Stevie could have been distinctly apprehensive by the potential step forward this outing could represent in her relationship with Josh but she wasn’t allowing herself to think about that. Living in the moment had worked very well when she’d decided she might as well make the most of one night with Josh Stanmore so that’s what she was doing again. Making the most of what could be a fantasy date.
When she heard that Lachlan had chosen one of the most prestigious restaurants in the region, her first reaction—apart from the nervousness that came from knowing that she was going to feel like a fish out of water—was to thank her lucky stars that she already had a suitable dress.
Nobody needed to know that it had been a fabulous find in a London charity shop a couple of years ago. A dress so gorgeous that Stevie had had to try it on, even though she’d known how unlikely it was that she would ever have an occasion that she would be able to wear it. And trying it on had been a mistake because there was no way she could leave it behind in the shop. Not when she’d discovered that such a rich shade of burgundy could look so amazing with the deep, auburn colour of her hair. Or that the combination of the cross-over bodice that exposed just enough of her shoulders, and the hem of the full skirt being so much higher at front than the back to reveal glimpses of her legs as she moved, made it the sexiest dress she’d ever tried on.
So she’d bought the dress and it had hung at the back of her wardrobe ever since. Sometimes, Stevie would notice it and stop a moment to touch it, loving the feel of the lace fabric and remembering how the silk lining had slipped over her skin like a lover’s touch. That feeling was still there as she put it on to actually wear out for the very first time, along with relief that it was still a perfect fit, but there was something a lot more intense that had changed. That slip of silk against her skin didn’t give her a fantasy moment of some imaginary lover. This time, it made her think only of Josh and how his touch made her feel.
How she knew, right down to her bones, that she would never find another lover who could make her feel like that.
Another man that she could trust enough to love as much as she loved Josh Stanmore.
Mattie’s jaw dropped when he saw her come out of the bathroom when she’d finished getting into her dress and doing her hair and make-up.
‘You look beautiful, Mum... Like a princess.’
‘Thanks, hon.’
‘Are you really going out to dinner with Josh?’
‘I am.’
‘Because you’re his girlfriend?’
Oh...help... There was no mistaking that gleam of hope in her son’s dark eyes. He really wanted her and Josh to be together, didn’t he? For Josh to be part of his future as a lot more than a Big Brother mentor, and that sounded a note of alarm that Stevie knew she’d have to deal with properly at some point. But not right now because that could spoil this fantasy and the temptation to indulge in the pleasure of living the dream for just a few hours was too strong. It wasn’t going to hurt anyone, especially Mattie, because she wouldn’t let that happen.
Stevie found a smile that she hoped was both reassuring but casual enough that it would help let him down gently when that time came. ‘Because I’m his friend,’ she said. ‘And I met his brother a little while ago. He’s coming too, so it’s not like a date or anything.’
‘Josh has got a brother?’ Mattie’s eyes widened as he was completely distracted. ‘I never knew that.’
‘Josh didn’t either.’ Stevie bent to drop a kiss on Mattie’s head. ‘But it’s a long story and it’ll have to wait until you see Josh again because it’s his story to tell, not mine. Now... I’m going to go and tell Mrs Johnson I’m ready to go. Are you all set for tonight?’
‘Yeah... I’m going to talk to Gran and do some more packing. Are we really moving next week?’
‘We are.’
‘And Lucky’s going to come and live with us straight away?’
‘That’s something else to talk about with Josh. He might want us to be properly settled in before Lucky comes.’
‘Talk about it tonight,’ Mattie instructed. ‘Tell him I want Lucky to come on the first day we move in. I want him to sleep on the end of my bed.’
The scruffy little dog was the last thing on Stevie’s mind, however, when she found herself sitting in Josh’s car a short time later and they were on their way to what she could pretend was a date and it was... It was almost overwhelmingly exciting but terrifying at the same time.
