His wife nods. "Yeah, I think we should."
"You two are sickeningly adorable," I say. "Reading each other's thoughts now? I might need an insulin injection to survive the sweetness."
Rick clears his throat and fidgets in his seat. "Maddie and I slept together on the day we met. I talked her into a one-night stand and left while she was still asleep. I didn't even know her name until…"
"He came back for me in the morning," Maddie says. "We introduced ourselves, and the rest is history."
I stare at my brother, speechless for a long moment. "You had a one-night stand? Everyone thinks you're the responsible one."
"We're both responsible, Nick. No one thinks you're immature, though we all know you can be impulsive at times."
Yes, I can be. But how am I meant to reconcile the Richard I know with the man who seduced sweet Madeleine on a tropical island and didn't bother to ask her name? Well, at least now I feel better about sleeping with Siobhan after a few days.
"It's still too early to start planning the wedding," I say. "That means no, do not book this venue for the reception."
There's no way I can convince Rick or Maddie that I'm not marrying Siobhan, is there?
So I stand up and offer her my hand. "Siobhan, let me introduce you to another friend of mine."
Chapter Eighteen
Siobhan
"What other friend?" I ask as Nick drags me past the makeshift dance floor and toward the tables set up on the grass. He seems like he needs to get away from his brother and his sister-in-law, and I think it's because Richard mentioned the possibility of marriage. Yeah, it's much too early to talk about that. But Nick didn't need to act quite so horrified by the suggestion, did he?
"You weren't properly introduced in the car," Nick says. "So it's time for you to meet Bennett. He works for me at the spa, but he's also a good friend."
"Was he the mystery man in the limo? I wondered why he didn't speak."
"Reese wouldn't bloody shut up, that's why."
We reach a table where one man sits alone, sipping from a bottle of beer.
"There you are," Nick says, gesturing for me to sit down.
I take a seat, and Nick settles into the chair next to mine.
Nick's friend sets his bottle down and glances back and forth between us. "What's up, boss?"
"This is Siobhan Griffin," Nick says. "She's my, ah, girlfriend. And she's also a mathematics professor at a university in America. Siobhan, this is Bennett Montague, one of my best mates and one of my best employees too."
"Nice to meet you," I say to Bennett. "So you're a massage therapist like Nick?"
"That's right." He grins and winks. "Nick doesn't get to have all the fun, you know."
My boyfriend rolls his eyes. "Ben specializes in massage for physical therapy. Most of his clients are elderly or injured."
"I did have that hot gymnast client."
"Who was married and not at all interested in you, Ben." Nick gestures toward me though he still speaks to his friend. "Why don't you tell Siobhan who you are. She'll be enthralled and honored."
"You're a cheeky sod, you know that?" Bennett fidgets and screws up his mouth, like he sat on a pebble or a pin. "Maybe another time. Let's not ruin a great party by making it about me."
"All right, relax. I'm the one in the papers, not you. Remember?"
"Your situation isn't as bad as you think, Nick." Bennett stands and offers his hand to me over the table. "May I have this dance, Ms. Griffin?"
"She's Dr. Griffin," Nick says.