Private Lives (68 page)
‘You’re pregnant?’ she gasped.
‘God, no,’ said Sophie with distaste. ‘Much better than that. I spoke to my agent this morning, and
Dorset Kitchen
has been green-lit for a CBS pilot in the States – isn’t that brilliant? Obviously they don’t want it to be called
Dorset Kitchen
; maybe
Sophie’s Choice
or something like that, because I really need to start extending my brand Stateside, don’t you think? My agent says I can be the new Martha Stewart.’
‘So you’ll move to the States?’
Sophie nodded, the little-girl excitement back.
‘New York. Isn’t it fabulous?’
Sophie took a sip of champagne and pointed her finger in the direction of the crowd, where she could just see Matthew talking animatedly to her father.
‘I think you should go out with him,’ she said, with the slight slur of someone on her fifth cocktail.
‘Matthew?’ Anna smiled.
‘He’s gorgeous. If I wasn’t an about-to-be-married woman, I might be interested in him myself.’
Anna felt her back suddenly stiffen.
‘I told you he’s just a friend.’
‘You like him,’ purred Sophie theatrically, as if she was licking butterscotch sauce off a spoon.
Matt had moved on from Brian Kennedy and was now sitting on a low stone wall beneath a cypress tree. Anna had to admit her sister was right: he
was
pretty handsome. Bloody handsome, in fact. Perhaps not as beautiful as Sam, of course, more rugged, less perfect. But then maybe that was a good thing; perfection hadn’t exactly worked out for her, had it? Somewhere inside her she felt a flutter, which she dismissed as alcohol. Their eyes connected through the crowd, and as he smiled at her, she knew it was too late to turn away. But she didn’t want to turn away.
She grabbed a flute of champagne and took a long swig to fortify herself as she weaved through the sea of people towards him.
‘And what’s so funny?’ she asked, perching on the wall next to him.
‘Oh, nothing. I was just watching the joyful reconciliation of two sisters. How was it?’
Anna shrugged lightly.
‘Sophie is Sophie. She’s not going to change.’
They sat silently for a moment, watching the blue-green ripples on the swimming pool opposite them. Anna liked this, just sitting, being together. Some people could make you feel happy and comfortable just being in their company. With Matt, she didn’t have to pretend, didn’t have to try and impress him. He seemed to like her just as she was.
‘So what have you been telling everyone about us?’ he asked after a while.
She glanced at him.
‘That you’re a friend. Why?’
‘Because everyone keeps asking when we’re going to tie the knot too.’
‘Oh, I’m sorry.’ She winced. ‘I guess it’s because it’s a wedding; everyone wants to play matchmaker.’
‘Don’t worry. I’ve told anyone that asks that we’re not dating. It’s just sex. It seems to shut them up.’
‘You haven’t,’ she gasped, although the thought secretly thrilled her.
‘I told Andrew’s mum it’s a good job she put us up in the attic, what with all the noise you make when you get excited.’
‘Please tell me you’re joking . . .?’
‘Okay, I’m joking.’
They were both laughing when Anna felt a tap on her shoulder.
‘Hey, guys, I’ve been looking for you.’
Anna composed herself.
‘Andy, how are you? I thought you might still be stuck in the office.’
He smiled. ‘I escaped just in time. Sophie wasn’t too happy I didn’t arrive in Italy until yesterday, though.’
‘When duty calls . . .’
‘I just wanted to say thank you for the story. I was talking to Charles, my editor, before we came out here, and he thinks his deputy is about to move on to the Sunday paper. He says the job’s mine if I want it.’
‘That’s brilliant news, Andy,’ said Anna. ‘You deserve it.’
‘I know. It’s what I’ve been working my arse off for nearly fifteen years for.’
A jazz band struck up and Andy cocked his head.
‘Sounds like my cue. I’d better get back to my bride.’ He looked at Anna as he turned away. ‘And thanks again,’ he said. ‘I mean it.’
Anna sat silently as he crossed the courtyard. Matthew touched her on the shoulder.
‘Don’t let him get to you,’ he said.
‘What do you mean?’
‘Andy. You’re too good for him. You always were.’
‘Oh, I know that.’ She smiled. ‘I wasn’t thinking about that anyway. I was thinking about what he said, the job on the paper.’
‘What about it?’
‘Well Sophie just told me she’s been offered a job in New York.’
‘Ah,’ said Matt. ‘So she’s not going to take it?’
