‘No. A deal’s a deal.’ He held out his hand and she grabbed for it, shaking so hard, it nearly dislodged his shoulder. ‘You want to jump up and down, don’t you?’ He grinned.

‘Nope. I’m good,’ she replied, the lie obvious to his own ears.

‘You sure?’

‘Yup.’ This time she was biting her lip, the one that was trying really hard to pull into a smile from where her teeth anchored it in place.

‘I’m going to go before I have to agree to anything else,’ he said almost reluctantly. He was still smiling as she ushered him out of the door with promises that it would be the best wine tour ever. The bell tinkled as the door closed behind him and he looked out at the night sky above the harbour and sea beyond, taking a deep breath of cool hair.

And then nearly choked on the laugh that erupted in his chest as he heard the high-pitched squeal of glee coming from within the restaurant behind him.

‘You know I can hear you, right?’ he called through the glass.

‘Don’t care,’ she called back. ‘Yes!! Yes, yes, yes!!’

He could see the shadowy outline fist-pumping the air behind the curtains and for the first time he could remember, he returned to the Hawkesbury estate with laughter in his heart, feeling lighter than he had done in months.

CHAPTER FOUR

It’s on, ladies!! Lx

Thank God! Mx

AMAZING!! How? Zx

Did you have to offer him your firstborn? Blood sacrifice? Mx

No, just a wine tour. Lx

Really? That easy? Zx

Apparently so. Lx

Don’t question it, just do it! Bloody brilliant, Lils! Mx

I thought he’d cancelled all the bookings. Zx

So did I, but as Malie said, I’m not questioning it. Lx

Lily looked over the text exchange with Malie and Zoe again and for the first time in weeks, breathed a sigh of relief. It wouldn’t be long before Vihaan was back and she could focus almost exclusively on Victoria’s wedding.

She did a little dance in the living area of her flat. Clothes were tossed about on the bed that was tucked away in the corner of the living space, beneath the window that looked out over the harbour. The small kitchenette that had been part of the remodel was tucked under the eaves of the sloping roof and fit for the most basic of her needs. Anything else could be done downstairs.