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His expression is one of mischief and delight.
“Look, I’m happy for you both,” he says, shrugging. “Mum will be even happier when she finds out you’ve brought Leah here.”
I groan, and Leah rests a hand on my shoulder. “It’s okay,” she whispers, close to my ear. “The cat is out of the bag,” she says more loudly.
I lean behind me, wrapping my arm around her waist and pulling her into my side, where she belongs.
Now, where were we?
Monaco seems like a distant memory. Our flight back to the UK was delayed, mainly due to my brother deciding to hitch a ride. My plans for our return flight and joining the mile-high club with Leah were scuppered.
I made the mistake of checking my inbox when we got home and spent the rest of the night answering emails. By the time I emerged from my home office, Leah had gone to bed. Her own. I didn’t think I’d miss her curled up next to me after only two nights, but I did.
Sitting at my desk, I can only think about how yesterday we were lounging in the sun on the open sea, swimming, enjoying each other’s bodies. Now we’re in the office, not touching, watching her walk around in her ultra-professional suits, hair scraped up in a chignon. All I want to do is pull out the clip, wrap her hair around my hand before pushing her down on my desk, and do exactly what was in her romance novel.
“Gabriel, darling.” I snap out of my daydream as my mother appears at my office door.
“Mum, what are you doing here?” I ask, jumping up and ushering her in, shutting the door firmly behind her.
“Can’t a mother come and visit her son?”
“You’ve managed not to for the past eight years,” I say, only to have her tut at me.
“That was because you told me not to and before you started dating Leah,” she says, taking an uninvited seat. “Speaking of Leah, I heard you two had a lovely weekend in Monaco.”
I’m seriously going to kill Caleb when I see him.
I return to my desk, counting slowly to ten. “Mum, Leah and I have not gone public with our relationship. You can’t just swan in here. Leah is professional. I’m a professional.”
Mum just looks at me and gives me her gentle, understanding and totally condescending look. “So, like your father,” she sighs, making my heart clench. “He protected me in the office too. Don’t worry. Your secret is safe with me. I’m not going to say a word. I was popping by to see if Leah wanted to go for lunch.”
I sink back into my chair and stare at my mother. “Mum, don’t you think Leah leaving with you for a lunch date is going to raise a few questions?”
My mum wrinkles her nose. “You may be right. However, I wanted to see if Leah could assist with the Frazer Foundation. She is, after all, a first-class communications officer.”
I groan and run a hand down my face. “Leah works for me, mother.”
“I know, dear. But she might be interested. She is, after all, practically family.”
“Mum, we’ve only been dating a couple of months,” I say, my eyes wide. Mother is taking my relationship to a whole new level. I need to get rid of her before she does or says something else. “Why don’t you join us for dinner tonight,” I say.
“Wonderful,” she says, clapping her hands. “What time?”
I knock on Leah’s office door.
“Hey.” She looks up and smiles. “Was that your mother I just saw?”
“It was,” I say, my tone making her laugh. “She wanted to invite you to lunch.”
Her eyes widen and flick to the door. “It’s okay. I invited her over for dinner tonight instead.”
“Oh, okay,” Leah looks surprised.
“I know I told you I hardly saw my family.”
I sigh, sinking down into the chair opposite her desk.
I look up to find Leah biting her lip, trying not to laugh.
