What she’d meant was she hadn’t approved of him spending time with a divorced woman, or another man’s children.
His mother had reached for the kettle and filled it with water to make a pot of tea while he’d stormed out and ended up at his grandparents’ house in nearby Napier. He and his grandparents had drunk cups of tea, eaten pieces of shortbread and discussed his objections.
They’d changed his mind, and while he didn’t agree with his mother’s skullduggery, he had to admit it was fun stepping out of routine. The visit to the big smoke to meet the show’s producer and the other farmers had sealed the deal. He wasn’t the only farmer here under duress.
“You ready to see the next woman?” the cameraman asked.
“Yeah.”
The cameraman contacted the producer and soon his next date walked toward him. She was stunning, and even better in person. Her clothes were smart but casual, and he noted she didn’t have trouble with her shoes. Her smile was wide and bright and she gave him a swift hug. Oh yeah. He liked this one.
Two hours later, the speed dates were done, and his head whirled with faces and impressions. Jennifer Williams, the producer, had suggested the men take brief notes, and he was glad he’d taken her advice.
“You ready?” the cameraman asked. “I’ll show you to the meeting room. They’ve organized drinks and something to eat while you farmers decide which chicks you’re going to pick for the next round.”
Nolan blew out a burst of air. “Easier said than done.”
“I’m glad it’s not me,” the cameraman said. “I bet some of those chicks will cry buckets.”
Hell. Nolan hadn’t thought of that. He’d worried more about trying to pick the right mix of eight women. Now he had to worry about women and tears?Bloody hell.As he followed the cameraman, he wondered if their drinks ran to alcohol.
Susan spotted Christina and sank onto the chair her friend had saved for her. “How did it go?”
Christina wrinkled her nose. Her bracelets jingled as she shunted a glass of wine toward Susan. “If your date went as badly as mine, you’ll need a drink.”
“I was craving a margarita before we even started talking.”
“That bad, huh?”
Susan’s tummy hollowed at the memories. “You go first. What was your farmer like?”
“He said—bluntly, I might add—that I was more bohemian than I appeared in my photo.”
Susan stared at her friend. “Bohemian?”
“Yeah. Evidently jewelry that clacks will scare his animals.”
Susan glanced down at Christina’s three golden bracelets and started laughing.
Christina’s lips twitched. “Your date can’t have been that bad.”
Susan laughed harder and nodded at the same time. Once she’d gathered herself, she said, “You were right to warn me about wearing my spike sandals. I wish I’d listened. I sank into the grass the second I stepped off the path and my farmer came to my rescue. He literally swept me off my feet and carried me to our meeting point—a picnic blanket.”
“That sounds romantic.”
“It was nice until I realized my skirt was tucked up and the cameraman was busy filming my butt.”
“At least you listened about the sexy lingerie.”
Susan snorted—a half laugh and half whimper. “If that’s meant to make me feel better it’s not working.” She flicked a lock of her straight hair out of her face. “And it got worse.” Words tumbled from her as she related details of her speed date.
“Oh well.” Christina lifted her glass of wine in salute. “At least we’ve had a nice outing to a vineyard. The wine is good. The food looks delicious.”
“And we can laugh about it together.”
“Exactly.” Christina clicked her glass against Susan’s. “To friends.”
“To friends,” Susan said and grinned as she thought of two of her other friends. “Maggie and Julia will get a good laugh.”
