The CEO(12)

Ava tucked her hands behind her back to hide her fingernails. ‘I’m a landscape designer.’

‘Oh, how lovely to be surrounded by beautiful gardens every day.’

Ava laughed. ‘They are when I’ve finished with them, I’m proud to say.’

‘It must be a wonderful thing to create a garden,’ Ellie said.

‘It is.’

‘And that gets me to thinking. The Malone Foundation could really use your help.’

Ava sipped her wine. ‘What’s the Malone Foundation?’

‘We spend money on projects that benefit people everyone else has forgotten about. And I think I know exactly where we might be able to use your skills. Have you ever designed a garden in a childcare centre?’

‘No, but I’d love to.’

‘Excellent news. I’ll be in touch. If the baby doesn’t come first, that is.’ Ellie’s eyes gleamed and it wasn’t just from the tears. ‘I never thought it would happen to me, you know? It took me so long to find the right man to even consider having a baby with. I wasn’t going to do this with any Tom, Dick or Harry.’

‘Or any Chris, Callum or Cooper,’ Ava said absentmindedly.

‘What?’

Ava felt the blush race up her décolletage and redden her cheeks. ‘Oh, nothing. It was just that you said those names, three guys … Tom, Dick or Harry. It reminded me of them …’ Ava cocked her head in the direction of the brothers. ‘Chris, Callum and Cooper.’

‘You talking about me and my testosterone again?’

Chris joined them on the deck carrying a dining chair. ‘There, babe. Sit down.’ Ellie gratefully slipped into it.

Cooper was next to join them. ‘Sister-in-law,’ he nodded to Ellie with a wink. When he looked at Ava, he narrowed his eyes in a question. ‘And you … I don’t quite know what to call you since my twin brother isn’t married to your little sis anymore.’

‘Ava will do.’

‘Ava it is then.’ Cooper raised a glass and clinked it against hers.

‘I’m sorry again about your father, Cooper,’ Ava said in a quiet voice. ‘And you too, Chris, of course.’

The brothers exchanged glances. A shadow passed over their faces.

‘Thanks, Ava,’ Chris said. ‘We appreciate it.’

One brother was missing from this gathering and Ava looked inside to see where Callum was. She saw him reaching out to shake Michael’s hand and then he leaned forward and planted a polite kiss on Lulu’s cheek. She turned her eyes away before he caught her. That mask was now firmly back in place.

Ellie poked Cooper in the leg with an outstretched finger. ‘What do you think of this house, huh?’

‘It’s incredible.’ Cooper inspected the empty balcony and then walked to the railing and leaned over it. ‘Except for that. Check it out.’

They all walked over and looked down. There was another level below, where a pool had been built into the balcony, but there was no water in it, save for a muddied puddle from the recent rain and a scattering of leaves swirling a dervish in the breeze. Beyond it, lower still, there were another two levels, both barren of plants or grass, comprising nothing but dirt.

‘How can anyone kill a garden in this climate?’ Ava wondered out loud.

‘It was like this when I bought it.’

Ava froze. Not only was Callum’s voice in her ear, deep and mellifluous, but he was close behind her. She didn’t have to turn around to know it. Her fingers gripped the balcony railing and she didn’t move. If she turned, she would be face to face, breasts to chest, with Callum.

‘I’ve been a little busy running the family firm.’

‘I can see that,’ Ava said. ‘It’s a building site out there.’

She turned her head slightly and he’d stepped back. ‘Anyone for a refill?’

Chris and Cooper held out their glasses and Callum poured from a bottle of red.

‘Oh by the way,’ he said with a nod in Ava’s direction. ‘Lulu and Michael said to say goodbye. They just left.’

Ava spun around. Well, wasn’t that just great. What happened to their plan to leave together? And now, how on earth would she extract herself from all this Malone-ness? She stared into her wine glass, embarrassed that a blush was creeping up her cheeks.

‘Red?’

Her free hand flew to her face. Had he noticed her blushing? How more out of place and embarrassed could she be?

‘Pardon?’ Ava managed.

Callum held up the bottle of red wine, readying himself to top up her glass.

‘Red wine? Or would you prefer a white?’

She quickly covered her glass with a flat hand and dropped her eyes. ‘No. Thank you.’