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She grinned. “You’re funny.”
“Me?” He was surprised; Fiona had never called him funny.
“You come across as dour but you have a droll sense of humour and you’re kind. Those qualities are very attractive in a man,” she said.
“You are an old friend’s sister in need of brotherly care. I feel I neglected Mike after I left Oxford and in his final years, but I can make reparation by looking out for his little sister.” He reached over and lightly tapped the end of her nose.
She beamed at him. “Thank you!”
The waiter arrived with their tea and another deposited a three-tiered cake stand on the table. Sandwiches and egg rolls were on the bottom layer, scones, cream, and jam were laid out on the middle of the stand, while pretty French pastries decorated the top tier.
“Ooo!” Penny cried and clapped her hands.
David grinned. She really was adorable. It might be nice to have a surrogate sister. He missed having family about. His grandmother died a couple of years ago and he rarely saw his mom, stepdad, or half-brothers, because they lived in the States. He wondered briefly if his mom would like Penny.
They chatted about this and that while they ate. Then she began to worry about the scruffy little dog they’d left at Battersea.
“Face it, Penny, the dog would be better off with someone who had a garden for him to exercise in,” he said.
“Do you have a garden?” she immediately asked.
He shuffled his feet. Dare he lie?
“You do! I see that furtive look, David Forrester!” She wagged a finger at him and he bent toward it, snapping his teeth playfully.
She giggled.
“I don’t have time for a dog,” he told her, becoming serious.
“Yes, you do,” she said firmly.
“Tenacious little thing, aren’t you.”
“You have no idea. I’m worried for him. Did you feel how thin Pippin was?” she asked compassionately.
His heart contracted as her eyes suddenly swam with tears; immediately he felt like a complete heel. He reached out to cover her hand with his. They both started at the static shock that leapt between them. How peculiar. He laughed uncertainly. She simply held his gaze. An odd shiver ran down his spine. He coughed to cover his confusion.
“Can I get you any more tea?” a waiter interrupted.
“Penny?” he asked, glad of the distraction from the awkward moment.
“No, thank you,” she replied.
He waited until the waiter left. “Excuse me, I won’t be a moment, just wait here,” he murmured, leaving her sitting at the table while he went to pay the bill.
“Sir, we bring the check to you!” the maître d’ exclaimed at his request to settle the tariff.
“No. I prefer not to embarrass a lady by making financial transactions in front of her,” he explained, withdrawing his credit card.
“David, you must let me pay my half!”
He froze. Why had she not stayed at the table?
“No, this was my suggestion, therefore my treat,” he replied stiffly.
“Nonsense,” she said briskly and turned to the maître d’. “How much do I owe, please?” she asked.
A powerful compulsion to land a hard smack to her bottom surprised him. He was no stranger to spanking a willing woman, but this urge was different; he wanted to punish her for not doing as she was told. Hmm, perhaps this was a brotherly reaction? He relaxed.
