‘The fastest, hottest, most fearsome bike in the country,’ Evie declaimed theatrically.

‘Do you mind?’ he said at once, in mock offence. ‘In the world.’

‘I’m sorry. But aren’t there professional testers? Does the boss have to risk his neck-?’ She broke off and struck her forehead. ‘Oh, of course! Stupid of me. You want to risk your neck. Otherwise, where’s the fun?’

‘You’ve got it.’ He grinned. ‘Evie, you’re the only woman I know who’d understand that. You should come and watch tomorrow.’

‘I’d love to.’ She sipped her wine and said mischievously, ‘People have been talking about you all day.’

‘I know. It’s a bachelor’s fate at a wedding.’ He assumed a twittery voice of the kind he’d heard so often that day. ‘“He’ll be next. Just wait and see.”’

‘Was that why you didn’t bring a date?’ she asked, chuckling.

‘One reason. My mother complains about the girls I bring home, and when I don’t bring one she complains even more.’

‘I gather they’re real eye-openers?’

He made a wry face, and she became serious to say, ‘I guess you’re a long way from finding what Carlo has.’

‘I think there are very few men who find what Carlo has. Or what you and Justin have.’

She was silent, watching him sympathetically.

After a while he added, ‘And thank you for not saying, Don’t worry, your turn will come.’’

‘Don’t you think it will?’ she asked, struck by the sudden quiet heaviness in his voice.

‘Maybe. Or maybe it came and went.’

Evie was silent, astonished. She had always sensed that there was more to her brother-in-law than the rough, hard-living man he was on the surface, but this was the first time he’d offered so much as a hint of a more reflective inner self.