Читать книгу Mills & Boon Christmas Delights Collection - Джанис Мейнард, Rebecca Winters - Страница 18

Chapter Nine

‘Sorry about the awkward moment earlier,’ Janey said, as I helped her back into her coat. Lily was now sleeping in her father’s arms and they were about to head home.

‘Oh, don’t worry about it.’

‘One of Lily’s friend’s has parents going through a divorce at the moment and let’s just say, I don’t think it’s amicable. The poor little thing understands enough but not enough, if you know what I mean. And since her friend has been coming in upset, Lily has developed a fear that Patrick and I are going to split up.’

‘I suppose that’s understandable in a way.’

‘Oh, totally. We’re just trying to reassure her that it’s all OK.’

‘I think most children worry about their parents splitting up at some point.’

‘Sadly, you’re probably right.’

Michael and Patrick joined us, little Joey holding his uncle’s hand. Mikey leant over and kissed his niece’s temple. She barely stirred.

‘I’m so sorry about earlier. I didn’t think.’

‘It’s all right. We know you’re an idiot and that we have to make allowances for you at times.’

Michael pulled a face, kissed the top of his sister’s head and touched her bump. ‘Look after yourself.’

‘I might say the same to you. I’ll be asking Katie here to report back, you know.’

‘A spy in the camp, eh?’ Michael winked at me.

‘Not a very good one, I’m afraid. I haven’t another appointment with him for a few days now, which hopefully will give him time to rest a little at least.’

‘Is that a hint or another order?’

‘I don’t mind how you take it so long as you do it.’

Janey grinned. ‘See? I knew she was the one for you.’ She looked up from pulling on her gloves to find us both looking at her.

‘I meant for this!’ she said, waving her hand around to indicate the house. ‘For this job. She won’t be putting up with any of your lip.’

‘I never give anyone lip.’

I snorted. Michael ignored me.

‘If you say so. Either way, it’s incredible the difference she’s making already.’

Patrick hoisted Lily a little higher, her arms dangling over his shoulders. ‘Definitely. I love the dining room now. With those bookshelves in there and so much less clutter, it’s really beginning to look like a home Mikey. The woman is a miracle worker.’

I laughed. ‘Hardly. But we’re getting there.’

‘Still got those ugly as sin curtains in the living room though, I see.’ Janey wrinkled her nose.

Michael frowned. ‘Since when don’t you like them?’

‘Since always! They’re so wrong for that room. Don’t tell me you like them?’

‘No, I don’t.’

His sister looked at him, questioning.

‘I know! I know! They’re coming down tomorrow.’

I put a hand on Michael’s arm. ‘Well, maybe not tomorrow but soon. I don’t think stretching about lifting heavy curtains will do much for your injuries right now.’

‘Listen to her.’ Janey pointed at him.

He gave a little salute, but I could see the strain of the day beginning to show on his face.

‘Now, are you lot ever leaving?’ He clapped Patrick on the shoulder, thanking him for coming round and telling him he’d see him at the rugby club, even though he wouldn’t be playing. Joey gave his uncle a hug around the waist and then transferred his hand to his mother’s as they left the house. We stood and waved before Michael, having waited until they’d got to the car, closed the door against the freezing air that was making us both shiver.

‘I’d better be going too,’ I said. ‘I’ll just nip and get the bits from the dining room and put them in the kitchen for you.’

Michael caught my arm as I made to turn.

‘Katie. I’m not an invalid and you’re not my maid.’

I blinked. ‘I know that. But it won’t take a minute.’

He didn’t let go.

‘OK. This obey thing? Does it go both ways?’

‘No.’

‘Why did I have a feeling you were going to say that?’

I smiled.

‘I’ll clear the stuff in a minute. If I don’t move around, I’ll stiffen up and everything will feel twice as bad. Believe me, I know from experience.’

Reluctantly, I stepped back to get my coat. ‘You should go and have a soak. That might help.’

