A long, slow smile dawned on his handsome face. ‘Nervous in a good way? Because we’re having dinner together?’
She shrugged. ‘And because … I’m not sure if we’re having dinner together “in a good way” or in a friends way.’
Laughter jumped into his eyes. ‘I’m hoping for the good way.’
She relaxed into her chair. ‘Then so am I.’ After that, everything felt more comfortable. Ezz was conscious of a sweet, humming tension inside her, something she hadn’t felt recently – but all, as he termed it, in the good way. It didn’t matter that he was only on the Isle of Skye for a couple of months because that was how she usually played things. Nothing serious. Nothing heavy.
Brodie arrived with their meals, though without the pantomime waiter performance this time, just a friendly, ‘Enjoy your meals.’
But as she picked up her cutlery, she froze, a thought crashing into her mind. One reason she’d avoided anything serious or heavy was that she’d known she’d feelhonour-bound to divulge her secret about the accident that had changed the lives of her and Thea. But, to save Thea from fleeing the village, she’d already confided in Mats. He hadn’t reported her or been disgusted by her fall from grace. Shecouldget serious with him. Except she couldn’t because soon he’d leave. Sheesh, they’d had just one date! How long he’d be on Skye shouldn’t even be entering her head. A growing attraction to Mats Larsson was confusing her, that was all. Dates – and sometimes sex – without a future was exactly what she did.
A deep voice broke into her reverie. ‘Is there something wrong?’
Mats was staring at her, and she realised she’d been sitting motionless before her salad, cutlery poised. With a tiny headshake, she laughed. ‘I was miles away.’ When his frown didn’t shift and his mouth opened again as if he was about to probe more deeply, she decided on distraction. Leaning forward confidingly, she made her voice the merest whisper so no big-eared fellow patron would overhear. ‘I’m soon to inform your parents formally, so I can share it with you now. I’m going to be an auntie again. Thea’s expecting a baby.’
Instantly, his frown was vanquished by a great, beaming smile. Eyes alight, he copied her thready whisper. ‘That’s fantastic! How exciting for her and the rest of your family. Mum and Dad will be thrilled. I know she’s high in their estimation.’ Clearly confident that Thea’s news had been the reason for her reverie he began to tuck into his meal.
Shoving to the back of her mind the fact that Mats wouldn’t be in Skye very long, she showed interest in him, in time-honoured date etiquette. The evening began to whizz by. They covered favourite sports – he liked cross-country skiing, ice skating, running and padel, whichexplained why he was spare and rangy; she liked to walk in winter and swim in summer. On music: she liked singer-songwriters, often female; he liked retro rock like Meatloaf and Black Sabbath.
Eventually, she found herself talking about Rick Colville’s latest visit and the news of her maternal grandmother’s alcohol-fuelled rages.
His eyes widened. ‘No wonder your birth mother let your grandmother make decisions about you. She was too young to withstand anger.’
Something tingled through her. She wasn’t certain whether it was surprise at his instant insight, or remorse that she’d shown anger towards Kay herself. Again, she remembered Rick’s handwritten,We were kids.‘Sounds that way,’ she murmured, wishing that she’d been even slightly more understanding of Kay’s situation. They were on coffee now and were the last customers in the bar, whilst Brodie and Rosamund crated empty bottles and collected glasses. Ezz gazed into her coffee cup, wishing its froth could foretell the future, as tea leaves were supposed to. She had to swallow. ‘Does it seem wrong to you that I’m so hurt they only felt they could look for me once the grandmonster had died? Meanwhile, they made a cosy nest with my birth sisters, and they didn’t tell anyone they were coming to look for me. It makes me feel that they needed to check I was acceptable before introducing me to everyone else.’
He laid a warm hand gently on her arm. ‘I’m not in your situation, but I suspect it’s more complicated than that. Have they told your birth sisters that you exist?’
She thought back. Slowly, she answered, ‘I don’t think I asked in so many words, but I doubt it, or they’d have told them they were coming here looking for me. Or forLindy Loveless, anyway.’ With an effort, she lightened the conversation. ‘I’m glad Astrid invited me to join you for advent. It’s fun to see the kids get excited about Christmas, isn’t it?’
Immediately accepting the change of subject, he laughed. ‘Astrid’s really taken to you. She’s already asked if you can come next Sunday as well.’
‘At least somebody wants me,’ she quipped, though Astrid seeking her company again caused a blooming warmth around her heart.
‘She’s not the only one who wants you,’ he answered lightly.
‘Then all her cousins will turn up and she’ll forget I exist,’ she continued, wondering exactly how he meant that last remark, and trying to subdue a blush.
He grimaced. ‘I’d love to contradict you, but she adores Filip and Emil and gets up to all kinds of tricks with Walter – he’s what’s politely known as a livewire. Mum’s half-wishing she hadn’t brought Haggis and Scotch to live with Mary and Clive now. Walter will be clamouring to ride them.’
‘All sorted,’ Ezzie said smugly. ‘One of Sheena’s friends has her own ponies and, if requested, she’ll help the children ride Haggis and Scotch. They brought their tack with them when they came to live with us. Mary’s too elderly and dignified, of course, and Clive’s too unpredictable.’
Then Rosamund called from behind the bar. ‘Ezzie, I hate to break up your date, but you’ll cost me my licence if I don’t chuck you out now.’
‘Blimey.’ Ezz checked her watch and saw it was well past eleven. ‘Sorry, Rosamund.’ To make up, she carried their empty coffee cups to the bar.
Rosamund grabbed the opportunity to murmur, ‘He’s a hottie, eh?’ turning Ezz crimson once again.
Then Mats displayed his gentleman credentials by holding her coat so she could slip her arms into the sleeves. Or maybe it was an excuse to have his arms around her for a moment, his hands not quite brushing her body as he brought the two halves of the coat around in front of her.
‘Night,’ called Rosamund and Brodie, grinning.
‘Night.’ At least the freezing air cooled Ezzie’s cheeks as they stepped outside. ‘Brr. The mist’s lifted to leave a frosty night.’ She pulled her coat tightly around her. Then, perceiving that Mats meant to walk her home, laughed. ‘I can walk across the road on my own.’
His smile sounded in his voice. ‘But the rule is, if you walk a date home, you get a goodnight kiss.’
An answering smile took charge of her mouth. ‘Since when?’
‘Since I made the rule up,’ he said equably. In approximately forty strides, they reached her garden path. He surveyed her garden. ‘Have you lost your lawnmower?’
