK…and one in France.” He met her open-mouthed stare. Fuck, there’s the usual reaction. Her eyebrows can’t climb any higher. Won’t mention the