if there was another woman there instead of just three men.’
For the first time he looked anxious. ‘I really do want this to go smoothly and I think you would be able to help that.’
Maybe not a poser? She’d have to stop jumping to conclusions about people, but Mark had left her wary. Now she understood and she wasn’t disappointed that he hadn’t actually wanted to ask her out. At all. Honest. ‘Steer the conversation when it falters, you mean?’
He nodded. ‘Something like that.’
She thought of his son. ‘I don’t think you’d have to worry with Simon at the table.’ Their eyes met in acknowledgement of the truth of that and Mia smiled.
Angus said, ‘My son is adept at conversation. I grant you that. Must be his mother’s side.’ A shadow passed across his face at the mention of Simon’s mother and Mia couldn’t help but wonder what the story was there. No way was she asking.
The less he thought about that the better, Angus admonished himself silently, and looked up at the curly-headed nymph across the table. Unfortunately it felt like he could sit and look at her all day. She made him feel alive—not something he’d dwelt on for a long time—and she made him smile inside. Years since he’d done that.
‘Nevertheless, you will come?’ He didn’t know why it was so important to have Mia with them, especially now he knew she was engaged, though what sort of ‘engagement’ had a break? The marriage didn’t sound too imminent. But he did want her with them today. He barely knew her, but he had this crazy idea in his brain that he wouldn’t mess up with his father and Louisa if Mia was there.
He could run hospitals, organise airlifts and troubleshoot the health of disaster-affected cities, but last night, even with Simon there yabbering away like a rabbit, he’d had trouble talking to the man who had banished him twenty years ago. And his father had been just as bad.
He watched her sniff the cup and it was funny just how much he enjoyed her obvious appreciation. Maybe he could bribe her with more coffee.
‘I’ll come if you think it will help,’ she said when she put the cup down. ‘Where were you planning on taking them?’
He’d sorted that one. ‘I thought the white guesthouse on the lake. They have lunches on the veranda.’
She nodded and he guessed that was approval. ‘We could walk there.’
He watched her consider that. Her thoughts flicked across her face like a digital photo frame, one after the other. How could anyone be that transparent? It was strangely endearing in a way. Then she said, ‘Nice. I’ll be there. What time do you want me to be ready?’
It was that easy. She’d be there. It had been Simon’s suggestion and his know-it-all son had been right again. She had said yes.
He would have asked her even if Simon hadn’t suggested it. He was pretty sure. ‘Twelve. I’ll book for twelve-fifteen.’
‘No problem. I’ve a breathing and relaxation 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.
CHAPTER THREE
‘GOOD morning, Mia.’ Angus stood as she entered the breakfast room and she didn’t bother to tell him to sit down. Mia wondered if she would have been disappointed if he hadn’t risen. How quickly she could adapt to chivalry.
‘Morning,’ she said briefly.
After saying he’d stay for the wedding, Angus had said very little else at the lunch and despite Simon’s jokes it had been a long and painful affair. She was still cross with Angus’s poor effort, although Louisa had spoken to her later and raved about how much better that meeting had gone than the previous night.
And to think she’d wanted to be a fly on the wall the first night. No doubt the flies had left the room bored witless.
The aroma of his special coffee beans teased her nose and she sniffed reluctantly. At least