Chapter Four

“Then Tom Carew just swanned off out of the classroom, just like that—the arrogant, cheeky bugger!”

“Keira. Keep your voice down. Mothers present,” hissed Su as they waited for the coffee to brew in the kitchen. The girls’ respective mothers were sharing chai and wedding stories in the living room at Su’s house. There was no way Keira wanted her mum or Mrs. Sharma to know about Tom, otherwise her mum would have the cake ordered and be wording an announcement for the local newspaper.

Angie Grayson had had enough to contend with already. She’d been beside herself with worry when Keira’s relationship with Alex ended so disturbingly. She’d also been battling breast cancer for the past year, and while she was on the road to recovery now, Keira didn’t want her getting all excited about Tom only to be disappointed for her daughter when he went back to Papua.

Su lowered her voice to a conspiratorial whisper. “You have to tell me more, Keira. What’s he really like? You too were pretty close during the dancing. You couldn’t get a playing card between you on that dance floor. Everyone was talking about it afterwards. Tom Carew is a huge catch. Matt and Carrie said absolutely everyone was after him when they were at university, guys as well as girls.”

“He’s not gay!” cried Keira.

“We could see that. He had his hands on your bum, and he looked like he wanted to rip your clothes off there and then on the dance floor.”

Keira’s cheeks heated up and it wasn’t just because Su’s mother had the heating on full. “He obviously didn’t try anything at school because he was on his best behavior, but he was so confident that I’d say yes to going out to dinner with him. He’s quite sarcastic and superior.”

Sue laughed. “And gorgeous and rich and interested in you?”

“Even if he is interested in me, don’t go choosing a new sari for the wedding. Tom’s made it quite clear that’s he’s only back here in England on sufferance. He’s off back to Papua again in a couple of months. So you see, this date can only be a dinner. Nothing more.”

Su raised an eyebrow. “You could try to just enjoy him while he’s here. Who knows, he might change his mind and stay after all, faced with your vivacious personality and many accomplishments.”

Keira laughed. “And my five thousand a year and estate in Peckham? Su, he’s no Mr. Darcy, and I’m not going to be swept off my feet and carried off to Pemberley or Carew Towers or whatever stately piles he hangs out in. I barely know him, and I’ve no right to expect anything from him.”

Su narrowed her eyes. “But you do like him, don’t you, hon? When you talk about him, your eyes light up, just like when you first met Alex, only more.”

Keira thought of denying the fact. She’d known Tom, what? A few days. It wasn’t long, but feelings that he had aroused in her, both physical and emotional, made a mockery of their short time together. She knew she could get in really deep with Tom Carew if she let down her guard. Once she’d been out on their dinner date and had kept her side of the bargain, she was going to end their relationship before it began, but she owed it to Su to at least admit to some of her feelings.

“I have to admit that, despite overconfidence, he is very nice.”

Su snorted. “Very nice! Keira, you make him sound like the old guy on the deli counter at the supermarket.”

“What I meant was that he’s sensitive. Underneath the sarcasm, of course.” She laughed. “And to be fair, he was very good with the children, apart from mentioning the tattoo, which was very naughty of him. I’m supposed to set a good example, even if we are meant to encourage diversity.” Oh dear. The thought of checking out Tom’s other tattoos made her feel terribly tingly again.

Su plunged the top down on the cafetiere. “Is it really that big, this tattoo?”

“Enormous.” She sighed, deciding not to tell Su that Tom had another one on his bottom. Things were tricky enough as it was. “He reckons that all the doctors in the team get one sooner or later. Apparently Matt has them all down his arms and over his back. It’s some sort of badge of honour, I think, but I never expected someone like Tom to be inked like that.”

It was difficult to stop her hands from shaking as Keira managed to pour some sugar from a packet into the basin and placed it on the tray. The idea of Tom stripping naked was scrambling her brain. Su laid out some sweet cakes next to the coffee and mugs. Spicy aromas filled the tiny kitchen and made Keira’s nose twitch.

“Well, are you ready to discuss sari embroidery?” asked Su, picking up the tray.

Keira nodded. “For the next two hours? I can’t wait.”

“Me neither.”

Keira held open the door to the living room as Su passed through first with the tray. Their mothers glanced up from their pattern books.

“By the way, Keira,” said Su innocently. “Have you told your mum you’re having dinner with an earl’s son on Saturday night?”