‘You’re very quiet tonight.’ Josh sounded sympathetic. ‘I guess you’re probably exhausted from all the packing you’re doing on top of everything else.’
‘Actually, I’m trying to remember the last time I got taken out to dinner. And I’ve never been to a Michelin-starred restaurant in my life.’
‘You look like you go out to places like this all the time. Your dress is gorgeous and that hairstyle is very elegant.’
‘Thanks.’ Stevie had to smile. ‘It’s just a messy bun. There’s not much I can do with hair like mine. It has a personality all of its own.’
Josh laughed. ‘Like you,’ he said, turning to catch her gaze. ‘I think you’re both very well suited.’ He was slowing the vehicle. ‘I think we’re here.’
‘Wow...’ Stevie took in the ivy-covered stone walls of the old manor house and the circular drive in front of it with a floodlit fountain in a central garden. ‘It looks amazing.’
‘Mmm...’ Josh shook his head. ‘Don’t know how Lachlan swung it on such short notice. I’d heard that you needed a good percentage of royal blood or something to get a reservation here ever since it got its latest Michelin star.’
‘Didn’t you tell me that his father had been knighted? I’m guessing the name would be well known in these parts.’ Stevie was watching Josh’s face as he parked his car. ‘Does it still bother you? That Lachlan grew up in such a different world?’
Again, Josh turned so that he could look at Stevie directly. ‘You know what? I think I might have resented it a whole lot more if you hadn’t put me straight.’
‘Put you straight? How did I do that?’
‘You made me realise that being so wealthy hasn’t made Lachlan any happier than I am.’
Stevie felt a glow of pride that came from knowing that Josh had put such importance on something she’d said. She couldn’t help the rebellious thought that followed almost instantly—that he might have a similar epiphany if she told him how she really felt about him. If she suggested that they could build a future together...
‘To be honest,’ Josh added, as he reached to open his door, ‘I’m a bit worried about him. I think he’s really struggling to get his head around having been adopted, so finding out he’s got a brother has been more a shock to him than it is to me. He’s not saying much, but I reckon he’s lost weight over the last few weeks and he seems to look more stressed than ever now.’
‘Maybe tonight will help.’ Stevie followed his example and climbed out of the car.
She could help a little, too, by not disturbing Josh with any overly personal confessions. He had quite enough going on in his life and this wasn’t really a date, was it? She might have indulged in a bit of a fantasy but she was really only here because Lachlan wanted to show his appreciation of how she’d sheltered the first meeting of these brothers. She smiled brightly at Josh as he arrived beside her to walk inside the restaurant. ‘If nothing else, I’m sure the food will be extraordinary.’
The maître d’ was waiting to welcome them, but also had a message to say that Mr McKendry had rung and he was running a little late.
‘He asked that you be served a glass of champagne at the table while you’re waiting. Please...follow me.’
If the menu was anything to go by, the food was certainly going to be nothing like Stevie had ever tasted. She and Josh read the items on the parchment paper while they sipped the champagne.
‘Seafood ri
sotto with squid ink?’ Stevie whispered. ‘And venison with blackberry brandy? Who thinks up combinations like that?’
‘Foodies love it.’ Josh smiled. ‘And I read somewhere that the Cotswolds are rural England’s foodie capital, but you know what?’ There was something in his eyes that was melting something deep inside Stevie. He leaned closer and his words were only for her ears. ‘I’m no foodie. I’d be just as happy with some of your mousetraps. Ah...that looks like Lachlan arriving now.’
Stevie was still smiling as she watched Josh’s brother hand his coat to someone and then turn to help his companion remove hers. Stevie blinked.
‘I thought he was bringing his mother’s nurse?’
‘He is.’ Josh was also watching the way his brother was slipping that coat free from the shoulders of the rather gorgeous young woman with wavy blonde, shoulder-length hair. ‘They do look like a couple,’ he murmured. ‘I wonder if that’s something else he’s not saying much about.’
