But even looking as beautiful and sultry as he’d ever seen her, with her hair and makeup perfect, her dress and shoes and jewelry entirely appropriate for the club they would be dining at, Tessa’s nerves had begun to get the better of her shortly before Edward’s chauffer had arrived to drive them to dinner. She had fretted that his friends wouldn’t like her, that they were going to think her too young or gauche, or know immediately that she wasn’t one of them. She had even tried persuading Ian to go without her, assuring him she didn’t mind staying behind, but he had quite firmly set his foot down.

“There is no possible way I’m going to that dinner without you, Tessa,” he had declared. “Might I remind you that this was your idea? Or, rather, it was Hugh’s, but you were the one who agreed to it. Rather readily, I might add.”

“I know,” she sighed. “And at the time it seemed like a good idea. But now that it’s actually going to happen, I’m worried sick that I’m going to embarrass you. Or that they’ll all laugh at me behind my back.”

“Tessa.” He’d placed his hands firmly on her shoulders, then tipped her chin up to meet his gaze when she had stubbornly kept her eyes downcast. “I told you quite a few months ago that you could never, ever, embarrass me, and you’ve proven me right every single day we’ve been together. And rather than embarrass me, love, I’m very much looking forward to showing you off. Trust me, I’ve met all of my friends’ wives and girlfriends, and I can assure you none of them can hold a candle to you.” He’d dropped a gentle kiss on her forehead. “I am incredibly proud to be able to introduce you as my fiancée, Tessa.”

She had rested her head on his shoulder, something she often did when she needed comfort or reassurance. “What if they don’t like me?” she’d asked in a small voice.

Ian had hugged her close, knowing how she adored being cuddled. “First of all, love, that’s simply not possible. You’re utterly, completely loveable, and every one of my family or friends who’s met you so far adores you. Second, even if my friends didn’t like you - which definitely will not be the case - I wouldn’t give a damn what any of them thought. To me, you will always be the most special, wonderful woman in the world, and my opinion is the only one that should really matter to you. But they will like you, Tessa. I guarantee it. So please stop worrying, and let’s enjoy our last evening in London, hmm?”

Ian was pleased to see that his predictions were entirely accurate as each of his friends began to arrive with their wives or girlfriends in tow. As each couple made their way over to greet him and be introduced to Tessa, he had to stifle the urge to smirk at their various reactions upon meeting her for the first time - everything from outright shock to slack-jawed admiration to subtle flirtation.

The latter reaction had come from his childhood friend Clive Middleton. Clive and his family had lived a short distance from the Gregson estate in Kent, and he had been Ian’s closest friend for more than two decades. They had admittedly drifted apart some during Ian’s frequent travels while still working out of the London headquarters, and even more so upon his move to America. But they had kept in touch at least a handful of times each year, and Ian had made it a point to have dinner or lunch with him during his visits home.

Clive was a good looking man, a year younger than Ian, and had always fancied himself something of a ladies man - though nothing approaching the sort of infamous reputation that Colin had managed to acquire, of course. But Clive had had more than his fair share of girlfriends over the years, and the woman he was currently married to - a pretty brunette named Lesley - was his second wife.

Ian, who’d met Lesley on several occasions, gave her a quick peck on the cheek in greeting. Clive, on the other hand, took Tessa’s proffered hand and quite deliberately brought it to his lips. His light blue eyes were twinkling with a combination of mischief and interest.

“It’s a great pleasure to meet you, Tessa,” he told her, a wicked grin spreading over his features. “And quite a surprise as well. Frankly, I didn’t know my old mate Ian here had it in him. He’s a very, very lucky man to have convinced a woman like yourself to marry his old bones.”

This time Ian didn’t even attempt to stifle the urge to smirk as he observed Tessa’s reaction to Clive’s teasing.

“Actually,” she replied in a rather frosty tone as she jerked her hand out of his grasp, “I’m the lucky one. I’ve told Ian on numerous occasions that I’ll never figure out how he didn’t get snapped up a very long time ago. As for his bones being old, they’re plenty young enough to keep me very, very happy.”

Clive burst out laughing, clapping Ian on the shoulder as he did so. “She’s got some fire in her, this one does, Ian. Beauty, class, and passion. Hold on tight to her, mate, because you’re not likely to find another one like her in your lifetime.”

Ian slid an arm around Tessa’s waist, hugging her close against his side, and pressed a soft kiss on her lips. “I knew that from the first moment we met,” he murmured. “And I’m not planning on letting her go - ever.”

Clive and Lesley were both staring at them now, the shock evident on their faces.

“I’ve known you since we were in primary school, Ian,” commented Clive in a dazed voice, “and I swear I’ve never once seen you be openly affectionate with a woman in public before. Tessa’s also some sort of miracle worker, it seems.”

Ian shook his head, his knuckles caressing Tessa’s rosy cheek. “Not a miracle worker, Clive. Just the love of my life.”

Tessa beamed at him, and if there had been any doubts in the minds of Ian’s friends that his much younger fiancée was truly in love with him and not just after his money, that look on her face completely wiped out those qualms. There was no denying the fact that the two of them were mad about each other, truly and utterly besotted.

The dinner that Ian had had so many misgivings about wound up being one of the most enjoyable times of his life. He had missed his friends, not to mention his brothers, and having those closest to him gathered around for this one special evening was a true pleasure. But what made the evening really remarkable was having his love with him, seeing how easily everyone seemed to welcome Tessa into their circle, and how her previous shyness and awkwardness with strangers was beginning to dissipate slowly but surely. The insecure, introverted girl was gradually blossoming into the confident, capable woman he’d always known she could become - the woman who would now and always be his ideal mate, his perfect partner, his soulmate.