Keely didn’t want to play gooseberry but she did think a drink with Flynn would be nice.

“No, Keely can come here,” Anna said before Keely could speak. “You’d be better to leave the car here too. I’ll look after them both till you get back.” She made a shooing motion at Flynn and Kat. “You two go off and enjoy yourselves. Don’t worry about Keely.”

Keely resisted the urge to shrug Anna’s hand away as she was patted on the back, gritting her teeth instead.

“Megan left the relief teaching forms for you. She said your paperwork had arrived from SA. You can fill them out here if you have to wait for Flynn,” Anna said.

Keely felt trapped. Flynn waited, Kat’s arm slung through his.

“Thanks.” She forced a smile onto her face. “I’ll wait for you here.”

“I nearly forgot.” Flynn dug his hand in his pocket and pulled out a folded sheet of paper. “Would you give this to Mary, please. It’s the hard copy of our Divine Wine and Dine menu. Tell her I’ve emailed the original too.”

Keely took the paper and he set off down the street with Kat.

“Do you want to come in and tidy up?” Anna asked.

“No thanks,” Keely said. “I’ll be fine. See you later.”

She hurried off down the street and turned the opposite way to the other two, towards River Rainbow, where a cheery light was shining into the darkening street. Anna was the Levalliers’ friend but Keely didn’t like the way the older woman tried to organise everyone. She presumed far too much for Keely’s liking.

Chapter 18

CHAPTER 18

“So here we are. You’ve got your drink and I’ve brought my listening ear.” Flynn tugged at his ear and Kat couldn’t help but smile. He really was a nice guy. If she hadn’t met Mal she may easily have fallen for Flynn, taken up Pappou’s offer and settled in Margaret River.

She sighed. “Are you happy living here, Flynn?”

“That’s your big question?”

“Not really. I just don’t know where to start.”

“How about the beginning?” He reached over and squeezed her hand.

Kat felt the warmth of his touch but there was no more to it than that. No tingle up her arm or butterflies in the stomach, like she had when she was with Mal. Flynn was a friend. She relaxed a little. A friend with a listening ear. She grinned.

“Well, I was born during a particularly good vintage, much to my father’s delight…” She paused as Flynn stood up. “Where are you going?”

“If you’re going back that far we’ll need more drinks.”

“Sit down.” She grabbed his arm and they both laughed as he tumbled back into his chair.

“Now come on, Kat,” he said. “Enough procrastinating, spill your guts.”