Thinking of You by Jill Mansell Page A

I own it, which means you won’t be working here because I say so.”
    Evie’s expression changed. “Finn, could I have a private word with you outside?”
    He actually looked amused. “Probably not the wisest idea. I’d prefer it if we were in here and these two stayed outside.”
    Ginny felt as if her head was about to burst with the unfairness of it all. She’d so wanted to work here, and it clearly wasn’t going to happen now.
    â€œIt’s him, isn’t it?” Having worked out what was happening, Carla’s lip curled with disgust. “He’s the one from that shop who made you cry.”
    â€œI’d love to know what’s going on here,” said Evie, bewildered.
    â€œI’m sure he’ll tell you. Sorry about the job.” Ginny swallowed hard. “I’d have loved to work for you.” Following Carla to the door she checked she wasn’t inadvertently holding some antique objet then opened her bag wide to demonstrate to Finn Penhaligon that there was nothing that belonged to him inside. Determined to retain at least a shred of dignity, she then met his gaze and said steadily, “I know you think you’re right, but you’re wrong.”
    â€œI know what I saw.” Unmoved by her declaration, Finn shrugged. “You know what really gave you away? The way you looked at me when I stopped you outside that shop.”
    The way she’d looked at him. In any other circumstances, Ginny might have laughed. He would never know it, but that hadn’t been guilt flickering in her eyes.
    It had been lust.
    ***
    It was midnight, clouds were scudding past the moon, and Ginny and Carla were on a mission under cover of darkness to retrieve Carla’s car from the courtyard of Penhaligon’s without being seen.
    â€œWhat a bastard .” Carla was still seething about the treatment they had received earlier at the hands of Finn Penhaligon.
    Ginny concentrated on the road ahead. “I know.”
    â€œI mean, that man has a serious attitude problem!”
    â€œI know.” Nearly there now.
    â€œYou didn’t tell me he was that good-looking.”
    Ginny knew that too. She hadn’t told Carla that she’d fantasized about Finn Penhaligon. And since it was pretty irrelevant, she didn’t see the point in telling her now. “Is this the turn, up here? God, what if he’s there? We should have worn balaclavas.”
    â€œBalaclavas aren’t my style. Besides, then he’d probably threaten us with a shotgun and I’d have to kill him with my bare hands. OK, here we go.” Carla leaned forward as they entered the courtyard and saw her green Golf parked on its own by the far wall. “Just swing round, pull up next to my car, and I’ll jump out. We’ll be gone in—fuck, what’s that on the windscreen? If that sad git’s given me a parking ticket…”
    She was out of the car in a flash. As she wrenched the envelope out from under the windscreen wiper, a dark shadow darted across the yard, meowing loudly. For a couple of seconds the cat was caught in the beam of Ginny’s headlights before it leaped forward again and disappeared from view. Oh brilliant, now it was probably under the car and if she tried to drive off she’d kill it.
    Hurriedly buzzing down her window, Ginny hissed, “Where’s the cat?”
    â€œDon’t know, but this is for you.” Carla handed her the envelope. “Probably a restraining order warning you not to go within five miles of him.”
    â€œMy pleasure.” Ripping open the envelope, Ginny said, “Just see if that cat’s under the car, will you?”
    She was forced to switch on the interior light to read the note, which was from Evie. It was brief and to the point.
    Dear Ginny,
    We need you! Sorry about today—Finn can be a grumpy bugger sometimes, but he’s all right really. I’ve spoken to him