Then she turns to me, and I worry it will be awkward but it’s Scarlet and she doesn’t allow it, pushing her arms through mine and around my back she pulls me in for a hug.
“They would have loved this tonight,” I whisper into her ear.
“Yeah?” she asks.
“Yeah. Mum was all about this kind of thing, and Dad lived to entertain.”
“Thank you for coming, Mason.”
“I wouldn’t have missed it for the world.” I squeeze the tops of her arms and let her pull away to stand beside me.
“Where’s Luce?” I ask, looking around the group, feeling better now that everyone is here.
Elliot raises his glass in a toast, ignoring me altogether. “To the gang.”
We raise our glasses, mine and Nina’s eyes meeting across the group. She shakes her head, telling me with her eyes that she’ll explain later.
It’s half an hour later when Ellis starts to get fussy and I watch Vinny sweep in and offer to take him to bed himself. I roll my eyes on a laugh, knowing how much Ellis means to him.
Nina watches on at the entrance of the marquee as Vinny carries him up through the grounds until they’re out of sight. She smooths out her hair and takes a moment, breathing in the night air. I stand perched at the bar, my eyes trained on her and unable to look away, as I wonder what she’s thinking.
Picking up her dress, she turns and walks back into the marquee. She strides straight over to me, making my shoulders draw back and my chest expand as I tuck her into my side. “Vinny couldn’t resist, huh?” I whisper against her temple.
“Nope.” She laughs.
Her eyes bore into mine as she gazes up at me, her hand running up my back under my jacket. “You okay?”
“I’m fine,” I tell her, taking a sip of my drink.
She grins up at me, her dimples set deep in her cheeks. “That smile,” I admire.
“I’m just happy, Bossman.”
“Guys!” Megan summons from the other end of the bar. “Shots!”
“Here we go,” I huff out, following behind Nina as she slides out from my side and makes her way to our friends.
TWENTY-TWO
Nina
“No!” I roar, grasping Lance’s forearm as I lean over in hysterics.
“Charles was stuck there for three days,” Elliot tells us.
Charlie nods as if he’s reliving the story as it’s being told. “My mum thought I wasn’t coming home. I’m surprised she ever let me back in the house.”
“Charlie! I never took you as such a playboy!” Megan accuses, laughing along with us. “Those poor girls.”
“Poor girls?” Scarlet asks. “What’s poor about those girls?!”
“Right!” I tip my glass to her.
“It was over ten years ago, ladies,” Charlie tells us, downplaying it.
“We all had our day, Charles.” I wink at him, giving him a soft smile.
“Girls, the band finished! Scar, we have to do the auction!”
