Page 20 of Below Deck Billionaire
Because of course he was.
But even as she concentrated on the baby-faced banker, she was aware of Theo’s gaze fanning across her like a lighthouse beacon. Aware of how it lingered on her throat and filled her with the irrational urge to strip off her tie so she could breathe properly. It seemed to cinch a little tighter with every passing minute. How was it possible to be surrounded by five other people – and yet feel like it was just her and him in the room?
It was insane, this chemistry between them. This physical pull she felt in his presence. If she’d known this was going to be the result of their one-night stand, she’d have passed on the job.
Probably.
‘Tiff, have I told you about that time Theo?—’
‘Rufus.’ Theo glared at him. ‘Quit stalling. Piss or get off the pot.’
Clearly unconcerned by Theo’s objections, Rufus continued. ‘—got an old-lady ass-kicking on the streets of Holborn?’
Tiffany laughed before she could stop herself, grateful for the reprieve from Theo’s heated intensity. Now,thatshe would like to have seen. Ignoring Theo and the waves of disapproval rolling off his body, she said, ‘You did not.’
‘But you want me to tell you, right?’
Tiffany shot a quick look at Theo, all stern and forbidding, and hell if her stomach didn’t lurch. But she’d be damned if she let him see how much his presence tonight was disturbing her, and anything that could take Theo Callisthenes down a peg or two was welcome. Smiling with faux sweetness at her boss, she returned her attention to Rufus.
‘You betcha,’ she confirmed.
The guys cheered and drummed their hands on the table as Theo grimaced. Completely ignoring his friend’s displeasure, Rufus launched into the story. ‘I think we were about nineteen.’
Nineteen. It was hard to imagine Theo as a teenager when, in her mind, he’d always be the suave, sophisticated man that exuded the kind of ease and confidence that only came with age. That came with having lived and experienced.
‘He and I had just come out of a pub we used to frequent where’d we’d had a cheeky pint?—’
‘I had a pint,’ Theo interjected. ‘You had several.’
Ignoring Theo, Rufus continued. ‘And there was this older lady?—’
‘Ethel,’ Hugo interrupted.
Tiffany glanced at the men. Clearly this was a story that had been told and retold. Possibly even gone down in legend between the six of them.
‘Ethel,’ Rufus said with a nod, his chips clinking as he fiddled with them. ‘She was probably twenty-feet in front of us in this big old coat, a little hat with a feather perched on her head and this old-fashioned handbag – kinda like the Queen used to carry – swinging from her fingertips.’
‘And a frilly pink umbrella hooked over the other arm,’ Irving supplied with a grin. Clearly that was an important detail.
‘Right,’ Rufus confirmed. ‘It had been raining on and off all day and it was freezing. Which also meant there weren’t many people about. Then this guy comes from a side alley, walking towards her and snatches her handbag. It all happened very quickly. She yelps and before we know it, he’s sprinting past us.’
‘But Theo, with his cat-like reflexes, sticks out his foot at the last moment,’ Fabian whispered dramatically.
Tiffany remembered how much Theo had reminded her of a jungle cat at the wedding. The way he’d prowled towards her with utter intent.But Jesus, do not think about that now. Giving herself a mental shake, she smiled at Rufus. ‘You don’t have cat-like reflexes?’
‘Well… I was a little worse for wear.’
Theo snorted. ‘You could barely walk in a straight line.’
‘Anyway,’ Rufus continued, unconcerned by all the interruptions. ‘The thief falls on the ground and Theo jumps on him, trying to retrieve the handbag, but he’s not giving it up without a fight. Then Ethel, who is wearing these Coke-bottle glasses, stalks over and all she can see is Theo’s hand on her bag so she starts bashing him over the head with the umbrella, demanding he give it back. So now poor Theo’s trying to grab the bag and ward off the umbrella attack.’
The guys cracked up and Tiffany joined them, the mental picture tickling her sense of humour. ‘And what were you doing throughout all this?’ she asked Rufus when everyone’s laughter had settled.
Another snort from Theo, who was now crossing his arms. ‘Laughing his ass off while I was being handed mine.’
Unabashed by his lack of action, Rufus grinned. ‘I swear to you, Tiff. I was laughing so hard I almost fell over.’
Theo shook his head. ‘Why are we friends again?’
