Right As Rain (20 page)

“You've been shopping,” she said.

“Thought I'd try some Aussie clothing. This R.M.Williams gear seems to be the thing.”

“Would you like a glass?” Mackenna turned away and willed her trembling hands to be steady as she took another piece of long-stemmed crystal from the cupboard. She remembered every detail of the body underneath those clothes.

“Thanks,” he said. He took the glass she offered and nodded at her jacket. “You look the part.”

She brushed her hands quickly down her black chef's coat. “I haven't worn it in years but I thought it would add to the atmosphere for tonight.”

“This really is what you want to do,” Adam said.

“Not just the tasting room.” Mackenna waved her hand at the land beyond the window. “I want the running of our stud and the management of our animals to be top class. Not so much guesswork, making use of research and up-to-date genetic mapping. I want the people who buy our sheep to know they're getting the best and to ask for it in restaurants.”

She turned back to Adam and felt the tiniest niggle of self-doubt. Maybe she was expecting too much and maybe she was doing the wrong thing pushing away this gorgeous man standing before her. Why was he still here when she'd done her best to keep the distance between them?

Adam raised his glass. “Here's to you, Mackenna. A woman who knows what she wants.”

She clinked her glass against his and gave him a wry smile. If only you knew the turmoil below the surface, she thought.

His eyes held hers as they both sipped their drinks.

The sound of an approaching vehicle drew Mackenna's eyes to the clock. “Time to get started,” she said.

Adam leaned in. “Yes, chef,” he murmured. “You look delicious by the way.” He kissed her cheek. A shiver ran through her. She breathed in the scent of him. Then he was gone. From the front of the house she could hear his deep voice mixing with those of her parents'. There was no time to waste. She took the first tasting platter from the fridge, added the brie she'd had sitting out then whipped into the bathroom.

The face that stared back at her from the mirror could have been a stranger's. The young woman with bright eyes and glowing cheeks didn't match the emotions that battled within her. Self-doubt and indecision were not common feelings for Mackenna. If only Adam wasn't here, she thought. He was distracting her from her purpose.

She snatched up a lipstick and applied the subtle red to her lips, then patted her hair with her hands. She'd taken time earlier to braid her long locks then pulled them up and back and pinned them to her head. A few shorter curls floated loose around her face but she couldn't do anything about them. She went to meet her guests.

“Mackenna, you look gorgeous,” her mother said as she hugged her. “I love it when you wear your hair up like that.”

“How did your trip to Adelaide go?” Mackenna asked, conscious of Adam's eyes studying her.

“Busy.”

“Your mother made me stay in the city last night.” Lyle said as he took his turn to hug Mackenna.

“It was so late by the time we'd done all the paperwork for Patrick's car,” Louise said.

“Where is Patrick?” Mackenna looked through the open front door to the darkening sky.

“We haven't heard from him today,” Lyle said. “But he's definitely coming.”

“And he's bringing a friend.” Louise's smile grew.

“Now don't go reading anything into it,” Lyle said. “It's probably just a mate.”

Mackenna thought of the table she'd set. She had plenty of food but she'd need to set another place. Mate or not, she hoped Patrick's friend was female. They had males galore at the table but Mackenna, her mother and Chris's wife, Ginnie, were the only women. Another female would help balance the numbers.

Hugh arrived with a bunch of flowers from his mother's garden, closely followed by Cam, and then Chris and Ginnie with two bottles of a new dessert wine. The entrance was crowded and footsteps and voices echoed loudly. She'd need to get a carpet runner for the passage. Mackenna ushered them all into the tasting room, where she put Chris in charge of pouring everyone a glass of his Bunyip sparkling while she returned to the kitchen.

She had no vase for the flowers but an empty jar did the trick. They'd been held together with a piece of brown and white striped ribbon, which she tied around the jar. They would look perfect on the bar in the tasting room.

Then she turned her attention to the first of her tasting plates. It was a simple platter of cheeses, nuts, some dried bush tomatoes, her green pesto dip and cured lamb. Satisfied, she picked up the plate and the flowers.

