Page 70 of Kiss Me Like You Mean It

‘Princess, this is an important life skill and a safety issue. Come on, I’m going to show you how to do it right now.’

What followed had been the sort of competent, muscle-flexing scene that I was trying very hard to avoid, but by the end of it I’d successfully changed a tyre (in high heels) and I had to admit that was very satisfying.

Today, it’s too overcast to sit out in the garden, and Nico has spread a blanket over the floor in the inn’s dining room so that we can have an indoor picnic. I have absolutely no thoughts about that or how adorable it is. None.

‘So, did you manage to get that report sent off this morning?’ Nico asks.

‘Mmm,’ I nod, digging my fork into the enormous salad that Kat made, while Taco lies next to me, looking hopeful. ‘Which is good because there are a couple of jobs I’ve been asked to consult on that I really need to take. I might have to put in a few late nights,’ I add apologetically.

‘Oh, that’s a shame,’ Nico takes a sip of his coffee, ‘because I was going to ask you if you were up for dinner tonight?’

‘Like… a date?’ I ask tentatively. We haven’t talked any more about the whole fake-dating-as-a-married-couple thing, as it had been rather overshadowed by the kissing debacle.

‘No!’ he says quickly. Too quickly, some might say. ‘Not a date. I was thinking we could invite people over to our place for something to eat.’

Our place. I try not to shiver.

‘Tonight?’

‘Yeah, just Kat, Mei and Luke. We could order Chinese, open a bottle of wine once we’ve packed Phoebe off to bed. What do you think?’

‘I think that sounds really nice,’ I say, surprised to find I mean it.

Nico hesitates. ‘I got an email this morning from my dad’s lawyer,’ he says after a moment. ‘The trustee – his name is Charles Saunders – is flying out the day after tomorrow as planned. Apparently his intention is to stay for two weeks, which he feels will be enough time to build an accurate report.’ This last bit is said with a tinge of bitterness.

‘Oh!’ I blink. ‘Right, well, at least that’s some solid information. And two weeks, that’s not so bad, right?’

‘At least it means you can make your own plans,’ Nico says, looking down at the floor. ‘I know it’s all been really up in the air. You must have been feeling so out of control.’

That’s a complicated statement. It’s true, but not in the way he means… being around Nico makes me feel out of control. Being stuck in Roseport for an indeterminate length of time has felt… well, it’s felt lovely, actually. I realise with a sinking heart that this trip now has an expiry date.

‘On the fifth of November you get your life back,’ Nico says, and it seems like he is also struggling with exactly how to handle this. ‘If you want to check out flights home then obviously I’ll buy your ticket.’ He attempts a smile that doesn’t quite meet his eyes. ‘Can’t have my daughter showing me up in the chivalry department. It’s the least I can do.’

‘Sure,’ I murmur. ‘I’ll look into it. That’s… good news then.’

An awkward silence falls, and when I look over, Nico is glaring down at his untouched lunch. I expect finally hearing from the lawyer has put him in a bad mood. The whole process is going to be one long, awful reminder of his relationship with his father.

‘You can let Gran know when you’ll be back,’ he says finally. ‘I know you’ve been worrying about her.’

That’s true. I even texted Jack and asked if he’d check in with her more while I’m away, because presumably she’ll share more information with the grandchild she’s actually speaking to. He assumed I was on a business trip and I didn’t correct him.

Now, I make a noncommittal sound in my throat, and Nico’s gaze sharpens.

‘You keep doing that whenever I bring her up. Are you going to tell me what’s going on with you two?’

I hesitate, but actually the fight between Gran and me has been slowly eating away at me, and Nico is one of the only people in the world who really understands our relationship.

‘We had an argument,’ I admit. ‘Right before I came here, and we haven’t exactly spoken since.’

A worried frown crosses his face. ‘Was it about our situation?’

‘No, I didn’t tell her about it. I wasn’t sure you’d want her to know. She thinks I’m in the States for work.’

‘I don’t mind if you talk to her about this,’ he says gently. ‘I know the two of you don’t keep things from each other.’

‘I have no idea how I’d tell her right now. We’ve never gone this long without talking before.’

‘What happened?’