Page 17 of Be My Traitor

Ivy poured a glass of champagne for both us and passed one to me. “I figured we should celebrate your first date in forever. Even if it doesn’t work out, I’m proud of you for finally getting yourself out there. I know you’ve been focused on Amber for the past few years, but it’s about time you put yourself first. If it doesn’t work out with Lucas, don’t let this be the last date you go on, okay? There are plenty of eligible bachelors out there who’d love to get to know you better.”

“I don’t know.” I sipped at my champagne, the alcohol giving me a little buzz and taking the edge off my nerves. “If it was anyone else, I wouldn’t be going out tonight. I mean, Nigel’s asked me out so many times I’ve lost count and I’ve always said no, even though he seems like a perfectly nice guy. I don’t really want the complication of a man in my life. Amber and I are fine just the two of us.”

“Poor Nigel.” Ivy sighed. “I’ve seen the way he looks at you. He really likes you. How do you think he’s going to react when he finds out you’re dating the head?”

“I hadn’t thought about it.” My stomach clenched with nerves when I realised that some people might think I had an ulterior motive for dating Lucas. Nobody knew he was the father of my daughter. What if they thought I was seeing him because I was trying to further my career? “Do you think he’s going to be upset? I don’t want to hurt him. He’s been such a good friend to me over the years.”

“If he’s really your friend, he’ll be happy for you.” Ivy shrugged. “You’re entitled to a love life and you can see whoever you want.”

“Mummy, you look beautiful!” Amber came running into the room, practically throwing herself into my arms. I had to jerk my arm up to stop myself from spilling champagne all over my dress.

“What are you doing down here?” I scolded. “You’re meant to be in bed. I already read your story.”

“I’m not sleepy,” Amber protested. “I wanted to see Daddy when he got here. I wanted to give him the picture I made for him at nursery.”

“You can give it to him on Saturday,” I told her. “Go back to bed.”

Amber looked like she was going to argue, but Ivy scooped her up.

“Come on, Amber. You’re going to be a good girl for Auntie Ivy, aren’t you?” she said, starting to carry her out of the room. However, the doorbell rang and Amber wriggled out of Ivy’s arms and ran over to open the door.

“Amber!” I raced after her, but she’d already pulled open the door to reveal a delivery driver with a package. I grabbed Amber’s arm to stop her running outside to look for Lucas, took the package and shut the door. “How many times do I have to tell you not to open the door?” I hadn’t telling Amber off, but as the daughter of the Knight heir, she was a prime target for being kidnapped and I’d drummed it into her that there were things she couldn’t do so I could keep her safe. “What if there had been a bad man waiting there?”

“I thought it was Daddy.” Amber started crying. Normally that would have been enough to soften me, but I was nervous about the date, stressed about Amber’s behaviour and not in the mood to deal with a fractious four-year-old who should have been in bed.

“Okay, Amber. Why don’t you let Auntie Ivy read you another bedtime story?” Ivy came to my rescue, picking up Amber and taking her off to her room.

I went back to the kitchen where I’d left my champagne and finished off the glass in one go. My hands were shaking as I set the flute back down on the side. Until now, I hadn’t realised just how nervous I was about the date. I knew I wouldn’t have shouted at Amber like that normally. Sure, I would have told her off for answering the door when she knew better, but I would have taken the time to explain to her why she needed to be more careful instead of trying to scare her into behaving.

Lucas was changing my world already and not for the better it would seem.

I debated pouring myself more champagne but decided against it. I needed to keep a clear head for this date if I was going to figure out what was really going on with Lucas, because I couldn’t believe that this was just a normal date. Lucas always had an ulterior motive for what he did and I was going to figure it out. If Lucas thought he could play me, he was going to discover that there were two of us in this game and I was going to win.

“She’s back in bed, although she’s not happy about it.” Ivy came in to join me. Seeing my empty glass, she picked up the champagne bottle to refill it.

“No.” I shook my head and put my hand over the glass. “I’d better not. Lucas is going to wine and dine me, remember? It’s probably best if I don’t start the night out tipsy already.”

“Fair enough.” Ivy topped up her own glass and we went back to sit in the lounge. “You know it’s okay to let your hair down once in a while, Mills? Itisokay to enjoy yourself every now and then.”

“I know,” I said. “And I’m going on this date, aren’t I?”

“You are, but I want you to be sure you actually have fun while you’re out, even if you decide you don’t want to have a relationship with Lucas.”

“I’ll do my best,” I promised. “But it’s all going to depend on Lucas, isn’t it? Until I know what he’s planning, I can’t let down my guard.”

“Maybe he’s just planning on spending some time with a beautiful woman,” Ivy pointed out. “Maybe he wants to get to know the mother of his child a little better. Heck, Mills, maybe he just likes you. Have you thought about that?”

“Nobody ‘just likes me.’”

“That’s not true,” Ivy said. “Nigel does or he wouldn’t be okay about the fact you keep knocking him back. I know there were plenty of guys who would love to date you, but they don’t even register on your radar. You’re beautiful, Milly. If you could see yourself the way others see you, you’d realise that you have plenty of choices if you wanted to get out into the world of dating.”

“If you say so.”

It was a discussion we’d had plenty of times, but I was saved from having to repeat myself by a knock at the door.

I went to answer. This time, it actually was Lucas. His grey eyes lit up as he looked me up and down before handing me a large bouquet of red roses.

“Thank you, Lucas. They’re lovely. Do you want to come in for a moment while I put them in water?”

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