Sweet Surrender (The Dysarts) by Catherine George Page A

say would change her mind, though Kate’s resistance weakened when her mother spotted a pair of cropped trousers in bright coral linen in a window. ‘Perfect for the summer—you need something frivolous, so let me treat you,’ said her mother firmly. ‘I only wish I was young enough to wear them myself.’
    Kate gave in without a struggle. And when her mother bought her more underwear, frivolous and lacy this time, Kate’s resistance was at an all-time low.
    â€˜Come on, you subversive creature,’ she said to Frances. ‘Let’s get out of here before you undermine every principle I’ve got.’
    But Frances went on to buy miniature T-shirts and dungarees for the baby, a lipstick each for Kate and Gabriel, and a bag full of goodies from the food hall before they moved on to as much window gazing as Kate’s heart desired. And later, during lunch, Frances was so obviously enjoying the time spent with her daughter Kate felt guilty because she wasn’t home to do this kind of thing more often.
    Later Frances went off to her dentist, leaving Kate tohaul their shopping back to Dysart’s. On her way to the auction house she tripped and dropped one of her parcels, and to her surprise found that the smiling man who retrieved it was Jack Spencer.
    â€˜Why, hello there!’ Kate returned the smile with pleasure. ‘Thank you. As you can see, I’ve been indulging in some serious retail therapy. How’s the new arrival, Mr Spencer?’
    â€˜In an incubator for a day or two, but only as a precaution. He’s a great little chap.’
    â€˜And how about Abby?’
    â€˜Happy as a lark now.’ He smiled down at her. ‘A lot of which is down to you, Miss Dysart.’
    â€˜More down to having a new baby brother!’
    â€˜How about celebrating his arrival by having lunch with me?’
    Kate shook her head regretfully. ‘I lunched early with my mother. She’s gone off to the dentist.’
    â€˜When are you due to meet her again?’
    â€˜In an hour or so.’
    He eyed her burden with disapproval. ‘You’re not going to haul those bags round town until then?’
    â€˜I was just taking them back to my father at the auction house.’
    â€˜Ah!’ He nodded in comprehension. ‘You’re one of those Dysarts.’
    â€˜The family business. I was going to beg a coffee while I wait.’
    â€˜Have one with me at the Chesterton instead.’ Without waiting for her consent, he took charge of her bags and hurried her off to the car parked illegally at the kerb. ‘They’ll give me a sandwich to eat with it while you tell me everything you’ve been doing since I saw you last.’
    With a bemused feeling she was beginning to associate with Jack Spencer, Kate meekly let him hand her up into the black Cherokee Jeep, and raised a quizzical eyebrow as he stowed her parcels in the back.
    â€˜A problem?’ he asked, as he drove off.
    â€˜No. I was just wondering if everyone always does exactly what you want all the time.’
    â€˜Pretty much,’ he admitted cheerfully.
    Kate took a look at his suit, which on close quarters proved to be of quality as good as anything worn by her father or Adam. Or Alasdair. ‘Day off today?’ she asked.
    He shook his fair head, which looked marginally tidier than the last time they’d met. ‘Interview.’ Again the sidelong grin. ‘Though a meeting with you is an unexpected bonus. I was driving past when I spotted you juggling with those bags.’
    â€˜You mean you just stopped the car when you saw me?’
    â€˜I came to a screaming halt and raced after you like the guy in the TV ad. Only I didn’t have any flowers to give you.’
    â€˜You’ve already done that bit!’
    He laughed as he turned in to the Chesterton car park. ‘So I have.’ He glanced at his watch. ‘Hurry up. Ten minutes of your hour