The Man Ban - Nicola Marsh Page 0,8

five-hundred-foot radius.

“What girl?”

His feigned nonchalance earned a disgusted scoff. “That bridesmaid. You’re staring.”

He couldn’t help it. Harper had something about her . . . a beautiful, cool exterior that screamed hands-off, hiding a feisty core if the way she responded to his kiss was any indication.

“We talked earlier. She’s nice.”

Izzy snorted. “Don’t go getting any ideas.”

“And what ideas may they be?”

“She’s not for you.” Izzy waggled her finger. “Mixed race marriages are complicated.”

They’d had this discussion before, when Manny pointed out the entire Anglo-Indian race came about through mixed marriages. But Izzy had a hang-up about it and he rarely bothered correcting her these days; what was the point when he had no intention of getting married, ever?

“Then it’s a good thing I’m not marrying her.” He nudged her gently. “Surely you don’t disapprove of me having a little fun?”

Izzy’s nose crinkled. “Please don’t elaborate.”

“I won’t, but I know you’re not as shockable as you pretend.”

She waved him away. “Go. Have your fun. But remember, you must find a wife before I die.”

Considering Izzy was a sprightly eighty-six, he hoped that would be a long way off, ensuring he’d still be a happy bachelor at fifty and beyond.

“You’re far from that,” he said, “meaning the chances of me walking up the aisle anytime soon are zero.”

Izzy’s gaze slid away from his in a way he didn’t like. Then again, most elderly didn’t like thinking about their mortality. He hated contemplating a life without Izzy in it. His chest ached at the thought.

“I’m so proud of you.” She spoke so softly he had to lean closer to hear her. “I’ve been blessed having you in my life.”

His throat tightened at the glimpse of tears in her eyes. “Hey, weddings are happy occasions. What’s brought this on?”

“The thought of me not being at yours,” she said, clutching her chest, and winking.

Relieved she’d lightened the moment, he slid an arm around her waist. “You’re one in a million, you know that, right?”

“I know,” she said, leaning into him.

His gran was in a strange mood tonight, no doubt about it, and when he raised his head to glance toward the back of the hall again, Harper had vanished.

7

Harper knew catching up with her mom for a coffee the day after her dad’s phone call wasn’t a good idea. She might accidentally let slip how much he was still hurting after fourteen months of separation, because she couldn’t get it out of her head how morose he’d sounded last night.

But that’s exactly why she’d organized this late brunch. She’d been fielding too many similar calls from her dad lately, and she wanted to know what was going on in her mom’s life so she could allay his fears, or confirm them, once and for all.

“How was Nishi’s wedding?”

“Good.”

Lydia arched a perfectly shaped brow. “Nishi’s been your best friend for years, and there were five hundred people at the wedding. Surely, you can give me more than that?”

Harper wanted to say, Surely you can give me more information about your private life, but it wasn’t the time. Their smashed avos had just arrived, and seeing as she hadn’t eaten much at the wedding from nerves about her food presentation, she was starving.

“Nishi and Arun looked amazing; me, along with the other bridesmaids, rocked our saris; and the groomsmen were great.”

One in particular, but she wouldn’t dwell on that. She’d managed to avoid Manny for the rest of the wedding after their kiss’n’cream incident and had escaped as soon as the bouquet was tossed. But not before checking that every one of her thirty business cards had vanished from the buffet table. Seeing Nishi so happy had been the highlight, but watching people snap pictures of the food had come a close second.

“Why are you blushing?”

Trust her mom to notice. Before her separation, Lydia Ryland had been obsessed with Harper’s love life. She’d offer fashion and hairstyling tips, would ask about every date and generally hang on every word of Harper’s tales. Her mom had tolerated Colin, but Harper could tell there hadn’t been any genuine liking there. Her mom valued appearances, and Colin slouched around in torn jeans and sweatshirts when he wasn’t in his chef’s whites.

Sure, her mom had made all the right I’m sorry noises after he’d dumped her, but Harper knew her mom was secretly glad and thought she could do better.

Since then, her mom had stopped showing interest in her dating life. She never questioned why Harper hadn’t dated since Colin. Harper