“Will,” she called to his back. He stopped but didn’t turn around.

She ran past and stood in front of him, placing her hand on his chest. He seemed both hurt and frustrated and he wouldn’t look at her. She dropped her hand, dismayed.

“Oh Will, I’ve completely messed things up and it was the last thing I wanted to do. Jules and your mum, they love you. And yes, Jules was a cow to me, but it’s only out of love for you, I’m sure of it. And yes, I was cross with her—furious actually—but I think I understand her motivations now, even though I’m still not sure what to do about it. Anyway, that’s why your mum sought me out, because she knew that something wasn’t quite right, and all she said was that Jules was probably worried you’d get hurt like you did with your last serious girlfriend. That’s all. She didn’t want to say anything else, because it’s your story to tell, if you want to—and I agreed, so I didn’t press her. Your mum, I mean. Oh, bollocks, did any of that make sense?”

There was a long moment when Will didn’t speak, his face creased into a frown. Then the frown lessened, and he met her eyes.

“Yes, Iris, that all made perfect sense.”

A smile lifted the corners of Will’s mouth, and he seemed about to say something else when they heard, “Hey, you guys! I’ve been looking for you.”

They turned together and saw Briony jogging up to them. Lucy saw Will flick his wrist towards him and check the time. He’d said they would be an hour and it had been far less than that. When Briony reached them, Lucy realised there was panic in her eyes.

“It’s Bradley,” she said, out of breath. “This way.” Lucy glanced quickly at Will, seeing the concern on his face, before they followed Briony into the crowd.

Chapter 21

Chloe

“So, I won’t be too long, two or three hours at most,” said Archer as he packed up his leather satchel with essentials. “There’s the photo shoot first, then the interview, and they’ll drop me back here afterwards.”

“Cool,” said Chloe, standing on her tiptoes to give Archer a kiss goodbye. He gave her a smack on the lips and wrapped his arms around her waist as hers went around his neck.

He leant back, his arms still encircling her. “I am so pleased you came with me to London, and that you refused my offer of your own suite.” It was a polite way to refer to the fact that they’d not only shared a room, but a bed. Chloe’s mouth quirked at the memory of everything they’d done in that bed.

“Now, if you get hungry, order what you like from room service. And there’s a spa here, if you’d like to get a treatment, or something. Just charge it to the room. I should be back in time to take you to lunch before we go to Winter Wonderland. You’re still keen on that, yes?” His inquisitive half-frown was incredibly sexy.