The new arrivals hadn’t noticed they were being watched yet and, as Lachlan turned to look for where his brother was seated, he also didn’t notice the way his companion was looking up at him but Stevie recognised that look all too well. There was definitely something going on there. Something that made them a very close couple.
Her mouth suddenly went dry enough to make her reach for her water glass. Maybe tonight had the promise of being something even more than an hour or two of fantasy? It happened at weddings, didn’t it? People who might be thinking that getting married was the last thing they wanted got unexpectedly coaxed into a very different direction. After thinking that they both shared a similar aversion to any kind of permanence in their relationships with women, if his brother really was in a meaningful relationship, could it change the shape of those boundaries he had in place around his own heart? Make a difference to how Josh felt about his own future, perhaps?
* * *
It was throwing him off balance a little, to be honest.
Josh hadn’t expected Lachlan’s mother’s nurse to be such an attractive young woman. She had bright blue eyes in a classic combination with that blonde hair and she had a smile that was wide enough to be second only to Stevie’s in the way it could light up a room.
‘Call me Flick,’ she’d told them the moment Lachlan had finished introducing her as Felicity. ‘I’ve only ever been called Felicity by the taxman or the police.’
‘What were the police after you for? No, don’t tell me...’ Lachlan was smiling. ‘I think I’d rather leave that to my imagination for a while.’
Josh caught the ghost of a wink sent in his direction but it only added to that unsettled feeling. This was supposed to be an outing to thank both Flick and Stevie, wasn’t it?
So why was it suddenly feeling like they were all on a double date?
That they were two couples seemed more obvious as they ordered their drinks and starters. Both Josh and Stevie chose stuffed Portobello mushrooms while Lachlan and Flick both ordered hay-smoked scallops. It was a relief for Josh that the conversation turned in a more professional direction by the time those starters were served.
‘How’s that lad doing?’ Lachlan asked Josh. ‘From the brachial plexus repair?’
‘Very well...’ Josh was looking at Stevie, however, as he lifted another mouthful of the mushroom towards his mouth. He had been perfectly genuine in telling her how much he loved her mousetraps but these mushrooms were definitely to die for. Judging by the twinkle in her eyes, she was thinking along the same lines and it gave Josh an equally delicious frisson to know that they could have an entirely private moment like this when they were in such close company with other people.
‘I’ve been trying to get back to see him again,’ Lachlan added. ‘But it’s been full on.’ He put down his fork, having barely tasted the scallops. ‘Lectures here, surgeries there and I’ve had to dash up to London a couple of times as well.’
‘Sounds stressful.’ Josh could feel himself frowning. Was it all too much? Enough to be the reason why Lachlan was looking as if he’d lost weight? That he was too pale?
As if he could sense his brother’s concern and wanted to brush it off, Lachlan was smiling brightly. ‘At least I don’t have to worry about anything on the home front.’ He raised his glass in Flick’s direction. ‘You’re doing a fabulous job,’ he told her. ‘I’m not at all surprised that London Locums considers you to be one their very best nurses. I will be grateful to you for ever. For everything...’
Flick dropped her gaze, seemingly embarrassed by the praise. Or was there some kind of hidden message there? A private moment, like the one he’d just had with Stevie? Whatever it was, it felt like distraction might be welcome.
‘How long have you been doing locum nursing work, Flick?’ Josh asked.
‘Oh, years...’ She looked up again to smile at him. ‘I love the excitement of everything being new. Meeting new people, getting to know a new place. A new challenge...’
Lachlan made a sound that could have been suggesting that a ‘challenge’ might be an understatement in this case, but then became one of discomfort.
‘It’s a bit warm in here, isn’t it?’ He rubbed at a gleam of moisture on his forehead with his fingers, pushing it into his hairline, which made him look far less groomed than usual. Then he pushed back his chair. ‘Excuse me for a moment. I just need a bit of fresh air.’