‘Of course she is,’ laughed Anna. ‘Sophie always does what she wants to; you should have grasped that by now.’
Matt frowned.
‘But what about that little speech Andy just gave us?’
Anna shook her head.
‘He doesn’t know.’
Matt let out a laugh.
‘Is she going to tell him
before
they get married that she’s got his life mapped out on the other side of the Atlantic?’
‘Probably not.’
They gave each other a conspiratorial little smile. The courtyard was filling with couples dancing now, surrounded by a happy crowd laughing and clinking glasses in the balmy almond-scented air. Anna could feel Matt’s warm leg against hers, her skin tingling at his touch, and suddenly, more than anything, she wanted to kiss him.
‘Dance?’ he said, seconds before she was about to ask him. He looked at her nervously, as if he thought he’d overstepped the mark, wondering what her reaction would be.
‘I thought you’d never ask.’
He pulled her to him, palm against palm, hips moving together, his arm circling her waist. She knew he had come here as a friend, possibly because he felt sorry for her, probably because he had nothing better to do, and yet still, when he pressed his body against her, when his cheek brushed hers, she didn’t want to be anywhere else.
‘What’s your view on professional ethics?’ she whispered in his ear.
‘Is this about Helen?’
She shook her head. ‘I don’t even want to think about her,’ she said softly.
‘So what ethics?’ he asked.
She paused for a moment, feeling her throat become dry and her pulse quicken. Just say it, she told herself.
‘I mean, as my boss. What would you do if I kissed you?’
He smiled and pulled her towards him.
‘Let’s find out, shall we?’ he said, as his lips brushed softly against hers, tender and soft. He pulled away, then kissed her again, harder. And as she kissed him back, their mouths joined, bodies entwined, she felt every nerve ending shiver with both desire and belonging. Finally the music stopped and she opened her eyes. Her hands were trembling between Matt’s big palms.
‘Shall we go somewhere a little quieter?’ he said as they reluctantly pulled apart.
She nodded, and they walked out of the courtyard hand in hand, following a path down towards the gardens.
‘I think I’ve been wanting to do that since about the first day I saw you,’ said Matt.
‘The day of the lunch?’
He shook his head, smiling.
‘At the lunch I wanted to kill you.’
‘I wasn’t that impressed with you either.’ Anna smiled.
‘Well, I hope you’ve changed your mind.’
‘Maybe,’ she said. ‘Probably.’
They walked away from the party until they found a stone bench hidden in an alcove.
‘So why didn’t you?’ asked Anna. ‘Kiss me, I mean.’
He laughed.
‘Where should we start? My ex-wife back in the picture, your Hollywood romance, the fact that when I joined Donovan Pierce I was ever-so-slightly aware that the last Mr Donovan at the firm had been a terrible lech.’
Anna pulled a face.
‘Good point. Although what are we going to do now? I mean, you’re still my boss. Are you going to call me in to sit on your knee?’
Matthew grinned. ‘That doesn’t sound too bad, actually.’
‘You
are
your father’s son,’ said Anna playfully.
His expression turned tender. He reached out his hand and touched her face.
‘Are you ready for this? Working together? Being together?’
Anna slipped her arms around his neck and pulled him close.
She’d never been more ready for anything in her life. Ever.
Continued thanks go to all the team at Headline for their sterling work: Sherise Hobbs (a wonderful editor with great taste in biscuits), Lucy Foley, Jane Morpeth, Jo Liddiard, Vicky Cowell, Emily Furniss, Aslan Byrne and his fantastic sales team, plus Patrick and Yeti in the design department and to the copyeditor and proofreaders.
To the brilliant Eugenie Furniss and Cathryn Summerhayes – it’s such a pleasure working with you. And Dorian Karchmar and Matt Hudson in New York make me feel as if I can take on the world! Thanks also to the lovely Claudia Webb.
To everyone else who has helped with the research of
Private Lives
– thank you so much for the nuggets of information you let me take away. The complex area of privacy law is one that takes place behind closed doors so I’m particularly grateful to those who let me have a peep behind the curtain. This book couldn’t have been written without you.
It’s been a tricky year so my heartfelt gratitude goes to those who have made it easier. To all those at Kingston Hospital and RMH, including Alan Thompson, Mr Khan and Hannah Petty – thank you so much for all the incredible work you do. To my friends, especially Kay for the writers’ villa and the hill walks. And much, much love to my wonderful family for all their support, especially my mum, and John, my rock-and-roll rock, my hero, the best husband a girl could ever ask for.
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