Then Rowena had come up with the offer of her mother’s mincer. Even though Paula got the feeling she would never live up to Grandma Woodcroft’s pastie prowess, it was kind of Rowena to offer the mincer. Damn the woman. Just when she drove Paula to distraction, she would turn around and do something nice.

Paula wedged the basket between her hip and the wall so that she could open the back door. Tarzan had his nose to the door and the moment she opened it another small brown bundle of energy rushed at her feet. She couldn’t block the way in time to stop the pup from getting out the door. Tarzan’s tail was wagging wildly as it sniffed the new dog all over. The pup rolled onto its back then jumped up and ran around the older dog. She watched them a moment. They seemed happy enough and it wouldn’t hurt for the pup to run around outside for a while. Paula knew the house fence was secure and she’d checked the gates were shut on her way in from the car.

She pushed through the door then felt her heart sink at the sight before her.

Strewn across the floor in every direction were shreds of the paper Rowena had used to wrap Dan’s birthday present. Among it was a partly chewed chocolate and two lovely shirts now spotted with brown smudges.

Chapter 20

CHAPTER

20

“Happy birthday, Dan.” Paula’s soft lips brushed his.

He dragged his sleep-crusted eyes open to see her bending over him from beside the bed. He sat up and glanced at the clock. He’d slept in. It was seven and Paula was dressed. “Are you all right?”

“Of course I am.” She kissed him again. “I know I’m usually still in my dressing gown at this hour but I wanted to surprise you for your birthday.”

He took her hand and gently pulled her closer. “You didn’t need to get dressed for that.”

She escaped his wandering hands. “Come on. Get up. Breakfast is ready and you’ve got parcels to open.”

Dan groaned.

“Don’t pretend you don’t like birthdays. And it’s a zero birthday. Turning thirty is a celebration. Don’t be long.” She blew him a kiss and disappeared around the door.

Dan flopped back on the bed. Usually he enjoyed birthdays. Rowena had always made a fuss of them. And Paula was right. For him turning thirty should have been a special celebration. The vesting date of his father’s will when Wood Dell officially became his. He flung his arm over his eyes as pain thudded behind them. He’d come to the realisation Rowena was right, he should have told Paula about the will and all it entailed when he first found out about it but he couldn’t now.

“Dan! Come on. Food’s getting cold.”