‘But Regina has made brunch,’ his mother protests.
‘Don’t worry. Kate has quite an appetite.’
Bastard.I frown in his direction. ‘Yeah, I’m famished,’ I say cheerily. It was only a tiny morsel, barely a lick.’
I take his hand and step from the car, bringing down my sunnies to cover my eyes.
‘Shall we?’ he asks, bringing my hand to his mouth and kissing it, laughing softly.
Inside, the entrance hall is cool and dark. Slate tiles cover the floor and contrast stylishly against the warm ochre walls. We follow Mishael through a heavily carved archway and into a high-ceilinged room, brightly lit by several sets of French windows, leading out onto a terrace and the large freeform pool beyond.
‘Sit down, lovelies.’ Mishael directs us enthusiastically to pale sofas placed over bright oriental rugs. ‘Tell the old bird what you’ve been up to today.’
The familiar flush ofcardinal redcreeps across my cheeks. I hope it doesn’t make the answer too obvious.
‘Old bird?’ Kai repeats with scorn. ‘Do you see where I get my inclination towards flattery and compliments?’ His gaze slides to mine, before returning warmly to his mother. ‘We haven’t been up to much, just hung out, read a little. Your old favourite, Layla and Kais.’
I’d managed to source a copy of it in the school library. Kai spotted it on my bedside cabinet, laughingly asking if I’d found any smutty bits in it.
Mishael looks surprised for a moment, her mouth opening into a small ‘o’ before morphing into a smile. ‘But you hate that book! Said you’d wish I’d called you Peter or something. It must be you, Kate, he wouldn’t know good literature if it fell right off the shelf and hit him on the head.’
‘Actually, Kai read a little to me.’
‘No.’ He groans, ‘I’ll never live that down. I’m going to need a drink if you’re going to gang up on me.’
‘But it’s barely lunchtime,’ his mother cautions, one censorious eyebrow raised. Eyebrow action is obviously a family trait.
‘Mother, I’m being politic. By excusing myself to get a bottle of wine, I’m allowing you to quiz Kate about her intentions towards your only child.’
‘Kais!’ his mother exclaims. ‘Behave yourself! Bugger off and get yourself a bottle if you must, but don’t upset Regina.’
Kissing the top of my head, he murmurs, ‘I’ll be back soon. Be sure to make her get the thumb screws out.’
‘He’ll only be a few minutes. I don’t have an extensive cellar here.’ Rising, Mishael comes to sit on the sofa next to me. ‘Though he may go to his own house if he wants a particular wine.’
‘No worries. He’s next door, right?’
‘Yes, one of the other houses on the compound. I’m sure he’ll show you around.’ She waves her hand dismissively. ‘He really is a lovely man, a little stubborn, but he has a heart of gold.’
‘That sounds like him,’ I say lightly.
‘Yes, but in this case, I wanted him out of the room, anyway.’
‘Oh.’ Or more likely,uh-oh.
‘I did want to have a quick chat with you, without him around.’
‘Sure.’ I’m intrigued.
‘I do hope you aren’t letting him railroad his way through your life. I often think he needs someone to stand up to him, as well as for him. He hasn’t had the easiest life. God knows, his father demands a lot from him.’
‘I wouldn’t know,’ I say in a small voice.
‘No, you wouldn’t. I expect he thinks he’s protecting you. But you look strong enough to cope.’ Her eyes are almost assessing, but of what, I’m not sure. I feel like I’m here for an interview or something. ‘Look after my boy. Let him look after you.’
‘I’ll try my best,’ I reply quietly. But what she says next steals the breath from my lungs.
‘He’s in love, you know. I know it. I expect he does, too.’ She takes my hand in both of hers. ‘Just let him get there himself. It’s probably a frightening place for him to be.’
