Page 37 of Finding Love at Roseford Blooms
‘You’ll be most welcome.’ Simon stopped and pulled her close.
All the same, Lizzie felt nervous, and a little underdressed in her white shirt, sandals and jeans as they approached the pub. Simon had thrown on a better pair of jeans and a shirt after he’d got out of the shower, and she wondered, again, if she should head home and put something more dressy on before they joined the party at the pub.
‘You look wonderful,’ Simon reassured her before kissing her again. ‘It’s casual, honestly.’
‘Then why did you get changed?’
Simon smiled ruefully. ‘I’ve got a rep to protect round here. Band T-shirts and my worst jeans wouldn’t cut it.’
Lizzie burst out laughing. ‘Did you just quoteGrease 2at me?’
Simon looked bewildered. ‘Did I? I don’t think I’ve ever seen it.’
Shaking her head, Lizzie decided not to try to explain the reference right now. She’d already realised how unworldly, in terms of popular culture, Simon could be; it was something she’d have to get used to. Something she hoped she’d have the time to get used to.
They walked into the bar of the Treloar Arms. Lizzie smiled when Simon was greeted from all sides by the landlord, some customers and some of the wedding guests, who were making their way through to the function room, which led out via a large set of bifold doors to the picturesque back garden of the pub. She immediately realised why he wanted to look less scruffy. Despite the fact that this was supposedly a ‘casual’ gathering, the guests all looked as if they’d stepped straight off the pages ofHello!magazine.
‘I thought you said this was going to be casual,’ Lizzie muttered. She felt vaguely irritated with Simon; his obliviousness in certain situations was obvious now, and she really would have appreciated the chance to glam up a bit more. Especially when Montana de Santo herself rushed up to them as they entered the conservatory, with a beaming smile on her face.
‘Simon, darling, so glad you could make it!’ Montana said, kissing Simon on both cheeks as if they’d not seen each other for years, instead of at yesterday’s wedding.
Before she knew what was happening, Lizzie found herself greeted just as enthusiastically, and being enclosed in a hug by the new bride.
‘Lizzie, thank you again for the wonderful flowers. I’m so glad Simon brought you along to the party.’
‘I hope I’m not intruding,’ Lizzie, flustered but feeling slightly more at ease, replied.
‘Not at all. If you hadn’t come, I’d have told Lord Treloar here to go get you.’ Montana, flushed with happiness, glanced behind them. ‘No Bee, though?’
Lizzie smiled. ‘She’s gone to visit a friend today. But I’m sure she’ll love to know she was missed.’
Montana tucked an arm through Lizzie’s as if they’d known each other for years, and Lizzie found herself being led across the room to where the champagne was placed on a side table. ‘Now, let me know if there’s anyone you want to meet,’ Montana said, a mischievous gleam in her eye. ‘Let’s see if we can’t make Simon a little jealous.’
Lizzie’s face burned. ‘Is it that obvious?’ she whispered.
‘Honey, I’ve known Simon a couple of years now, and he’s smitten, I can tell. According to Lucy, Finn’s fiancée, she’s never seen him so bowled over by anyone as he seems to be with you.’ She paused. ‘But there’s no harm in testing that out, is there?’
Lizzie laughed. ‘It’s early days, Montana, but it is lovely to be here with him, and such an amazing crowd.’
Montana sighed, but kept grinning. ‘Fair enough. And Serena would murder me if I, er, stuck my oar in where it wasn’t wanted.’ Obviously a bit self-conscious about using the colloquialism, Montana broke the moment by passing Lizzie a glass of champagne. ‘But in the meantime, drink up and grab some food. There’s plenty here. Dave’s done us proud.’
‘Thank you, I will,’ Lizzie replied, knowing that her two minutes with the famous bride were probably up. Simon rejoined them a moment later, and then Montana drifted away to see the other guests.
‘Everything all right?’ Simon asked. ‘Montana wasn’t giving you the third degree?’
‘She’s lovely,’ Lizzie replied. She shook her head. ‘I still can’t get my head around the fact that I was at her wedding.’
‘She is,’ Simon replied. ‘And a whole lot more normal that you’d give her credit for, given the guest list here!’
Glancing around, trying not to make it too obvious, Lizzie was agog at seeing so many famous faces still hanging around for the morning-after party. It was like a roll call of Oscar nominees, television stars and those working behind the camera. She raised a hand in greeting, though, to one of the familiar faces that she knew fell into the category of someone with a ‘normal’ job: Lucy. As Lucy, with Finn not far behind, came over to join them, Lizzie relaxed a little.
Was she imagining it, or did a significant look pass between Finn and Simon as the four of them moved together?
‘How are you doing?’ Finn asked them both.
‘Well, thanks,’ Lizzie replied. She smiled as Simon reached down to give her hand a squeeze. There was that look between the two men again, and Lizzie wondered if words had been had last night, and whether she had Finn to thank, in part, for the diffident Simon coming to find her after she’d walked off the dance floor.
‘How are you holding up after all of this wedding malarkey?’ Simon asked.
