Page 32 of Hollywood Games
‘But Lucy’s wasn’t a threat. She’s the daughter of her best mate. You’re a completely different matter, that’s why she’s being such a cow.’
‘But I’m not trying to take Rory away from her!’
‘She doesn’t know that! How many nights has he spent at the castle since you got back?’
Zoe reached for another biscuit. ‘It sounds like you think I should be nice to her.’
‘Oh, if I were in your shoes, I would have clocked her one by now!’ Fiona grinned. ‘But you’re a better woman than me. Rise above it, and just think, the more money you make for the estate, the quicker you can ship her off on an around-the-world cruise.’
Zoe left Fiona’s feeling slightly better but still royally pissed at Rory and his mum. He had texted her to say he was sorry and asking if he could see her that morning. She didn’t reply and made for home.
As she rounded the final corner of the track she saw him waiting in his truck, the one he’d bought as soon as the money from Brad had arrived. She got out and walked to the cabin door as if he wasn’t there.
‘Zoe,’ he called, bounding after her up the steps.
‘What?’ she replied angrily, turning, then stopping dead. He was wearing full Highland dress, with polished black shoes, white socks, kilt, sporran, blousy white shirt and tailored and fluted black jacket. In one hand he held a bunch of red roses and in the other a bottle of champagne. Zoe was stunned into silence. What the hell was going on? He went down on one knee.
‘Zoe—’
She leapt forward, hauling him to his feet. ‘No, no, no, no, no, no, no, this is not happening.’
‘Would you like me to wait until sunset?’
‘What?’
‘For your proposal.’
Zoe looked blankly at him.
‘Sunset apparently makes it more romantic,’ he replied.
‘Says who?’ A tell-tale flush swept across Rory’s cheekbones and Zoe stepped back, the penny dropping. ‘Oh no, you have got to be kidding me! You’re recycling your proposal to Lucy? Are you about to present me with the same ring as well?’
‘No, I sold it to pay for my last truck.’
‘Oh well, thank goodness I’m going to get some originality.’ Rory started to go down on one knee again but Zoe yanked him back up. ‘No, Rory. You’re not doing this.’
‘Would you prefer me to ask Arnold first?’
‘My dad? You’re joking, right? This isn’t the nineteenth century! I’m not a piece of property to be passed around between men. Right now, you’ve got more chance of marrying him than me.’
‘Just tell me what you want. Write me a list. Anything and I’ll do it.’
‘A list?’ said Zoe, her voice rising. ‘Oh my god, did she write you a proposal instruction manual?’ His flush deepened. ‘Jesus Christ! Do you know what I want, Rory? What I really, really want?’ He nodded. ‘I want you to take yourself home, go and get changed, and have a think about how you would feel if you were me right now.’
‘But I want to marry you.’
‘Why? To stop me running off with Brad?’ She saw a flash of fear cross his face. Did he really think it was a possibility? ‘Why not just lock me in a turret? Chuck a chastity belt on me? Isn’t that what your family usually do to control their women? Because heaven forbid you might actually trust me or listen when I tell you how much I love you.’
‘You still love me?’
Zoe put her hands to her temples, her frustration threatening to explode out of her. She glared at him. ‘Just go home and change. Give the flowers and champagne to your mum and tell her it’s a thank you for last night. Then go to your workshop, take a piece of two by four and repeatedly bash yourself over the head with it until you’ve knocked the idiocy out and some sense in. Only when that has happened can you come back with an apology, and not, I repeat not, a proposal. Okay?’
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Zoe let herself in, and busied herself cleaning and tidying the cabin, and bringing in more wood for the Rayburn. Anything to keep her mind away from Rory. She sat down on the sofa for a cuddle with Basil, who must have known something was wrong as he gravitated to her hair, burying himself in it and tickling her neck. After ten minutes, however, an unpleasant trickle ran down her neck.
