Page 13 of A Chance to Believe

He spoke like he had some experience of tragedy, his eyes sombre, but he didn’t expand on the topic. It wasn’t her place to probe into his personal history. She could respect his privacy like she valued her own. ‘The kids have licences?’

‘A handful. The majority will be dropped off and picked up by parents. P-platers aren’t allowed to have a carload of passengers.’

Cassie opened her mouth to ask another question but closed it again as Kimberley burst through the door with an incoherent apology.

Shayne looked at her with a raised brow. ‘Did you get your assignment uploaded?’

She nodded vigorously. ‘All done. Are we good for tomorrow?’

‘All good. You can let Parker know and help him bring in the food.’

Beaming, she plunged into the kitchen, talking at a rate of knots to the chef.

Cassie looked after her, curious at the incident.

Ben answered the unspoken question. ‘The rule around here is that all schoolwork is finished well before a party. No last-minute rushes. Kim forgot to send through her homework until she was reminded.’

That explained the panic if she knew her father would check up. He was the type of man to cancel the party if his daughter didn’t keep her end of the bargain.

Parker and Kimberley returned with platters of food, laying them on the table and removing the charcuterie board.

It was easy after that. Kimberley was full of her party. Cassie could sit back and enjoy the delicious baked chicken and vegetables. There were little extra touches, the carrots had a honey glaze, and the cauliflower was topped with a delicate cheese sauce and the onion gravy she suspected had a touch of red wine jus added. She’d never lived in a household with a chef before and there was an element of disbelief and a touch of guilt about having such a basic chore done for her, although the man was probably well paid.

She could also watch Shayne interact with his daughter unobserved. There was a clear affection between all three of the Smiths, even the grumpy, cynical Ben. It brought a lump to her throat, remembering all she had lost. Pushing the past back into the recesses of her mind, she focused her attention on Shayne. It had to be tough bringing up a daughter on your own, yet he seemed to combine patience with discipline. The girl had a smart mouth, but she’d been largely polite to Cassie, even while acknowledging the threat to her family because of her intrusion.

Shayne was still as serious as he’d been in their time together. With his daughter and brother, he appeared softer, less guarded. His long fingers handled the cutlery with a casual ease while he listened intently to Kimberley’s plans for the day. It was a little disturbing thinking of him as a father when Cassie still had vivid recollections of their time together. What those hands could do in the privacy of their hotel room.

‘I’m sorry, Cassie, we’ve been ignoring you.’

His eyes looked almost warm for a moment, before they morphed into the usual unreadable cool blue green.

‘I’ve been enjoying the food. Parker is an excellent cook. It’s been nice to relax over a meal.’

‘Surely you eat out a lot in the city?’

‘Not usually. I’m often too tired to think about going out, especially lately.’

Her words must have reminded him of the reason she was here because he looked at her stomach. ‘All the more reason to take advantage of Parker.’

‘Wait till you try his desserts.’ Kimberley pushed her empty plate aside. ‘He makes a raspberry and white chocolate cheesecake to die for.’

That sounded good. ‘I can see I’m going to be spoilt for choice while I’m here.’

Shayne leaned over, his voice low. ‘Let us look after you.’

‘I’m not used to relying on other people. I prefer to be independent.’

‘Think of it as a holiday. You look like you need one.’

She lay her fork on her plate. ‘A holiday I can live with. For the time being.’

He looked somehow smug, his mouth widening in not quite a smile, his eyes gleaming at her like aquamarines. ‘For the time being.’

* * *

Shayne lifted and dropped his shoulders to loosen the tension in his body. Cassie had been here not much over twenty-four hours, and he was about to introduce her to his parents and grandmother. He wouldn’t have planned it this way, but they were organised to come for Sunday lunch weeks ago.

His parents had been holidaying at the coast and they would be keen to catch up. They wouldn’t be expecting his news. He’d hoped to talk to his mother first, given that his father’s heart condition meant he would have to be careful about stress, and Shayne suspected shocks would fall into the stressful category. Unfortunately his parents were always out on a Sunday morning. It would be a shock for everyone. He was still dealing with it himself.

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