Page 120 of Grand Love

Nina

It’s Wednesday,and with just three days until the ball, I know Scarlet will be stressing out. I feel anxious to go, especially since I invited Maggie and John, which means Ellis will be coming too. Vinny offered to look after him and he will take him to bed for us when he’s ready. So, with Ellis and the fact that Mason will be there, I’m feeling a little all over the place.

We have to get Mason there first, though.

I have the entire day with Ellis today, and I know Scarlet will love the company and help with final preparations. She took the week off work, but she still has to study which also means she isn’t likely to be sleeping.

“Hey!” I smile into the phone when Vinny answers.

“’Morning, love. Are you okay?”

“Yes, all good. I was hoping you were free this morning. I wanted to go to Lowerwick with Ellis.”

I only ever call Vinny for a lift to the estate. Joey has offered in the past, but I always refuse out of respect to Mason—and a cab costs a bomb.

“Of course, I’m now driving Mason to the office and then I can be with you.”

“Oh…” Shit, can he hear me?

“Good morning, Miss Anderson.”

My stomach coils tight with the rasp in his voice and I clench my eyes shut as images of him in the cubicle last night come flooding back to me.

Goddamn it, I need a cold shower!

Or something else maybe.

“’Morning!” I squeal, palming the back of my neck when nothing else comes out.

“I won’t be long, Nina love,” Vinny adds after a beat of silence.

“Ok, thank you. And Mason,”

“Hmm?”

“Miss Anderson is my mother’s name. It’s Pixie.” Earth, swallow me whole.

“Of course.”

I hang up then instantly cringe. What the fuck was that? I put my phone on the island and walk away, afraid I might launch it across the room in embarrassment if I hold on to it for a second longer.

I’m not telling the girls about this one.

* * *

The sky isgrey and looming over the estate as we pull up to the circular drive. The trees along the boundaries of the gardens are starting to swish in the wind, and the smell of moisture in the air seems to get heavier with the impending rainfall.

Scarlet is standing at the back of a truck, her hands on her dungaree-covered hips, and her hair, now a faded pastel lavender, in a messy pile on her head.

She’s definitely stressed.

“I’ll take Ellis in,” Vinny tells me with a smug smile. “I already had to deal with one Lowell today.” He winks.

To be fair, I think he drew the short straw. I’ve never seen Scarlet get on Mason’s level of… difficultness.

“It’s raining!” Scarlet tells me the second I step up next to her. “Do you think it will be raining on Saturday?”

“No, the forecast is good for Saturday,” I say optimistically.

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