“Jordan again?” Eric asked.
“He’s a little protective.”
“What does he want this time?”
By answer, she held up the phone to him, watched his face as he read the message.
“Stay safe?” he murmured. “What does he think I’m going to do?”
“Like I said, he’s protective.”
“Your big brother.”
She shrugged, letting that slide. She might have long regarded Jordan in that way, but the wedding had started her noticing other things. Like the fact that Jordan wasn’t just her friend anymore. He was her handsome friend. The one other ladies admired. And while she didn’t want to act jealous, she also didn’t want to ignore that things between them were changing. And not necessarily for the better.
She lifted her chin. “If it’s all the same with you, I’d rather not talk about him anymore.”
“Let me guess. You’d rather talk about how delicious this Italian food is.”
“It is pretty amazing.” Like, out-of-this-world amazing. She’d never been to Italy, but this was what she imagined authentic Italian food must taste like. Certainly not the packet spaghetti and homemade Bolognese sauce that she’d had nearly every week growing up in Wattle Vale. “I love seafood, and this is so good.”
Eric ate another tender piece of ravioli. “Mm. This reminds me of a trip I took to Tuscany. Very delicious.” He drank some wine. “Have you been?”
“To Tuscany? No.”
“Italy?” he prompted, amusement in his eyes.
Her cheeks flushed. “Nor there, either. I am hoping to visit my sister in England in the not-too-distant future.”
“Where is she?”
She spent the next little while describing Olivia’s new life working at a Grade II listed manor house in England’s Cotswold region. Well, right next door to it, anyway. On the southernmost tip of Worcestershire.
He took another sip of wine. “She sounds just as industrious as you.”
“I think we’ve all got that gene. Except for my youngest sister, Katie. I still don’t think she knows what she wants to do with her life.” Which reminded EJ—she really needed to check in with her family and make sure they were all okay.
“What is Katie doing?” he asked.
She told him about Katie’s studies in history, marvelling at the fact that someone like him could be interested in the ordinary family details of her own life. EJ and her family were boring. He was not. His life was splashed across tabloids around the world, reported on in documentaries. So the fact he took an interest in her family softened her heart yet more.
Her phone buzzed again. She turned it over, catching a glimpse of Elinor’s name, which made her pause. “Sorry. I hate that we keep getting interrupted.”
“I’m okay if you wish to answer it.”
“It’s my sister. I’ll just check the message, if that’s all right.”
“Be my guest.”
See? She bet Jordan didn’t realise how gracious Eric could be. He’d been nothing but accommodating.
She hastily read Elinor’s message. “Jordan just invited us to a bonfire for your birthday at Highbury on the long weekend.”
“What?”
“What is it?” Eric eyed her over the rim of his newly filled wineglass.
“The nerve of the man,” she muttered. Then sighed. “Sorry.”
