‘How’s he doing?’ Dan fought to keep his expression neutral.
‘Apparently the dentist moved his tooth back into place and it’s going to be fine, thank goodness. He’s recovering at home with his mum at the moment. Thank you again for all your help earlier.’
‘Hey, really, I did nothing. I just hope he’s okay.’
‘Well, thank you.’ She leaned back down to tuck her bag under her chair and Dan caught a glimpse of her cleavage – which he really shouldn’t be noticing given that he’d just been reminded that she was engaged to someone else – and a glimpse of her forehead – with a very green bruised lump on it – as her masses of hair swung back. That had to be where her head had connected with Euan’s chin and it had to hurt.
He opened his mouth to ask if she was, in fact, okay, but Lucie started her speech so he couldn’t speak.
As the clapping was dying down after the final speech, he turned to Evie and said, ‘Going back to the tooth incident, how areyoudoing? Is your head aching?’
‘Are you telling me the large lump on my forehead is noticeable?’ Evie deadpanned.
‘I mean, only a tiny bit,’ Dan told her, smiling.
‘Yeah, it’s huge. I keep having to resist the temptation to go to the loos again to check it out in the mirrors. It was big this afternoon andhumungouswhen I checked it between the main course and pudding. And it was starting to change colour.’
‘Huge is an exaggeration,’ Dan said. It really wasn’t. ‘But you’re definitely going to have some seriously impressive bruising there tomorrow. Everyone’s going to be asking if you walked into a door.’
‘So, Doctor Dan, is there anything I can do to reduce the bruising?’
‘Well, you’d normally want to put an ice pack on it but I’m not sure that there’s a lot of point eight hours after the event.’
‘Yeah, and it might trash my hair and make-up.’
‘Yep, I think you’re just going to have to style it out. Or wear a lot of make-up for the next few days.’
‘Tricky to do anything to flatten the lump itself, though.’ She raised her eyebrows and wiggled them a little. ‘Ouch.’
Dan winced on her behalf. ‘Not surprised it’s a bit sore. I’d recommend…’
‘Paracetamol before bed with at least a pint of water?’
‘Exactly. Do I say that a lot?’
‘Not alot. Just every time anyone has a drink in their hand after ten p.m. In my experience.’
‘You know what, the best sayings are always worth repeating.’
‘Maybe aslightstretch to call it a “best saying”.’ Evie smiled at him. She had a gorgeous smile. She always had done.
The others from their table were all making their way to the dance floor, but Dan had quite a strong urge to stay here, talking to Evie.
Plus, she didn’t look like she was as keen as she normally was to dance. Maybe her head hurt too much.
He took a big slug of the port that had come round with the cheese and coughed. ‘Woah, that’s strong. How’s your head feeling now?’
‘It’sfine,’ she said. ‘I mean, totally fine. Though, speaking of, do you happen to have any painkillers on you? Just as a preventative measure?’
‘I do in the car. Lame, I know, but I keep a first aid kit there now. You wouldn’t believe the number of injuries you see in Casualty that could have been mitigated by some basic on-the-spot treatment. I’ll go and get it.’
‘No, honestly, don’t worry, I’ll be fine. I’ll just take some later.’
Dan felt eyes on him and looked up to see his father snatching his gaze from their direction and walking away towards the dance floor. He ran his finger round the inside of his collar, immediately hot again.
‘I’ll get it now,’ he said. ‘I wouldn’t mind a bit of fresh air—’ that was an understatement – anything to get out of the same room as his father for a few minutes ‘—and the car park’s just round the corner of the front of the hotel.’ The wedding reception was in a country house hotel a few miles from Melting, and they were currently in a large function room on the ground floor, just off the main foyer.
‘Okay, if you’re sure, that’s very kind. Would you mind if I came with you? I also wouldn’t mind some fresh air.’
