‘Perhaps you’d better leave us for a moment.’ Ryan dropped his car keys on the table, but Lexi shook her head and plopped onto a chair by the kitchen table.

‘No way. I’m fed up with being the last person to know stuff around here. If you want to get rid of me you’ll have to kick me out, and that will be child abuse.’

A smile flickered at the corners of Ryan’s mouth. ‘Presumably that wouldn’t be a good start to our relationship.’

Lexi looked at him thoughtfully. ‘You’ve got a thing for my mum, haven’t you?’

Ryan winced, and Jenna came to her senses. ‘Lexi!’

‘It’s too late for discipline. I’m already full of crisps.’ Lexi folded her arms. ‘It would be great if someone around here would give me a straight answer for once. I know you like my mum, so there’s no point in denying it.’

‘That isn’t quite how I’d describe it,’ Ryan said carefully, and Jenna felt the pulse beat in her throat.

Lexi didn’t pause. ‘What words would you use?’

‘I love your mum.’ Ryan spoke the words calmly, with no hint of apology or question. ‘I love her very much. But I realise that the situation is complicated.’

‘What’s complicated about it? She’s divorced, and you—’ Lexi frowned. ‘Are you married or something?’

‘No. I was in the past.’

‘So, basically, you’re free and single?’ Lexi grinned cheekily. ‘I missed out the “young” bit, did you notice?’

‘I noticed. Remind me to punish you later.’ A sardonic smile on his face, Ryan sat down at the table. ‘I’m not sure what order to do this in. If you want to be part of a family that already exists, do you propose to the woman or the daughter?’

‘Don’t waste your time proposing to me,’ Lexi said casually. ‘You may be hot, but you’re way too old for me. How old are you?’

‘Thirty-six.’

Lexi shuddered. ‘You’d go and die, or something, while I was still in my prime. Mind you, that has its advantages. Are you rich?’

‘Lexi!’ Jenna finally found her voice. ‘You can’t—’

‘Actually, I am pretty rich. Why does that matter?’ Ryan’s long fingers toyed with his keys. ‘Are you open to bribery and corruption?’

‘Of course. I’m a teenager. The art of negotiation is an important life skill.’ Lexi grabbed a grape from the fruit bowl and popped it in her mouth. ‘So how big a bribe are we talking about? If I let you marry my mum you’ll buy me a pink Porsche?’

Ryan grimaced. ‘Not pink. Please not pink.’

Glancing between the two of them in disbelief, Jenna shook her head. ‘Can we have a proper conversation?’

‘We are having a proper conversation.’ Lexi looked at Ryan speculatively. ‘What music do you like?’

‘I have eclectic tastes.’