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“It’s so nice to meet you,” Winnie said. “I’m Winnie Knox, though I’m guessing your brother has already told you all about me.”

Matthew cringed. Time to put on his armor.

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

“He has, actually,” Char said, not bothering to look behind her at Matthew. “Which is exactly why I needed to come here to see for myself what you’re really like.”

Matthew gave a subtle shake of his head. He never should have spoken with Char. She trusted people far too easily.

“I can only imagine what he’s said,” Winnie returned.

She looked different today. Carefree, maybe? No, that wasn’t the right word. “Slightly relaxed” was closer to it. Maybe the jetlag had finally left, taking with it the sleepy circles beneath her eyes.

“Oh, don’t take it personally,” Char said. “He’s always been judgmental.”

“I gathered.”

Matthew frowned. “You two are aware that I’m standing right here, aren’t you?”

Char waved a dismissive hand over her shoulder. At least Winnie had the decency to look at him, though neither of them still said a word to him.

He folded his arms. He’d come here to steer the conversation in the right direction, not to be subjected to his sister’s teasing in front of Winnie, making him look even worse in front of her. Although, how that was possible, he wasn’t sure. She probably blamed him for the whole state of the festival. Not that it wasn’t his fault…

“Mummy! Lilly won’t share the ball with me!”

Thankfully, the attention shifted to Matthew’s nieces, who ran toward them to stand beside their mum.

“Lilly, Ava wants a turn, love,” Char said as the three-year-old gripped tightly to the ball.

“No, my turn!” Lilly shouted with a scowl.

“And who are these beautiful girls?” Winnie asked, smiling down at his nieces.

Instantly, Lilly and Ava stared up at Winnie with curious eyes, the argument over the ball apparently forgotten.

“Oh, aren’t you kind?” Char said, falling at once for Winnie’s compliments. Was Matthew the only one who wasn’t a sucker for the consultant?

“These are my little girls, Ava and Lilly,” Char continued. She leaned down to her daughters. “This is Winnie. She’ll be staying at the house and working as Matthew’s boss for a bit.”

Matthew pulled a face. His boss. He knew Char was trying to annoy him on purpose, but blimey, he didn’t think it’d be working so well.

At least Winnie didn’t react. Instead, she bent her knees and lowered herself to be at the girls’ levels.

How did she manage that, then? Those heels would have toppled anyone.

“Hi, girls,” she said with a warm smile. “Do you live at Foxwood, too?”

Ava, who had just turned five, nodded with a shy smile. Lilly, the three-year-old, had hidden herself entirely behind her mummy, clinging her little arm around Char’s leg.

“Wow, so you get to live with your grandparents?” Winnie continued with a bright smile.

Char was smiling now, too, peering down at her girls, who had also started to grin.

But Matthew’s frown had only grown. Sneaky woman, trying to get in with the kids. She was good. He’d give her that.

“Yeh,” Ava said with a nod.

“That is so fun,” Winnie said. “I bet you love that.”