words.â
âBut grown-up cutlery,â Dominic grinned. âI know a very good seafood place. You do like seafood, donât you?â
âMy favourite. Iâll go and change. Why donât you go and wait in the sitting room? Frankieâ¦â
He watched the shadow flit across her face and insanely wished that out of sight was a little bit more out of mind. Correction, a whole lot more out of mind.
âFrankie wonât be bursting inâ¦â
She dressed quickly and carefully. Nothing at all sexy, nothing to remind him of the girl she had been. Chic, or at least as chic as she had been able to afford on herlimited budget. Black skirt snugly fitting but reaching to her knees, a silky pink vest top with a matching cardigan, fairly flat black shoes which she had bought in preparation for her job, sheer black tights because summer was giving way to autumn and there was a nip in the air that hadnât been noticeable a few weeks ago.
When she finally looked at her reflection in the mirror, there was an excited gleam in her eyes that made her hesitate for a few seconds.
Then she was walking into the sitting room, feeling like a teenager on her first date.
He hadnât sat down. He was standing by the window, half looking out, his hand in his jacket pocket, and he turned as soon as she walked in.
âBetter?â Mattie asked nervously. Her! Nervous! âOr should I wear my diamond tiara?â
âThe tiara might be just a little too much,â Dominic told her gravely, but heavens, she looked edible. The shorter hair suited her, gave her a tailored beauty that was even more alluring.
âSo,â he murmured as soon as they were in his car and heading out towards Chiswick, âno more Frankie?â
âNo more Frankie.â
âPleased?â He wished he could watch her, see the expressions on her face so that he could gauge what was going through her mind, but he needed to concentrate on the road and she was far too much of a distraction for sensible driving.
âYes and no.â
âWhat does that mean?â His hands tightened on the wheel but he kept his voice low and steady.
âThings werenât right between us. I mean, itâs good thatâ¦that weâve both reached the same conclusion, butâ¦he was a big part of my life for such a long timethat it takes some getting used toâ¦â Mattie cleared her throat. âHe let me have the use of his house until I found somewhere of my own, and guess whatâ¦?â
âWhat?â A twinge of guilt made his jaw tighten but it only lasted a second.
âIâve been offered a job andâ¦â she paused to add drama to what she was about to say next ââ¦part of the deal is that theyâve offered me an apartment! Can you believe it? I couldnât, to start with, but this company is spearheading a marketing campaign for a massive complex in south London. Apartments, health facilities, shops, the lot! And while theyâre involved in the marketing, thereâs a perk afforded to some of the employees of an apartment on site. I canât believe how it all happened at just the right time. Isnât it fantastic?â
âFantastic.â Another twinge of guilt but he consoled himself with the thought that she would have got there anyway. She had the dedication or else how could she have persevered with her course against all odds? And she had the talent. Top of her course from the minute she had stepped foot in the classroom.
âYou donât sound very pleased for me.â And for some reason, that was hurtful.
âIâm incredibly pleased for you,â Dominic said abruptly. âHow did Frankie react after I had gone?â
âNot as Iâd expected, actually. You donât think Iâm capable of doing this job, do you?â
âIf youâre capable of studying by day and working nights, then youâre capable of becoming the
âBut grown-up cutlery,â Dominic grinned. âI know a very good seafood place. You do like seafood, donât you?â
âMy favourite. Iâll go and change. Why donât you go and wait in the sitting room? Frankieâ¦â
He watched the shadow flit across her face and insanely wished that out of sight was a little bit more out of mind. Correction, a whole lot more out of mind.
âFrankie wonât be bursting inâ¦â
She dressed quickly and carefully. Nothing at all sexy, nothing to remind him of the girl she had been. Chic, or at least as chic as she had been able to afford on herlimited budget. Black skirt snugly fitting but reaching to her knees, a silky pink vest top with a matching cardigan, fairly flat black shoes which she had bought in preparation for her job, sheer black tights because summer was giving way to autumn and there was a nip in the air that hadnât been noticeable a few weeks ago.
When she finally looked at her reflection in the mirror, there was an excited gleam in her eyes that made her hesitate for a few seconds.
Then she was walking into the sitting room, feeling like a teenager on her first date.
He hadnât sat down. He was standing by the window, half looking out, his hand in his jacket pocket, and he turned as soon as she walked in.
âBetter?â Mattie asked nervously. Her! Nervous! âOr should I wear my diamond tiara?â
âThe tiara might be just a little too much,â Dominic told her gravely, but heavens, she looked edible. The shorter hair suited her, gave her a tailored beauty that was even more alluring.
âSo,â he murmured as soon as they were in his car and heading out towards Chiswick, âno more Frankie?â
âNo more Frankie.â
âPleased?â He wished he could watch her, see the expressions on her face so that he could gauge what was going through her mind, but he needed to concentrate on the road and she was far too much of a distraction for sensible driving.
âYes and no.â
âWhat does that mean?â His hands tightened on the wheel but he kept his voice low and steady.
âThings werenât right between us. I mean, itâs good thatâ¦that weâve both reached the same conclusion, butâ¦he was a big part of my life for such a long timethat it takes some getting used toâ¦â Mattie cleared her throat. âHe let me have the use of his house until I found somewhere of my own, and guess whatâ¦?â
âWhat?â A twinge of guilt made his jaw tighten but it only lasted a second.
âIâve been offered a job andâ¦â she paused to add drama to what she was about to say next ââ¦part of the deal is that theyâve offered me an apartment! Can you believe it? I couldnât, to start with, but this company is spearheading a marketing campaign for a massive complex in south London. Apartments, health facilities, shops, the lot! And while theyâre involved in the marketing, thereâs a perk afforded to some of the employees of an apartment on site. I canât believe how it all happened at just the right time. Isnât it fantastic?â
âFantastic.â Another twinge of guilt but he consoled himself with the thought that she would have got there anyway. She had the dedication or else how could she have persevered with her course against all odds? And she had the talent. Top of her course from the minute she had stepped foot in the classroom.
âYou donât sound very pleased for me.â And for some reason, that was hurtful.
âIâm incredibly pleased for you,â Dominic said abruptly. âHow did Frankie react after I had gone?â
âNot as Iâd expected, actually. You donât think Iâm capable of doing this job, do you?â
âIf youâre capable of studying by day and working nights, then youâre capable of becoming the
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