Nothing New for Sophie Drew: a heart-warming romantic comedy, Katey Lovell [booksvooks .txt] 📗

his chest. “Riviera. We won an award the same night as Johnny did, and really hit it off. Think that’s how I got my invite, actually.”

“Congratulations.” Eve smiled, but I got the impression she didn’t make the connection that this was the eligible bachelor Tawna was trying to set her up with. “Do you travel much yourself?”

And then he was off, sharing the merits of the South of France, as though we were the type of people who could afford to gallivant around on a luxury yacht for the summer. I smiled politely, throwing in a few well-timed nods for good measure, but I’d already switched off, people-watching instead.

That’s when I noticed Max, looking animated as he talked to a man with his back to me. I was confused as to why he’d be at the event, because other than Johnny’s nearest and dearest, Tawna had led me to believe everyone invited was involved in the housing or leisure industries.

I excused myself from Eve and Stuart’s conversation and strode as confidently as I could in Max’s direction, walking straight past Darius and Johnny to get to his side.

For one horrifying moment I convinced myself he’d forgotten me altogether, but when a playful smile broke out on his face I found myself melting like Stuart had around Eve.

Thank you, Universe.

Although I was still aware of Darius’s presence in the room, the serendipitous meeting with Max set me alight from the inside.

“Sophie! It’s good to see you,” he said, pulling me in for an embrace before kissing both my cheeks. Not the pointless air kisses that everyone else seemed so fond of, but proper lip-plants where every one of his facial hairs bristled against my skin, setting free a swarm of tummy butterflies.

He introduced me to the guy he’d been talking to, who turned out to be his brother, Chris – invited because he works in housing like Johnny, but as a builder – and although I was paying attention, sort of, my focus remained on Max. The stubble on his chin was longer than it had been the last time I’d seen him, scruffier and rugged, but it suited him, and when he rubbed his hand over it I resisted the urge to reach out and touch it too. His eyes sparked behind his glasses as he picked up my gaze and I quickly diverted my eyes.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Sophie. Max has told us all about you,” Chris revealed.

Hearing that made me stupidly happy. He’d been talking to his family about me!

“All good, I hope.”

“All good,” Chris confirmed, but his eyes wandered beyond me. “I’ll catch up with you later, if that’s all right? There’s someone I really need to grab a word with over there.”

“Where are you sat for dinner?” Max asked, as I watched with interest as Chris tapped Darius on the shoulder. I guessed they knew each other through work. “I’ve not had a chance to look at the seating plan yet.”

He glanced at his watch, a steely silver band around his left wrist. The hands were showing it was eight o’clock. Tawna had mentioned food would be served at 8.15pm sharp.

“I’m next to Eve, but on a table with someone Tawna’s trying to set her up with. She can’t help herself when it comes to matchmaking.”

He laughed. “But she’s not tried to set you up?”

“I’m not on the lookout. And although the guy she’s trying to set Eve up with seems nice enough, he’s not my type.”

“What is your type?” There was a teasing lilt to his voice that suggested he was fishing for compliments.

“I don’t have one,” I replied, not biting on his line. “I’m looking for someone kind and thoughtful rather than a man with a certain look. I used to think I liked beefcake gym-addicts, but I’ve tried it and I’m not sure it’s for me.”

I silently hoped Max wasn’t the sort of man who lived in the scary bit of the gym with all the weight machines. He didn’t strike me as the type, but I didn’t know him well enough to be sure. Those biceps had to come from somewhere.

He bent down, his mouth near my ear, his breath warm on my skin as he spoke. “We should doctor the seating plan. Move it so our names are next to each other.” He moved away, giving a mischievous little nod. “Are you up for it?”

“Tawna would hit the roof.” I giggled. “She probably spent hours slaving over that seating plan.”

His eyes glinted again, testing me. “She’ll be too busy talking to all the important people to notice where we’re sat.”

“You’re probably right.”

Temptation ate me whole, the thought of sitting next to Max way more appealing than the prospect of making small talk with people who, other than Eve, I’d never see again in my life. Anyway, she was still talking to Stuart, the two of them engrossed in conversation. They were finding plenty to talk about even if there wasn’t going to be any romance between them. I doubted she’d even notice if I wasn’t sat next to her.

“So, what do you reckon? Should we do it?”

And before I had time to talk myself out of it, I stealthily swapped Max’s name with that of someone’s who I’m sure wasn’t on our table the last time I looked. Darius Welch.

Chapter 13

The food had, as expected, been mouth-wateringly good. The starters and mains had been deliciously spicy and flavoursome, but not hot enough to burn your mouth off, and the sweet pistachio Kulfi had rounded the meal off perfectly.

Max was ideal company, and we spent the evening making up wild stories about the other guests. The man to our right with the outlandish moustache was a ringmaster who’d broken with convention and run away from the circus. The Mayor made money on the side by posing as a life model for amateur artists. The woman Darius had been talking to earlier married her husband purely to stay in the