‘I thought I was your boyfriend,’ he said, laughing at how quickly Lara had got flushed and silly with the wine.
‘Right. Otherwise known as a guaranteed hook-up.’
Jannes rolled his eyes. ‘You’re so romantic.’
‘You’re not with me for hearts and flowers. I don’t really go in for that.’
‘Oh, really?’ He regarded her carefully, trying to keep his expression neutral. ‘What am I with you for?’
‘The wild sex and Instagram freebies.’
He felt his face warm and knew it must be flushing red. His only hope was that he had caught enough sun this summer that his tan would hide it a little.
‘I’ve embarrassed you!’ Lara said with a small squeal of delight and smacked a kiss on his cheek. ‘That’s adorable.’
‘Don’t call me adorable. You’re insufferable.’
‘I never said today was going to be easy.’
‘You never told me that you were going to be the hardest part.’ But he smiled, because even when she was being insufferable he had more fun with her than he knew how to have with anyone else.
‘Sorry,’ Lara said with a smile and a gulp of wine that suggested she wasn’t, in the least.
‘Here,’ he said, handing her a glass of water, condensation beading the glass.
‘Spoilsport,’ she said with a frown. ‘Some wingman you are.’
‘I’m not slowing you down, sötnos. But you’ll thank me for the hydration in the morning.’
‘Fine.’ She drank half the glass in one go, and he found himself unreasonably intrigued by the line of her neck as she tipped her head back to drink. ‘And don’t speak Swedish to me. You know I think you’re cute when you do that.’
As she handed back the glass, cheers and applause rippled through the garden and he turned to see Pip and her husband in the doorway, fresh from having their photos taken and ready to party with their guests.
Pip made a beeline for Lara and wrapped her in a tight hug. He saw how Lara stiffened in the presence of her half-sister, and he slid his arm around her waist and squeezed gently, making sure Lara knew he was there for her if she needed him. He leaned in to kiss Pip on the cheek too—they had met a couple of times—and shook hands with the groom.
‘Congratulations,’ he said, covering for Lara’s awkward silence. ‘It was a lovely ceremony.’
‘It was short,’ Pip said with a laugh. ‘I’m impatient, and it makes you popular with the guests. And we’re not the only ones who need congratulating. It looks like you two have news for us too!’ She looked pointedly at where Jannes’s arm was still resting on Lara’s hip. ‘I always said there was something between you two. I’m glad you finally worked it out. We all wondered how long it would take you.’
‘All?’ Lara said, hiding a laugh. ‘You should have said something. Maybe it wouldn’t have taken us so long.’ Jannes resisted the urge to roll his eyes. Lara couldn’t resist the opportunity to tease, even when no one but the two of them were in on the joke.
‘We’re keeping you from your guests,’ Jannes said tactfully as the conversation petered out and a crowd gathered around Pip and her new husband. ‘I don’t want to be accused of monopolising you.’
‘You’re right, but I’m going to want to hear all about it later,’ Pip said with another hug for her sister. ‘You guys look great together,’ she said. Adding, ‘Look after her. She’s special,’ with a mock stern look at Jannes before she turned away from the crush of well-wishers.
Jannes looked down at Lara and saw that the hand holding her wine was shaking slightly. Her shoulders were set in a stiff line, and the smile on her face was threatening to slide into a grimace.
‘Hey,’ Jannes said, turning Lara’s face up to his and then wrapping her in a hug. ‘You did well. Really well. Pip was so happy to see you here.’ He held her tighter still, until he felt the shaking stop. ‘Better?’ he asked, looking down at the top of her head. Her forehead was pressed against his chest and, before he could think too hard about it, he dropped a kiss to her hair and brought up one hand to cup the nape of her neck.
He wasn’t even sure that this was what she had meant, when she’d asked him to pretend to be her boyfriend. That was meant to be for show. To satisfy the curiosity of her family. But holding her like this—this wasn’t for show. This was because she needed him, and when it came to Lara he didn’t know how to say no to her. And now that the usual boundaries between them had been bulldozed by that kiss, here they were, in the middle of a family wedding, with her head on his chest and his fingers in her hair, learning the texture of it, the feel of it slipping through his fingers as she took a long shuddering breath.
When she looked up the strain had gone from her expression. Instead there was something there he recognised from that day in the park, right before they’d kissed. His hand was still tangled in her hair, hers still rested lightly on his hips. Looking into her eyes, he could see that she was thinking about it too, and when her tongue darted out to moisten parted lips he knew she was tempted. Or she was acting, playing a part. He was here to play a part too, and he leaned down to brush a gentle kiss to her lips.
‘Lara!’
She broke away at the sound of her name and Jannes looked up to see Pip’s mother and her new partner brandishing a bottle of champagne and a handful of glasses.
‘We’re so thrilled you’re here,’ Gloria, Pip’s mother, said, kissing Lara on both cheeks and then leaning back to get a good look at her. ‘You’re looking incredible,’ she said, and then glanced up at Jannes. ‘And you must be Jannes. I’ve heard so much about you. Thank you for coming.’