He chuckled. ‘Well, at least I have some use. I’ll leave you to do whatever it is that women do before they go out. I’ll wait downstairs, ready to give this man of yours a grilling when he rings on the door.’
Her heart lurched. ‘Please tell me that’s a joke.’
His brown eyes twinkled. ‘How else am I going to know if I can trust him with my precious daughter?’
Doug parked on the street just by the Spencer house. The drive was fully occupied with a truck, which he guessed was her father’s, and a clapped out old Beetle. Abby’s? As he walked up the path he smiled at the pots by the front door. Not arty, or sophisticated, they brimmed with flowers of all colours and description. Abby’s again, he’d like to bet. He reached for the bell but even before he’d pressed it, the door swung open and a fifty-something male of average height and build greeted him. The instant he looked into his eyes, Doug knew who it was.
‘You must be Abby’s father. Hi, I’m Doug Faulkner.’ He held out his hand. ‘Pleased to meet you, sir.’
‘Good God, can’t remember the last time I was called sir. Come on in, lad. And the name’s Derek. We don’t stand on ceremony here.’
Cursing his boarding school manners, and uncomfortably aware he’d already been pigeonholed as a pompous ass, Doug followed him inside. A wall of noise greeted him. The baby was screaming and two of the girls, Doug couldn’t remember their names, were in the middle of a heated argument.
He nodded over to Mandy, but she was bouncing her son up and down, trying to get him to calm down, so he tried Roger instead. ‘How’s the job going?’
Roger opened his mouth and Doug knew words were coming out of it but he had no clue what they were because the two younger sisters had, unbelievably, upped their yelling by a few decibels.
‘Holly, Ellie, that’s enough,’ their father thundered. ‘We’ve got a posh visitor. Let’s show him we know how to behave.’
The two girls stopped and turned to look at him. The younger one grinned. ‘That’s Doug, Abby’s boss. He’s the one who beat up those guys and snogged Abby on the drive.’
Oh boy. Feeling utterly unhinged, Doug glanced desperately around the room but there was no Abby to help him out. Only Mandy and Roger, who were both clearly struggling to hold back their laughter. Oh and Derek, who looked like any father would on hearing his darling daughter had been snogged by an unworthy male. ‘I admit to the last point but I’d like to argue the first. I didn’t beat anyone up.’
‘From what I heard you did turf two unwelcome visitors out of our home.’ Derek’s face relaxed sufficiently to give him a small smile. ‘The jury is still out on whether that makes up for what happened on the drive.’
As Doug struggled to find a reply, Abby appeared on the landing. The moment his eyes caught hers he felt all the breath leave his lungs. ‘You look stunning,’ he managed.
‘Tell me when I reach the bottom.’ She eyed up the stairs as if they were part of a complicated assault course. ‘I’m not used to wearing a long dress, or such high heels. It’s a potentially lethal combination.’
Uncaring of the very interested eyes fixed on him, Doug ran up the staircase. ‘Here, take my hand. I won’t let you fall.’
Her small hand curled around his, making him feel like a prince as he guided her carefully down the steps. On reaching the bottom her hand slipped from his and immediately he missed the intimacy.
‘You can tell me how good I look now.’
A laugh ripped out of him. ‘Okay then.’ He took a step back and gave her a deliberate once over. ‘I’ve never seen anyone look as beautiful as you.’
She raised her eyes to the ceiling. ‘That was over the top. Try again, but make it more believable.’
‘Ignore her, Doug,’ Mandy piped up from the open plan kitchen. ‘She has a habit of telling you what you should be thinking.’
‘She has a habit of not believing a compliment, even when it’s the truth,’ Doug countered, his eyes still on Abby. ‘I meant it. You’re beautiful.’
As Abby’s cheeks flushed Doug became aware that once again he was the centre of attention. Though he was comfortable complimenting a woman, he wasn’t comfortable being watched while doing it. ‘Are you ready?’
‘Yes.’ She sounded as eager as him to escape. ‘We should probably go before my family says anything more embarrassing.’
‘I haven’t done the look after my daughter speech yet,’ her father announced, walking up to them and putting his arm around Abby’s waist. The gesture was so natural, so familiar, Doug found himself absurdly envious.
