Free Sweet Surrender (The Dysarts) by Catherine George

wryly.
    â€˜You could say that. There’s a sign ahead,’ he added. ‘Do I turn here?’
    â€˜Yes. The pub is a little way down on the right.’
    The Forrester’s Arms was popular, and Alasdair had to nudge his way through the crowded bar to clear a way for Kate. She waved at several familiar faces, then in response to a beckoning hand took Alasdair over to meet Chris and Jane Morgan, from the farm near Friars Wood.
    â€˜Squeeze in here with us. We’re going in for a meal shortly,’ said Chris. ‘How are you, Kate?’
    â€˜Fine,’ she said, smiling, and introduced Alasdair. ‘Adam recommended this place, but I didn’t know it was so busy mid-week.’
    â€˜It’s the new chef—his way with pastry is out of this world,’ said Jane, smiling at Alasdair. ‘I hope you booked.’
    He confirmed that he had, then went off to buy drinks, leaving Kate to answer questions about the newest Dysart arrival for a while.
    â€˜So is this Alasdair the current boyfriend?’ asked Chris, with the familiarity of someone who’d known Kate all her life.
    â€˜Friend, not boyfriend,’ she corrected. ‘We were students together for a while, back in the mists of time.’
    â€˜Listen to the old lady,’ mocked Jane, eyeing Alasdair’s back view with approval. ‘ Very nice, Kate. Ah! Mrs Jennings is waving a menu at us, Chris. Our dinner must be ready.’
    Her large husband leapt up with alacrity. ‘Great, I’m starving. Nice to see you, Kate.’
    â€˜You, too. Thanks for your table.’ Left to herself, Kate gazed into space for a while, deep in thought, and decided it was time to change her attitude towards Alasdair. She could have said no to the evening, she knew very well. But because she had agreed to it she might as well be civil, if only in return for the money he was laying out on her meal.
    A young girl rushed up with a menu, and explained that because they were so crowded it might be a while before they were actually served with their meal.
    â€˜Dinner may be a little late,’ Kate informed Alasdair when he joined her.
    He handed her a glass of something long and ice-filled, and sat down beside her to drink his beer.
    â€˜I can see why; it’s like a rugby scrum at the bar!’ He cast an eye at the menu she was studying. ‘Maybe you should choose something en croûte , if the chef is a genius with pastry. There’s no alcohol hiding in that, by the way,’ he added, indicating her glass. ‘Just fruit juice and lemonade.’
    â€˜I’m not averse to alcohol, Alasdair. Just wine.’
    â€˜You used to drink a glass or two now and then in the old days.’
    She shrugged. ‘I’ve changed since then.’
    He gave her a wintry look. ‘Damn right you have. I just wish I knew why you’d changed so much towards me . We got on well together once.’
    She smiled. ‘I grew up.’
    â€˜So you keep telling me.’ Alasdair applied himself to the menu again. ‘I think it’s the Gressingham duck for me.’
    â€˜I’ll have the bacon and egg pie,’ she announced, and giggled at his look of astonishment. ‘Why not? I like that kind of thing.’
    After Alasdair had given the rushed little waitress their order he leaned back in his seat, eyeing Kate challengingly. ‘So. Do I detect a slight thaw in the atmosphere?’
    â€˜Yes.’ She gave him a friendly smile. ‘I keep telling you I’ve grown up, so it’s time I started behaving that way. Tell me about your new job.’
    He looked down his nose at her. ‘You don’t have to be polite just because I’m buying dinner.’
    â€˜I’m interested. I really want to know.’ she assured him, and listened, fascinated, while Alasdair described his job with Healthshield, and told her that the pharmaceutical international had appointed him as