Page 38 of The Life Daisy Devlin Designed
Matt lifted an eyebrow. “What’s the problem?”
Daisy tried not to panic. She wasn’t sure if James would even recognise Matt – they hadn’t been in the same year in college – but she couldn’t chance it.
“He doesn’t know I’m working for you,” she said quickly. Did she have time to dive back into the loos? No, there was a bit of a queue now, and she couldn’t skip it. Any moment now, James would look up and see them.
Before she realised what he was doing, Matt pulled her around the corner out of James’ line of sight and stepped in close, effectively blocking her from the others at the far end of the bar.
He bent towards her ear. “Just don’t move for a few seconds.”
Daisy could feel her heart thumping against Matt’s chest as he was pressed closer to her. A door banged shut, and then Matt was stepping back and saying something.
“What?” She blinked up at him.
“I said he didn’t see you. Or me.”
“Right.” She wet her lips, aware that her heart was racing. “You could have just walked away, Matt! That was pretty risky!”
“Was it?” He looked a bit sheepish. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable. It was just the first thing that came to mind.”
Daisy released a slow breath. Maybe she was overreacting. She’d panicked when she’d spotted James, and Matt had simply tried to help. For the sake of their professional relationship now, she’d let it go.
“I’d better get back.”
“Yeah, me too.” He rubbed a hand over the back of his neck. “See you soon?”
For a second she wasn’t sure what he meant. “At the house!” She managed a nod. “Yes, right.” Flashing him a tight smile, she stepped past him, and headed back across to their table.
Laura had already returned with the drinks – she must have done two trips, Daisy thought guiltily – and was sitting chatting quietly with Brian, their heads tipped intimately close. Daisy studied them for a few moments. From here, they seemed happy, in sync. Maybe she and James appeared that way too.
Laura spotted her, and sat up straighter.
“You okay, babes?” She frowned. “You look kind of flushed.”
“Just a bit warm.” Daisy sat back down, and took a sip of her drink, silently willing Laura not to draw any more attention to her. Why had she agreed to tonight? She loved Laura, but shehadto know how much Brian seemed to dislike her and James. Maybe she and James could just leave after this round? She imagined them walking home, breathing in the night air while they held hands and chatted.
Except what would they talk about? She couldn’t bring up the subject of Alma again, or James would completely shut her down. The truth was, she was afraid if she pushed him too hard, she’d hear something she didn’t want to. Saying nothing was just ... easier for now.
She noticed Brian looking at something behind her and she froze, wondering if he’d spotted Matt. But then James sat down beside her.
“Thanks for the drink.” He picked up his beer and Daisy raised her glass.
“Cheers!”
“All right, James?” Brian said.
Daisy noticed that he gave Laura a tiny nudge and felt herself flash hot and cold. Had Brian and Laura spotted her and Matt together? Is that what they’d been talking about?
James smiled blandly at Brian, before turning to Laura. “So, are you entering that industry award this year?” he asked.
Laura pulled a face. “Probably not, I’ve nothing suitable.”
“Laura’s just starting a new project for a friend of hers who’s about to have triplets,” Daisy said, relieved that the conversation had moved on to something safe.
“Stephanie who used to live one floor down?” Brian said. “Aren’t they pretty much broke?”
“That was how we met,” Laura said quickly, “and we started doing the park run together. Anyway, their new place won’t have the wow factor, not on their budget. But Daisy’s job might.”
Automatically, Daisy glanced over to where Matt had been, but he and his friends seemed to have moved on. She widened her eyes slightly at Laura, before realising that Brian probably already knew that she was working on Matt’s house. Which meant he could out her at any moment.
