Wild Rendezvous Read Online Free PDF

meal.
    â€˜Horrid,’ Beverly replies with a dismissive flap of her hand. ‘Long and stuffy and they ran out of champagne.’
    I take the tongs, serve out a little salad and chicken on to a small plastic plate for Lucy and pass it to her.
    â€˜Help yourself.’ I indicate the food on the table. ‘We don’t stand on ceremony here.’
    â€˜No, I can tell.’ Again the strange face contortion that almost resembles a smile passes across her face.
    â€˜So, I hear you’re staying with us until the wedding.’ I continue with my attempt to make small talk as I scoop up some salad on to my plate.
    â€˜Yes, Rupert is in a huff. I have no idea why but he got the silly idea in his head that I was flirting with the pool boy and, well, he’s cancelled my credit card, the vindictive old goat. So I’m afraid I’ll have to stay here.’
    â€˜Oh, it’s no problem.’ I smile; I am pretty sure it is a better fake smile than she manages to pull. ‘We have the sofa bed.’
    â€˜Yes, it’s very good of you to put yourself out for me like that but my back means I need a proper divan mattress or I’m simply useless the next day. Joe has already changed the linen on your bed for me.’
    I look over the table to Joe who smiles so much I worry he’ll strain his cheek muscles. Poor guy, he’s at the end of his tether.
    â€˜Oh, that’s good. Well, it’s only for a few nights, I’m sure we’ll manage.’
    â€˜I suppose.’ She sighs dramatically. ‘But I am not used to living in such conditions. I mean, you don’t even have air conditioning. It is stifling in here. ‘
    â€˜For the few hot days a year we actually get in Britain it’s not worth the expense. You’ll find very few homes are air conditioned over here.’
    Her look instantly tells me she believes that just isn’t a good enough excuse. It began to dawn on me that it’s not going to be an easy few days ahead.
    â€˜But I suppose I have to put up with it; it’s not every day one’s son gets married.’
    â€˜No, it isn’t.’ I smile. ‘I’m really looking forward to Saturday.’
    I look at Joe and he smiles back, a proper smile that lights up his dark eyes.
    â€˜Weddin’,’ Lucy squeals, ‘weddin’, yay!’
    Joe and I laugh heartily.
    â€˜Yes, sweetie, we’re excited too.’ I smile at her and Joe ruffles her hair.
    Joe’s mother tuts.
    â€˜What a day when a young child sees her mother married for the first time.’
    â€˜What? Different to the three times I saw you married as a child, Mother?’
    â€˜Oh, Joe, stop being petulant. I thought you’d have grown out of that by now.’
    I make exaggerated yummy noises and clatter my cutlery to the plate.
    â€˜That was delicious, darling. Would you like me to go and get dessert?’
    â€˜No, you’ve worked all day, you stay there. I’ll go and get dessert.’
    â€˜Pie.’ Lucy waves her hands in the air. ‘Pie!’
    â€˜Yay, pie!’ I wave my hands above my head too and Lucy squeals in delight. ‘I’m excited about it too.’
    I hear muttering from the other end of the table but I ignore it. There’s only so much complaint and insult you can take in one day.
    We enjoy the delicious pie almost in silence. I’m relieved to roll into the usual routine when the meal is finished. I take Lucy upstairs to read, bathe, and go to bed. I watch her sleeping, relishing the quiet. As much as I enjoy the haven I know I can’t stay there. I have to go and rescue my poor husband-to-be.
    When I get downstairs the room is quiet and missing something. Joe’s mum. Joe has pulled out the sofa and is making up the bed.
    â€˜She went to bed,’ he says, walking in from the kitchen, ‘jet lagged. She says she’s worn out.’ He flips the duvet straight and I sit down