‘You’re not going to give that speech because I’m going to give you a look after your daughters speech instead.’ Abby hugged her father, giving him a kiss on the cheek. ‘The stew is in the slow cooker, the oven chips need another ten minutes and Holly still has to finish her homework. Don’t wait up.’
As he watched the easy affection between father and daughter, Doug felt in the way so he went to stand by the door while Abby said her goodbyes and gathered her black shawl from the back of the sofa.
‘Enjoy yourselves,’ Derek called out as they were leaving. ‘If there’s any snogging to be done, make sure you do it on the sofa and not the drive. We have standards round here.’
The door closed with a bang behind them, but not before Doug had heard the burst of laughter.
Abby groaned. ‘Oh God, could my family be any more embarrassing?’
‘Wait till you meet mine. It will take embarrassment to a whole new level.’
‘I doubt that, though your father is kind of scary.’ He opened the passenger door for her but before she climbed in she looked down at her dress. ‘Before I forget, thank you so much for this, though you really shouldn’t have spent so much.’
‘Do you like it?’
Her eyes snapped up to meet his. ‘Are you kidding? It’s the most incredible thing I’ve ever owned.’
‘Then it was worth every penny.’
She gave him a shy smile and shuffled down into her seat. Geraldine had a way of slipping in that made the process appear seamless. Abby sort of flopped in, then jiggled a while. But heavens, her method stirred something inside him that Geraldine, with all her sophisticated elegance, never had.
‘How did you know what size to buy?’ she asked, when he’d reversed out of the drive.
‘I have a fair bit of experience with the female form.’ Hearing her sharp intake of breath, he slid her a wry smile. ‘I have sisters, too.’
‘Oh, yes, right. Though I suspect your knowledge comes from elsewhere, too.’
‘I’ve had my moments.’
Abby bet he had. She cast another look in Doug’s direction. A tux did wonders for a man, and when that man was already drop dead gorgeous, it took him off the scale. It wasn’t just the way Doug looked that sent a flush of awareness shooting through her, but the way he carried himself. He was born to wear an expensive tuxedo and drive a classy sports car. It made her realise she wasn’t only going to a posh do with the boss she was falling for. She was going with the movie star handsome heir to Lord and Lady Faulkner.
Groaning inwardly she hugged her arms around her waist. Now she wasn’t just anxious, she was shitting bricks.
His gaze flickered in her direction. ‘Are you okay?’
‘Yes. I’m fine. Just a bit nervous.’ Like Everest was a bit of a mountain. The Arctic a bit cold.
‘Don’t be. Other than a cursory hello you won’t need to talk to anyone other than me. I promise not to make you nervous.’ He gave her his rare, heart dropping smile and she didn’t have the heart to tell him he was already making her nervous because of how he made her feel. ‘If at any point you want to go, you only have to say the word and I’ll take you straight home. We can grab some of the stew you made your family.’
‘Oh no, I wouldn’t be that cruel. I’ll force myself to stay at least until we’ve finished the meal.’
‘There’s always McDonald’s.’
She spluttered out
a laugh. ‘Oh sure. I can just see me sitting in Maccy D’s with this dress on. I’ll look like a right twit.’
He turned to her, a rare intimacy in his eyes. ‘You’ll look like you do now. Unbelievably sexy.’
She felt her tummy dip and then a swarm of butterflies take up residence. Earlier he’d called her beautiful, now sexy. Was he finally going to do something about this attraction between them?
She snuck another glance at him, but his expression told her nothing.
Chapter Seventeen
Doug turned the car through a pair of imposing gates and into a long, gravel drive. Abby squinted, making out a grand brick building in the distance. The closer they got to the building, the larger and grander it became. And the more her heart thumped.
‘Is this where you grew up?’ she squawked, unable to keep the awe from her voice.
‘It’s the Faulkner family home, yes.’
‘So it’s where you grew up.’
‘It’s where I lived when I wasn’t at boarding school.’
She’d sensed his unease as soon as he’d turned into the drive. Now his expression was so tight all the questions she was itching to ask died on her lips.
