they can be near me over that long weekend. So that we can spend some time together... And my father—sorry—wants to see St Sylve. My family are wine-oholics. They’ve asked me to keep my ears open for a place to rent that will fit the entire family. Including Grandma,’ Jess continued.
‘You won’t find a place to rent at such late notice. They are usually booked quite far in advance,’ Luke told her as he drained the pasta.
‘I know.’ Jess looked glum.
Luke stared at her for a long minute and Jess frowned. ‘What?’
‘Being with your family is important to you, isn’t it?’
‘Yes. Very. My brothers alternate Christmas with us and their wives’ families, so we’re never all together at Christmas. This weekend is one we’ve kept sacrosanct. We have to have a damn good excuse to miss it, and so far my mother is not buying mine.’
Jess saw the deep breath Luke pulled in.
‘Invite them to St Sylve.’
‘What?’
‘The manor house will sleep twelve adults upstairs and another two downstairs.’
What a perfect solution. She could have her family close and work when she could, or after they all went to sleep.
‘Eleven adults. Five kids under five. Is that a serious offer?’
‘It’s sitting empty,’ Luke pointed out as he dished up their supper.
Jess stared at the plate he’d put in front of her, her brain whirling. ‘I’ll only suggest it to them if we pay to hire it.’
Luke considered her words as he grated Parmesan cheese on top of her food. ‘I wish St Sylve was in a position to say no, but it’s not. I’ll do some research tomorrow and give you a daily rate.’
Jess bit her lip and wiggled in her chair in excitement. ‘Oh, I could just kiss you.’
‘Feel free,’ Luke quickly replied, and Jess blushed.
She would, but she suspected that would lead to more kissing.
And then her food would get cold and sticky and she was starving.
‘No?’ Luke filled up their wine glasses. ‘Damn. Well, then, let’s eat.’
SIX
The next day, Jess watched as Luke carelessly and confidently steered a hugely expensive superbike into the spot Sbu had designated and pulled off his helmet, sending a warm glance to the blonde giraffe sitting on the wall that separated the beach from the road. The sun was setting, the model had a bottle of St Sylve Merlot and two crystal glasses in her hand, and a sexy come-hither look on her very expensive face.
Jess ground her teeth. She knew she wasn’t acting...nobody was that good. Luke strode over to the model, cupped her neck and tipped her chin up with his thumb. Their kiss was way longer than necessary, and Jess was sure she’d have no molars left by the end of this shoot. Sbu eventually cut the scene and Luke lifted his head. He really could look as if he was enjoying this a lot less, Jess thought, glaring at him as he grinned down at the giraffe.
Jess shivered and wished she had a cup of coffee in her hands. She was cold, tired, and she wanted a hot bath and to curl up in her favourite pajamas. She wanted a chick-flick and popcorn, a romance novel and chocolate... She did not want to accompany Luke to a wine-tasting hosted by one of the most well-respected food critics in the country.
Maybe the giraffe could go with him?
Luke was not amused when she put the suggestion to him five minutes later.
‘I’d rather jump off Table Mountain than be forced to listen to her babydoll voice all night,’ Luke retorted. He tipped his head to one side. ‘What’s your problem? You’ve been like a bear with a sore head all day.’
‘I have not!’
‘Please—your expression could curdle milk,’ Luke said. ‘You haven’t been your normal bubbly self.’
You didn’t have to watch yourself kiss her, Jess told him silently, and wrinkled her nose. So this was what true jealousy felt like. Jess twisted her lips. She didn’t like it. It was so high school...
‘Are you—?’
‘I swear if you say it I’ll swat you,’ Jess warned him. ‘I am not
‘You won’t find a place to rent at such late notice. They are usually booked quite far in advance,’ Luke told her as he drained the pasta.
‘I know.’ Jess looked glum.
Luke stared at her for a long minute and Jess frowned. ‘What?’
‘Being with your family is important to you, isn’t it?’
‘Yes. Very. My brothers alternate Christmas with us and their wives’ families, so we’re never all together at Christmas. This weekend is one we’ve kept sacrosanct. We have to have a damn good excuse to miss it, and so far my mother is not buying mine.’
Jess saw the deep breath Luke pulled in.
‘Invite them to St Sylve.’
‘What?’
‘The manor house will sleep twelve adults upstairs and another two downstairs.’
What a perfect solution. She could have her family close and work when she could, or after they all went to sleep.
‘Eleven adults. Five kids under five. Is that a serious offer?’
‘It’s sitting empty,’ Luke pointed out as he dished up their supper.
Jess stared at the plate he’d put in front of her, her brain whirling. ‘I’ll only suggest it to them if we pay to hire it.’
Luke considered her words as he grated Parmesan cheese on top of her food. ‘I wish St Sylve was in a position to say no, but it’s not. I’ll do some research tomorrow and give you a daily rate.’
Jess bit her lip and wiggled in her chair in excitement. ‘Oh, I could just kiss you.’
‘Feel free,’ Luke quickly replied, and Jess blushed.
She would, but she suspected that would lead to more kissing.
And then her food would get cold and sticky and she was starving.
‘No?’ Luke filled up their wine glasses. ‘Damn. Well, then, let’s eat.’
SIX
The next day, Jess watched as Luke carelessly and confidently steered a hugely expensive superbike into the spot Sbu had designated and pulled off his helmet, sending a warm glance to the blonde giraffe sitting on the wall that separated the beach from the road. The sun was setting, the model had a bottle of St Sylve Merlot and two crystal glasses in her hand, and a sexy come-hither look on her very expensive face.
Jess ground her teeth. She knew she wasn’t acting...nobody was that good. Luke strode over to the model, cupped her neck and tipped her chin up with his thumb. Their kiss was way longer than necessary, and Jess was sure she’d have no molars left by the end of this shoot. Sbu eventually cut the scene and Luke lifted his head. He really could look as if he was enjoying this a lot less, Jess thought, glaring at him as he grinned down at the giraffe.
Jess shivered and wished she had a cup of coffee in her hands. She was cold, tired, and she wanted a hot bath and to curl up in her favourite pajamas. She wanted a chick-flick and popcorn, a romance novel and chocolate... She did not want to accompany Luke to a wine-tasting hosted by one of the most well-respected food critics in the country.
Maybe the giraffe could go with him?
Luke was not amused when she put the suggestion to him five minutes later.
‘I’d rather jump off Table Mountain than be forced to listen to her babydoll voice all night,’ Luke retorted. He tipped his head to one side. ‘What’s your problem? You’ve been like a bear with a sore head all day.’
‘I have not!’
‘Please—your expression could curdle milk,’ Luke said. ‘You haven’t been your normal bubbly self.’
You didn’t have to watch yourself kiss her, Jess told him silently, and wrinkled her nose. So this was what true jealousy felt like. Jess twisted her lips. She didn’t like it. It was so high school...
‘Are you—?’
‘I swear if you say it I’ll swat you,’ Jess warned him. ‘I am not
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