Because yeah, I know the horse has already bolted, we’re well inside the baby-making territory, but if I can get some reins on it, get an agreement drawn up, maybe I can get it back under control.
‘No fucking way.’ Theo’s head pops between our deck chairs like a bodiless puppet, and I jump out of my skin.
‘What the hell, Theo?’
But he’s not listening; his eyes are laser-focused on the same scene across the way.
‘Tell me what you see going on over there?’
Sadie and I burst out laughing and Theo glances between us, his scowl less than impressed.
‘I fail to see anything funny about this.’
‘When your wife just said the exact same thing as you, it’s bloody hilarious.’
‘So you do see what I see?’
‘If you mean, is one of our biggest investors making a pass at your mum, then the answer is most definitely yes.’
‘But she’s old enough to be his mum!’
I cock a brow. ‘Pot, meet kettle.’
Sadie chokes on her drink. ‘Theo’s not old enough to be my dad, Tay.’
Theo doesn’t even comment. He’s too busy glaring daggers across the firepit, shoulders knotting like he’s about to storm a boardroom. ‘Does he think gifting us the island for our wedding gives him a free pass at the Mother of the Groom? Who even does that?’
‘I don’t know, I think your mum’s quite enjoying his Tuscan charm,’ I tease.
‘What is he? Half-Italian or whole?’ Sadie murmurs, joining in my fun.
‘Half. And he certainly wears it well.’ I sip lazily through my straw. ‘I can totally see the appeal.’
‘I think I’m going to be sick,’ he mutters.
‘Chill out, Theo.’ I pat his arm with a smile. ‘It’s just some harmless fun…’
‘Harmless fun?’ he throws back at me, eyes wide. ‘Harmless fun is what Lottie and Sadie’sWe Riseladies are having over there, dancing barefoot in the sand.That?That is— No.’ He shakes his head, planting both palms on his knees and making to leave. ‘I’m breaking it up.’
‘No. You’re not.’ Sadie grips his shoulder and pushes him firmly back down. ‘One: she’s a grown woman. And two: look at her face, Theo – he’s making her happy.’
As if on cue, Granny Anna giggles, her laughter bubbling through the night air like champagne fizzing over. Her fingers lightly touch Sterling’s thigh, and Theo winces.
‘Oh God, she’s flirting,’ he groans into his hand. ‘My mother is actually flirting. There’s not enough therapy in the world to unsee this.’
‘Chill out, darling. If she starts to look uncomfortable, we’ll go rescue her,’ Sadie assures him. ‘But right now, she’s in her element and we should let her live a little. Besides, Sterling deserves to enjoy himself too… Gifting us his island for the most private and perfect wedding venue, it’s only fair he gets a romantic twist of his own.’
‘I really am going to be sick,’ he grumbles.
‘Relax,’ I murmur around my straw. ‘It’s not like he’s about to drizzle her in olive oil and call it foreplay.’
Sadie squeaks with laughter, and I let it roll free, revelling in a healthy dose of payback. He got it on with my little sister, after all; he can take some ribbing?—
‘Who’s rolling who in olive oil?’
Axel’s lazy drawl slides in behind me, and my whole body combusts, the joke slingshotting back with a force I can’t laugh off. The image of him oiling me up, of our bodies slipping and sliding and?—
‘Ha!’ Sadie seizes Theo’s arm and launches to her feet, snapping me out of fantasy land with a jolt. ‘I’ll let Tay explain that one while I take this one for a cleansing walk along the shore.’