Doug brought the car to a halt outside the front entrance and immediately a smartly dressed gentleman swooped to open her door. She didn’t have a clue how to make an elegant exit from a low slung sports car so she concentrated instead on making a safe one, gathering up her dress so she didn’t trip over it.
Doug was waiting and she clutched gratefully at his outstretched hand, both for stability and reassurance.
‘Thanks, Edward.’ Doug threw the valet – or crikey, who knew, perhaps it was the butler? – his keys and nestled her hand into the crook of his arm. ‘Are you ready for this?’
‘I thought you said I shouldn’t be scared?’
‘You shouldn’t.’
‘Then don’t ask me if I’m ready in the same way a sky diving instructor might ask just before he pushes you out of a plane.’
His features relaxed a little and his vivid blue eyes scanned her face. ‘I’m so glad you’re here, Abby. You’ve no idea how glad.’
‘I hope you’re still saying that at the end of the evening.’
He laughed softly, keeping hold of her hand as they walked towards the entrance, a highly glossed green door, surrounded by columns and reached by a set of sweeping steps.
‘I feel I should show someone a ticket.’ When he gave her a puzzled look she realised he had no clue how gobsmacking his family home was to someone like her. ‘This house is like something out of a National Trust brochure. The only other time I’ve gone into a place looking like this I’ve had to pay for the privilege. I hope it’s got a good tea shop.’
His soft laugh helped disperse some of her nerves, though they returned with a vengeance when she came face-to-face with the woman waiting for them inside. She’d met his mother at the board meeting, but they hadn’t been introduced. In her late fifties, at a guess, she was elegantly dressed in blue silk with a matching sapphire necklace. Her shrewd brown eyes were cold and assessing. ‘You’re late.’
‘Nice to see you, too, mother.’ Doug’s voice was clipped as he turned to Abby. ‘As you’ve no doubt guessed, this is my mother, Belinda. Mother, I’d like you to meet Abigail.’
‘Ah yes, the secretary.’
Still holding his arm, Abby felt every one of Doug’s muscles stiffen. ‘No. My date for this evening.’
Belinda nodded. ‘Of course. Charmed to meet you, Abigail.’ Before Abby could work out whether her words had been ironic (probably), perfunctory (possibly) or heartfelt (no chance in hell), Belinda turned to the slight figure standing behind her. ‘This is Margaret, my youngest.’
Margaret gave her a very small, very shy smile. ‘Hi.’
‘Good evening is a more dignified greeting,’ Belinda admonished, before turning her attention back to her son. ‘We’ve been waiting for you so we can take the family photograph. Abigail can wait out in the hall.’
She turned, effectively dismissing them, but Doug held onto her arm. ‘You can be rude to me. I expect it. Abigail, on the other hand, deserves as much respect as any of your other guests this evening.’
The coldness of his words sent a shiver down Abby’s spine. She’d never back chatted her mum like that. Then again, her mum hadn’t been a bitch. ‘I’ll be fine waiting here.’ Anxious to avoid any further unpleasantness, Abby nodded over to a fancy chair. ‘There’s even a seat for me. Come and find me when you’re finished.’
A muscle twitched in Doug’s jaw. ‘No, I’m not having my guest sitting in the flaming hall. We’ll find Gwen.’ He paused to send a brief smile towards Margaret, who’d slunk back against the wall, before giving his mother a dark look. ‘I’ll be with you in a few minutes.’
Doug marched off down the corridor and Abby teetered behind him. Damn these stupid shoes. Why did she ever think she could carry this look off? Abruptly he halted and looked over his shoulder. ‘Christ, sorry.’ Three strides later he was back with her, threading her arm through his. Abby was pathetically grateful for the contact. ‘I forgot to warn you how much I hate coming here. Or how much my family winds me up.’
‘Margaret seems sweet and Thea is lovely.’
He darted her an amused look. ‘Very tactful and yes, Margaret is sweet and Thea is lovely. As is the lady I’d like you to meet.’ He pushed open the door to a kitchen the size of her house. ‘Gwen?’ he shouted. ‘Where are you hiding?’
‘Doug!’
Abby’s eyes skimmed across the expanse of shining tile floor and gleaming granite worktops, over the crowd of people in chef’s uniforms, and onto a short, dumpy lady with grey hair and a dazzling smile, bustling towards them.
