It Had to Be You by Lynda Renham Page B

into place feeling myself pant with excitement. Yes, oh yes. He can’t possibly refuse to buy me out. I can’t think why he didn’t suggest it in the first place . Oh relief. I find myself actually looking forward to the chow mein. I wish I’d asked for a portion of chips and a curry sauce to go with it.

Chapter Twelve
     
    Muffy said to play it cool.
    ‘ Wait until he’s had a few glasses of wine before you ask him. I spoke to Geoff and he knows about these things, he says don’t leave. The minute you do the guy will change the locks and you’ll have him as a squatter. Geoff said it will cost you thousands to get him out.’
    By the time William Ellis walks through the front door I ’ve laid the table and changed into a dress which I’ve topped with a cream cardigan. I’d tidied my hair and applied some lipstick and blusher. My aim is to get on his good side but it suddenly occurs to me that he may think I am coming onto him. He looks at me curiously and plonks the food on the table. I blush and feel myself grow hot as I remember the condoms in the bathroom cabinet.
    ‘ You shouldn’t have gone to such trouble,’ he says brusquely.
    I grow even hotter. I wish the heating was not so high.
    ‘It’s only a dress and a bit of make-up,’ I say blushing.
    He frowns.
    ‘I meant the table,’ he says, removing his jacket and casually turning a switch by the door to dim the lighting. God, I really dislike this man and his hurtful comments. He walks past me into the kitchen and helps himself to the wine rack. He’s very much at home in my house isn’t he?
    ‘ Red or white?’ he calls.
    Right now I ’d drink anything as long as it has alcohol in it.
    ‘ I’m easy,’ I say and bite my lip. Jesus, I can’t believe I said that. I am playing it far from cool. I think I see a smile pass his lips but it’s gone before I can be sure. He returns to the table with a bottle of red which he uncorks expertly.
    ‘ I got some chips and curry sauce,’ he says while pouring a little wine into a glass.
    He must have read my mind.
    ‘But if you’re watching your figure,’ he adds, glancing at me. I feel myself blush and fight the desire to stab myself with a chopstick. Honestly, how can three men in the space of as many days manage to make me feel so bad about myself? Is he trying to insinuate I’m fat? I blush and curse myself. Anyone would think I was having dinner with Daniel Craig the way I’m carrying on. It isn’t like I’m not used to good-looking men. Oliver is very handsome; I wonder what he’s doing now. We always used to get a takeaway on a Saturday night. I loved our evenings in with a Chinese and a good DVD. I hope he isn’t with Amanda Rowland. Maybe Muffy is right, perhaps I should go home. What the hell am I doing in a strange house, and what’s more, eating a Chinese with a strange man. I can’t possibly sleep here tonight. I barely know the guy. He sits opposite me at the table and removes the lids from the cartons. I expect him to offer me something but he just helps himself and fills his plate. Oliver would never be so rude
    ‘ So, I’m thinking you could buy me out,’ I announce. ‘After all, you’re good at spending money.’
    Whoops, that was a bit uncalled for. I don ’t know what came over me. He dips a chip in the curry sauce and lifts it to his mouth in such a way that I have to fight a swoon. His lips are a soft pink, tinged slightly from the wine. Seriously, he is that good looking he could be a film star. No wonder he has condoms. He probably gets through a crate of them each week. I imagine he has a different woman every night. He is probably quite accustomed to slipping them fifty quid, not to mention slipping them a little something else. My dear aunt’s house has become nothing more than a knocking shop. He looks the type who works hard and plays hard. I’m surprised he has got time to do fuck all else, let alone eat Chinese, but I suppose he needs to keep his strength