“Thea! How’s the mother of my favourite little flower girl?”
Thea opened her mouth to reply when Daniel’s face dropped, just as Amber’s had a minute ago.
“Oh, hell, are you okay? You don’t look well.”
“So I’m told,” she said, grasping the edge of the bar, its smooth wood, solid and comforting.
“I’ll get you a drink.” Daniel reached for another glass.
“Already taken care of,” Amber said over her shoulder.
“Then I’lljoinyou for a drink,” he beamed, “as long as my beautiful fiancé doesn’t mind.” As he spoke, he stepped up to Amber, snaked his arms around her waist and bent to kiss the side of her neck.
Thea smiled. Daniel had taken to trailing after Amber like a puppy. Gazing at her like she was a goddess. According to Kitty, his affection was so unlike his past behaviour. In fact, his obvious adoration of Amber and kindness to Ammy had prompted Thea to get to know him. They’d not been enemies, but since her husband’s death, Thea had locked herself away at Small Oaks. She hadn’t met Daniel properly until he’d sponsored her kitten adoption program.
“I don’t mind at all,” Amber said. “But make sure you don’t bore Thea with your chatter about what tie to wear for the wedding or your stag party. I have to ring the hotel, anyway. Check on the floral arrangements. I’ll leave you to it.”
“My love, I promise the only woman I’ll ever bore is you,” he called after Amber as she walked away.
When she’d left, he looked back at Thea. “I don’t mind telling you, I’m a happy man.”
“I can see that,” she said, gesturing to his mismatched buttons.
Daniel glanced down, and a glow sprung at his chiselled cheeks.
“Daniel Cunningham, are you blushing?”
He shrugged his shoulders and refastened his shirtcorrectly. “What can I say? She’s an animal. So tell me, what’s going on?”
Thea took a sip of her brandy. “I’ve met an old friend of yours and Amber’s.”
“Oh. What old friend?” Daniel poured himself a drink.
“Felix Walsh,” Thea hung on each syllable, and she gripped her glass tighter.
Daniel’s smile dropped, a sneer growing in its place. “What is that horrible man doing in town? Is he upsetting you? Ammy? Do I need to send the heavies in?”
Thea giggled. “That’s extreme.”
Daniel shook his head, his face grave. “Not at all. It’s hard to believe, but that man has influence. Friends in high places. How the hell did you meet him?”
“I almost drowned him,” Thea said matter-of-factly.
The corners of Daniel’s mouth twitched. “Now, this I have to hear.”
After retelling the previous morning’s events, Daniel confirmed what Kitty told her about Felix’s character—him being the slippery customer who’d tried to poach Amber. He also went to great lengths to suggest Felix had a double chin and was well on his way to a free bus pass and a senior concession card.
Thea hadn’t been able to guess Felix’s age yet. The slight silvering of his temples blended with his fair hair, and she saw no evidence of a double chin. As far as she could tell, he appeared to be quite buff. Not muscly or obvious, though. Not that she’d spent much time considering his physique, of course. Only his buttocks.
Thea tipped back the last of her brandy. “So now we have to work together. I’m required to match wines to his fancy food.”
“And that’s where I come in?”
“Yes. But not how you’re thinking. I’m not after your wine expertise, more like your cocktail blending skills.”
Daniel tipped his head to one side. “What do you mean?”
“Felix Walsh doesn’t think I’m up to the job. He said as much. Even hinted that you’d be no better.” Daniel’s brows knitted together. “But I don’t want to give him the satisfaction of even trying.”
