Lizzie Marshall's Wedding by Emily Harvale Page B

‘you’ll be drinking at the restaurant. If you have any more on a practically empty stomach, it won’t just be your butterflies who think they’re at a rave.’
    ‘Okay,’ Jess said. ‘He’ll be here in about fifteen minutes so we’ll head off.’ She hugged Becky and grabbed the remaining wine. ‘And I’m taking this, just to be sure. Have fun. We’ll see you later, at the dance.’
    Susie hugged her too. ‘Calm down; you’ll have a great time.’
    ‘I’ll grab my coat and wait outside,’ Becky said. ‘I could use the air.’
    She put on her coat and waved her friends off then she waited by the door, holding her new shoes in her hands. She’d put on a pair of wellingtons as she didn’t want to get them ruined in the snow.
    She saw Max’s Range Rover pull up and she considered dashing back inside, in case it made her look too eager but she thought he might have seen her so she started to make her way down the path.
    He was clearly surprised to see her walking towards him when he got out.
    ‘Am I late?’
    ‘No. I just thought I’d save you the trouble of leading me up the garden path.’
    The remark wasn’t lost on him and he smiled. ‘I’m not completely sure who’s leading whom,’ he said, strolling round the car to meet her. ‘I’m glad to see you’re wearing sensible boots. At least I won’t have to carry you.’
    She reached the passenger door and he opened it for her. Their faces were just inches apart as she stepped forward to get in.
    ‘You look lovely,’ he said and then, ‘and you smell pretty good too.’
    ‘Thanks. It’s called “Seduction”.’ She held his eyes for a split second then lowered herself slowly onto the seat.
    He sucked in a deep breath. ‘It’s working.’
    They arrived at the Inn in a matter of minutes. Max had booked a table in the A La Carte restaurant and Becky was surprised to find it wasn’t just any table, it was the best table in the house; the secluded one in the corner beside the other inglenook.
    Becky excused herself and headed to the Ladies to change her footwear, remove her coat and to check that she still looked okay whilst Max headed towards the table. A few minutes later she was walking towards him.
    He was studying the wine list and talking to Trisha, who was laughing with him as though they had known one another for years.
    ‘We’ll have a bottle of ...’ he stopped mid sentence and his mouth fell open, his eyes full of admiration – and something more. He slowly rose from his seat, in a trancelike state and watched her approach.
    Becky felt herself blushing under the intensity of his gaze.
    Even Trisha looked stunned.
    ‘Hi Trisha, how are you?’ Becky avoided Max’s eyes.
    ‘I ... I’m fine thanks Becky. I hardly recognised you love. You look amazing!’
    The flush in her cheeks deepened. ‘Thanks. You look good too.’
    Trisha smiled then turned her eyes back to Max, who was still staring at Becky. ‘Sorry Max, what did you say you wanted?’
    He didn’t answer.
    Becky walked around Trisha and slid onto the padded velvet covered bench-seat. Max had taken the seat with its back to the restaurant leaving her the seat facing outwards.
    Trisha coughed. ‘Would you like me to come back in a few minutes?’
    Becky smiled at Max, glanced at Trisha then back to Max. ‘Whatever you want is fine with me,’ she said.
    She saw a look of what she thought was desire flash across his eyes and then he seemed to pull himself together.
    ‘A bottle of Bollinger, please Trisha.’ He handed her back the wine list, sat back down and resumed his appreciative appraisal of Becky. ‘Are you sure about that?’
    Becky was confused. ‘Am I sure about what?’
    ‘That whatever I want is fine with you – because, right now, all I want is you.’
    She didn’t know what to say. She cast her eyes down and fiddled with her fork. He was good at this, but then he should be. If any of the rumours about him were true, he had a lot of experience with