‘Don’t be teasing her now, Jayden,’ she warns me jovially.
Oh Sasha, I’m going to spend all night teasing your sister. If only I could steal her away from here.
If Chloe’s pinched thighs are anything to go by, she feels exactly the same.
Sasha flops into the velvet armchair opposite and continues to pry. ‘So, what’s his name?’
‘Okay, okay.’ Chloe lifts her arms up in resignation. ‘It’s Pedro.’
‘Pedro?’ Sasha and I shriek in unison.
‘The pool boy!’ She winks at me. ‘He just loves my teeny-tiny bikinis. You wouldn’t believe the stuff he’s capable of, alfresco, under the sun. That man has no shame. He’s gotallthe equipment, if you know what I mean.’
Sasha removes a cushion from behind her back and chucks it unceremoniously at her sister. My future sister-in-law is growing on me by the day.
Chloe sniggers, slanting a sidewards glance in my direction.
Sasha’s undeterred. ‘So, does “Pedro” live in Dubai?’
‘He travels.’ Chloe squirms, all trace of amusement gone from her face. ‘That’s all you’re getting. I don’t want to talk about him anymore.’
Sasha points at me and for a split second, my heart plummets in my chest.
We’ve been busted.
‘Don’t let Jayden put you off. He’s heard worse, and I’m pretty sure he’s done worse. Besides… we’re practically family, right?’
Phew. I can’t bring myself to look at either of them for fear of laughing at the absurdity of it or crying at the injustice of the entire situation. Because the longer this fling with Chloe goes on, the more I want us to be a family. Just not quite the same way Sasha means.
Thankfully, Declan’s found a workaround that means I won’t have to marry Lula to save her from deportation after all. And that opens up a terrifying new possibility with Chloe.
‘I’m not saying another word, and especially not in front ofhim.’
‘Okay, okay, but this isn’t the end of this conversation,’ Sasha warns Chloe. ‘Tomorrow, in the spa. I want every single minute detail.’
‘We can’t do that to poor Victoria.’ Chloe’s blue eyes widen, feigning horror.
I shrug. ‘She’s off to college soon. We might as well start her education sooner rather than later.’
‘Don’t remind me.’ Sasha shakes her head.
I don’t mind Chloe sharing details with them, as long as one of those details isn’t my name. At least not until Declan amends Lula’s visa application.
By the time Ryan emerges from the studio, it’s late. I’ve had three glasses of wine and I’m absolutely exhausted from the stress of my meeting with Diamond Records, and from months of flying round the world.
Chloe excuses herself first, placing her empty wine glass on the coffee table beside her.
As she stands, she sways unsteadily in her four-inch stilettos. I can only assume the girls started early on the vino.
‘Want me to walk you to your room?’ I offer, catching her elbow as she wobbles.
‘Make sure you lock the door behind him. He’s an animal,’ Ryan calls over my shoulder.
‘Damn right. I’ll double lock it and bolt it to be sure,’ she sniggers.
Ryan snorts. ‘You know him well.’
‘Huh, you guys know better than anyone you shouldn’t believe everything you read in the tabloids.’
