Page 22 of Modern Romance September 2025 1-4

‘That’s perfect, then, isn’t it?’ Bunny dealt him a huge smile although she really wanted to slap him.

He had expected her to fall into line because that was what people did for Sebastian Pagonis.

He didn’t accept her point of view because it didn’t meet his wishes and expectations. ‘While you’re busy, I’ll be busy too.’

‘Not ideal though,’ Sebastian incised.

‘Moving home, resigning from my job, being with you. I wasn’t expecting all of that. Six weeks ago, you didn’t even hint that you wanted to see me again… It’s all a lot to get my head around and you need to be less of a perfectionist.’

‘I’m not a perfectionist,’ he ground out through grated teeth.

‘You so are . You laid every bonfire in a distinct pattern. You like everything in the correct order. You are never untidy or disorganised. I’m never going to live up to your standards, so you have to accept that now…

On the other hand if you would admit to just wanting messy, ordinary, very human me, the sky’s your limit!

’ she proclaimed in desperation, determined to get him out of the brooding mood that had engulfed him as the ramifications of her having refused his marriage proposal sank in.

It shouldn’t be like that, not the same day he asked her to marry him and put an engagement ring on her finger, all of it so traditional and so not him.

He had put on the suit, got down on one knee and it could only have been for her benefit and she had disappointed him, which made her feel hugely guilty and sad on his behalf. ‘Sebastian…?’

‘I’d better take you back to that van.’

Before he could start the car, she just snapped loose her seat belt and grabbed him, one set of fingers spearing into his dense black hair to bring his head down, the other yanking him towards her so that she could find his mouth.

She kissed him and then he took over, ramming back his seat and hauling her onto his lap to savour her more passionately.

And all the tension evaporated and birthed another kind of tension.

It was as though a dam had burst and they were both so hungry for each other that neither one of them had the least control.

His tongue delved deep and a growl sounded in his chest as his mouth tasted her delicate jawline and roamed down over the slender length of her neck to the slope of her shoulder.

At the same time his big hands roamed over every part of her that he could reach.

Bunny gasped and squirmed and tried frantically to get closer.

Sebastian expelled his breath on a hiss and lifted her to settle back into the passenger seat. ‘I’ll take you to the house we’re going to be living in.’

‘You already have a house picked?’ Bunny demanded in amazement.

‘You were right,’ he conceded grudgingly. ‘I plan everything and you gave me six weeks to do it in.’

‘I didn’t exactly give you six weeks…you kept your distance.’

‘I won’t be keeping my distance after tonight,’ he warned her, laughing and leaning over her, long fingers sifting slowly through her thick silky hair.

‘I’ll pick you up after work and we’ll tell your parents that we’ve got engaged and that you’re moving out.

But we won’t see the house until tomorrow because I’d like you to see it in daylight first. Are we mentioning the baby? ’

‘No, not today.’ Bunny’s head was reeling at the knowledge that Sebastian was about to turn her life upside down. But they would be together. That was the bottom line, she reminded herself, and that was really all that mattered.

She was on a high throughout the afternoon.

She put in her resignation but she saw no reason not to work her notice if Sebastian was going to be away on business.

She could manage an hour commuting for the space of a month.

Even though she would no longer have the use of her mother’s car?

There would probably be a train, she reasoned.

Sebastian followed her home. She had forgotten that it was a Friday night and the whole family would be there for dinner.

Her mother gasped and cried when she saw the ring.

Sebastian valiantly withstood being hugged for a solid five minutes and she could see that he was relieved when her father merely shook hands with him.

He met her other brothers and their wives and girlfriends.

He was much more relaxed and chatty than she would have expected and was predictably cornered by her youngest brother, Noah, who was the family tech whizz and he was eager to hear all about Sebastian’s time at MIT.

Bunny ignored her usual wine and had a soft drink instead, reddening when she saw her brother, John, taking note of the fact. When she came out of the bathroom, John was waiting for her. ‘So, you noticed,’ she said with a rueful little smile.

‘Of course, I did. Why didn’t you tell me?’

‘Because that was Sebastian’s news to hear first and I didn’t need to get advice on options from you because I already knew what I wanted,’ she explained calmly. ‘He asked me to marry him but I thought it was too soon for that. I think we should have some time together before we make that leap.’