There was no mistaking the flash of real concern in Flick’s eyes as Lachlan headed for a set of French doors near their table that led to a potager garden with strings of fairy lights woven into the low box hedges. She abandoned her own food and looked ready to go after him but Josh moved first.
‘I’ll go,’ he said quietly.
The air was certainly a lot fresher outside but it didn’t seem to be making an immediate difference to Lachlan, who was loosening his tie and undoing the top button of his shirt as Josh arrived by his side.
‘You okay?’
‘I’m fine.’
‘You’d tell me if you weren’t, wouldn’t you?’
‘Of course.’ Lachlan’s smile was a little too wide. ‘You’re my brother. Family, huh? Real family, that is...’ He was staring in through the panes of the French doors to where Stevie and Flick were talking to each other. Because the fact that his mother’s nurse was here was a reminder of the family he’d thought he’d had that wasn’t real?
No...for a heartbeat there was something in Lachlan’s gaze and his body language that Josh thought he could read only too well. It was enough to make him turn his own head to watch Stevie for a moment. To let himself feel that pull that was so strong it felt as if it could smash through any kind of barrier that was in the way.
It was so hard to imagine his life without Stevie in it now. Josh didn’t want to imagine that. More than anything, he wanted to trust the extraordinary connection he’d found with Stevie. He would never have thought he’d actually be thinking in terms of a ‘real’ relationship but he couldn’t deny that he was starting to. Something real enough that it could even lead to creating his own family?
But, then, he’d never expected to be presented with a real family member out of the blue, like this, either. The foundations of all those barriers Josh had built so many years ago appeared to be on rather shaky ground now. Was that something that Lachlan was also grappling with, perhaps? That might be contributing to the stress levels that were clearly affecting him?
‘I think Flick’s worried about you, too.’
‘There’s nothing to worry about,’ Lachlan said. ‘Not for you, and especially not for Flick. She’s only here temporarily. Until I set up something permanent for my mother. Or put her in a home, perhaps. Which I might do any day now, the way things are going...’
‘Maybe she would like to stay longer,’ Josh suggested. ‘I get the impression that you guys really like each other.’
He was speaking quie
tly, his gaze drawn back to Stevie, and it felt like he was saying his next words aloud for his own benefit—just to see what it felt like to explore this new, mind-bending idea.
‘She might like the idea of something permanent herself,’ he said. ‘Maybe it’s a shame if you don’t hang on to something that’s too good not to keep.’
Lachlan gave a huff of something like laughter as he pulled at his tie to take it off completely, except there was no amusement in the sound.
‘Are you kidding? And here I was thinking that we were on the same page as far as women went. I mean, we both know that families aren’t worth the effort and we both know why.’
‘We’re family now,’ Josh said softly. He could understand exactly why Lachlan might be finding his feelings confusing. Overwhelming, even. Maybe it was something in common that could end up being the most important connection of all between them?
But Lachlan was turning away from the window. ‘That’s different,’ he muttered. ‘It’s still time to move on the moment the girls get any ideas about anything permanent. A “future”.’ He made quotation marks with his fingers around the word. ‘It’s an “F” word as far as I’m concerned. Breaks all the...the...’
Lachlan never finished that sentence because he simply crumpled like an abandoned puppet and all Josh could do was to step in and break his fall. He caught his brother in his arms just before he hit the flagstone terrace.
He tilted Lachlan’s head back to make sure his airway was open. Then he felt for a pulse in his neck, at the same time listening and feeling to see whether Lachlan was breathing. He felt the rush of warm air from the restaurant as the French doors were opened behind him and then Stevie and Flick were both there.
‘What can I do?’ Stevie asked.
‘Oh, my God...’ Flick dropped to her knees beside Lachlan, her face as white as a sheet. ‘No...’
Josh caught Stevie’s gaze. ‘He’s breathing,’ he told her. ‘And he’s got a good, steady pulse. He may have just fainted for some reason but I think we’d better call an ambulance.’
A Pup to Rescue Their Hearts Page 12