Page 54 of Conail

Very soon the heavenly scent filled the room. Taking a cup from the cupboard, he stood there waiting impatiently for it to finish dripping.

Filling the cup, he took it with him to sit around the malachite counter. A few sips had his headache dimming to low grade.

He should stay away from her. What good would it do to form a relationship? It was a mistake. Best to leave things as they were. He was not in the market for a relationship anyway. And they had already entered into an arrangement. Changing the status quo would have Errol going out of his very tidy mind. There were legal entanglements to think of. She was a surrogate, that's it. He should leave it that way.

Wasn't it too late already? the treacherous voice whispered in his head.

Didn't you already change things by sleeping with her?

Just the one time, he argued back.

Once is enough, the voice argued back.

"Shut the hell up!" he ordered. "Just shut up."

Draining the cup, he rose to leave the kitchen, determined to get some work done and get her off his mind.

*****

"I'm so happy for you!" Yasmine exclaimed as she stared at the couple. "And a Valentine's Day wedding. How romantic."

"It's going to be small." Maddy was all smiles as she leaned against Colin who was seated on the arm of her chair. He had approached her dad and her aunt to ask for their blessings. The fact that he had done that had left a lasting impression on them and they could not stop singing his praises. He had decided that he was going to build a house on the rather extensive land, something to call their own.

They would live at the farmhouse for a bit until it was finished, but he had every intention of making quick work of it. He had warned her that it would not be anything fancy at first and she had laughed and told him she did not care.

Yasmine could not help the pang of envy she felt as she looked at the couple who were so obviously in love. Last night had been a bad one for her. Everywhere she turned on the bed, the scent of his expensive cologne had clung. She had ended up using the pillows his head had rested on to hug against her chest.

And wondered when she had become so pathetic.

"We're going to have to start planning now."

"I already contacted the pastor for the banns to be read." Maeve was all smiles as she handed out glasses of champagne and fruit juice for Yasmine. "It's a wonderful day indeed."

"I suppose you're going to want me to wear a suit." Clive grumbled, causing them to laugh.

"Not if you don't want to." Maddy assured him kindly.

He was about to give a sigh of relief when his wife dashed his hopes. "He will wear a suit. Your son is getting married; it should be no hardship for you to dress up for a few hours."

"Damn nagging woman."

"No swearing." Crossing to him, she kissed the top of his head. She was about to head into the kitchen to check on the roast when she heard the sound of a vehicle crunching on the driveway.

"We have company," she called out in delight.

"Who--" Colin looked out the window and identified the fancy black BMW. A thoughtful expression touched his face as he glanced at his sister.

"He's back."

She rose slowly and left the living room to go and join her mother at the door, her heart pounding.

Maeve opened the door to let him in along with a blast of chilly air before closing it behind him.

"I hope I'm not intruding." Conail's eyes drifted to the woman standing a little to the left.

"Not at all. Come in. We're celebrating." Shaking her head as her daughter went ahead of him, she ushered him into the room where a fire was burning in the hearth and the remnants of drinks were on the table.

A man he had never met before rose a little unsteadily, staring at him with suspicious eyes. He should not have come, he thought in panic. What the hell was he thinking?

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