Page 109 of For Love or Money
‘Okay,’ he said cheerfully, reaching for the butter. ‘What would you like to say about it?’
‘Well, are you okay with it?’
‘Yes, why wouldn’t I be?’
‘Well, I mean, I just don’t want there to be any awkwardness between us. If you want to pretend it never happened—’
‘Why on earth would I want to do that?’
She shrugged. ‘People do sometimes. I mean you might think it wasn’t a good idea ... in the broad light of day.’
‘I think it was a brilliant idea in any light.’
‘Really? You don’t regret it now?’
‘Nope.Je ne regrette rien.’ He frowned. ‘Look, is there something you’re not telling me?ShouldI have regrets? Did I fail you in some way? Commit some terrible faux pas? You did—’
‘Yes!’ she practically shouted. ‘Yes, you were very ... thorough. You totally lived up to your reviews.’
‘Good.’ He grinned across at her. ‘I’m very glad to hear it.’ Then suddenly his face fell, his smile vanishing. ‘Doyouhave regrets?’ he asked her, and he looked so alarmed, Lesley wanted to go around the table and hug him.
‘No,’ she said quickly. ‘Not at all. I thought it was absolutely brilliant.’
‘Good.’ His face sagged in relief. ‘I told you you’d have a good time if you gave me a chance.’
‘It’s just that ... people like you don’t usually act like this the morning after – all happy and cheerful and friendly.’
‘Sorry to disappoint. How do you expect me to act?’
‘Well, people like you tend to act all shifty the next day – avoid eye contact, disappear as fast as they can, that sort of thing. They certainly don’t stay for breakfast.’
‘You keep saying that. People like me how? Architects? Ex public school boys?’
‘No, but, you know ... men.’
‘Ah. Men. Well, I’ll have to put my hands up to being one of them. But that is rather a large group that you’re generalising about there. Surely there are regional variations?’
‘I’m just saying, I don’t want you to feel trapped just because we’re stuck here together and you can’t make a quick getaway. So if you want to run off, I’ll turn my back and count to ten, and it can be like last night never happened.’
Al gave a hoot of laughter. ‘You’ll count to ten?’ He drummed his fingers on the table thoughtfully and his eyes flicked to the door. ‘That doesn’t give me much of a head start.’
‘Okay, twenty.’ She grinned, relieved that he was teasing and obviously had no intention of scarpering.
‘Well, that’s very generous of you. If I want to take you up on it, I’ll let you know.’
They ate in silence for a while. Lesley regretted having said anything. Al had been behaving normally and now she’d spoilt it by acting weird.
‘Lesley,’ Al’s firm voice broke into her thoughts and she looked up. He put his knife and fork down and eyeballed her across the table. ‘I loved it. Every second of it, okay? I wouldn’t change a thing. Just so we’re clear.’ A smile nudged at the corners of his mouth.
‘Okay,’ she nodded, and she couldn’t help the grin that spread across her face. ‘You don’t have to look so smug about it, though.’
‘I’m afraid that can’t be helped. Sorry.’
‘So you wouldn’t change a thing?’ She was aware that she was looking smug herself now.
‘Nope. If you really want to know, it was the best sex of my life.’
‘Oh,’ she said in a small voice. ‘That’s a coincidence. Me too.’
