‘This,’ he said, turning to face her, ‘is not what it looks like.’
‘Lil...Lil...’ The slurred voice trailed away as the redhead flopped down again.
‘She just appeared out of nowhere... She’s not sober.’
‘I can smell that.’ The initial stab of sheer visceral jealousy had receded, but the sight of Ben with her twin, wearing a dress that was a wardrobe malfunction waiting to happen, slung over his shoulder remained an image that did not fill her with joy.
‘I didn’t have a clue what to do with her so...’
‘You brought her home.’
‘Not really a plan, more...desperation,’ he admitted and took a deep breath. ‘I should probably tell you—your sister kissed me, and it was filmed.’
‘Did you enjoy it?’
He shuddered. ‘I did not!’
‘Hey! I’m a very, verrry good kisser.’ The slurs returned to snores.
Ben rolled his eyes, his mouth twisting in a moue of distaste. ‘She’s totally off her head.’
‘You did the right thing,’ Lily said nobly as her sister lifted her head and slurred again.
‘Congratulations...can I be best man...no, maid of honour...?’ Her head dropped and a moment later there was another gentle but audible snore.
‘Do you suppose she needs a doctor?’ Lily asked worriedly.
‘What she needs is to sleep it off.’
Lily nodded towards the stairs. ‘I expect you’re right.’
She walked behind him as he carried Lara up the stairs, opening the door of the nearest guest bedroom when they reached the top.
Without hesitation Ben dropped his burden on the bed and heaved a relieved sigh. ‘Can you cope from here? I’ve had enough of your sister for one day.’
Lily nodded.
It took her half an hour to settle Lara safely. When she went back downstairs Ben was nursing a whisky.
‘I know it’s only twelve o’clock but I need it. Your sister is...’ He shuddered. ‘God, she’s a total nightmare!’
His obvious disgust made it easier to be generous and, anyway, Lily was genuinely worried about her twin. ‘Not really, she’s... I think she’s just very unhappy. There are things going on...marriage problems.’ Lily’s compassionate heart ached for her twin. She had no doubt that she would get the full story once Lara sobered up.
Ben was less sympathetic. ‘I’m not surprised! You’d need to be a saint to be married to her. The woman is unbalanced. I have no idea what her problem is and quite frankly I don’t want to.’
‘Do you think I should sit with her in case she wakes—?’
‘No, I do not.’ He put down his glass and moved closer, his gaze trained on her face. ‘Were you jealous?’
‘A little. She was always... I always felt invisible when Lara was around.’
‘Sibling rivalry?’
‘No. I didn’t compete. Lara was always better at everything.’
He reached out and touched her face, husking, ‘You’re worth a hundred of the Laras of this world.’
She smiled. ‘I was jealous for a second,’ she admitted. ‘When I saw you holding her. But then I saw your face.’ A small bubble of laughter escaped her lips.
‘Glad someone thinks it’s funny.’
A worried expression replaced Lily’s smile as she admitted, ‘I’m pretty sure her husband might not see the joke...’ From what she had seen of the man he was not the non-jealous type. ‘We could always tell people it was me?’
Ben shot her brilliant plan down in flames. ‘We will not.’
‘But what if Raoul comes here thinking—?’
‘I can look after myself,’ he interrupted, sounding amused.
‘And me...you have me, Ben. Me and Emmy. This has been and always will be a special time for me.’ Her voice thickened with emotion as she gulped. ‘I have some lovely memories, ones that I will treasure, but I can’t carry on stringing you along like this. You deserve more,’ she told him, tears standing out in her eyes as she looked up at him.
Ben stood there like a statue carved from stone, all expression wiped from his face. Had he left it too late?
‘You deserve the truth, the reason why I can’t marry you, why I never will.’
He moved then, lurching forward, his face locked in a grimace of anguish. ‘Is there someone else? That doctor...?’ His eyes narrowed as he recalled the young medic who had been sniffing around, being far too attentive.