to take her to the prom.
Except Leo was no normal date and her nerves did not stem from eager excitement.
She saw his car when it had almost come to a stop outside the house and she hurriedly flew back from the window and then waited until she heard the buzz of the doorbell.
She had dressed in defiant combat mode—literally. A pair of combat trousers, a green long-sleeved thermal vest, over which she had on her warmest army-green jumper, trainers and her waterproof coat with its very sensible furry hood.
She pulled open the door and, for a second, the breath caught in her throat as she stared up at him.
It was freezing. Sleet was falling, the skies the colour of lead. Yet, for all the discomfort of the weather, Leo still managed to look expensive, elegant and sexy in black jeans, a black jumper and a tan trench coat.
‘You’re not wearing the engagement ring’ was the first thing he said.
‘I didn’t think there was any need to stick it on just yet.’
‘Every need. The loving couple wants to advertise their love, not hide it away like a shameful secret. Where is it?’
‘It’s in my bag.’
‘Then I suggest you fetch it out and put it on. And there’s something else.’ He eyed her outfit. ‘I’m under strict orders not to tell you this, but there’s a little surprise reception waiting for us when we get to my father’s house.’
Sammy, in the act of rustling through her backpack to locate the box with the engagement ring, froze. ‘Surprise reception?’
‘My father’s idea. You know he’s inclined towards sentimentality.’
‘This is a fake engagement, Leo! It’s going to last until Adele is over here and then there’s going to be a fake break-up!’
‘Believe me, I told him that, but he said the whole thing wouldn’t sit right without some kind of celebration marking the big event. He’s got a point. Over the years, he hasn’t exactly been reticent when it’s come to voicing his desire to see me married off. After our last conversation, he confessed that he’s done a bit of complaining to his cronies at the bowling club and the gardening club and all those other clubs he’s joined, that he’d like nothing more than to have a wonderful daughter-in-law. Apparently, it’s what my mother would have wanted. It seems he had chatty conversations with her every so often and she told him that she was keen to see me settle down. I have no doubt that that little titbit has also been discussed over fertiliser tips for the roses. It would seem odd if his dearest wish were to come to pass and he kept it to himself,’ Leo told her flatly. ‘His friends would be mortally offended and, worse, some might suspect that he was making the whole thing up.’ He glanced across at her. ‘And, like I said, there can be no room for speculation about this.’
‘It just doesn’t seem right, Leo.’
Leo clicked his tongue impatiently. ‘We wouldn’t be doing this if Gail weren’t so patently unfit to be in charge of the child.’
‘You should stop calling her the child. It makes you seem cold and unfeeling.’
‘We’re getting off-topic,’ Leo drawled. He held up a bag, which she hadn’t noticed him holding, and dangled it in front of her. ‘Little present here for you.’
‘Huh?’
‘Outfit for the engagement party you don’t know about. I thought a dress might suit the occasion a little more than jeans and a jumper, which I somehow knew you’d greet me in. Little did I know that you would go one step further and dress for all-out war. And don’t argue with me on this one, Sammy. Put it on and let’s get going.’
Sammy bristled but he wasn’t going to budge and she snatched the bag from him. Pink, with fancy black lettering, clearly designer. Clearly the sort of thing he liked seeing women in, which would be just the sort of thing she wouldn’t want to wear. ‘Bossy,’ she muttered, heading inside.
‘And another small point.’ He stayed her. ‘We’re supposed to be engaged. People who are engaged are generally happy and pleased to be in one another’s company. Sniping and snarling is going to have to stop. Do I make myself clear?’
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