‘If you’d seen how unhappy Will was—’ her mother began.
‘I really don’t want to discuss it any more,’ Kate said tightly. ‘We should go in to dinner. Lorcan will be wondering where we are.’
‘But, Kate?—’
‘Please,Mum.’ She felt that one more word would tip her over the edge. ‘Look, I know you meant well, okay? Let’s just leave it at that.’
Her mother had convinced herself that Will had fallen in love for real – but, then, she had an uncanny knack for believing what she wanted to believe. Kate wished she had that talent. Because, try as she might, she couldn’t block out Rachel’s words on the phone that day:He told us straight out that he wasn’t interested in Kate… we really had to twist his arm.
‘I hate to see you so unhappy, sweetheart,’ her mother said sadly. ‘I just think?—’
Thankfully, Kate was spared any further torture by Lorcan and Freddie coming in search of them.
‘What are you three plotting?’ Lorcan grinned at them, unaware of any undercurrents.
‘Oh, just discussing what to wear to your wedding,’ Grace said, the consummate actress.
‘Come on,’ Freddie said, pulling Kate to her feet. ‘You don’t want to miss the chance to eat dinner with a knife and fork!’
* **
‘I’m getting a strong sense ofdéjà vuabout this wedding,’ Kate said to Freddie two days later, as they sat kicking their heels between takes on the set ofNorthsiders. ‘Yet another family wedding with no boyfriend when I want to be looking amazing with a fabulous bloke to make Will jealous. Plus, all my bloody aunts asking me pityingly if I’ve “met anyone nice”.’
‘You can borrow Ken if you like.’
‘Oh, I couldn’t,’ Kate was touched. ‘Thanks for the offer, but I wouldn’t do you out of the chance to show off your boyfriend. Besides, Will knows him.’
‘True. Well, at least you’ll look fabulous.’
‘No, I won’t. It’s so close, I have no time to find something fabulous to wear – and in the middle of the Christmas rush, too, when I have so much work, and any time Idoget to the shops I have to concentrate on buying presents.’
Freddie considered. ‘Don’t worry, I’ll make you something.’
‘Oh, please don’t bother. I’ll find something.’
‘No bother,’ he said, giving her shoulder a squeeze. ‘Consider it an early Christmas present.’
* * *
Kate was enjoying a rare night home alone, wrapping her Christmas presents in front of the television, when she heard Freddie’s key in the door. ‘Hi, honey, I’m home!’ he called, coming into the flat followed by a tall, flaxen-haired hunk. ‘Kate.’ Freddie led the hunk to the sofa. ‘This is Jonathan.’ He seemed very pleased with himself.
Kate hoped he wasn’t two-timing Ken. ‘Hi, nice to meet you.’ She stood up to shake Jonathan’s hand.
‘Jonathan’s going to be your date for the wedding.’
‘Oh! Really?’
Jonathan grinned down at her from his lofty height. ‘Sure,’ he shrugged amiably, ‘if you like.’
He was unfeasibly good-looking, like an underwear model, with shoulder-length golden hair, piercing blue eyes that would have given Brad Pitt’s a run for their money, and the ridiculously square jaw of a comic-book hero. Even though he was wearing a leather jacket over a thick sweatshirt, you could tell he had a six-pack.
‘Um, that’s really nice of you,’ Kate smiled uncertainly at him. ‘Would you like some tea or something? Coffee? Wine?’
‘Coffee, please.’ He smiled lazily, revealing perfect Hollywood teeth.
‘Okay, have a seat – I won’t be a sec. Freddie, could I have a quick word with you in the kitchen?’
Freddie followed her in and she shut the door after them. She put the coffee machine on and waited for it to start hissing before she spoke. ‘What’s this all about?’
