‘Good Lord, is it a year?’ His father shook his head in disbelief. ‘Where has the time gone?’

Mercifully, his mother had placed him well away from Gloria, so Matt was able to enjoy the dinner without her constantly claiming his attention. He had never been able to understand why she had set her sights on him. If she were ambitious, John, as the eldest, would be the logical choice. But perhaps she had enough sense to realize that he would be the most difficult one to snare. Luke wouldn’t take her seriously, so that had left him.

As soon as the meal was over, Gloria made straight for him.

‘When are you going back to university?’ she asked, smiling brightly.

‘Never,’ was his short reply.

That declaration removed the smile from her face, and her eyes opened wide in disbelief. ‘But you can’t keep working as a mechanic.’

‘Why not?’

‘My father has always said that you’re the cleverest one and will probably be a professor one day.’

‘I don’t want to be a bloody professor!’ he growled. Three glasses of wine during the meal had topped up his alcohol level, and he was in no mood for this. His family had accepted his decision. They knew how much he loved what he was doing and never mentioned his returning to university to take up his studies again.

‘You’re drunk,’ Gloria said haughtily. ‘You can’t mean to work in greasy overalls for the rest of your life!’

‘Oh, but I do.’ He glared at her. ‘Anyway, I don’t see how I spend my life can have anything to do with you.’

‘If you are going to be that stupid, then you’re not worth bothering with.’

‘Good,’ he snapped and watched her flounce off, nose in the air. He knew he had been extremely rude, but it was the only way to get rid of her. The subtle approach didn’t work with her.

‘I see you’ve upset Gloria.’ Luke handed him a drink.

‘I do believe I have.’ Matt shook with silent laughter. ‘She doesn’t want anything to do with a lowly car mechanic. Perhaps she’ll try John now.’

‘Not a chance.’ Luke refilled their glasses from a bottle he was holding in his hand. ‘Our big brother’s too interested in Emma Holdsworth.’

‘Is he?’ Matt peered across the room at John talking to the elegant girl with fair hair and rather nice turquoise eyes. He was leaning towards her and smiling. ‘Good heavens, I do believe you’re right. He’s kept that quiet. How long has this been going on?’

‘About three months.’ Luke gave Matt a sad look. ‘You’re too interested in your messy engines. There is life outside of that garage, you know.’

‘Really?’ Matt teased. ‘I must have a look sometime.’

16