As Abby watched, fascinated, Doug was swallowed by a pair of plump arms.
‘Now, who is this gorgeous lady?’ Gwen asked, when she finally released him.
‘Abby, I’d like you to meet Gwen, who’s been here for as long as I can remember. I can’t understand why she’s not putting her feet up and enjoying a well-deserved retirement.’
Gwen gave him a hefty shove. ‘Oh, you. Doug knows very well I can’t abide not being busy. Besides, this is my home.’
‘You do have another one,’ he countered, his expression suddenly serious.
The older lady squeezed his arm. ‘I know, and I’m very grateful.’ Her voice caught as they exchanged a look. ‘One day, when I’m ready.’ She dived into the pocket of her apron and dragged out a tissue which she used to wipe at her eyes before giving Abby a bright smile. ‘Pleased to meet you, Miss Abby.’
‘Oh please, it’s just Abby. Otherwise I feel I should be on the set of Downton.’
Gwen’s ample chest vibrated with laughter. ‘I can see you and I are going to get along famously.’
‘I hope so,’ Doug interjected, ‘because I’m going to ask you to look after Abby for me while I do my family duty.’
‘Tush, no problem, it will be my pleasure. I’ll entertain her with stories of you in short trousers. No need to hurry back.’
Abby giggled as Doug shot them both a wary look. ‘I think you can safely guarantee my quick return.’
The moment he disappeared Gwen pulled out a stool. ‘Now, my dear, you sit yourself down here and we can talk while I pretend to be busy.’
‘But you are busy,’ Abby protested, noting the hive of activity around them. ‘I don’t want to cause any problems. Just ignore me.’
‘Good heavens, I’m lucky enough to meet Doug’s girlfriend and you expect me to ignore you? Impossible.’
Flustered, Abby shook her head. ‘I’m not his girlfriend. I work for him.’
Gwen considered her. ‘Well, he didn’t bring that Geraldine to see me. Kept her well out of sight.’
Abby bit back on what would have been a rather smug smile.
‘Now I’ll find you a drink and you can tell me all about what he’s like as a boss.’
Having done his duty and had h
is photograph taken – another happy Faulkner family portrait for the album – Doug went to collect Abby. Pushing open the heavy oak door to the kitchen his heart lifted at the sight of her and Gwen chatting away, then stilled when he considered what Gwen was filling Abby’s ears with. Gwen didn’t know The Big Secret, but she knew enough to embarrass the heck out of him. Tales of him in short trousers, indeed.
‘And what are you doing back so soon?’ Gwen exclaimed when she caught sight of him. ‘We’ve only just got started.’
‘Then my timing is spot on.’ He nodded over to Abby whose face told him she’d been laughing a lot. Whether it was at his expense or not he wasn’t sure he wanted to know. ‘Time to enter the lion’s den.’
Immediately her face fell and Gwen swatted him with her tea towel. ‘Don’t make the poor girl nervous.’ She patted Abby’s arm. ‘Any big cats out there are old and toothless by now. Just you go and enjoy yourself.’
‘I’ll try, thank you.’ Her big brown eyes swung his way. ‘Is there a, umm, what do you call a loo in a place like this? A powder room?’
Gwen chuckled. ‘We call a loo, a loo. Use the one round the corner. That way you won’t bump into any toothless cats.’
As soon as Abby was out of sight, Gwen turned to him. ‘Doug, my dear boy.’ She peered up at him, her grey eyes searching his face. ‘You look less strained than when I last saw you. Are you happy?’
He clasped her hands in his and smiled. ‘I’m getting there.’ It was what he always said, but this time it felt like there was some truth in it.
‘Because of Abby?’ Gwen’s face lit up, her eyes shining. ‘She’s a rare drop of sunshine, that lady. You’d do well to grab hold of her.’
‘I’m her boss, Gwen,’ he said softly.
‘Aye, I know that. But you’re also more than halfway in love with her.’ He opened his mouth to deny it, but she gave him another of her legendary shoves. ‘You can fool a lot of people, young man, but you can’t fool me.’
Oh Crumbs Page 16