‘And there’s time.’ Her face broke into her smile again-persuasive and beguiling. ‘Do you know it’s Wendy’s birthday tomorrow?’
That startled him. ‘No, I didn’t.’
‘So a surprise is allowable,’ she told him. ‘What about taking the lady out to dinner?’
His brow creased. ‘You mean…?’
‘I mean a real dinner,’ she told him. ‘Wendy hasn’t had a day away from her precious children for years. What about taking her somewhere really special-over-the-top special. Like Whispering Palms. That’s a sweep-a-girl-off- her-feet type resort just south of the town. It would do Wendy all the good in the world for her to have a wonderful night completely free of children-and with a man like you she might just-’
‘Hey, that’s enough.’ He smiled. ‘I can make my own assumptions here.’ Then he shook his head. ‘She’d never leave Gabbie.’
‘She would if Nick and Harry and I arrived by surprise and just took over,’ Shanni said. ‘Gabbie trusts me. She knows and likes Harry-our little boy-and she’s met Nick. If we come out about five, bring a birthday cake to have with the kids, and then boot the pair of you out for the evening…’ She looked consideringly at the house. ‘We’ll bring our sleeping gear and stay the night, which gives you all the time in the world.’
‘To do what?’
‘If you don’t know then I’m not the one to be telling you,’ she said demurely. ‘But by the look of you your best shot might be a very good thing, Luke Grey. I’d go for it, if I were you.’
And how could he knock back an invitation like that?
Saturday.
All day Luke prowled like a cat on hot bricks, and by five in the afternoon Wendy was sure there was something going on. She might be keeping her distance, but she was aware enough of him to sense his moods. The man was as nervous as could be, and she didn’t know why.
Or-she didn’t know why until the big family station wagon pulled into the yard. Nick and Shanni and Harry were waving wildly out of the car windows and there were multicoloured helium balloons winding skyward, tied to every door handle. As the passenger door opened Wendy saw that Shanni was balancing a birthday cake that looked like…
‘A Basset-hound puppy!’ The cake was a near replica of Bruce’s droopy cranium, complete with candle attached to the nose. It even had the same dopey expression of canine smugness.
‘Because even though it’s your birthday it’s also a sort of welcoming party for Bruce,’ Shanni explained in between laughter and introductions, birthday greetings and general mayhem. ‘We even thought we might bring Darryl-that’s our new kitten-but Nick thought not.’
‘Nick definitely thought not,’ Nick said dryly, shaking Luke’s hand. ‘So you’re the poor soul Shanni’s organising at the moment, are you? Take my advice, get out while the going’s good.’
‘Yeah, like you did,’ Shanni jeered fondly. ‘You were so scared of organisation that you married me, Nick, so don’t give me that hen-pecked-husband routine. Now…’ she whirled on Wendy ‘…has Luke told you where he’s taking you this evening?’
Wendy was looking completely surprised. ‘No. He hasn’t.’
‘Tell her where you’re taking her, Luke.’
‘Whispering Palms-as ordered,’ Luke said, so promptly that Wendy stared.
‘It’s very nice,’ Shanni approved. ‘Isn’t that nice, Nick?’
‘It’s the most expensive place this side of Sydney,’ Nick said thoughtfully. ‘
‘I’m not going to Whispering Palms,’ Wendy said faintly.
‘Don’t be silly, love, of course you are.’ Shanni grinned. ‘All you need to do is blow out your birthday candles here, have a slice of cake to celebrate with the kids, and then Nick and I are going to carry on partying with your lot while you and Luke have an evening together.’
‘I don’t want-’
‘Of course you want,’ Shanni said fondly. ‘Nick and I have taken a great deal of trouble to organise this. It’s not every day the town’s magistrate offers to baby-sit your children-even sleeping the night so it’s no matter how late you get back. Now, you can wear that lovely silky apricot dress you wore to our wedding, I think.’
‘Shanni!’
‘This is our birthday treat,’ Shanni said, in a cocker spaniel-like voice as if she expected to be kicked. Her eyes grew huge, and the faintest glimmer of a disappointed tear hung on her lashes. ‘Don’t say you don’t want it.’
Wendy was half laughing, half close to tears herself. ‘Shanni, you manipulating twerp. This is blackmail.’
‘Of the very nicest kind,’ Shanni said, and her twinkle returned. ‘Let’s get this birthday cake lit and then we’ll get you two on the road. For a birthday treat to remember. For ever.’
It couldn’t work.
With the help of Shanni, Luke had gone to such trouble over this night, but almost as soon as they drove out the farm gate he knew he was headed for a disaster. He should never have let Shanni talk him into it, he thought grimly. He knew Wendy wouldn’t like it.
Why not? It was the sort of evening any woman he’d ever taken out would have killed for.
For a start, the evening itself was perfect, warm and balmy and not a hint of wind with the rose-hued sunset.
Then there was the fact that personally he’d gone to some trouble. Luke was wearing his best dinner suit. It was Italian-cut and gorgeous, and he knew he looked okay in it. And Wendy… In the soft silk dress she emerged in after being prodded by Shanni, she simply took his breath away.
She’d had it made, Shanni had told him. Wendy wasn’t like other women. She didn’t dress for fashion, but she’d been bridesmaid at her best friend’s wedding, however, so she’d done the thing in style. The dress had a high cut mandarin collar, but was open to show just the faintest hint of cleavage. It was cut with tiny crescent-moon sleeves, and was buttoned over the breast with tiny mother-of-pearl drops. The soft, swirling cloth fitted her like a glove over the hips, then flared out softly to her calves, showing every luscious curve of her gorgeous body.
It had been as much as Luke could do not to whistle as she’d emerged from the bedroom, and Nick frankly had.
Now, seated in his beautiful car, with her soft curls free and flying out behind her as they headed for the resort, she looked the most beautiful creature Luke had ever seen in his life.
But it wasn’t right.
‘Wendy, will you relax?’ he told her. ‘It’s your birthday. You should be having fun.’
‘I…yes.’
‘The kids are safe as houses. Nick and Shanni will take the greatest care.’
‘I know.’
‘So what’s the matter?’
She shook her head, and managed a smile. ‘I don’t know. Nothing. I’m being stupid. This…this is truly wonderful, Luke. A real birthday surprise.’
But it wasn’t wonderful. Luke pulled the car into the Whispering Palms car park, took her hand determinedly into his and led the way into the restaurant. But he knew it wasn’t wonderful at all.
It should be. This was a restaurant to dream about. The whole place had been built as a resort for millionaires. Beloved of the jet set, Whispering Palms was built as a series of tree houses set over the rainforest and the beachfront below. The walls of the restaurant swung back on balmy nights like this, so lovers could dine with the sound of the surf beneath them, with the soft wind rustling in the trees and with the ever so seductive sound of a violinist in the background…
But Wendy’s face was tight with strain and, as the maitre d’ led them to their table Luke suddenly stopped.
‘No,’ he said.
The waiter paused and looked enquiringly back at them. ‘Sir?’
‘This isn’t right,’ Luke said softly, watching Wendy’s face. ‘I think we need some privacy.’
‘A secluded table?’ The man smiled his approval. ‘That can be arranged.’
