‘What about Grandma?’ asked Fleur, looking up at her mother for guidance.
Sybella put a hand to her own temple. ‘Catherine’s spending the day with us,’ she said, looking a little harassed. He could see what was coming. Maybe this isn’t a good idea.
Nik didn’t hesitate at this mere stumbling block. ‘Catherine too, then.’
CHAPTER ELEVEN
‘I BELIEVE YOU were seen having sexual relations with my daughter-in-law up against a car at the Hall.’
Sybella had taken Fleur off to the facilities, or ‘loo’ as she called it, leaving him alone with the real Mrs Parminter in the low-beamed, snug confines of The Folly Inn, a pub in Edbury with Civil War origins, according to Sybella, and an impressive wine list that spoke of Edbury’s prominence on the Cotswolds tourist trail.
Nik cleared his throat. ‘That didn’t happen.’
The older woman lifted her wine glass with a faint smile.
‘I didn’t think it did. Sybella is too tightly wrapped up in the memory of my son.’
Great. He really didn’t want to hear about the sainted Simon, who’d given Sybella some ridiculous but deeply felt anxieties about her body and left her with a baby, although he guessed the guy couldn’t be blamed for that—he hadn’t known a truck was coming for him. But he had brought her to a village with so few career prospects she’d been forced to invade his home. Although, Nik was no longer exercised over that little tweak in fate given it had brought Sybella into his life.
‘I wish to God it had though,’ Catherine added and tipped back the rest of her wine.
Okay, she now had his full attention.
He waited. He figured the stylish older woman was leading up to something and his input wasn’t really needed.
‘Why don’t you take her away somewhere? Marcus and I can look after Fleur for a week, and you seem rather smitten.’
Smitten? Not a word anyone had ever used about him. He usually got ruthless bastard or ice man.
However, Catherine Parminter had just earned her lunch. Taking Sybella away somewhere—alone—had begun to look like an impossible task from the moment he’d clapped eyes on Fleur in the kitchen, and up until this moment he hadn’t fancied his chances separating mother from daughter.
He caught sight of Sybella leading Fleur across the room. Male heads were turning. She looked sensational in a green jersey dress made sexy by the simple act of cinching a fabric belt around her waist. Not that she appeared to be thinking about herself and how she presented; she was obviously too busy keeping an eye on her small daughter.
‘I believe I will,’ he said, not paying much attention to the smug look that now settled on Catherine Parminter’s face.
He stood up as Sybella approached.
‘Everything takes double the time,’ she said with a smile, ‘but we get there eventually.’
Fleur wasn’t interested in taking her seat. Nik didn’t know much about kids but even he could see she was overexcited by the day’s events and actively resisting her mother’s attempts to get her seated back at the table.
‘I might take Fleur for a ramble along the river,’ said Catherine, pushing back her chair noisily. ‘Why don’t you finish that bottle of Merlot, Syb?’
Sybella gave her mother-in-law a look of outright surprise but Catherine was already moving her granddaughter off and there was nothing else for Sybella to do but sit down.
Nik seated himself and picked up the bottle but she shook her head.
‘I don’t know what’s got into Catherine. She doesn’t usually like it when I drink.’
‘She thinks it might loosen you up.’
‘Sorry—what?’
Nik decided to just put it out there.
‘She wants you to get laid.’
‘What do you mean?’ Then her eyes widened. ‘No! She didn’t?’
‘Apparently you’re missing out.’
‘I’m not! I mean, that’s not true.’
‘Obviously,’ he drawled complacently.
She flushed and looked away, clearly flustered.
‘Although it has been seven days,’ he added.
‘Try six years,’ she said, then her eyes flew to his in dismay; she was clearly aware she’d given far too much away.