'You look younger. How many brothers and sisters do you have?'

'Three brothers and one sister.'

'And how old are they?'

'Let's see. . . Marco's twenty-five, Pietro's twenty- three, Paolo's twenty-one, and Giovanni and Claudia are nineteen. They're twins.'

'So they're all grown up, really.'

'Says who?' he growled. 'They're all complete idiots! If I wasn't around to look after them, they'd be in all sorts of trouble.'

'You sound just like Byron when he talks to me. I think big brothers develop a superiority complex that prevents them from seeing their siblings as adults.'

'Could be, Ava. Could be.' He looked over at her and gave a dry laugh. 'But at least such inadequacies of judgement are not transferable. I can a.s.sure you, I think of you very much as an adult.'

His eyes went to her b.r.e.a.s.t.s and Ava felt her nipples harden immediately. 'Don't. . .don't look at me like that,' she said shakily.

'Why not?'

'You know why not,' she whispered, and turned her face away.

Vince said nothing, and an odd tension developed in the car which was both s.e.xual and something else. Vince remained silent, and Ava was left to wonder what he was thinking about.

'What other relatives of yours will be at this party tonight?' he said at long last.

Relieved to be talking again, Ava launched into telling Vince all about Jade and Kyle, about their romance and their recent marriage, complete with a baby on the way, after which she moved on to Nathan and Gemma, telling him all about them in as unbiased a fashion as she could. Naturally this meant disclosing quite a bit more about the family in general as well as the family opal business, though Ava stuck to bland facts. Vince wouldn't want to know family gossip.

'I doubt Nathan's daughter Kirsty will be there,' she finished up. 'She's only fifteen. The rest will be made up of Byron's friends and business a.s.sociates. No more than twenty to twenty-five people in all, Jade said. The houseboat wouldn't cope comfortably with any more guests.'

'It still must be a d.a.m.ned big houseboat.'

'Oh, it's not one that moves. It's quite stationary, parked at the end of a pier. More like a real house sitting on a barge. Hey, slow down! You have to take the next street on the left.'

The Mazda cornered beautifully and soon brought them safely down the winding road to the small bay and the marina where they discovered all of the parking spots along the foresh.o.r.e seemed to be filled. They crawled along, looking for a s.p.a.ce.

'That's Nathan's car,' she said, indicating the navy Mercedes.

Vince braked to a halt. 'Do you think he'll be leaving the party early?'

'Not as early as we're going to.'

This brought a sharp look from Vince. 'Is that a threat or a promise?'

'A fact.'

He glanced over at her. 'You're nervous,' he accused.

'It seems so.'

He reached over and covered her hand with his, squeezing it while he gave her a rea.s.suring smile. 'Don't worry. I'll be by your side.'

That's what's worrying me, she groaned silently.

'I'll park behind the Merc.'

'You can't do that!'

'Why not? I'm not blocking anyone else and you just said the owner won't be leaving early. Lighten up, Ava.'

Ava grimaced, then laughed. If this kept up she'd lighten up a h.e.l.l of a lot. She felt so queasy in her stomach that eating was out of the question. A drink was in order, though. Maybe several after Byron met Vince. Dear G.o.d, whose dumb idea was this?

Vince took her arm for the rather long walk along the pier towards the houseboat which was well lit around the verandas with coloured lights. No one had wandered outside, however. A fresh breeze was blowing off the water and m.u.f.fled music drifted towards them.'

'Pretty spot,' Vince remarked as they walked up the ramp on to the front veranda. 'But expensive. Do we go straight in?'

The houseboat had large windows on three sides but not the side facing the pier. A solid wooden door presented itself to Vince and Ava, who took a deep steadying breath and said, 'I think we'll just go straight in.'

'Right.' Vince turned the k.n.o.b and opened the door on to louder music, lively chatter and a haze of smoke. He waved Ava ahead of him, stopping briefly to close the door behind her. Before Ava could look properly around the crowded room, Jade came rushing forward, looking her usual outrageous self in a black flared mini dress which hid her pregnancy well but not her never- ending legs.

'Auntie Ava, you made it! We were all beginning to worry you might have had car trouble. But don't you look smashing. And you're so slim! Oh, I'm jealous,' Jade's sapphire-blue eyes twinkled as she looked over her aunt's shoulder straight at Vince. T see you took my advice, Auntie,' she whispered so that only Ava could hear. 'G.o.d, he's gorgeous.'

