Finding His Zen by Tammy Mannersly

Author:Tammy Mannersly
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Australia, First Love, Family Squabbles, Sisters, Olympic Swimmer, Business to Pleasure, Media Circus
Publisher: Inkspell Publishing
Published: 2020-07-14T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 9

Although the mouthwatering smells of dinner still lingered in the air, the dining room table—previously cluttered with moussaka, green salad and buttered bread—had been emptied, cleaned and left with the after-dinner drinks of tea, coffee and water. Dessert was a tray of Tim-Tams, which Zen’s mother had apologized profusely for, giving her younger daughter a chiding look whenever anyone took one of the chocolate-covered, store-bought biscuits.

With the night drawing on, the luminous lights of the kitchen dimmed, the gathering began to feel somewhat more intimate. After all the talk shared, the impassioned discussions, the jovial humor and the expected reminiscences, there seemed an easiness now. Where the atmosphere initially prickled with mystery and tenseness, it had dispelled and left a comforting feeling of familiarity. It felt cozy, warming both the heart and soul, and had made Zen consider forgiving her sister’s hasty dinner invitation to the celebrity crush of her dreams.

When her husband snatched his third Tim-Tam of the evening, Zen’s mother once again huffed her displeasure.

“If only I had known earlier that we were to have company tonight, I would have baked something special. But, my daughter, she only tells me when she arrives for dinner. It was a surprise, she said. But surprise—we have no dessert.”

Zenia stifled a chuckle as her sister grumbled.

“Oh, leave it, Mum. No one cares that you didn’t bake. You know Zen and I rarely eat dessert anyway.”

“Sebastian might care?” Gabriella pointed her nose skyward.

“I’d never turn down something sweet, Mrs. Andino,” Seb added charmingly. “Perhaps I could attend another family dinner in the future? That way I’ll have the opportunity to try your special dessert.”

Gabriella’s face radiated with pleasure. “Next Monday. It is a deal, and please, we are Gabriella and Leo.” She pointed to herself then her husband.

“That’s only if you’re still in town.” Zen piped up, watching Seb closely. She didn’t want him promising something he couldn’t deliver on. “I thought you were only here for a week.”

“I have the power to extend our stay if I want to.” He winked at her and there was something hidden in his expression, as though the subject was one he’d considered before.

“Well, I hope you stay indefinitely.” Lexy cuddled up to him from her seat beside his at the head of the table. “Either that or you take me back to Sydney with you.”

“Lexy would love to visit Sydney,” Gabriella gushed.

Leo shook his head at his wife. “Don’t pressure the boy, Gabriella. He’s only just met her. You don’t need to suggest they run off interstate together.”

“Seb, doesn’t mind, Daddy.” Lexy fluttered her lashes at the swim star. “In fact, his agent, Emmett, has already suggested that might be a possibility.”

“He has?” It was said in chorus by everyone else in the room, though tone and interest levels varied.

Zen felt her stomach flip-flop at the discovery and balled her hands into tight fists beneath the table in an effort to calm down. If Seb and Lexy were to fly off to Sydney together then so be it.

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