Page 50 of A Kiss under the Stars
Charles goes off to his next appointment and Liam leads meinto a side room and reappears a moment later with two mugs.
‘That was very powerful, what you said about your own loss,’he murmurs, handing me my tea. ‘It will really resonate with our audience. Sothank you.’
‘No problem. I quite enjoyed my radio debut. Well, maybe“enjoyed” isn’t quite the right word. It was certainly an experience.’ I run myhands over my damp face. ‘Oh, hell, have I got mascara streaks everywhere? Do Ilook terrible? Quick, tell me!’
He smiles at me with such warmth, his eyes crinkling at thecorners, making me feel all fluttery inside. ‘You look lovely,’ he says. ‘Butregarding the mascara streaks, it’s probably just as well you were on radio,not TV.’
I laugh a little too loudly, partly because I’m so relievedto have got through the whole radio experience thing – but mainly becauseLiam’s smile and his very presence are once more interfering with my ability toremain sensible and grounded.
‘Erm... once you’ve had a chance to removethe mascara,’ he says, looking suddenly serious, ‘maybe you’d agree to havedinner with me some time?’
‘Oh.’ I give my impression of a rabbit caught in theheadlights.
‘Or lunch?’
‘Lunch?’
‘Yes. You know.’ He smiles. ‘That meal between brunch andafternoon tea?’
‘Erm, yes,’ I mutter, jumping for joy inside but trying notto let it show. ‘Excellent idea. Lunch would be great.’Why didn’t I stophim at dinner? That would have been even greater.
He nods. ‘Perfect. Look, I need to go, but give me a ringand let me know when you’re free, okay?’
‘Okay. I will. I... I got in touch withMum and I met her.’
His eyes open wide. ‘Lottie, wow, that’s amazing! But...was it okay?’
‘Yes. It was okay. But... I’m stillthinking about whether I want to see her again.’
‘Of course. I totally understand. If you need to talk...’
‘Thanks.’ I start walking towards the door, then I turn tosay, ‘Hope the show goes well!’ at which point I’m walking backwards andcollide with Nat who’s coming in.
‘Oops, sorry.’ I feel like a clown with two left feet. Iguess that’s partly the Liam effect!
Nat laughs. ‘No problem. Did it go okay?’
‘It went brilliantly,’ calls Liam, heading back to thestudio. ‘That’s the beauty of having a great researcher like you, Nat. You makemy life so incredibly easy.’
She laughs. ‘Aw shucks! I do my best. Tea with two sugars?I’m only offering because I’m making myself one.’
‘Go on, then. Temptress!’
She grins as we watch him vanish into the studio. ‘He alwayshas two sugars when he’s working – says it keeps his brain functioning. Notthat he needs it, really. His interview technique is so brilliant.’
I nod, studying her flushed cheeks and bright eyes.‘Brilliant. Yes.’
‘Anyway, better get on. Tea to make.’ She claps her handacross her forehead and makes a goofy face. ‘Honestly, the responsibility!’
We part and I walk out to the car, some of my glow havingdispersed after that exchange between Liam and Nat.
They get on so well together, the pair of them. It seemslike the perfect working relationship and friendship. Which really makes mewonder if they’ve ever flirted with the idea of a romantic relationship?They’re both attractive, fun people, so it’s hardly an impossibility. Liamsuggested lunch, but maybe I’d be a fool to accept? What if there’s alreadysomething going on there, between him and Nat?
Do I really want to risk ending up in anothermother-of-the-bride-in-the-back-of-the-van scenario, against my betterjudgement?
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
Next afternoon, Liam phones.