'And free,' Ava countered just as softly, but quite firmly.

Jade frowned at her aunt.

Ava turned to slide a tense hand through Vince's arm, bringing him forward. 'Vince, meet my niece, Jade.'

'Hi, Jade,' he said, flashing her one of his winning smiles. 'Sorry we're a little late. We lost track of time, something that always seems to happen when we're together.'

Ava had to control the urge to laugh at the look on Jade's face. Kyle's arrival at his wife's elbow helped pull herself together.

'Ava,' Kyle greeted, nodding to her in his usual cool fashion. His impeccable manners meant that he would not dream of commenting on her weight loss. 'That colour looks superb on you. And you did bring a friend. Jade was worried you might come alone. I'm Kyle Gainsford, Jade's husband,' he said, extending a hand towards Vince.

'Vince Morelli.'

'Glad you could come.' He turned back towards Ava, a wry smile lurking in those intelligent dark eyes of his. 'Byron was just wondering where you'd got to, Ava. I'm sure he'll be relieved to know you've come to no harm/ This brought a rolling-eyed glance from Jade, a wide smile from Vince and a spluttering from Ava. Suddenly, all four of them were grinning at each other.

'Oh, my G.o.d, here comes Byron,' Ava muttered.

'Don't forget to wish him a happy birthday,' Jade reminded her.

'Byron's present!' she gasped, looking up at Vince. 'I. . .1 left it in the car. . .'

'I'll get it,' he said, and was gone before she could say Jack Robinson.

'Ava!' Byron boomed. 'Where on earth have you been? I rang the house a while back and -' He broke off suddenly and simply stared at her. 'Good lord, Ava, is that really you?'

'I think so, Byron.'

'But where's the rest of you?'

'Pop's, for pity's sake!' Jade groaned.

'Never mind, Jade,' Ava sighed. 'I don't think he even knows he's being rude. I left the rest of me on the floor of your gym, Byron,' she said drily. 'I was wondering when you were going to notice the difference.'

'This is incredible. And I certainly don't mean to be rude. But you look so stunningly lovely and so. . . so. . .' He seemed at a loss to find an appropriate word.

's.e.xy?' Jade suggested, which brought an instant glare from her father.

'Truly, Jade, must you?'

'Must I what? Tell the truth? Auntie looks very s.e.xy tonight. I'm sure Vince thinks so too.'

Byron frowned. 'Who the h.e.l.l is Vince?'

'My date,' Ava supplied. 'He's gone back to the car to get your present. I left it on the back seat. Which reminds me. Happy birthday, Byron.' She kissed her brother on the cheek, aware that her heart was beating madly with nerves. She wished Byron's opinion weren't important to her but it seemed it was, after all. She was pleased by his reaction to her improved appearance but it was his att.i.tude to Vince that was crucial.

'Might I ask where you met this Vince person?' Byron demanded immediately. 'You've never mentioned him before.'

'He's a friend of Giuseppe's,' Ava said, deliberately side-tracking the truth about her meeting Vince. 'Giuseppe's my new art-teacher,' she explained to her bewildered-looking brother. 'And my patron. He's going to give me an exhibition.'

'An exhibition!' Jade squealed. 'Oh, how exciting! Congratulations, Auntie!' And she gave her a hug.

'Yes, congratulations, Ava,' Kyle added warmly.

'Thank you.'

Byron was still shaking his head. 'I don't understand any of this but I think I need a drink.'

'Good idea,' Kyle said. 'Take Ava and Byron back to the bar, Jade, and I'll wait here for Vince.'

'Whatever you say, o lord and master,' Jade quipped with if wicked grin at her husband, curling her right arm through Byron's elbow and her left through Ava's. Time we rescued Nathan and Lenore from Catherine, anyway.'

'Now who's being rude?' Byron grumbled. I don't understand why you don't like Catherine. She's a very nice lady.'

'Did you say Nathan and Lenore?' Ava asked Jade. 'Where's Gemma?'

'Seems she went back to Lightning Ridge for a few days. To visit that old lady friend of hers. Nathan says she was a bit homesick.'

'Really?' Ava didn't believe that. Gemma had hated her life at Lightning Ridge. 'But that doesn't explain why Lenore's here. Did you invite her, Jade?'