‘Sounds like a good idea.’

‘Don’t fall asleep in there though.’

Michael tilted his head and sighed. ‘Do you ever stop worrying about other people?’

‘I’m not worried. I’m just saying.’

‘Right.’ He took my coat from me and helped me put it on. As l looked up from belting it tightly, I shook my head.

‘What?’ he asked. ‘Although from the look on your face, I’m not sure I really want to know.’

‘No, it’s nothing. I was just remembering our first encounter.’

‘Not, perhaps, my finest moment.’

‘Don’t worry. You’ve improved a little.’

‘You haven’t. You still drive me nuts.’

‘Good. It means the plan is working.’

‘The plan?’

‘Yes. Basically, I annoy you so much that you do what I tell you to, just to get all this over and done with as soon as possible.’

‘I see. Just one thing.’

‘What’s that?’ I asked, pulling my scarf back down from my face so that I could speak.

‘You don’t annoy me so much these days.’

‘Huh. Guess I’ll have to try harder then.’

He smiled and took the door from me as I opened it.

‘And think some more about getting a dog,’ I said, turning back to him from the top of the second step. ‘It’d be good for you.’

‘Kate?’

‘Yes?’

‘You’re annoying me now.’

‘Excellent. Goodnight Michael.’

‘Night Katie. And thank you for today.’

‘You’re welcome,’ I called, my voice getting lost in the wind whipping around the bare branches of the plane tree on the boundary of his property. I waved instead and made a shooing motion with my hand, indicating he should get back inside. He raised a hand and I did the same, before bending my head against the wind and battling down the road towards the Tube.

***

During the process of organising a house, there are occasionally times when people are unsure about getting rid of an item because of the memories attached to it. I’d seen people chuck out everything, declaring that it was an entirely fresh start, but then a few months later, regretting that they no longer had those love letters or that photo or that piece of jewellery because, although there’d been pain in those memories, there had also been joy. What I liked to advise in such circumstances, was that I could take the items to store for a set amount of time, and then, having had that distance, and living ‘without’ those possessions for a while, the client could make a less emotional decision as to whether to keep or discard. Obviously, I only had a tiny office so storage space was limited but I did what I could, and explained this to every client during the process. And, in truth, it wasn’t something that happened very often. Deep down, most people knew what the right decision was.

‘But you said you could look after things that were sentimental, until I decided,’ my client said, confusion on her face.

‘Umm, yes. I did say that.’

She looked at me. I looked at the bag.

‘It’s just that it’s usually items like photographs or an engagement ring. Items that spark memories…’

Not items that spark Richter scale orgasms!

‘Oh, my dear. These do spark memories! Wonderful memories! There was one time I particularly remember when – ’

‘OK! No problem. Of course, I can take them,’ I said, interrupting.

‘Oh, you are a poppet, thank you! Gerald, God rest his soul, and I had such fun with these but, I have to say, Antonio is really quite resourceful, so I’m not sure I’m going to be needing them any more, but I’m not sure I can throw them away just yet. Do you know, the other night, he – ’

‘Oh, I’m sorry, that’s my phone. Do you mind?’

Normally, during my time with clients, I just let my phone calls roll to voicemail but right now I needed an escape. Bernice had said she’d call after the meet with her new client and let me know how it had gone. Glancing at the clock, she was right on time, in more ways than one. I grabbed the phone out of my bag and answered it, stepping into the hallway as I did so.

‘Perfect timing! I could kiss you!’

There was a moment of silence.

‘Well, don’t let me stop you.’

Oh! Bugger.

I pulled the phone away from my ear and checked the screen, something I clearly should have done before answering it. Michael O’Farrell.

‘Sorry, I thought you were Bernice.’

‘Oh really?’ I could hear he was smiling.

‘Not like that. It’s just ... never mind. How can I help you?’

‘I just wondered if you had any spare time today?’

‘Is everything all right?’

‘Oh. Yeah. Fine, fine. I just wanted a bit of…umm…advice.’

