This Could Change Everything(111)
‘You’re amazing,’ he murmured when they finally came up for air.
She took a deep breath. ‘There’s something I have to tell you.’
‘Oh God. Go on, then.’ He waited, clearly braced for the worst.
Essie held his gaze. ‘I don’t feel guilty any more.’ It was true; the shame and self-recriminations had melted away.
‘You have no idea how happy that makes me. I’ve never felt this way about anyone before. Do you believe that? Probably not,’ said Lucas, ‘because I can still hardly believe it myself. But it’s true, I swear it is. That very first morning after your brother had sent that round robin . . . my God, I’d never seen anyone so furious, but even then, all I could think while you were yelling at him was how incredible you were. And I know that makes no sense, but it’s the truth.’
‘I didn’t think you were incredible,’ Essie told him. ‘Not then.’
‘I kind of guessed.’ Amused, he briefly kissed her again. ‘Then when you came to work at the Red House—’
‘I didn’t think you were incredible then either.’ She studied his beautiful face. ‘But you grew on me. Once I found out you hadn’t sent the email. And once I realised how much nicer you were than I’d thought, you won me over.’
‘Thank goodness for that,’ said Lucas.
‘I’m glad too.’ Essie wished he would massage her collarbones again. ‘I can’t believe this is happening.’
Then they both jumped as the timer on the oven beeped loudly, bringing them back to earth. Now, of course, dinner was the very last thing on her mind, but Zillah would be expecting to eat when she came home. Essie opened the oven, hastily basted the roast chicken and reset the timer.
‘OK, how long do we have?’ Lucas slid his arms around her waist.
‘Forty minutes.’
His mouth twitched. ‘That’ll do for a start.’
And Essie, realising that she was about to take him up to her tiny flat at the top of the stairs, said, ‘What if Zillah decides to come back? You’ve got her key.’
‘She’ll ring the doorbell.’ Lucas pulled a face, indicating that they probably wouldn’t want her doing that.
Essie picked up her phone and dialled a number. It was answered on the fifth ring. ‘Zillah! Hi, are you having a good time?’
Over the hubbub of background noise at the Red House, Zillah said cheerily, ‘I’m having a marvellous time, darling! How about you?’
Very soon, hopefully.
‘Great,’ said Essie. ‘I just wanted to check that everything was, you know, fine with you.’
‘If you’re wondering what time I’ll be home, it won’t be for a while yet. Everyone’s being so lovely, and Scarlett’s just made me the most delicious cocktail, and guess what it’s called? A hanky-panky!’
‘Sounds . . . interesting.’ Essie caught Lucas’s eye and tried not to laugh, because he’d grabbed her hand and was edging her out of Zillah’s flat into the hallway. ‘Well, I just wanted to check in, make sure you’re OK . . .’
Above the music and chatter and shrieks of laughter, Zillah said happily, ‘Of course I’m OK, my darling girl. I’m being spoiled rotten.’
Essie smiled as Lucas nudged her towards the staircase. Then to Zillah she said, ‘That’s because you’re the Queen of the Square!’
We hope you enjoyed reading THIS COULD CHANGE EVERYTHING.
For another delicious romance by Jill Mansell, read the opening section of the Sunday Times bestseller
It all begins with a brief encounter that promises sizzling romance – and then the unexpected happens . . .
Chapter 1
Sometimes it only takes a split second for a state of absolute calm to turn to one of horror and panic.
‘Oh dear, poor thing.’ Clemency turned to watch as a purple-faced businessman in a too-tight suit hurtled across the concourse at Malaga airport in the direction of the departure gates, panting and grunting as he ran and scattering small children in his wake.
The British girl who was working on the Chanel stand in duty-free said, ‘Honestly, it’s amazing how many people don’t bother to pay attention to the boards. Yesterday there was a party of fifteen Spanish guys in one of the bars and they were so busy watching a football match on TV that they ended up missing their flight. Imagine!’
‘That’s crazy,’ Clemency marvelled, trying a purple eyeshadow shot with gold sparkly bits on the back of her hand. Nice.
‘Oh, we see everything here. So many people don’t even turn up at the airport until their flight’s about to close.’
‘I couldn’t do that. I always like to give myself loads of time. Then I know I can really relax,’ Clemency said happily, ‘and spend ages in duty-free trying out all the make-up.’
Which was why another forty minutes had passed before she finally arrived at the checkout to pay for the new lipstick she’d chosen, because these things took time, and choosing the perfect lipstick was important.
The bored-looking cashier said, ‘May I check your boarding pass, please?’
Clemency glanced down at her left hand, the one that should have been clutching her passport. The passport with the boarding pass neatly tucked inside it.