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“Face to face,” I say, making sure it’s remembered we’ve spoken, and Ava’s parents clearly know because they knew Ava had moved in. Fuck, not liking her brother isn’t ideal. But I’ve got to try. I take his hand and smile mildly when he holds it with a firm hand. He’s not going to be the first to release. For fuck’s sake, I’m too old for this game. He can have the win, but only because I know Ava will freak the fuck out if she smells some animosity between us. So I smile, pulling back until he releases me.
“My man,” Sam’s voice is a godsend.
“This is Sam Kelt,” I say, motioning to Dan. “Ava’s brother.”
Sam nods, Dan nods. I get the feeling Kate’s already introduced them. And I get the feeling Dan’s not all too keen on Sam either. Does he likeanyone?
“Hi, Joseph,” Kate says, moving in on Ava’s dad and giving him a hug he’s not all too comfortable with.
“Her brother’s a bit hostile,” Sam says, moving into my side.
“He doesn’t like me.” It’s a fact. “Want a drink?” I go to the fridge and pull out a bottle of champagne and some beers, making sure one lands in Joseph’s hand first and Ava’s brother’s hand last.
“You’re not drinking?” Dan asks.
“I want a clear head,” I reply, offhand, smiling, relishing his obvious displeasure.
“For when you propose,” he says, too loudly for my liking.
I grit my teeth discreetly and find Ava with Kate and Elizabeth across the kitchen looking more relaxed. “Look,” I say, moving a little closer to him, making sure I’m out of Joseph’s earshot, and everyone else for that matter. “You’ve made it clear you don’t like me.”
“Have I?”
“Come on, Dan.” I’m being more than reasonable here, and it fucking kills me. But the last thing I need is another obstacle. “It will crush Ava if she senses bad feeling between us.”
He looks past me to his sister. “She’s a good girl.”
“I know.”
“Deserves the best.”
“I’ll give her the best.”
“Don’t fuck with her.”
I smile, but it’s mild, maybe even guilty. “If I hurt her, I give you full permission to gut me.” Dan doesn’t need to know that I’ll have gutted myself before he gets to me. I hold my hand out, and he looks down. “Truce?”
He nods, accepting, as Cathy wanders in, all smiles, followed by an energetic Luigi. “Excuse me a moment.” I head over and relieve Cathy of her bag, letting her hug me, enduring the pain,again, before shaking Luigi’s hand. “I can’t thank you enough for this.” I know Cathy will be in her element. She refused payment. So I bought her some Air Miles instead. She often goes to Ireland, so she’ll have no choice but to use them or waste them, and Cathy doesn’t waste anything.
“I’ll clear the kitchen so you can get on.”
“The tables are being laid on the terrace,” Luigi says. “You can move the party out there.”
“Thanks.”
“Now go,” Cathy says, virtually pushing me back over to a curious Ava.
“What’s happening?” she asks.
“We’re having dinner.”
She cranes her neck to see the hive of activity breaking out. “Here?”
“Yes, I arranged for Luigi to come in and do the honors. We’ll eat on the terrace. It’s a nice evening.” I pull her closer, scanning her face as I clear her eye of a strand of hair.
“I can’t believe you did this.” She doesn’t shy away from my affection. Another good sign.
“Whatever it takes,” I say. “You know this.”
