The door clunked closed, then Mac appeared, unzipping his coat. He flushed when his eye fell on Laurel. ‘Oh. Sorry. Didn’t mean to interrupt. I’ve been texting you, Grady, and there was no reply so I thought I’d check you’re OK.’

Grady turned to Laurel. ‘“Check Grady’s OK” is Mac-code for “see if Grady wants to go to The Three Fishes before closing time”.’

Laurel scooted to the edge of the sofa and put down her glass. ‘If you want to go out with Mac—’

‘Of course not. We’re talking and we’re halfway through a bottle of wine,’ Grady said mildly. ‘Get a clean glass and have one, Mac.’

Mac hesitated, but then headed for the kitchen.

It would look so pointed for Laurel to dump a full glass of wine on the table and catapult out of the door the moment Mac arrived that she subsided. Mac returned with a glass and took a spot right at the other end of the sofa. Laurel assumed the role of listener as the brothers began to discuss the best pasta on the pub menu.

They tried to draw her into the conversation but her mind was working on her exit strategy. If she waited too long Mac might leave at the same time she did. As she needed to collect Daisy from his house, he’d naturally walk along with her. She shrank from being alone with him, though it was obvious that he’d matured into respectability and she didn’t actually think the current Mac would attack her in the dark. If she still didn’t want to be alone with him … that meant Fliss had been hunting along the right trail. Laurel wasn’t willing to afford Mac any opportunity to apologise.

Something for her to think about.

After twenty minutes, by dint of waiting for a moment when Mac’s glass was full and hers was nearly empty, she was able to drain the last mouthful and say, ‘Think it was time I was off. Thanks for the wine, Grady.’

Grady looked concerned. ‘Shall I walk you back?’

‘Not necessary.’ She hurried out into the hall to grab her coat and pull it on. ‘Daisy’s hanging out with Niall and I can almost see the house from here. After that, Daisy and I will be together.’ Despite Grady’s slight air of bemusement, she called goodnight and was soon hurrying through sparkling frost that coated every car and garden hedge, phoning Daisy as she went.

Daisy sighed. ‘But Auntie Laurel, my curfew is eleven. I still have ten minutes.’

Laurel said regretfully, ‘Sorry, I misjudged. But I’m just arriving at Niall’s house so could you come out?’

‘Bet Niall’s mum Tonya would like to meet you,’ Daisy began.

‘Not tonight,’ Laurel said pleasantly.

‘OK,’ Daisy agreed ungraciously.