Page 68 of The Romance Library

Still, it was sweet of Theo to compliment me. He was… nice. A lot nicer than I thought. And that was annoying because it would be much easier if we weren’t getting on.

And in twenty minutes we’d arranged to do this rehearsal, which wasn’t exactly going to help me to fight how much I fancied him.

My phone pinged with an email notification. When I saw it was from Theo, I smiled and quickly clicked on the message.

To: [email protected]

From: [email protected]

Date: Wednesday 7th May, 18.08

Subject: Rehearsal

Dear Jessica,

Had to get rehearsal supplies, but I’m on my way.

See you soon,

T

As I read his message, I frowned. First up, he’d called me Jessica instead of Ms Johnson like he had before, and secondly, what the hell were ‘rehearsal supplies’?

I headed downstairs to the living room. Glenda was out this evening at bingo. Apparently they had it once a week at the community centre. I was relieved that Edwin hadn’t roped us into that too.

There were no other guests staying here until the weekend, apparently, which meant that me and Theo would have the place to ourselves. I wasn’t sure if that was such a good thing.

Then I reminded myself that just because I was attracted to Theo, it didn’t mean the feeling was mutual.

Theo was a businessman. He was way too professional to let feelings muddy the water or get in the way of him securing the site. I needed to take a leaf from his book.

And even if the whole deal thing wasn’t in the way, I was pretty sure I wasn’t his type. He probably only exclusively dated women who moved in his rich circles. That definitely wasn’t me.

Fifteen minutes later, just as I was heading downstairs, I heard the key go in the front door, then Theo walked through it carrying a large rectangular case.

‘Hi!’ I said a little too enthusiastically. ‘What’s that?’

‘Keyboard,’ he said. ‘For rehearsals.’

‘Oh.’ Made sense. I hadn’t even given any thought about what he was going to use.

Once he set up in the living room, he went back to his car and returned with shopping bags.

‘Thought I’d get some refreshments for tonight.’

‘Oooh!’ I followed him into the living room, where he started unpacking items. ‘I thought you didn’t like salt and vinegar crisps?’

‘I don’t.’ He unpacked various bottles of wine. ‘Those are for you. And the apples. I didn’t know which type you liked, so I got a few different varieties.’

My heart fluttered. He might have said last night that he wasn’t sweet, but with all these kind gestures he’d been making, I was finding it hard to believe him.

‘Thanks. That’s really—’

‘If you say sweet, I’ll throw the crisps in the bin, just to prove a point.’

‘There’s nothing wrong with being sweet.’

‘Anyway,’ he sighed. ‘We should get cracking with this rehearsal. Any song ideas?’

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