Page 46 of Pretender

It’s too hot now, and I wriggle my fingers to show him I want it back. I’m uncomfortable.

He lets go. My eyes flick up to his face that’s still very close, and I give him a tight-lipped smile. Grateful he understood. And also for him breaking the ice like that. It’s bloody hot in here suddenly and I’m sweating in my seat, but at least my stomach has calmed down.

Until I remember we have about five hours to go.

Aiden’s mum is the first person I see when I open the door of the Range Rover outside Brunswick Nurseries. Her bright pink dress and shiny, shoulder-length black hair make her stand out against the grey and glass greenhouse behind her.

She’s shorter than I imagined, or my heels are too high. And she’s apparently a hugger.

She squeezes me tightly, and when she pulls away, she studies my face and touches a lock of my hair while grinning madly.

“Finalmente,” she breathes, and it doesn’t take a linguist to understand what that means. “Since Aiden told me about you, lovely Linnea, I’ve been dying to meet you. I’m so happy you’re here.”

Oh wow. Aiden wasn’t exaggerating.

I put on my biggest smile that hopefully comes across as genuine. It is, but also full of nerves.

“I’m so happy to meet you, and for this wonderful occasion as well.”

“Made even better now.”

Yikes, there are tears in her eyes.

She hugs me again before she moves on to her son and gives him a kiss on both cheeks. He wraps his arms around her small body. How such a tiny woman gave birth to this broad-shouldered giant I will never understand.

“Hello,” a man’s voice sounds next to me, and I turn to see a greying man with kind eyes and a sweet, lopsided smile. “I’m Will. You must be Linnea,” he says, reaching out a hand.

“Lovely to meet you. And congratulations,” I say, gesturing towards Amara with my free hand. Or where Amara was a second ago, she’s now off hugging Mark and Rey. Will laughs, his eyes following his wife-to-be. His gaze is soft and full of affection, and I find I’m smiling too as I hear her whooping with delight, holding Rey’s ring-hand.

Aiden shows up at my side. “Will, you’ve outdone yourself. This place is amazing.” He gestures towards the building to our side. I’ve not seen it yet because Aiden’s too broad, blocking my view. “I wish you would’ve let me chip in.”

“I can’t let you do that,” Will says, taking the hand that Aiden has stretched out and they exchange the classic man-pat, half-hug. “But thank you for offering.”

Aiden gives him an extra squeeze at the end. “Congrats, Will. And thank you. I’m thrilled Mum has you.” Will hugs him back and I can’t hear his response, but his eyes are tearing up and I’ve known the man all of one minute and the reaction makes my throat constrict. He’s just so sweet.

We exchange a few more pleasantries with Will before Aiden’s hand finds my lower back and I let him steer me to the restaurant.

“Wow,” I whisper as we enter. There are plants everywhere. It’s an actual greenhouse, but with a myriad of crystal chandeliers of all shapes and sizes in between trailing philodendrons and hanging ferns.

Aiden puts a finger under my chin. “You’ll catch flies,” he says and I hear the smirk in his voice. I grab his hand away from my chin, still mesmerised by the decor.

“This place is stunning.”

The opposite wall is made of pink-stained wood and covered with small mirrors. They’re all tilted, reflecting the festoon lights and chandeliers above, making the wall sparkle.

The table stretching down the middle of the greenhouse is longer than I expected for an engagement party, but I guess Amara has a lot of friends. She seems like the type who attracts people and keeps them. She’s laughing with someone and while I’m entirely absorbed in that loud, glorious sound that seems to come directly from her soul, a soft hand touches my upper arm and I turn.

“Linnea, Aiden,” Lady Venetia Beauchamp says, nodding at both of us before her glance flits down. For the second time today, I’m holding Aiden’s hand without thinking. Have I been holding it ever since I grabbed it away from my chin earlier? I do my best to hide the surprise and instead of letting go, now that we’ve got Lady Beauchamp’s attention, I thread my fingers through his. It is so strange that this doesn’t bother me. Why was I always so opposed to holding hands with Henry?

“Good evening, Venetia, you look wonderful,” Aiden says, dipping down and planting a kiss on her cheek, but not letting go of me. The calming sensation of being safe in his grip fights the less calming notion of him holding my hand.

“So lovely to see you, Lady Beauchamp,” I say, allowing the atmosphere to win me over so I can give her a genuine smile. The Lady’s eyebrows lift, before she beams back at me.

“Please call me Venetia, darling.” She touches my forearm and kisses the air next to my cheek.

Aiden steps closer to me, his shoulder against mine, and he squeezes my hand. It makes me lift my gaze to him, and he looks down at me at the same time. The expression on his face is so real. As if he’s genuinely joyful standing here. He’s a great actor.

“I’m so happy you found someone, Aiden,” Venetia says. “You’re a lovely boy, always were. Linnea, you’ve got yourself a good one.”