Page 106 of Someone For Everyone

Megan wiped Kate’s cheek. ‘Oh, sweetie. I’m sorry.’ And then her expression changed. ‘Holy cow! Who’s that?’ she said, straining to see through the crowd. ‘Talk about hot.’ And then, realising what she’d said, turned to her husband. ‘Not as hot as you, obviously.’

Beth tugged on Kate’s dress. ‘I don’t like to worry you, but isn’t that you-know-who?’

Kate looked over, hoping it wasn’t the builder bloke from down the road that her aunty had been trying to fix her up with all week. She didn’t have the energy for small talk tonight. But as the crowd parted and the man came into view, she realised it wasn’t her aunty’s neighbour… it was Calvin.

‘Isn’t that the ex-Leeds Park footballer?’ Matt asked Zac. ‘Calvin Johnson.’

Zac looked over. ‘Bloody hell, I think it is. What’s he doing here?’

‘I’m guessing he’s here to see Kate.’ Beth gripped her cousin’s hand.

‘Is that him?’ Megan said, sounding impressed. ‘Way to go, Kate.’

But Kate was too stunned to speak. Calvin was here? At her aunty’s house? In Surrey?

She realised everyone was looking at her. As if she needed reminding that the idea of her with Calvin was ludicrous. No one was more shocked than her. But why was he here?

She turned to him as he neared, her belly doing somersaults. ‘Hi,’ she said, unable to find anything more intelligent to say. God, she was pathetic.

‘Hi,’ he said, reaching her.

And then there was silence. Well, apart from the thumping music, party chatter and Megan making an appreciative whistling noise.

Her cousins and their respective partners had formed a semicircle behind Kate and were staring open-mouthed at Calvin. Talk about excruciating.

‘Hi, I’m Calvin,’ he said, looking awkward as they stared at him. He was wearing a fitted black top and faded jeans, and his hair was freshly shaved underneath his curly topknot – and her heart ached at the sight of him.

Matt extended a hand. ‘Good to meet you.’

Zac did the same and they all shook hands.

Kate cleared her throat. ‘Sorry, I’m being rude. Calvin, this is my brother-in-law, Zac, and his wife, Megan, my cousin. And this is my other cousin, Beth, and her fiancé, Matt.’

Calvin nodded at them all. ‘Good to meet you.’

Megan was making a show of giving him the once-over.

Beth nudged her sister and cleared her throat. ‘Nice to meet you, Calvin. I believe you’ve also been working with our brother, Alex? I hope he’s been behaving himself?’

‘He’s been great. He’s a top bloke.’ Calvin’s eyes slid to Kate. ‘In fact, I offered him a full-time job today and he accepted.’

Kate’s eyes grew wide. ‘Does that mean… you’re staying in Kent?’ Her heart rate sped up, causing a surge of blood to course through her.

Calvin nodded, his eyes never leaving hers. ‘He gave me your aunty’s address. I hope it’s okay me showing up like this?’

The group behind her continued to stare, showing no signs of going away and giving them some privacy.

Kate managed a feeble nod, even though she still wasn’t sure what him being here meant.

Calvin glanced at the faces behind her and then looked back at her. ‘Any chance we could talk somewhere a bit more private?’ His smile was soft and filled with warmth.

God, she’d missed his face.

Trying to regain her composure, she gestured to the patio doors. ‘Outside?’

‘Lead the way.’ He nodded at the group, who were still staring. ‘Nice meeting you.’

‘Not as nice as it was meeting you,’ Megan said, straining to check him out as he walked away, resulting in Beth telling her to behave.

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