‘Michael?’

‘Hmm?’

‘What have you done?’

His laugh made me smile.

‘It’s worrying that you know me as well as you do.’

Who was I to tell him that most of the time I had no idea what was going on behind those hypnotic eyes? But if he was under the impression he couldn’t get anything past me, then I wasn’t about to shatter any illusions.

‘So?’

‘I thought I’d make a start on the kitchen.’

‘And?’

‘And I have no idea what I’m doing. You have to help me! I don’t even know what half of this stuff is for, let alone whether I need it. And now the place is in even more of a state than it started in.’

‘I find that hard to believe.’

‘So cruel.’

I laughed. ‘Look, I’m just finishing up with a client. I was going to catch up on some stuff in the office this afternoon but I can come round to you for a couple of hours if it’s an emergency.’

There was a pause. ‘Let’s say I don’t think it’s good.’

‘Right. Just step away from whatever it is you’ve done so far and we’ll tackle it together. Give me an hour. Is that OK?’

‘Perfect. Thanks Katie.’

‘You’re welcome. I’ll see you in a bit.’

‘Bye.’

I hung up and returned to my client.

‘Sorry about that Mrs B.’

‘Not to worry, dear. So you don’t mind looking after these for me for a little while then?’

My gaze fell on the bag again. The old adage about always making sure you had clean underwear on just in case you got knocked down by a bus suddenly sprang into my head. My logical mind had always had a problem with that scenario as I was sure seeing a double decker hurtling towards you probably didn’t do a lot for the state of your underwear anyway, whether it had started out clean or not. But right now, I was pondering on a similar scenario. What if I got knocked down by a bus and this lot tumbled out of my bag? I’d be praying for the driver to back over me and end the mortification.

‘Dear?’

‘Sorry? Oh yes, yes, of course. No problem whatsoever. I can keep it until the New Year and then you can make a decision and let me know.’

‘Perfect. Thank you so much.’

I took the bag and stuffed it in my oversized shoulder bag.

‘I’m so happy with what you’ve helped me achieve here Kate. I can’t thank you enough.’

‘You’re very welcome Mrs B. I’m so pleased you’re happy.’

‘You’re a good girl Kate. I don’t know why you’re not snapped up, pretty little thing like you. I don’t know what these young men are about these days.’

‘That’s all right Mrs B. I’m really in no hurry to settle down with anyone.’

She reached out and patted my hand. ‘I expect you know what’s best for you. I’m probably just a little old-fashioned.’

This coming from a woman who had just handed me a bag with two nine-inch vibrators, one of which claimed ‘lifelike properties’, a pair of handcuffs (and I’m not talking the gentle fluffy kind), a butt plug, a flogger and a spanking paddle (her favourite item, apparently). Honestly, I really could have done without the itemisation but my lovely, and now super organised, client had insisted. I made a non-committal noise.

‘I’m sure once you meet the right man, you’ll feel differently.’

I smiled and changed the subject. ‘I’d best be off then.’

Mrs B followed me to the door. ‘Have a lovely Christmas, my dear. Are you spending it with family?’

‘Oh, just having a quiet one this year.’ I trotted out my usual response to this enquiry. ‘I’ll contact you in the first few weeks of January and you can decide about your…items.’

‘Lovely. Thank you dear. Bye bye now.’

‘Bye Mrs B.’

I set off towards the nearest station, acutely aware of my luggage. Who knew a shopping bag full of sex toys could weigh so much? As I approached the entrance to the station, my phone began to ring and I pulled it out of my bag, being careful not to dislodge anything else. This time I checked the screen before answering.

‘Hi Bernice. How’d it go?’

‘Brilliant! I’m so excited. And the client is so excited. Everyone’s excited! I think it’s going to be great. And she said if it goes well, she has a whole bunch of friends to recommend to us.’

‘Excellent!’

‘How was Mrs B?’

