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‘You didn’t mind?’ Morgan asked after a moment or two.
‘You inviting Beth and Peter to join us? No, not at all,’ she lied smoothly. ‘Why would I mind?’ Why, indeed?
‘Peter had mentioned they’d come for lunch and with it being seven o’clock and Beth not having eaten since, in her condition, you know…’ He gave her stiff face a swift glance.
Willow flushed. The reprimand was gentle and covert, but it felt like a reprimand nonetheless. ‘I said I didn’t mind.’
‘Good.’ Another moment or two slipped by. ‘You look incredible, by the way,’ he said softly. ‘Absolutely beautiful.’
Her flush deepened. ‘Thank you.’ Charmer!
‘And I’d much rather have been alone with you tonight.’
In spite of the fact she knew full well she was being sweettalked by an expert, Willow found herself melting. It took all her willpower to ignore the sensual quality to his voice and say evenly, ‘With the baby coming soon Beth won’t have too many opportunities for spur-of-the-moment nights out.’
‘No, I guess that’s right,’ he replied.
‘I presume wherever it is we’re going can stretch a table for two to four?’ she asked crisply.
‘Oh, yes.’ He nodded. ‘They’re very accommodating.’
‘Good. No problem, then.’ She stared out of the window.
A mile or two slipped by before he murmured, ‘What, exactly, had Beth heard about me, by the way?’ Laughter in his voice.
‘That was just social etiquette,’ she said a mite too quickly.
‘Social etiquette? Ah, yes. I see.’ He gave an understanding nod.
‘Like your reply,’ she said stiffly.
‘But I had heard plenty about your sister, Willow,’ he reminded her gently.
She supposed he had. Beth and Peter and their life together had seemed fairly innocuous a subject on the walk last weekend. Deciding attack was the best defence, she said testily, ‘Why do you always have to have the last word, Morgan Wright?’
‘A definite character fault,’ he agreed gravely.
She suddenly laughed; she couldn’t help it. ‘I’ve made Beth promise not to ask you if you can keep me in the manner to which I’ve become accustomed, but if she goes into parent mode you’ll have to excuse her. Her hormones are all over the place at the moment. And being happily married she thinks that is the only way anyone can be truly happy in life.’ She wrinkled her nose.
‘And you? What do you think?’ he said quietly.
‘Me?’ She had to force the laugh now. ‘Like you, I think it’s a recipe for disaster.’
Morgan made no comment to this. ‘She’s a lot like you.’
‘In looks? Yes, I suppose so. And we’re both like our mum.’
He glanced at her, a swift look, but said no more for some miles. It was as they drew into the grounds of a large hotel he said quietly, ‘I’ve missed you this week. Have you missed me?’
Light words came to mind, words that could have passed off the moment without betraying anything of herself. Instead she said just as quietly, ‘Yes.’
The four of them got on so well the evening flew by on wings. Willow really did think Beth would have followed them home but for Peter putting his foot down where they made their goodbye in the hotel car park. ‘Say goodbye nicely,’ he prompted.
‘Sorry.’ Beth was giggly as she whispered into Willow’s ear as she hugged her goodnight. It certainly wasn’t due to the sparkling water she’d consumed all night due to her condition, Willow reflected with a smile. ‘But I’ve so enjoyed this evening. He’s gorgeous—Morgan, I mean. And we didn’t expect him to treat us, you know. The pair of you must come round for a meal soon, promise? We’d love to have you before the baby comes.’
‘Peter’s waiting,’ Willow pointed out gently.
‘Don’t freeze him out, Willow.’ Beth wasn’t giggly any longer. ‘Give it a chance. He’s gorgeous, he really is.’
‘Beth, neither of us want anything serious. This is just a few meals out together, a little fling, that’s all.’ She hugged Beth again and then stepped away from her, becoming aware as she did so that Morgan was closer than she’d thought, close enough, maybe, to hear what she’d said, even though he was talking to Peter. For a moment she felt awful, then her chin lifted. She hadn’t said anything out of place. It was what they’d agreed. He’d been the one to suggest it, not her.
Morgan put his arm round her waist as they waved the others off. For a second the sense of déjà vu was so strong she felt sick. How many times had Piers stood with her like this, playing the devoted husband after Beth and Peter had left them after an evening together? Whispering into her hair that the meal had been a shambles, she’d laughed too much, she hadn’t laughed enough, her dress was all wrong or she was putting on too much weight, and all the time disguising his poison with a tender smile.
