They arrived at the school to find Nolan pacing back and forth in the car park.
“Mum, where have you been? Did you have a puncture?”
“No, Susan and I had to stop by the farm to get some eggs. Susan volunteered to arrange an egg-throwing competition.”
Nolan turned his gaze on Susan, approval shining above his initial hint of surprise. “That’s a great idea.”
“I’ll speak to the principal and draft you some helpers to set up a table and anything else you need.” Mrs. Penrith climbed out of the car, plucked her brown handbag off the rear seat and bustled away.
Nolan’s features blazed with curiosity. “What did you and my mother talk about on the drive over?”
“Nothing much.” Susan climbed out of the car. “We discussed the school gala and ideas for fundraising. She seemed surprised I had experience in the area. I think she believes my morals reside in the gutter.”
Nolan squeezed her shoulder briefly. “My mother sets high standards of behavior for herself and doesn’t take it well when others fall short. Don’t let her frosty manner get to you. She’s like that with everyone.”
“She seemed to approve of your other chosen dates.” No wonder Tyler clashed with his mother. A pregnancy out of wedlock wouldn’t have gone down well, even if Tyler had married his girlfriend.
Nolan laughed. “I have no intention of choosing a wife to suit my mother. Don’t worry. She’ll find fault with Lucy and Jasmine too. It’s her way, and I’ve learned to ignore her and get on with my own life.”
“What about your father?”
“My father checked out of their marriage a long time ago,” Nolan said. “My mother doesn’t believe in divorce.”
“I see.” And she did. She saw a path she’d never go down. Yes, it was true she wanted children, a family, but she didn’t intend to marry for the sake of tradition. If she loved the man—that was different. Julia and Maggie had great marriages with men who were their best friend as well as their lover, and she refused to settle for less.
Nolan’s mother appeared with two reluctant teenagers. “These young girls will help you carry the eggs. Susan, the principal said you can use the far rugby field and he’s going to organize an adult to help. Nolan, you’re due to help at the nail driving competition before the pony rides start. Off you go.”
Susan bit back the urge to salute. She lifted out two boxes of eggs and handed one to each of the teenage girls. She picked up the last one and smiled at the girls. “You’d better show me the way.”
She followed the teenagers and grimaced at the mud splattering her boots. Up ahead a man carried a table, his butt displayed in a pair of black jeans.Nice. Evidently the girls thought so too because one whispered to the other and they giggled.
The man set the table down on the try line, pressing on the wooden surface to make sure it was stable.
“Tyler,” one of the girls called.
He turned and grinned at them before turning his attention to Susan. “Thanks, Marie. Karen. Mr. Black said he was going to sort out a sign and find a tape measure in case we need to measure the length of the throws. Can you go and collect them for us?”
“Sure, Tyler.”
The girls set their boxes of eggs down and wandered away, leaving them alone.
“God, I’ve missed you,” he said. “I want to kiss you in the worst way.”
Susan grinned, the frisson of lust that frisked her a familiar one. “All your late night naughty texts have cost me a fortune in batteries.” Her hands shook and she hastily placed her box of eggs on the tabletop.
Tyler let out a whoosh of air and came half a step closer. His hands fisted at his sides, as if he didn’t quite trust himself not to touch her. “My hand doesn’t do the job as good as you.”
This time she was the one who fought for control. “Can we work out some way to meet?”
“Count on it, sweetheart.” He took a deep breath. “You could always withdraw from the show.”
“I’ve tried that already. I rang Jennifer and spoke to her in person, said I’d met someone else and that it was serious. She pleaded with me to stick the course. Evidently, every time I’m on a show, the website hits go off the charts. I said to her that it wasn’t fair on Nolan and the other girls, but she was adamant. Then she said that the funding for her next project depended on the success of this show. She guilted me into staying. I gave her my word I’d stay the course.”
“As long as they don’t expect you to kiss Nolan,” he muttered. “I won’t like that.”
“I have no desire to kiss your brother.”
“Good thing,” he said with a sly wink. The two girls returned, and he stepped away from her. “Thanks, girls. What do we do next, boss?” he said to Susan.
