The strange moment had passed by the time they returned from the pantry, their arms brimming with ingredients. He supposed, if she didn’t want a relationship with him, he couldn’t blame her. The paparazzi alone would be enough to put any sane woman off him for life.
One of her rules had been that no one would get hurt. Could he guarantee that when his family were constantly in the tabloids and on social media?
She took out a large jug from a cupboard and began chopping fruit.
‘How can I help?’
‘Chop these.’ She handed him an orange. He could definitely chop an orange.
‘Into slices…’ she added, and made a sawing motion with her hand. He turned the knife above the orange and she gave an approving nod, followed by an indulgent chuckle.
Maybe he’d always act this dumb in the kitchen. He liked making her laugh. Plus, who was he kidding? Hewasdumb in the kitchen.
The juice, rum and bitters were added one splosh at a time. Every now and then she would sample the punch and bite her lip and ask him what he thought it needed. He made suggestions and they tweaked the ingredients. Eventually she was happy with the mix, and he thought it the best cocktail he’d ever tasted in his life.
‘You sure it doesn’t need more syrup?’
‘It’s perfect. Just like you,’ he said.
She grinned back at him and he felt fifty feet tall.
Alex’s family were impressed when they walked into the sun room with their big batch of afternoon punch and rum cake.
‘Darling, you made this?’ gasped Jessica, her gold bangles clinking delightfully as she gestured at their bounty. He didn’t think his mother could have been any more impressed if he’d walked in with a freshly caught shark.
‘The cake sank a bit in the middle,’ he grumbled. It had been his fault. He’d opened the oven door to check on it, and all of the heat had escaped, causing the cake to flop.
‘Only a tiny bit, it’s barely noticeable,’ said Ellie, as she placed the jug of punch down beside the tray of glasses and cake he’d brought in.
Richie looked up from his phone as they entered, but quickly returned to it with an unimpressed frown. He was always on his phone. Alex was glad he and Ellie had put theirs away. He found life easier without any social media or emails distracting him. The pressures of the real world disappeared when he wasn’t being confronted by them constantly.
Ellie had timed the late-afternoon break well. Savannah and Liam were slumped on the sofa looking defeated. Savannah’s eyes were red and hollow, as if she were on the verge of tears, but they brightened a little when she saw the afternoon treats. ‘Oh, that’s so kind of you guys. I could do with a drink after the news we’ve had.’
‘What happened?’ asked Ellie, pouring drinks.
Savannah gave a shake of her head and tucked her head closer to Liam’s chest, leaving him to answer. ‘It looks like the flowers have gotten lost in transit. I’ve chartered a boat to bring them here as soon as they find them, and our wedding planners are on the case. Don’t worry, honey, it’s going to be fine.’
Ellie cut a generous slice of cake and handed it to Savannah. ‘I’m sure they’ll arrive in time. Flowers are not easy to lose. They’ll soon turn up.’
Savannah’s bottom lip trembled, but she took a deep breath as if to steady herself. ‘Yeah, you’re probably right.’
Dinner was a little sombre after that, and he couldn’t help but wonder what other disasters might befall the Kings between now and the wedding.
Chapter Twenty-Six
The night before the wedding, dinner was served in the formal dining room. A few magnums of Dom Pérignon chilled in a giant gold champagne bath in the corner of the room. The chandeliers sparkled overhead, but in contrast everyone was dressed casually. Alex wore a battered pair of denim shorts and a Hawaiian shirt; Ellie wore white linen trousers and a floral halter-neck. Everyone else was dressed in similar laid-back tropical style, just as Alex had reassured her they would be, putting her nerves to rest.
Well, at least until his dad took one look at her and said, ‘Ellie, you’re looking a little overdressed this evening.’
Raucous hoots of laughter erupted in the room, and, even though her face was in flames, she forced herself to face it – albeit with a grimace. ‘Yes, and hopefully I’ll stay that way.’
‘Spoilsport,’ replied Robert with a grin, causing more chuckles around the room.
‘To be fair, your backflip was pretty impressive. I don’t know if you could recreate that even if you tried,’ said Savannah cheerfully as they all took their seats. Robert and Liam began pouring the champagne and handing it around.
‘We thought we’d have a simple supper tonight before the festivities tomorrow. Something light and delicious to prepare our stomachs for tomorrow,’ Jessica said as they took their seats.
Ellie had to hide her smile behind her crystal flute. Alex’s family were so extra, she doubted they could ever manage asimplesupper. Alex gave her a subtle wink while he sipped from his own glass, and a moment of understanding passed between them. It was nice that he finally seemed to understand his privilege, and, rather than be embarrassed or ashamed, henow accepted it for what it was. She wondered if it was her influence, but she suspected he would have realised it on his own eventually. He was a good man.
