Best of Bosses 2008(69)

Fran gave him a truly wicked grin. ‘Can’t say no to, hmm?’

He kissed her. Thoroughly. And then called the local taxi firm. ‘While I still can,’ he said, when he’d ended the call. ‘The next time we make love, it’s going to be on our wedding night.’

‘That,’ she teased, ‘is a challenge.’

‘No. It’s a promise.’ He smiled. ‘And I’ll always keep my promises to you.’





CHAPTER EIGHTEEN




ON Sunday Fran was almost sick with nerves. She was awake hours before Gio was due to pick her up, and she couldn’t settle to anything.

At last he buzzed through to the intercom.

‘On my way down,’ she said.

‘Good morning, tesoro.’ He kissed her lightly. ‘All set?’

She nodded. ‘I just need to get some flowers on the way.’

‘Already sorted.’

Oh. Well, it would have been. Gio had impeccable manners. ‘Thank you.’

She barely said a word all the way to Oxford. Gio didn’t push her to talk—just occasionally reached out to squeeze her hand, letting her know that he was right beside her.

It was completely ridiculous. Of course her parents would like Gio. Everyone who met him liked him.

But—and it was a big but—she so wanted their approval. To know that she’d done something right in their eyes.

When they came off the M40, she directed him to her parents’ house. As he parked in the driveway, she frowned. ‘That’s Suzy’s car. And Ted’s.’

He smiled. ‘So I get to meet all of them, then? Good.’

He didn’t mind?

Her thoughts must have been obvious, because he touched her cheek. ‘Hey. You had to meet nearly all mine at once. There were rather more of them. And you know I want to meet your family.’ He climbed out, undid her door and then collected the most beautiful bouquet from the boot of his car. Pure white roses, lilies and freesias.

Which Fran’s mother most definitely appreciated, because she went pink with pleasure when Gio handed them to her. ‘How lovely! Thank you.’

‘My pleasure, Mrs Marsden. And thank you for allowing Francesca to bring me to lunch.’

‘Do call me Carol. Please.’ She smiled at him. ‘Hello, Fran.’

‘Hello, Mum,’ Fran muttered.

This was ridiculous. She’d been an office manager for years—firstly at the voiceover studio and then for the Giovanni’s chain. Competent, efficient and effective. So why did she turn into a shoe-scuffing, awkward teenager the minute she walked into her parents’ house?

‘I’ll put the kettle on. Tea?’ Carol asked.

Gio smiled. ‘Thanks. That’d be lovely.’

‘Warren—Fran’s dad—is at the allotment, but he’ll be home soon,’ Carol added.

‘What allotment?’ Fran asked

‘He’s doing this stuff about eco schools, and he thought having an allotment would fit in really well with it. And he wants us to have home-grown vegetables for lunch. He’s dragged the others off with him to help him cut the beans.’

Home-grown vegetables? Then Fran noticed her mother hadn’t just made the usual Sunday roast. There was a chocolate cake—her favourite—cooling on a wire rack. And an apple pie ready to go into the oven when the main course was out.

‘You’ve gone to a lot of trouble,’ she said, feeling guilty. Her mother must have spent all morning cooking. ‘You didn’t need to do all that.’

Carol scoffed. ‘Of course I did. You’re my daughter. I wanted to.’

‘And I didn’t think the others would be here today.’

‘Dom’ll probably tell you he’s only here because he can’t stand college food—but as soon as I mentioned you were coming today, he was straight on the phone to Ted and Suzy.’ Carol smiled at her. ‘They wouldn’t miss you coming home, love. Though you can expect Suzy to moan about the fact she could’ve seen her favourite band in Manchester last night and Ted’s swapped duty at the last minute to get today off.’ She handed Gio and Fran a mug of tea. ‘It’s nice to meet you, Gio. Fran hasn’t told me much about you, but then none of my four are particularly forthcoming.’

Gio smiled. ‘My mother has a spy network. If we don’t tell her ourselves, someone else does.’

Carol laughed. ‘I’ll bear that in mind.’

Just then, there was a kerfuffle; the kitchen door burst open and a young springer spaniel bounded in.

‘A dog? Since when…?’ Fran asked, looking at her mother.

‘No, she’s mine. Last week. Rescue dog,’ Ted explained. ‘Fran, meet Bouncer. Bouncer, this is my big sister.’