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He made a face, scratching at his neck. “Hard to say. We need to consider the pros and cons of each. Shouldn’t rush into a decision.”

I didn’t point out that he’d initially been insistent on holding it at the Blackgrass without even seeing any other venues. “Of course. Well, I can email over the full details for each—”

“Let’s just go over them now.”

I froze, stiffening up so I didn’t sag with disappointment. I knew how rude it would seem to check my watch, so instead I shot a quick glance at the big clock on the wall behind him. It was already five-thirty.

“Alright.” Glancing around, I spotted a café across the street through the big glass doors. “We could go and grab a coffee across the street while we consider the options.”

“I need to eat. I missed my three o’clock meal.” Well, that explained why he’d gotten so crabby around that time. He glanced at his watch and frowned. “We’re right near my office, so let’s just go there.”

I tensed up. “I’m sure the café across the street will sell food.”

He looked at me like I’d just suggested he rifle through a trashcan for his dinner. “I have to eat my meal. It was designed by my nutritionist and made by my personal chef. I can’t just eat fucking… pastries from a café.”

Okay, he got really crabby when he didn’t eat. I did too, so I tried not to get annoyed. “I see. Well then, why don’t we arrange a call for later in the week to go over the venues?”

Please say yes. I need a break from you.

He shook his head irritably. “I want to get this sorted today. I can’t waste any more time on it. And my schedule this week is going to be manic, seeing as I had to push back all the meetings I was meant to have this afternoon.”

I bristled when he shot me a pointed look. Excuse me? He’d been the one to demand we take a whole afternoon! He’d been the one to suggest Monday!

He’s the client. Let it go. Just let it go—

“You were the one who insisted we block out a whole afternoon to do it.”

He glared at me. “Yeah, well, that means we need to decide on it today. So why don’t we just go to my office for half an hour, go over all three venues, and come to a decision? Then it’s done. You can move on to whatever is next on your list.”

I struggled to keep my expression blank as I stared up at his stupid face. Even while hangry and irritable he looked annoyingly handsome.

He looked at his watch again. “Look, I really have to eat soon. Can you seriously not just spare another half hour to get this sorted? Do you have plans?”

Just going home and hate-masturbating furiously.

“Alright,” I said tightly. “That’s fine. I have half an hour.”

“Awesome.” He was already striding for the door. “I can’t be long, anyway. I’m already going to be late for the gym.”

“You didn’t go this morning?” I couldn’t help but ask. Maybe he’d still been in Paris with his “lady friend”.

“I did. I go every morning and most evenings.”

I side-eyed him as we headed for his car. Damn, he was possibly even more tightly wound than me, which was saying something.

Once we were in the car and he was pulling away from the kerb, I glanced at him and asked, “So you went yesterday morning?”

“To the gym? Yeah.”

My mouth twitched. “I see. Did your trip get cut short then?”

“Trip?” He frowned as he glanced in his sideview mirror.

“Your little weekend getaway to Paris,” I said lightly. “With your lady friend. That you mentioned on Saturday while you were rushing off for the airport. You had to cut your run short, remember?”

He went stiff, fingers clenching around the steering wheel. After a few seconds of hilariously agonising silence, he muttered, “I got the dates wrong. It’s next weekend.”

“Oh. Okay.” I chuckled. “I hope you didn’t make it all the way to the airport before you realised.”