Page 21 of The Flirtation
Chapter 7
Avery
As we walkedtowards the main house, I suddenly heard myself say out loud: “Do you make all women uncomfortable because you’re handsome and you have a coolaccent?”
He laughed. “Actually, the women in England are uncomfortable solely because I’m so handsome. They don’t even realize how cool my accentis.”
“I didn’t say you were ‘so’ handsome, geez. You aren’t nearly as handsome as I think you are,” I slurred. “I mean, you’re not One Direction, get over yourself.” He laughed. It was a pathetic, childish attempt to convey a lack of interest, on my part. When we’d boarded the yacht earlier that night, I’d almost tripped, and feeling his hands on my hips, hearing his buttery soft voice in my ear, without a phone or monitor between us, only his warm sweet breath, that was just about the death of me. And then—the torture continued throughout dinner. I could not help but notice how he ate his food—he was thorough and attentive and enjoyed every bite, always asking me if I was happy with it too. It bode well for how he’d behave in othersituations…
We walked slowly as we approached the villa. I’d like to think it was because we both had been enjoying being alone together, but in truth I was just trying very very hard not to fall flat on my face. I was barefoot, carrying my sandals, and unused to having so much sugary cocktail in my bloodstream. The faint sound of the gentle waves lapping against the dock was rhythmic and hypnotic. He opened the sliding patio door for me, as we entered the living room area. That was when I decided to tell him I’d lied about having a boyfriend. I wasn’t an idiot—I knew my sister was right. This stupid lie I’d told him about Haruki Potter was just some kind of defense mechanism—another form of barrier between us—as if being on different continents wasn’t enough. But now that we were here, it was conceivably the only thing stopping Luke from pursuing me. And I wanted him to pursue me. I wanted every British centimeter of him. I was going to tellhim.
But then some Victoria’s Secret model in a tight business suit walked into the fucking room. “Davis,” she said. “Look at you. Never seen you in a dress before. Not bad legs on you if I maysay.”
It took me a moment to realize that this was Stephanie Sloan, the junior lawyer whose phone calls I had been avoiding. I saw Luke’s eyes travel down her body, ever so quickly, before he looked back at me with a twitchysmile.
“What areyoudoing here?” I said to Stephanie. I hadn’t meant to say it in such an aggressive way, but if she noticed, she certainly wasn’t intimidated byme.
“Well, I was in the neighborhood. Thought I’d check in on my client, same as you.” Her eyes were trained on Luke. “Aren’t you going to introduce me to yourfriend?”
“No. I mean—this is Luke Mason, transatlantic business consultant extraordinaire. Stephanie Sloan, one of Bucket’s lawyers from NewYork.”
She was a sexy she-beast. I literally heard porn music in my head when she walked towards him. She took his hand in both of hers and shook it firmly while looking him directly in the eyes. “Very glad to meet you, LukeMason.”
“And you, Ms. Sloan.” He was careful not to appear to be flirting with her, which I certainlyappreciated.
She looked back to me. “Did you honestly think it was in his best interest not to have aprenup?”
“What?”
“What kind of money manager areyou?”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about.” For a second I was afraid that she meant Luke was getting married, and then I realized she was talking aboutBuck.
“You really don’t?” She looked over at Luke, then back to me. “He’s getting married here.Tomorrow.”
“How do you knowthat?”
“I have my ways,” she said coyly. “I figured something was up when he cancelled his trip to New York and had you meet him here, so I called Samson and asked him who he’d picked up at the airport this week. I’ve had clients stay here before. Only on very special occasions. Getit?”
Now I understood. “You’re here to get him to sign aprenup.”
“Of course I am, and you need to help me convincehim.”
I had to sit down and gather mywits.
Now I knew what Buck meant when he said he felt he could trust me andLuke.
“Stephanie Sloan. What a surprise,” came Bucket’s voice from another room, in a tone that indicated he was not surprised at all. He appeared, holding hands with a pretty woman in a white linen dress. She had light brown curly hair, and skin that was normally very fair but tinged pink from a day in the sun. I could tell immediately from her posture and the polite way she regarded each of us that she wasBritish.
“Hello Buck,” said Stephanie. “And you must be the bride-to-be,” Stephanie stepped forward towards the woman, her hand outstretched. “I’m Stephanie Sloan, from New York,congratulations.”
“How do you do,” the woman said, with her Englishaccent.
“Everyone, this is Ingrid Sheffield. My beautiful fiancée. She’s just returned from touring some of the neighboring islands all day. Stephanie is one of my lawyers, and this is Avery Davis and Luke Mason, who are here about the merger and were invited.” He smiled as he said it, so Stephanie wouldn’t feel awkward, although I don’t think Stephanie Sloan has ever felt awkward in her life. To her, it made perfect sense that she’d show up uninvited at the villa her client was renting on a tropical island in order to bully him into signing a prenuptialagreement.
I decided to hug Ingrid, because I was determined to be the good cop. “Ingrid, I’m so happy for you both. What a wonderful surprise. I had no idea Bucket was so discreet. How did you twomeet?”
“Oh, I work at a little tea shop in Notting Hill and this scruffy fellow kept showing up for Earl Grey andscones.”
