Page 43 of Stuck with the Hot Boss
‘Was that your idea?’ Nicky asked Evie.
‘No, indeed.’ Evie shook her head. ‘My choice wasmuchruder.’
‘Hayley missed out on her cake,’ said Leo. ‘Ange made her one, after all.’
‘I saved you a piece,’ Evie told Nicky. ‘It’s lemon drizzle. Your favourite.’
‘You’re a true mate.’ Nicky raised her glass in salute. ‘So – you two have been hard at it this week. How are you holding up?’
‘You’re talking about our work, aren’t you?’
‘Sure,’ said Nicky.
Evie could feel Leo’s shoulders shaking with laughter.
‘Ourwork,’ she replied pointedly, ‘is going great! Keith and Kev are full of renewed vim and vigour, and apparently enjoyed telling Plumbing Ultra to shove itwaytoo much because there was a threat of retaliatory legal action. Until Kev shut it down.’
‘How did he manage that?’ Nicky asked. ‘They’re a giant corporate and he’s one guy.’
‘We can only speculate,’ said Leo, solemnly. ‘But it may have involved – what’s the French word for “crocodile”?’
‘Lecrocodile,’ said Evie.
‘Merci,’ said Leo. ‘Which is very like the word Plumbing Ultra used before Kev decided to leave them alone.’
‘And is everyone okay with you two being a twosome?’ Nicky asked.
‘Ange thinks it’s adorable, Nigel makes frequent gagging noises, Keith has taken all the credit for bringing us together, and Kev hasn’t said anything,’ said Evie. ‘Kev’s reaction, of course, being the only one that matters.’
Nicky finished her glass of wine and checked her phone.
‘Okay, you crazy kids, have to love you and leave you,’ she said. ‘I’ve got a hot date with a jockey.’
‘A jockey, as in horse racing?’ Evie said. ‘Aren’t they normally around five feet tall?’
Her six-foot-tall friend stood up and smirked. ‘Well, you know what they say about small men, don’t you?’
‘No!’ Evie called after her. ‘What do they say?’
She turned to Leo. ‘What do they say about small men?’
‘No idea,’ he replied. ‘And Ihighlyrecommend you don’t google it.’
‘Wise,’ said Evie. ‘Could be like the time I googled “pearl necklace” when I was looking for a present for my mum.Quitethe eye opener.’
Leo leaned in and kissed her. ‘I can’t believe how boring my life was before I met you.’
‘You were an international model!’ Evie protested. ‘You went to swanky fashion parties and snorted cocaine out of Vicks inhalers!’
‘Oneinhaler,onetime!’ said Leo. ‘And I thought it was Vicks!’
‘Youdoown a dressing gown, though,’ said Evie. ‘There is that.’
‘I’ll have you know it’s top of the line Marks and Spencer,’ said Leo. ‘I’ll buy you a matching one if you like?’
‘Oo, yes, please!’ said Evie. ‘We can sit around like an old couple in a 1970’s British sit-com.’
Their glasses were almost empty. Leo said, ‘You know, it’s a beautiful summer’s evening, and we’re young and in love. Don’t suppose you want to stroll arm in arm along the towpath?’