Ginnie was the first to greet her when she returned. “Mackenna, you've done a wonderful job with the decorating. The room looks great and the little touches of the wool in the basket and the corrugated-iron bar – I love it.”

“Thanks. Would you like to try something?”

“It all looks delicious,” Ginnie said and she picked some food from the plate.

“Can I put those somewhere?” Hugh took the jar of flowers from her hand.

“On the bar.” Mackenna was relieved to have two hands to support the heavy platter. “Thanks Hugh, they're lovely.”

“Mum's doing, of course.” Hugh smiled. “But I had the original thought.”

Everyone took turns to select something from the platter.

“Where did this come from?” Her father waved a piece of cured meat at her.

“It's our lamb,” Mackenna replied, watching her father closely as he took a bite. “What do you think?”

Lyle frowned and inspected the meat left in his fingers. “How can it be our lamb?”

“Don't you like it?” Mackenna was worried. This was one of her surprises.

He took another bite. “The flavour is strong.” He chewed some more and swallowed. “Perfect for a lamb lover,” he said with a grin. “Did you do this?”

“The first part, preparing and flavouring, then I took it to a butcher in Mount Gambier for the curing part.”

“Try this, Lou,” he said, tapping Louise on the arm.

Louise murmured her approval and the others crowded round again.

“I hope you've got more,” Hugh said.

Mackenna was excited by the enthusiastic reaction to the cured lamb and thankful she'd made a second platter. The food was disappearing at a rate of knots and Patrick hadn't arrived yet.

“Let me offer this one,” Adam said, taking the plate from her hands.

“Thanks.”

She turned just as Patrick appeared in the doorway with a young woman by his side. She was what could only be described as striking, with straight jet-black hair cut in a sharp fringe above her eyebrows and curving into the nape of her pale neck where it almost touched. Her clothes were all different layers but each layer was black. In fact the only contrast was the bright red of her lips and the paleness of her skin.

Conversation halted around the room as all eyes turned to the newcomers.

“Hope we're not too late.” Patrick's vibrant tone broke the silence. “Everyone, this is Yasmine.”

Yasmine gave a shy smile and lifted her hand to flutter long fingers ending with fingernails painted in black nail polish.

“Just started.” Mackenna was the first to find her voice. She couldn't help staring at Yasmine who had enough black around her eyes to make up several people. “I'm Patrick's sister, Mackenna.”

“I've seen pictures of you,” Yasmine said.

“Really?” Mackenna looked at her brother and the protective arm he draped around Yasmine. He really was secretive. He hadn't mentioned a girlfriend.

“Welcome, Jasmine,” Lyle said and offered his hand.

“It's Yasmine, Dad,” Patrick said.

“Call me,Yassie.” She flicked her large brown eyes around the group. “A lot of people have trouble with the Y and the J.”

“Hello,Yassie. I'm Louise, Patrick's mother.” Louise took Yassie by the arm. “Let me introduce the others.”

“Aren't you the dark horse,” Mackenna said to Patrick who had remained by her side.

“Yas and I've been together a long time. I haven't been ready to bring her home until now.”

Mackenna was surprised and then had a sudden flood of sibling protection for her brother. She understood what he meant. She never brought anyone home either. She looked again at Yasmine being introduced to the rest of the party. Patrick must be really serious about her to risk bringing her home.

“I can't understand why,” Mackenna joked as they both watched their mother gushing over his girlfriend. “You'd better go rescue her before Mum whips out your baby photos. I've got the next course to prepare.”

“Yeah, I need to talk to you about the food.” Patrick's eyes darted from Yasmine to Mackenna.

“What about it?”

“Yasmine can't eat meat.”

“You're kidding?”

“Patrick.” Louise beckoned him.

“The mother calls. You'll rustle something up for her, won't you? She doesn't eat much.” He gave Mackenna a peck on the cheek then headed off to Yasmine's side, leaving Mackenna stewing.

Adam had drifted from the edge of the crowd and raised his eyebrow. Her heart skipped and she turned away quickly. She didn't have time to think about him. She had to come up with food without meat for a meal that featured lamb as the main ingredient.

