Page 13 of Settling the Score

Suddenly, the world was tilting and twisting, and Sienna’s stomach wasn’t just throbbing but heaving.

‘Oh, God,’ she groaned, catching a look of surprise from Paige right before she leaned forward and threw up. Right at the feet of Aiden ‘Eye Wateringly Expensive Loafers’ Carter…

3

Just Desserts WhatsApp Group. 18.35 EST.

Astrid

Where are you, S?

Paige

Are you here?

Sienna

No.

Paige

Is everything okay?

Okay? Okay? Was everything okay? No, she wanted to shout. She was about to descend the stairs of this impossibly posh mansion to spend the next however many hours it took in close proximity to Aiden ‘Heart Destroying Bastard’ Carter, and she’d promised her best friends in the whole world that she was going to have fun flirting with him.

Flirting with him!

Him, who she’d prefer to douse in water from one of the elaborate floral arrangements rather than ever have to look at again. Him, who she wanted to push into the koi-filled lake on the edge of the courtyard. Him, who she’d just seen for the first time in ten years and promptly thrown up at the feet of. While her shirt was stained and her hair was a mess, and he just looked all perfect and sports-god like. Him, who…

A knock sounded at her door and she crossed the floor and yanked it open, cheeks flushed with warmth at the irate direction of her thoughts.

Bella stood there, pristine and beautiful, sympathy in her silver eyes.

‘Feeling better?’

Sienna pulled a face.

‘Okay. I’ll take that as a “no”. Need a hand?’

She shook her head.

Bella grinned. ‘Or a drink?’

She pulled two flutes of champagne from behind her back and passed one to Sienna as she entered the suite.

‘Nice view.’ She nodded towards the sunset, visible through the balcony doors. ‘I got the other side.’

‘The garden?’

‘It’s fine.’ She waved a hand in the air, her bangles making a pretty tinkling sound. ‘I’m not much interested in looking outside,’ she added with a flush, leaving Sienna in no doubt as to how Bella and Chase were planning to spend their wedding-week downtime.

Sienna gulped back a slosh of champagne.

‘What’s wrong?’ Bella asked, perching on the edge of the vanity.

‘You mean besides the fact I’m about to spend several hours in a tiny room with a guy I loathe from the very depths of my heart? Or the fact that it’s our best friend’s wedding and I can’t punch him like I’d truly, really love to? Orrrr the fact I’m planning to somehow flirt with him, even when I want to bounce a vase off his stupid, perfect face? Or shall we talk about the whole throwing up right in front of him incident? That isnotthe first impression I was hoping to make, believe me.’

‘All excellent points,’ Bella cooed, standing straight and ticking one finger off with the other. ‘The room isnottiny, it’s the whole entrance foyer of this palatial mansion. And you’ll be spending the next few hours withus;we’re not going to let anything happen that isn’t amazing for you. You would never punch anyone, and we both know it. Nor throw a vase, for that matter. Revenge by seduction really is your only option. As for flirting with him, believe me when I tell you that your dress doesallthe flirting necessary. No way will he remember vomit-gate when he sees you in this.’