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Josh eyed her with mock suspicion. “I’m going to have to watch you two. I’m glad we saw you. Wendy’s been meaning to give you a formal invitation to visit the farm. She gives a great guided tour, leaving you coated in fur as a souvenir.”

Crap!Kitty had been so preoccupied with herself and her job search that she hadn’t popped in to see Thea yet.

“I’m sorry. Job hunting has side-tracked me, not to mention the stress of keeping Julia on the straight and narrow.”

Josh’s eyes lit up with laughter. “You have your work cut out. Your aunt is a handful.”

“I heard that,” Julia said from her seat at the table.

“Then you’ll know I speak from experience,” Josh shouted out the window. “Don’t say I didn’t warn you, Kitty.”

She cocked a brow. “I wish I’d known that before I’d agreed to escort her to the pub!”

“What’s going on at the pub?” he asked.

“Just a debauched meeting of the W.C.,” said Julia. “Why don’t you join us? I’m sure the ladies would appreciate seeing your handsome face.”

Josh grinned. Why hadn’t she noticed he had dimples before?

“Not this time,” he called, then lowered his voice to address Kitty. “Duty calls. Don’t forget Wendy’s invite. And keep your wits about you this afternoon. Those ladies get up to all sorts.”

Kitty nodded, enjoying the sight of his bulging triceps as he gripped the steering wheel. “I promise I’ll pop by soon.”

“Make sure you do,” Josh said, gunning the engine and pulling away with a wave.

Kitty watched his car disappear down the road, excitement fizzing in her gut. When he was out of sight, she turned to Julia, who had the biggest smile on her face.

“Katherine Cameron, you’re blushing!” she said.

Kitty’s mouth gaped. “I’m not. It’s just hot!” she said, her hands touching her fiery cheeks.

Julia dipped her finger in the pot of cream in front of her and licked its tip. “Joshua is rather dreamy, though,” she giggled. “Don’t look so shocked, young lady. I may be old, but I’m not blind. Such a lovely young man, too. I can’t understand why he hasn’t been snapped up.”

Kitty couldn’t understand it either.

“So dedicated to those animals. Just like his father,” Julia said, misty-eyed. “Nowtherewas a good-looking man.”

Kitty snickered, and with a dramatic sigh, Julia glanced at her watch. “Look at the time! We really must get to the pub. I want to get a good seat next to our host.”

“Who’s the host?” asked Kitty. Fledgling butterflies tested their wings low down in her tummy. Like they were preparing to hear one name in particular.

“Daniel Cunningham,” replied Julia. Kitty’s stomach flipped over, sending those butterflies into a flurry. Of course, he was the host. The way her luck was going, fate wouldn’t have it any other way.

“His family owns the pub,” said Julia, picking up her walking stick and fuchsia pink parasol. “There’sanother good-looking man who should have married years ago.”

One side of her mouth lifted. She could never imagine Daniel being married. “Are you sure you’re not too tired?” Kitty offered. “We could head back, you know.”

“No. If I’m going to exhaust myself, I’d better make it worthwhile,” Julia said, getting to her feet with difficulty. “Come along and meet Daniel. I’m sure you two youngsters will get along like a house on fire.”

Kitty swallowed hard.

15

DANIEL

Daniel cursedthe God Bacchus as he rethought his decision to host the wine-tasting event for the Tottenbridge Women’s Club. Several overdressed and over-made-up women tittered around him as he stood at the bar, trying not to choke on their various perfumes. Crepey chests and red lips fought for supremacy, and Daniel was seriously concerned he might be swallowed whole in the feeding frenzy.

He had a crushing hangover from a poker game the night before and had forgotten this event until he’d had a panicked phone call from Patricia Gore, the organiser. With his head about to explode, they’d had a ten-minute conversation about whether the three wheels of cheese he’d ordered would go with her homemade quince paste.