Page 22 of It's Now or Never

‘I’m so sorry,’ I said, quickly trying to cover up my shock. ‘I didn’t mean to be rude, it’s just a surprise to see you here.’ I ran a hand through my hair and felt a shower of compost fall onto my face. I wiped it away with the back of my hand. It had been a long week, I had no make-up on and was wearing my old and unflattering company sweatshirt which did such wonders for my colouring. I realised I must look a complete and utter mess.

An amused expression spread across Alex’s face as though he was thinking exactly the same.

I attempted to channel my inner gorgeousness but I suspected it had already packed its bag and left for home.

‘Was there anything in particular you wanted, something I can help you with?’

Perhaps he wanted a new conservatory, a lawnmower or a set of garden gnomes, although to be honest I couldn’t really imagine any of those things featuring in Alex’s lifestyle.

‘I wanted to see you, Jen. That was all.’ His voice was low and caressive. ‘Tom mentioned you worked here and I was just passing so I thought I’d drop in.’

‘Oh…’ So my cover as a high-flying retail buyer was blown. General garden centre dogsbody it was. ‘Oh… well, that’s great. It’s good to see you again.’

‘Is it? Really?’ He inclined his head, the corner of his mouth curling in doubt.

He honestly didn’t know how good it was to see him. Mywhole body had gone into overdrive; my heart was pounding in my chest, the hairs on my skin were standing to attention and every nerve ending in my body tingled in anticipation. I was only relieved I had the broom to hang onto. It gave me something to do with my hands and stopped me from falling over which would have been entirely possible the way I was feeling right now.

I nodded.

‘Must admit I was disappointed when you cancelled on me, Jen. I was so looking forward to our date and then when you didn’t take my calls… I just wanted to know, did I do something to upset you?’

‘No, nothing like that.’ I felt a heat rise to my cheeks. How could I possibly expect Alex to understand the way I felt when I could barely make sense of it myself. I spent every waking moment thinking about him, fantasising about some kind of future together and yet I knew deep down there could never be any future for us beyond a few hot and heady nights.

I wanted much more than a man like Alex could ever offer me. As it was, I’d spent far too much time obsessing over what he was doing, who he was doing it with or if the owner of the earrings hadn’t moved straight back into the warm space I’d vacated in his double bed.

I wasn’t cut out for the uncertainty and thrills and spills that knowing Alex had already brought to my world. Much easier to pack that whole episode away in the box, the very small box called one-night stands, and never have to visit it again.

‘Sorry, I meant to text you back, but I’ve been busy. I’m leaving here tomorrow so it’s been hectic.’

‘Really? Where are you going?’

‘I’ve got a few different plans. Ultimately I want to set up my own business, but in the meantime I’ll be doing some freelance work.’

It all sounded a bit vague even to my own ears.

‘Sounds great,’ Alex said, being polite, I suspected.

We fell silent for a moment, Alex seemingly fascinated by my broom which was making me feel more like Cinderella by the moment, and me by the realisation that here was a man who didn’t know how to take a hint. Why was he still here? Why hadn’t he moved on to the next conquest on his list? What was it he wanted exactly? Was he so unused to being knocked back that he saw me as a challenge now?

‘Everything okay?’

From out of the shadows Matt had appeared, a warm smile on his face, but I’d known him long enough by now to recognise that cold glint in his eye.

‘Absolutely fine, thank you,’ Alex said. He leant forward, making a show of reading the name off my badge, ‘Jen… here… is giving me advice on some floating plants for my pond.’

I bit back a smile. What I knew about floating plants you could write on the back of a postage stamp. Matt would say I knew even less than that, I suspected.

‘Okay. I’ll leave you in the hands of our resident expert then, but if there is anything else you need,’ he said, looking at me, ‘then you know where to find me.’

I squirmed with embarrassment as my boss wandered away.

‘What are you doing tomorrow after work?’

‘Um…’

‘Good. How about I take you out to dinner to celebrate your last day at work?’

My brain wasn’t working fast enough to come up with an appropriate excuse, although I suddenly realised I didn’t want to find one. In the flesh, up close and personal, Alex was much more difficult to resist than when he was at the end of the phone. With it being my last day tomorrow I already had that end-of-term feeling and the prospect of going out to dinner with a frankly too-sexy-for-his-own-good art gallery owner was much more appealing than going back to my empty flat.

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