Matt stared at here for a moment as if he had something on his mind or was trying to figure out some puzzle before he recovered.
“Er, the village has an annual Christmas Ball to raise funds for a local children’s home. It’s held in the village hall and all the locals club together to help with all the arrangements. It’s the day after tomorrow.”
“Sounds like fun. Am I invited?” she enquired, making no apology for being pushy.
His eyes widened slightly before he shrugged his shoulders. “You’d want to go to the Village Ball? Our Village Ball?” He raised his brow as if in disbelief.
At her nod, he continued. “Sure, if you like. Pip and Mrs H will be going and no doubt you’ll have the rest of the villagers falling over themselves to speak to you.”
Such enthusiasm. “Oh, I thought you said that they wouldn’t care less about me. I was looking forward to the anonymity,” she teased.
They spent the next hour or so chatting comfortably about safe subjects like their jobs and hobbies and it was clear to Ana that horses were Matt’s passion, not just something which obviously paid well. His passion was horses, hers was fashion.
“So there’s quite an age gap between you and Pip?”
“Hmm, she was our parent’s little mid-life surprise. My father wanted another Aston Martin and he got a baby girl.” Matt paused and gathered his thoughts. “She took our mother’s death badly so she’s taking some time off from university at the moment ’till she decides whether she’s going back. But of course she is going back to university, whether she knows it yet or not. I’m just giving her some time out. Her tutors are being very understanding and making allowances.”
“You look out for her. That’s nice.”
“Of course.” He shrugged his shoulders again. “She’s my little sister. My family. It’s my job and I promised our mother.” Matt glanced down at his glass, breaking their eye contact, but not before she caught their sadness, highlighted against the dark shadows beneath his lower lashes.
Ana was surprised by his powerful declaration about Pip. Despite her limited experience with men she knew it was rare for a man to speak so passionately and protectively about his little sister. It was clear that he adored his sibling and her heart ached to have someone care for her with such devotion. What would that kind of love and protection feel like? Yes, she had Alix, but it wasn’t the same as proper family.
He sighed heavily and shook his head as if to dispel sad memories. “Of course, there was that time I locked her in a wardrobe and then forgot about her and went out with a girl.” He winced and took a swig of his drink. “Better not mention that to her though, she’s still a bit sensitive about it.”
“Our secret. So that’s two secrets so far… anything else you want to confess?” She quickly added, “From one insomniac to another.”
He shook his head. “I don’t have a problem sleeping.”
“Ha.” The short sound burst from her throat. “Now, I already told you about my Mensa membership so don’t treat me like an idiot. If you don’t want to talk about whatever it is that’s bothering you and keeping you awake at night that’s fine,” she paused to take a sip of her drink before she shook her head, “but don’t lie.”
“I don’t know you,” he stated as a matter of fact.
She thinned her lips before saying, “Precisely. I’ll be gone and out of your life in a couple of days so you have no need to worry that I’ll make some judgment about you.” She quickly tilted her head to one side. “Well,” she continued, “none that you’ll be bothered by. I’m like the best free therapy you could get.”
He dropped his eyes away from her again. Her suspicions that there was something else going on with this man were confirmed, but clearly now wasn’t the time. He wasn’t going to talk. “I’m sorry about your mum,” she said, and he looked back into her eyes, smiled half-heartedly and nodded. “Mrs Henderson told me.”
“Yeah, well, it was for the best I suppose. She was in pain towards the end and ever since my dad died, she’d never really been the same. She never recovered. They were soulmates, married for over fifty years. They certainly set Pip and I an unattainable standard.” He cleared his throat. “So do you have siblings?”
She gave a humourless sharp laugh. “No, I barely have a mother. There was no way she was going to make the same mistake twice and have another kid.”
“You’re not close then?” he asked, narrowing his eyes, confused by her comment.
She gave him a mirthless smile. “Nope, we’re not even living on the same continent, haven’t for years. She’s always been focused on her career. From what little I know, she had a fling with someone, most likely a director or such like, and got knocked up. I still don’t know why she kept me.”
She caught Matt wince from the corner of her eye like she’d hit a nerve.
“She probably hoped she could snare the fella into some sort of advantageous marriage fiasco. I’m guessing he was probably married. Anyway.” She sighed and shrugged her shoulders. “She had me but I have no happy memories of my childhood and no idea who my father is. Just ever changing ’nannies and being packed off to boarding school as soon as I was old enough. I’ve tried so many times over the years to get close to her but there’s only so many times you can get kicked, right? Even dogs learn eventually.”
“I’m sorry to hear that.” He said, honestly. “I can’t imagine not being close to my mother. Still, she must be proud of you. What you’ve achieved and everything?” at her wry look he quickly added, “Pip tells me your very famous.”
“You’d think.” Ana took a sip of her brandy. She was so not ready to have that conversation with a man she’d only just met… especially as he wasn’t up for quid pro quo.
“Hey you two. Sooo, how’s it going?” Pip’s enthusiasm was contagious as she pulled up a spare chair and plonked her drink on the table and looked between the two of them like she was watching a tennis match. “Oh, sorry did I interrupt something?”
Matt was impressed that Pip had even noticed. Most of the time he loved his sister’s glass half full, fly by the seat of your pants, blasé attitude to life but right now… he wished she’d just shove off, which surprised him. After she’d abandoned Ana with him he’d silently cursed her and thought about the pro’s and con’s of locking her back in that cupboard in the attic. Would it be worth Mrs H’s wrath again?
“So, are you single Ana?”
“Pip, leave it.” Matt snapped. He’d only lock her in it for a short time…
“What?” Pip asked innocently, raising her shoulders and eyebrows before carrying on unperturbed. “Right,” she clapped her hands together, “now that Matt has probably bored you to tears talking about bloody horses, you up for some fun, karaoke style?” Her eyes sparkled and her smile was wide as she wiggled her shoulders.
“Oh I don’t think so Pip.”
But the disappointed look on Pip’s face was enough to change Ana’s mind..
“Okay. Okay, you win,” she said, holding her hands up in mock surrender. “Let’s go before I change my mind. Thanks for keeping me company Matt.” She said quickly finishing her brandy before following Pip to the far end of the bar. Matt tracked her as she walked away, hypnotised by the sway of her hips.
As