‘Erm…OK. Apart from the fact that she gave me a big bag full of sex toys to keep for storage whilst she decides if she needs them any more.’

I thought for a moment my phone had lost signal and pulled it away to check. It was still showing connected. Then I heard Bernice taking short gasps as she tried to stop laughing.

‘I don’t believe you!’ she said eventually.

‘Oh, believe me.’

‘But she looks like one of the nanas that knit Shredded Wheat! What would she know about sex toys?’

‘Apparently she’s quite the expert! And now I know way more than I ever wanted to as she insisted on telling me the pros and cons of every item in the bag.’

‘Wow! I never would have thought it!’

‘Me neither. I thought I was past being shocked and it’s hardly the first time I’ve pulled a vibrator out of a drawer.’ A man walking in front of me did a double take. ‘It’s just that when you look at her…’

‘No, I know! I kind of fancied her as a surrogate gran but you’ve shattered all my illusions now.’

‘Sorry about that.’

‘Not your fault. Are you on your way back in now?’

‘No, I’m heading over to Michael O’Farrell. He called and asked if I could come over to help him wrangle the kitchen. It sounds like he’s started and got a bit overwhelmed.’

‘Not unusual.’

‘No.’

‘OK. Give him a snog whilst you’re at it.’

‘So not going to happen.’

‘Shame.’

‘Hardly.’

‘Talk to you later.’

‘Bye!’

***

‘Thanks for this. I know it wasn’t one of the scheduled appointments but I wasn’t quite sure what to do.’ Michael took my coat and hung it on one of the hooks. I noticed several of his were alongside instead on being chucked on the console table or floor, as they usually were.

‘It’s all right. What’s the problem?’

‘Well, I’ve been watching you and you make it seem so easy, so I thought I’d have a go at the kitchen. You know, how hard could it be?’ I tilted my head back to meet his eyes. ‘Turns out it’s harder than I thought.’

‘I suppose I’d better take a look then.’

Michael stood aside and I walked into the kitchen. Or at least as far in as I could get, which wasn’t very far at all.

‘I see.’

‘It’s bad, isn’t it?’ His gravel edged, melodic voice was close behind me.

‘No. It’s…I’ve definitely seen worse.’

He laughed. ‘Things must be improving between us, because you wouldn’t have cared about being diplomatic before.’

I turned, finding him closer than I thought but unable to take a step back because of all the crap on the kitchen floor. He caught my arm as I wobbled momentarily.

‘I…’

I swallowed as the scent of his aftershave mixed with soap teased my senses. He let his hand slide gently down my arm until it finally just lay wrapped loosely around my wrist. And, disturbingly, that felt insanely good.

‘You all right? You look a bit flushed.’

Bloody Mrs B.

I nodded several times. ‘Absolutely. Cold out there, hot in here.’

‘It is pretty warm in here, no doubt about that.’

I kicked something out of the way and casually took a step back. Michael didn’t move, but his hand dropped away from my wrist.

‘I’m always diplomatic.’

‘Calling me an arse was diplomatic? Remind me not to send you to the Middle East to negotiate peace talks any time soon.’

‘Oh ha ha! Are you going to bring that up every time we disagree?’

‘I haven’t decided yet.’

I rolled my eyes at him. ‘Fine. You want the truth?’

‘Always,’ he said, looking at me, that intense gaze doing its thing again.

‘Right,’ I said, turning back to the kitchen and away from his entrancing eyes. ‘Congratulations, you have succeeded in making it twice as bad.’

‘That sounds more like it.’

I looked back at him. ‘I wouldn’t say that to anyone but you, you know that, don’t you? Tact is my middle name.’

‘I’m honoured to be special then.’

I shook my head. ‘Oh, you’re special all right.’

‘Aww, I’m so glad you think so.’

‘Oh for goodness’ sake! Stop arsing about and help me find the kettle. I need a cup of tea before tackling this.’ I dropped my bag outside the door and began trying to pick my way between the detritus on the floor.