class this morning for a client, but will be home by eleven. I’ll see you then.’
‘Thank you, Mia. I appreciate this.’
She was wearing a little green sundress and when she shrugged those beautiful shoulders of hers his fingers spread on his lap as he imagined the feel of her. He’d bet her skin would be like silk. He needed to get a grip—but not on her.
Lucky his face wasn’t readable like hers.
‘No problem,’ she said. ‘You’re offering free lunch at a place I’ve wanted to go to and with people I like. No hardship.’
Four hours later the restaurant owner settled them on the shady veranda and they could look through the overhanging branches to the lake.
Louisa had given Mia a squeeze on the arm as they’d sat down and in return she sent Louisa a reassuring nod because even if Angus didn’t smile much she had an idea he was a fair and reasonable man.
Mia would make sure there was nothing for the older lady to be nervous of, though, to give Angus his due, he’d invited her for just that reason.
Ned seemed overly hearty too and Mia began to understand that Angus wasn’t the only one who felt some strain with the family party.
Simon looked as relaxed as a tomcat in the sun and proceeded to nod at all the pretty girls at the other tables.
Mia couldn’t help smiling at him. Then she looked up she saw that Angus was watching her and her smile faded.
No wonder it felt more like a wake than a party, with Mr Dour over there. He could make a little more effort.
‘So, five days to the wedding?’ Mia said brightly into the silence, and half of the table jumped at the sound of her voice.
Angus’s half didn’t. He just stared thoughtfully at Mia.
Ned dived in. ‘I keep telling Louisa to let the caterers do the work. We’re having the reception outside in a marquee, no connection to the house or the kitchen, and I can’t have my bride exhausted for her wedding.’
Louisa looked fondly across at her fiancé. ‘Well you had to catch wedding fever from Misty and Ben and want it all done in a month. Not that I mind.’ Louisa reached across and squeezed Ned’s hand.
Mia blurted out the question as it rose. ‘So had you thought about staying till Saturday, then, Angus?’ She hoped no one thought she had any interest in the answer, but it was too late to call it back once it was out.
There was silence at the table and Angus narrowed his eyes at Mia and then turned to his father.
‘I hadn’t intended to.’
Simon leant forward as if to say something and Angus raised his finger and silenced him without looking in his direction. Interesting dynamics with so short an acquaintance, Mia thought, but Angus did look used to command. Simon sat back in his seat.
Angus went on. ‘I’ve a meeting in Brisbane on Thursday, but could fly back that night and stay the extra two days, I guess. If Louisa and you would like us to, of course.’ He looked at Louisa for the first time and his face softened. ‘If you’ll have us.’
Angus glanced at his son, who nodded before returning his attention to his father’s fiancée. Mia thought for a moment he would smile, but he didn’t.
‘Of course.’ Louisa smiled for everyone and she seemed to relax a little. ‘We’d love you to stay. I’m so pleased you can manage it.’
‘That’s settled, then,’ Mia said as another silence settled over the table. Mentally she groaned as nobody picked up the conversational ball. This was hard work. Didn’t these people know how to have a good time? She looked at Simon and mischief lurked in his eyes. Salvation.
‘Tell us a joke, Simon,’ Mia said, and sat back to listen.
Simon couldn’t wait. ‘Once there was…’ And the lunch improved marginally from then on.
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