Total pages in book: 117
Estimated words: 113584 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 568(@200wpm)___ 454(@250wpm)___ 379(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 113584 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 568(@200wpm)___ 454(@250wpm)___ 379(@300wpm)
“I finished early.”
I roll my eyes. That wasn’t the plan, but small steps, I suppose. “How was it?”
“Harder than I thought, but my instructor said I’ve got a solid swing.”
“Did you enjoy it?” Will he keep it up? Maybe stop going to the office every single day and actually embrace retirement?
He smiles up at me. “I did.”
“That’s great.”
“Tell me about your day.”
I nearly fall off my chair. “My day?” I murmur, my shock obvious.
“Yes, your day.”
He says it like it’s not really weird that after years of never asking, he’s suddenly hitting me with that question. “I’m assuming you mean work.”
He looks up tiredly. “Unless you want to talk about your most recent breakup, and I don’t mean with Nick.”
I wilt where I’m sitting. Dad doesn’t know just how recent my breakup is. And that it’s a whole shiny-new breakup. “I was seeing him. And now I’m not. The end.”
“Him. Who is him?”
“It doesn’t matter. It’s over. And to be clear, Dad, that’s not a green light for you to start inviting Nick round for dinner again.”
He huffs. “I know, I’ve been warned.”
“By whom?”
“Your mother. Your grandmother.” He smirks up at me. “Don’t tell your mum, but I fancy her even more when she’s mad at me.”
I laugh out loud, and Dad winks. It’s so relaxed. So unlike Dad. And as if he’s suddenly realised, he snaps back into line. “Keep still,” he mutters.
“I didn’t move.”
“So your day?”
I don’t know what’s happened to change his lack of interest in my career, but I appreciate it. “I think I’m in the running to make partner, Dad.”
His head lifts so fast, I’m sure he’s probably going to suffer whiplash. “Partner? At LB&B?”
I nod. “I was invited out for casual drinks with the partners a couple of weeks ago.”
“Well.” He lets out a long, disbelieving breath. “That’s very impressive, darling. Well done.”
I might die of shock. What the hell is going on around here? “Thanks, Dad,” I say, not wanting to make a big deal of this. But it is. It’s huge. “You need to make peace with Mum.”
“I just don’t understand why she wants to go out to work, Amelia. Especially now.”
“She’s a social butterfly, Dad. Being in the shop, she’ll meet people, chat with them. And to Mum’s point, you’re hardly retired if you go to the office every day.”
“I’m just checking things are running smoothly.”
“Control freak,” I mutter quietly, making him gasp his disgust. I smirk. Dad scowls.
“So you’re dating, are you?”
My smile soon drops. “What?”
“Dating. Like on those app things people talk about.”
“I’m not on any dating apps.”
“But you’re dating?” he says, peeking up at me.
This is weird. “I’m not dating, Dad.” I pull my hand away when he’s stuck some tape over the new dressing.
“Then how did you meet the man who you’re no longer seeing?”
I am not telling him that. “I have to make a move, or I’ll be late for my meeting.” I stand and kiss Dad’s startled face. “Thanks for cleaning me up.” Tugging my bag off the table, I throw it onto my shoulder.
“Are you sure you don’t love him?”
I jolt where I’m standing, my mouth suddenly dry. “What?”
“Nick. Are you sure there’s nothing you can build on?”
“Oh my God.” I drop my head back. “Dad!”
“I’m just double-checking.”
“And I’m leaving,” I snap, marching away.
“He’s a safe bet, Amelia!”
“Stop worrying about my love life and fix your own.” I slam the door behind me and yell at the heavens.
Chapter 10
Nonna’s is everything the endless five-star reviews promised it would be. Not that I underestimated it. What I did underestimate was Leo Lombardy. Sue was right, he’s extremely casual, on all fronts. I’ve never been so relaxed when meeting a potential client for the first time.
“It’s good, huh?” Leo says as he twiddles his fork in a pile of pasta.
“Unreal.”
“Here, have some wine.” He pours for me as he carries on eating, because it’s really that delicious, you can’t put your fork down. “So, Sue was telling me she’s very excited about you.”
I pause chewing, surprised, but try to play it down. “That’s a massive compliment coming from Sue. She’s a great adviser. Just great all round, really.”
“Agree.”
I pause for thought, definitely seeing a little twinkle in his eye. “How do you know each other?” I ask, appearing casual but raging with curiosity. Am I overthinking? But then Leo smiles down into his pasta and my suspicions feel quite possible. Jesus, are they . . . ?
“On the golf course,” he muses quietly and easily. Too easily. I don’t mix friendships with business. It can be messy. And mixing business with someone she’s sleeping with? Well, that’s against company policy. So she’s passed Leo on to me? Oh fuck. Sue’s married. And she told me Leo is recently divorced. Is Sue the reason why?
“On the golf course,” I repeat, with a lack of anything else coming to me. She’s sleeping with him!