In the kitchen she looked at the second tasting platter. There was enough on that for a non-meat eater but entrée was tricky. She had prepared to serve a trilogy of lamb – lamb sausage on buttered potatoes, lamb fillet wrapped in vine leaves, and lamb with feta and spinach in sausage roll bites. Nothing meat free there.

“How's it going?”

Adam's voice startled her.

“Fine,” she said and turned on the oven. There was a lot to do before she could serve.

“Can I help?”

He wouldn't go away.

“I can manage,” she said.

“I'm sure you can, but I could tell by the look on your face you weren't expecting a vegetarian.”

“We're a sheep farm,” Mackenna snapped and wiped the back of her hand across her forehead. “What was Patrick thinking?”

“I guess he can't help the eating choices of his girlfriend.”

“I know, but he might have given me some warning. Tonight is all about celebrating our lamb. It's the main ingredient.” Mackenna flicked a hand at the menu she had stuck to the board on the wall.

Adam studied it. “Have you put all these dishes together?”

“Most of it.” Mackenna opened the fridge and began pulling out the food she'd prepped during the day.

He looked over her shoulder. “You've got haloumi.”

“Yes.” She sidestepped around him.

“It's not on your menu?”

“Not tonight.”

“I could wrap some in vine leaves. It's delicious deep fried.”

“I know that but tonight – ”

“Is all about the lamb, I know, but we need something for a vegetarian.” He poked in the fridge. “You've got plenty of pastry, I could do a couple of feta and spinach bites minus the lamb.”

Mackenna's hands flew to her hips. Finally it registered that he was suggesting he could help.

“Everything going okay?”

Hugh was standing in the doorway. What was with all these men in her kitchen?

“Fine,” she declared.

“Small problem,” Adam said at the same time.

Hugh looked from one to the other. “Can I help?”

Laughter echoed up the passage behind him.

“Take that platter and make sure they eat it.” Mackenna gave him a weak smile. It was hardly his fault things were going awry. “I need to get the next course cooking before they're all too drunk to enjoy it.”

“Sure thing.” Hugh picked up the plate. “Let me know if I can do anything else.”

Mackenna was already at the cooktop igniting the gas. From the corner of her eye she saw Adam don the apron she'd hung on the back of the door. She was happy to let him cook for Yasmine. It was one less thing to worry about.

When the sausages were cooking she put the bites in the oven and checked her potatoes. She was aware of Adam moving around her asking the odd question about where to find things. They worked independently but didn't get in each other's way. That was good at least. She glanced up at her menu. It was ready to go.

“Damn!” she muttered.

“What's up?”

“I need to set an extra place for Yasmine.”

“I can do it while you plate up.”

“Thanks. There's a space at the end of the table and the cutlery's on the side cupboard in the dining room.”

“No problem.” He gave her a big smile.

Mackenna turned back to her food and her plates. Adam was leaving tomorrow and there was no way she was going to fall for him again.

“That was a fantastic meal, Mackenna.” Chris raised his glass to her. “Congratulations.”

All around the table voices echoed his words. Mackenna was exhausted. It had been a long time since she'd spent so long in the kitchen.

“You must be very pleased,” Ginnie said. “So many ways to eat lamb and each of them divine.”

“The spiced lamb on the cauliflower and pine nut salad was so light and tasty,” Louise said. “You'll have to share that recipe with me.”

“My favourite was the seared lamb rump.” Lyle beamed at her along the table. “I know our lamb has good flavour but you really brought it out with that one.”

There were more murmurs of agreement and then a brief moment of silence.

“The berry dessert was very refreshing.” Yasmine's voice was low but everyone heard her and nodded in agreement.

At least she ate that, Mackenna thought. She looked down the table to Yasmine at the other end. After all Adam's work to make sure there was a vegetarian option for every course, Yasmine had hardly eaten any of it. Still, she'd taken lots of photos. If any of them turned out alright, Mackenna might be able to use them for publicity.