Page 22 of Say Hello, Kiss Goodbye

“Rupert seems…” Lost in thought, the tip of her tongue slid across her bottom lip. “Distracted.”

Like I am now? He followed the slow flick of her tongue. Leia, Leia, Leia. A slight sigh escaped from his throat, just loud enough that a ghost of a smile flirted with Leia’s cheeks. She caught that?

“Are you close to your brothers?” Her eyes swayed from the phone to Tarquin and back again.

“I am, yeah, but in different ways. Nico and I both love travel and restaurants, meeting new people. He works for the BBC in New York. Rupert is more…earthy. He’s most at home in his Hunter wellies, herding sheep and milking cows. I share a love of the outdoors with Rupes.” Tarquin chuckled at the photo. “You’re right—he is distracted here. I bet he was pining after the macarons on the catering table.”

“Oh, I love macarons!” Leia closed her eyes and swooned. “Especially raspberry ones. They taste like heaven.”

“I don’t think Rupes tasted heaven or anything else. Those macarons barely touched the sides.” Tarquin chuckled. “Look at him, the skinny git. I’d kill for his metabolism.” He scrolled to the next image, the three Balfour boys wearing white breeches and blue polo shirts inside a luxurious horse stable with two floors, stalls as far as the eye could see, and a majestic cathedral ceiling.

“Holy—!” A mischievous snicker poked through Leia’s words. “The horses have chandeliers?! Their stables are nicer than my apartment.” She scooted closer, her bare arm grazing his sleeve as she enlarged the image. “Your eyes look a bit teary in this one.”

“Yeah, I’m allergic to horses.” Tarquin grimaced. “Mum was adamant we pose in there, all of us in daft polo gear.”

“Aw, you look mortified…but cute.” Her shoulder collided with Tarquin’s and refused to leave. “I bet you broke a lot of hearts growing up.” She met his gaze with a coquettish grin.

She’s practically in my lap. Not that I mind! Her close warmth and the flowery scent of her perfume sent his pulse on a sprint. She smells like summer and swimming and happy memories. He pressed closer, inhaling. “Hey, what can I say? Girls liked me.”

“I can’t imagine why,” she teased, her eyes bright and lingering.

Come closer and I’ll show you. Tarquin swallowed, a shiver tingling down his spine as his eyes hovered over her lips. Or help yourself. Make a move and my mouth is yours, Ginger. “I bet you were a heartbreaker, too, Leia Scott.”

She smiled and glanced back at the phone. “So, Mr. Popularity, how old are you here?”

Ah, okay. She likes to take it slow. That’s fine. Some things deserve to be savored. Tarquin tilted in, angling toward the photos. “Fifteen, I think? I was all about skateboarding, hanging with my best mate Harry, and well, girls.” Skateboarding aside, not much has changed.

A slow grin met her cheeks. She picked up her drink and took a long sip of the orangey lemonade.

Tarquin couldn’t look away. My god, those lips… they could unravel me.

“Where was this, anyway?” Leia hovered over the edge of her glass. “Did you break into Downton Abbey for the day?”

Should I lie and say yes? He inhaled and slowly let the air leave his lungs, his body deflating into the bench. Ugh, she’s going to find out sooner or later. “That’s in Berkshire, our country house.” Quick, change the subject. “So, where did you—”

“Wait! House? It looks like a castle!” Wide-eyed, she let out a strangled giggle. “So…I guess your family has more than one home, then? If this estate is the country one…”

Okay, here we go. Here’s where her interest skyrockets for all the wrong reasons. Tarquin’s heart flinched. Might as well get it over with. Skirting her gaze, he rubbed the back of his neck. “Uh…yeah. My family owns several in the UK…and one in France.” He met her open-mouthed stare. Fuck, there’s the usual reaction. Her eyebrows can’t climb any higher. Won’t mention the villa in Greece, then.

“Holy. Hell.” She fell back against the bench and let out a half-laugh. “Sorry, Sir Balfour, I didn’t know I had to curtsey.”

“I’ll let you off this time.” Tarquin forced out a chuckle. Like there’s going to be a next time. Dammit, I didn’t think she was the gold-digging type. Lowering his head, he stared at the phone screen. Brace yourself—you know she’s going to ask. They always ask: What car do you drive? Which do you prefer, shopping in Knightsbridge or New Bond Street? Cristal or Moët?

“Where’s your dad?” Leia peered at the phone. “He’s missing from the photos.”

Oh? I didn’t expect that. Her change of subject coaxed a cautious smile back to Tarquin’s face. “A business trip, lucky bastard.” He flicked the screen, rolling to another photo of his family in bathing suits lounging poolside on daybeds—indoors. The swimmers’ paradise boasted intricate mosaic tiles, stone pillars, and floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking an expanse of green lawn. A majestic waterfall, adorned with tropical flowering plants, bubbled in the room’s far corner.

Wide-eyed, Leia’s head drew back, a barely audible “Wow” slipping from her lips.

“But little good it would’ve done if Dad had been there. Mum was the one in charge of family business. She still would’ve pulled us out of school and made us wear ridiculous clothes.”

Leia did a double take between Tarquin and the pool of dreams. “But at least you’re wearing board shorts. It could’ve been a lot worse.”

“Speedos?!” He met her eyes and cringed. “God, yeah. I’d never live that down.” Returning to the photo, he gently shook his head. “I missed an important Latin exam that day, but Mum didn’t care. Her career always came first. Dad knew it. We all did. We were just the supporting cast.”

“Nikolai, Rupert, and Tarquin Balfour.” Leia shifted forward, leaving his side and returning her glass to the table. “Well, those are dramatic names!”

“It gets worse. Our full names are Nikolai Crispin, Rupert Magnus, and Tarquin Octavius.”