“My mother has an unerring knack for popping out of the woodwork when sex toys are involved,” Nolan said, his voice casual as if he were discussing the weather. “We’ll lock the front door and the bedroom door tonight to be on the safe side.”
Yvonne croaked, a garbled sound that combined shock with laughter.
“Tyler’s here,” Nolan said, his pleasure at seeing his younger brother obvious. “And Susan.” He swung David up and onto his shoulders and increased his pace to the entrance of the building housing the cattle for show.
Yvonne followed more slowly, slivers of jealousy creeping stealthily into her heart. Susan from the reality show—the woman he’d picked from all the applicants. But he’d chosen her for Tyler, she told herself. The truth didn’t help her cope with her envy any better.
When she and Michael reached the group, Nolan was giving Susan a hug. True, David was involved in the hug, enthusiastically kissing the top of Susan’s head too, but still…
Nolan stepped back and slid his free arm around Yvonne’s shoulders again, urging her forward. “You remember Yvonne? And these are her boys, David and Michael.”
“Of course I remember Yvonne.” Susan smiled warmly. Her long, straight hair hung loose around her shoulders and a smattering of freckles showed through her light make-up. Even dressed in casual jeans, a red shirt, black vest and knee-high black boots, the woman glistened with city polish.
“I brought my friend, Christina, down for the weekend. She’s here somewhere. You remember Christina, Nolan?” Susan asked. “Ah, here she is. Christina, this is Yvonne, Nolan’s girlfriend.”
A woman with brown hair, expertly trimmed and highlighted with blonde, shared her grin around. She hugged Nolan, the golden bangles she wore on her left wrist jingling musically. She pulled back and smiled at Yvonne. “I wondered why Nolan picked Susan. Now I know. He was already taken.” Christina’s eyes twinkled behind the lenses of her glasses.
Yvonne felt her mouth drop open and firmed her jaw. His girlfriend? Nolan hadn’t even blinked an eye at the announcement, when in the past he’d hidden her like a naughty secret. And what was with the touchy-feely stuff? Not that she wasn’t enjoying his attention, but wasn’t their relationship merely a version of friends with very sexy benefits?
“Hey, bro,” Nolan said when Tyler joined them. “I hear the farm sold. When are you moving north?”
“In a couple of weeks. I want Katey to start at her school soon. The new owner takes over on the first of next month.” Tyler grinned at Susan, his love for the woman shining on his face. “Don’t tell Susan and Christina, but Josie and I lured them down here under false pretenses. They’re going to help us start packing tomorrow.”
Nolan set David on the ground and grasped his hand before he could run amok and upset the cattle in the stalls adjacent to where they stood. “Let me know if you need a hand. Dad and I can both help.”
“Thanks! It’s mainly the house stuff and tools. The buyer wanted the farm equipment. Have you checked on your entries in the show?” Tyler asked. “I saw Dad. He said one of your yearling bulls had won its class. We’ve won four of our classes. Eric is ecstatic.”
“I’ll go and check. Do you want to have lunch together? We can meet on the hill and watch the events in the arena while we eat.” Nolan shared his question around.
“Sounds like a plan,” Susan said. “Around one?”
Yvonne remained silent while the others made arrangements to meet. Nolan seemed happy spending time with Tyler, when in the past the two had barely spoken to one another. Elizabeth Penrith wasn’t a warm person—that was for sure—even though she dedicated her life to raising money for various local charities.
“Let’s go and see how we’ve done with our cattle and sheep,” Nolan said. “No shouting, boys. You don’t want to start a stampede.”
Yvonne smiled when her two boys immediately started firing questions at Nolan, fascinated by the possibilities of cattle in a panic.
By the time lunch arrived, Yvonne had stopped jumping every time Nolan wrapped his arm around her waist. She’d ceased worrying about her boys misbehaving and was equally glad she’d decided on comfortable shoes.
The others were already seated on picnic blankets, the adults with glasses of wine in hand when she, Nolan and the boys arrived.
“Glass of wine, dear?” Josie asked. “And juice for the boys?”
“Thank you,” Yvonne said.
Nolan spread out their tartan picnic rug, and Yvonne accepted a glass of wine before busying herself unpacking the contents of their basket. She handed the boys fried chicken legs and a pack of sandwiches before offering Nolan a slice of bacon and egg pie.
“Why don’t you come up to Auckland for the weekend?” Susan asked. “Bring Yvonne with you.”
“Good idea,” Nolan said, his eyes gleaming with sensual promise. “We don’t get much time alone.”
“I can’t foist my boys on Gina,” Yvonne protested. “She has enough to do without adding them.”
“Make it during the next month, and I’ll take them for a weekend,” Josie said. “Eric and I enjoy the noise around the place. With Tyler and Katey leaving early, we’re going to find it very quiet.”
“No, I couldn’t—” Yvonne started.
“Don’t be silly,” Josie said. “You work hard and deserve a break.” She turned to Nolan. “You too.”
