Page 106 of Joker in the Pack

But the worst was yet to come. Maddie soon bustled back out with the main course. “I used your recipe for beef Wellington,” she told me, looking thrilled.

It wasn’t difficult to make, but somehow the meat had ended up dry while the pastry was soggy. And what was that crunchy bit? I loved Maddie dearly, but she was a terrible, terrible cook.

“I’m turning vegan,” Nye whispered.

“I’ll join you in that.”

Even Maddie couldn’t mess up dessert, surely? Over the years, I’d encouraged her to buy frozen and simply defrost, but today she’d pushed the boat out.

“I’ve made baked Alaska. My first try. What do you think?”

Now, the idea of baked Alaska was to keep the ice cream underneath cold while the meringue top went hot and crispy. Maddie had managed to reverse that, then decorated the concoction with gummy bears.

“It’s a good first try, but maybe you need a tiny bit more practice.”

She wrinkled her nose. “You’re right. Next time you come round, I’ll have another go.”

Nye leaned in close enough for his lips to brush my ear. “I’m busy that day.”

With dinner over, Dave fetched the two computers for Nye while I helped Maddie clean up in the kitchen. Once again, she’d ruined the non-stick surface on a perfectly good saucepan.

“That man is super hot. You know that, right?” she said.

It hadn’t escaped me. “He’s not my usual type, though.”

“And who’s that? Edward? Edward only cared about himself.”

“At least I knew where I stood with him. Most of the time, at least.”

“He treated you like a doormat, and you lived with it. That wasn’t good for you, Liv.”

“But I’m not sure Nye is either.” I couldn’t deny the chemistry, but long term? He’d already damaged my heart once. “I don’t understand him. He scares me a little.”

“What do you mean? Has he hurt you?” Her defensive streak came out—she’d always take my side.

“No, no, nothing like that. It’s more my feelings for him that scare me.”

Because hecouldhurt me. No, more. Nye could destroy me.

Maddie gave me a hug. “That’s how you’re supposed to feel. Any man who makes you crazy that way is worth fighting for.” She met my eyes. “You never felt that way about Edward, did you? Or Tate?”

I shook my head.

“There’s your answer. And Liv?”

“Yes?”

“I saw the way he looked at you. Like you were a chocolate fudge brownie with sticky toffee pudding on the side.”

My stomach groaned as I climbed back into Nye’s car. Bulimia had never looked like such an attractive option.

“Are we going back to Upper Foxford now?”

“Not yet. I need to drop these laptops at the office, and I need to find some edible food.”

“I’m hungry too.”

He raised one eyebrow and looked at his crotch. “Good to hear.”

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