'No. Nathan brought her. It appears they were working late on the play and Lenore didn't want to go home to an empty house. Kirsty's gone on a camping excursion with cla.s.smates for the school holidays. Won't be back for two weeks.'

'I see,' Ava murmured, hoping that she didn't see what she thought she was seeing.

Still frowning her concern, she looked up and met Nathan's cool grey eyes across the room. It took a few seconds for her to realise that the surprised look that came into his face was to do with her revamped appearance. Lenore was standing next to him, looking absolutely stunning in figure-hugging emerald-green. Her hand was on Nathan's arm and they looked very cosy indeed. Poor Gemma. . .

Ava's gaze slid over to Catherine, who was standing on the other side of Nathan with a gla.s.s of champagne in her hand and a haughty look on her face. Always smart and elegant, tonight she was dressed in a cool ice-blue sheath that matched her eyes and was a perfect foil for her glossy dark hair.

'Everyone,' Jade announced brightly as she dragged Ava and Byron over to the threesome at the bar, 'look what Auntie Ava's been up to. She's become all slim and gorgeous.' Catherine and Lenore, who had not been watching Ava across the room as Nathan had, both looked round at once. Lenore, to give her credit, seemed delighted by Ava's new appearance. Catherine was stony-faced, lifting one of her plucked eyebrows in a gesture of droll boredom. Not a word of comment or praise pa.s.sed her lips.

At least Lenore was not that rude. 'I'm impressed, Ava,' she said. 'I know how hard it is to lose weight. And I just adore that suit. Where did you buy it?'

Trite conversation flowed till Catherine's sharply indrawn breath had everyone's eyes snapping her way.

'What is it, Catherine?' Byron asked. 'Something wrong with your drink?'

That man,' she rasped. 'The one talking to Kyle. What's he doing here?'

Heads swivelled and Ava saw at once she meant Vince, whom Kyle was gradually guiding their way.

'Why?' she demanded to know, her heart racing. 'What's wrong with his being here?'

Catherine looked most disconcerted. 'He. . .used to mow my lawns,' she said shakily. 'He. . .he made a pa.s.s at me one day and I had to fire him. It. . .it all became rather ugly.'

'How awful!' Lenore exclaimed.

Ava saw her brother scowl his disgust over at Vince and hr heart dropped to the ground. For a split- second, she had believed Catherine -perhaps because she wasn't a liar herself-but then her fait h in Vince's personal integrity came to the fore and she saw Catherine's lie for what it was: the desperate attempt of a woman scorned to save face and have her revenge.

For Vince would never make an unwanted pa.s.s at a woman. He would never have to. The odds were it was the other way around. Catherine made a pa.s.s at him and when Vince rejected her she fired him out of spite. He'd more or less told her such things had happened to him.

'What the devil is he doing here, then?' Byron ground out. 'Who broug ht him?'

Ava swallowed then lifted her chin, catching a glimpse of Jade's sympathetic face as she did so. 'I did," she said bravely. 'He's my date.'

'Your date?' Byron looked ready to explode. His eyes widened th en narrowed with a slowly dawning realisation. 'My G.o.d, you hired a new lawn-mowing man the other week, didn't you? Is that him?'

'Not exactly.'

'What do you mean, not exactly?'

'It's hard to explain.'

'Try,' he bit out.

'Not now,' she retorted so sharply that Byron's head snapped back. 'He'll be over here in a minute and if any of my family are rude to him I will never speak to them again as long as I live.' Ava faced Catherine with fun in her heart and determination in her mind. She wasn't going to let the b.i.t.c.h get away with spoiling things for her. No way. 'I don't believe what you just said about Vince, Catherine. I know him very well and he would not do what you've just accused him of. I would suggest you refrain from making such slanderous remarks and treat Vince with the respect and courtesy he deserves as my boyfriend. Do I make myself clear?'

A stunned silence descended upon the group with Catherine paling noticeably. 'I will not be forced to be polite to that man.'

'In that case, Byron, you have a choice,' Ava stated firmly, though her voice was shaking. She was shaking. 'Either she leaves this party or I do . Which is it to be?'

'Ava, don't be ridiculous. Let's discuss this like adults.'

'Choose!'

'This is crazy! I shouldn't have to make such a choice.'

'What choice?' Kyle asked, smiling at everyone as he joined them with Vince by his side.