This Could Change Everything(71)

‘Giles from the office told me you were working at the Red House. I went over there just now and this guy told me where you were living.’ Paul nodded approvingly as he took in his surroundings. ‘Nice place. How much rent are you paying?’

Essie ignored the question. ‘How’s Ursula?’

‘She misses you too.’

Ursula the crow-catching cat? Essie raised an eyebrow; this was highly unlikely to be true.

Paul said, ‘OK, maybe not as much as me.’ He leaned across, reaching for her hand. ‘How about you, Ess? Have you missed me?’

It was weird enough just seeing him again, let alone hearing him speaking to her like this. Prevaricating, she said, ‘We broke up three months ago. What makes you think I haven’t found someone else?’

Paul frowned. ‘Have you?’

‘Maybe.’

‘Ess, tell me. Is there someone else?’

Essie felt her pulse quicken. She conjured up an image in her mind of Lucas, dark eyes glittering as he met her gaze while that irresistible half-smile lifted the corners of his beautiful mouth. The next moment, as he stood in front of her, he was joined by Giselle. And now the two of them, Lucas and Giselle, were holding hands, turning to look at each other, Giselle’s baby bump clearly visible beneath her favourite blue paisley-patterned shirt.

Stop it. Essie deleted the mental image. Yes, she’d met someone else, but he wasn’t hers and she couldn’t have him, even if he was interested in her in return, which he probably wasn’t. In an attempt to get over Lucas, she’d been spending the last few weeks on a concentrated mission to find someone else she could like instead, but it hadn’t happened and it wasn’t the kind of thing you could magic out of thin air. It was probably just too soon to be interested in someone new.

But this wouldn’t be someone new, would it? Her mouth dry, Essie considered her options. It was someone old, someone she was already completely familiar with. It was Paul, and they’d spent practically the whole of the last year together, would still be together now if only she hadn’t written that awful round robin. It had been her own fault and she didn’t blame him one bit for reacting as he had.

That he was here now, prepared to forgive her and put the unfortunate incident behind them was . . . well, quite moving actually.

He must really love her.

And getting back together with him would definitely take her mind off Lucas.

‘Well?’ Paul was still waiting.

‘There’s no one else,’ said Essie.

He nodded. ‘Good.’

‘How about you?’

‘No one for me either.’ He paused. ‘So that makes both of us single.’

‘Looks like it,’ said Essie.

‘What d’you think, then? Should we give things another go?’

A quiver of anticipation ricocheted down her back. ‘Maybe we should.’

‘Sure about that?’ Paul broke into a smile and moved up the sofa towards her. ‘You don’t exactly sound overjoyed.’

‘I think I’m still in a daze. You knew you were coming over here to say this today,’ Essie babbled. ‘But for me it’s all been a complete surprise. I wasn’t expecting any of this to happen.’

‘You won’t need much time to get used to the idea. Let me give you a reminder of what we’ve both been missing.’

And this time when he took her in his arms, the kiss was slow and leisurely and romantic, and it felt reassuringly familiar, as if she were coming home.

Speaking of which . . .

Downstairs, the front door had opened and been closed again, and Essie heard the double thud that meant Zillah was kicking off her high heels. The next moment, from the foot of the stairs, she called, ‘Essie, are you up there?’

‘Won’t be a second,’ Essie told Paul. She jumped up from the sofa, opened the door and leaned over the polished mahogany banister to wave at Zillah. ‘Yes, I’m here!’

‘Oh hooray.’ Zillah was wearing a zebra-print coat and a huge emerald necklace over a slim-fitting black wool dress. ‘Darling, my book group’s arriving at three and I haven’t had time to get the food in. Could you be an angel and pop down to Waitrose for me? I just need you to pick up four boxes of mixed hors d’oeuvres and a couple of bottles of that nice Prosecco, you know the one I mean. Ooh, and a decent-sized chocolate cake too.’

‘No problem. I’ll head down there in five minutes.’

When Essie had closed the door, Paul said, ‘Why do you have to do that?’

‘What d’you mean?’

He was frowning. ‘She clicks her fingers and you rush off to do her shopping for her?’

‘This is Zillah’s house. She’s eighty-three.’

‘That’s no reason for her to take advantage of you.’

‘She isn’t taking advantage,’ said Essie. ‘I help her out in exchange for paying less rent. Otherwise I couldn’t afford to live here.’

‘Ah right, that explains it. I did wonder, when that guy told me you had a place on Percival Square.’

That guy. Had it been Lucas?

OK, stop thinking about Lucas. Essie reached for her coat and bag. ‘I’ll introduce you to Zillah. She’s amazing, you’ll love her.’