Page 23 of The Wisteria Tree Cottage

He nodded to concede this. It wasn’t that she was coming across as intense because she had come to keep an eye on her brother, it was because of the insane list of demands she had given him at the start of their date.

A waitress appeared at their table. ‘Can I get you two a drink?’

‘Yes, a beer please,’ Bear said.

‘I can’t stand men who drink,’ Claudia said.

‘Then it’s a good job this isn’t a real date,’ Bear said.

‘Water for me please,’ Claudia sniffed.

‘Would you like to see the menus?’ the waitress said.

‘No, we won’t be eating,’ Claudia said.

Bear sighed. He was starving. He was tempted to order some food anyway but, if Josh was anything like his sister, the date would be over very quickly.

Just then the door was pushed open and Meadow walked in. God, she was magnificent. She glanced around and caught his eye but she was obviously trying to be discreet for the sake of his date as she didn’t wave. Little did she know.

‘Is that her?’ Claudia said, her voice dripping with disdain.

‘That’s Meadow, yes.’

‘What the hell is she wearing?’

‘We can’t all look as fabulous as you do in that suit, Claudia,’ Bear said, without missing a beat.

She seemed strangely pleased by that even though he hadn’t meant it. She seemed to appraise him for the first time. ‘I suppose we could have sex later, if you’re interested.’

Bear felt his eyebrows shoot up into his hair. ‘Thank you, that’s a very kind offer, but I’m not sure I could cope with all the rules.’

CHAPTERFIFTEEN

Meadow took a sip of her wine while she waited, nervously tapping her fingers on the bar. What would he be like? Would he be attractive? Would he be kind? Would he make her laugh? Would he like her?

She glanced up as the restaurant door opened and saw a young man wearing a white shirt with a red hanky sticking out of his pocket, just as Josh had said he would. But she was thrown by the fact that the man was escorting a much older lady into the restaurant with him.

Josh looked around the bar and he waved when he saw her, obviously recognising her from what she’d told him she would be wearing.

He pointed her out to the older lady and they both came over.

‘Meadow?’ Josh said.

‘Yes, hi. Josh, I presume?’

He nodded. ‘This is Barbara, my mum.’

Barbara held out a hand as she gave Meadow the once-over. ‘Hmm, you’re not what I expected.’

Meadow forced a smile. ‘Sorry about that.’

What was going on here? Surely he hadn’t brought his mum on the date with him. Maybe Barbara was meeting someone else here and he was just giving her a lift.

‘Shall we sit down?’ Josh said.

‘OK,’ Meadow said, uncertainly.

Josh caught the eye of a waitress. ‘Table for Mr Blake.’

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