John frowned in surprise. ‘Considering that you’ve been pining for him since you got back, I’m amazed you didn’t just say yes. You’re being very sensible.’

‘Not really. I’m moving in with him tomorrow. We’ll see how that goes.’

‘Why so pessimistic?’

‘In his heart I’m not sure he’s ready for a committed relationship.’

‘Time will tell.’

Her parents asked Sebastian to stay and he thanked them but insisted that he would see them in the morning when he collected Bunny.

‘Nothing on earth would persuade me to enjoy our reunion sleeping next door to your parents,’ he murmured wickedly in her ear when she saw him back to his car. ‘You’re quite noisy.’

‘Am I?’ she said, aghast and mortified.

‘And I really like it,’ he confided, lacing one hand into the fall of her hair and plundering her parted lips with passionate impatience. ‘Your enthusiasm only matches my own.’

‘Tristram?’ Eyes wide, and having answered the bell while awaiting Sebastian, Bunny froze when she found her ex-boyfriend at the door.

He was a well-built young man of around six feet, with cropped blond hair and bright blue eyes.

Once she had found him attractive, and his seemingly easy nature had charmed her.

But now she fancied she could see the look of entitlement and arrogance in his expectant gaze because he assumed that she would be bowled over by his visit and delighted to see him again.

Tristram never doubted the warmth of his welcome.

‘I read about your dashing adventure in Asia and that you were now home. Aren’t you going to invite me in?’ Tristram asked.

‘I’m sorry but there would be no point inviting you in because I’m about to go out,’ Bunny advanced stiltedly, but she felt as if she was being rude and stepped outside to seem friendlier than she felt. ‘I also don’t see what we have to talk about.’

‘You look amazing,’ Tristram told her, noting the silky conditioned fall of her golden hair and her perfectly made-up face while the grape-coloured fitted skirt and silk shirt she wore enhanced her diminutive curves and small waist.

‘Thanks.’ Bunny would’ve liked to have said it was the first thing she threw on but in truth she had made an enormous effort on Sebastian’s behalf.

She had been waiting at the doors of the nearest local boutique at opening time and had blown everything in her bank account on a decent outfit and some make-up.

‘You never made this much effort for me,’ Tristram complained, his mouth taking on a sullen curve.

‘But then, according to what I was told, you didn’t make much effort for her,’ Sebastian intoned from behind them both.

Bunny spun in concert with Tristram, who flushed angrily.

‘Sebastian Pagonis… Tristram Elsworthy,’ Bunny introduced stiffly.

Sebastian was seething, inflamed by the discovery of the ex on Bunny’s doorstep. He dropped a territorial arm round her slight shoulders. ‘We’re running late,’ he murmured apologetically.

Tristram backed off a step with a wide understanding smile. ‘I won’t keep you. I’ll call another time, Bunny.’

‘I’m afraid I won’t be here, Tris. I’m moving,’ she said pleasantly.

As her ex headed down the path to return to his car, Sebastian bit out in a raw undertone, ‘You should’ve told him you were pregnant and engaged.’

‘I wasn’t about to give him private information like that!’ Bunny objected.

But it was too late to be talking about what was private because Sebastian had given the game away. A gasp sounded in the hall of her parents’ home. Bunny swivelled and saw her mother clamp her hand to her lips below her rounded and shocked eyes.

‘Is it true?’ the older woman asked.

And that was another hold-up as they went indoors to discuss that subject. Her mother shared the news that John’s wife, Betsy, was expecting again, only she wasn’t yet telling people, a meaningful restriction that seemed to have escaped her mother-in-law’s understanding.

‘Well, I must say that went down very well,’ Sebastian remarked as they strolled out to the car, her luggage having been stowed while they talked. ‘Your mother can’t keep a secret.’

‘I can’t either…not very well or for very long,’ Bunny confided guiltily. ‘Why were you so angry at Tristram dropping in?’

Sebastian’s sculpted jawline clenched. On the face of it, he didn’t know why he’d been so angry.

He simply didn’t want her former boyfriend anywhere near Bunny.

Even though the guy had backed off fast, Sebastian didn’t like him showing up at Bunny’s home and annoying her.

That was normal. It didn’t mean he was either fanatically possessive or obsessionally jealous, he assured himself.

And it would be totally normal for him to check out Tristram Elsworthy and find out who he was.

‘What did he want?’