Sarah’s head whirled and panic danced in her tummy. She wondered if her mother would still advocate a week away if she knew that a factor in this equation was the hum of attraction that bloomed at the mere idea of being in Ben Gardiner’s presence. But that shouldn’t stop her, because her mum and Georgia were right. This truly was an opportunity, a chance to turn her life around, and she did have to take it.
‘You’re right. Thank you both. I’ll talk to Jodie tomorrow.’
And so the next day, as she made Jodie’s favourite weekend breakfast of pancakes, she broached the subject. ‘Guess what, sweetheart?’
‘What?’
‘I got offered a job yesterday. And part of that job means I would need to go away for a few days. To Milan. In Italy.’
‘Can I come?’
‘No. One day maybe we could go on holiday to Italy, but this time I’ll take lots of photos and videos for you and I’ll talk to you every day. And Grandma and Grannie Georgia will look after you.’
Jodie thought about it for a minute. ‘Is it a good job, Mummy?’
‘Yes.’
‘Then you should do it.’ Jodie grinned suddenly. ‘I can tell everyone at school that my mummy has gone to Milan for work.’
It was clear that the prospect gave her a great deal of pleasure, and in truth Sarah couldn’t blame her. God knew it wasn’t often that Jodie had anything to boast about, and she knew it was sometimes hard for her without a dad. There were lots of kids whose parents had split up, but the utter absence of a father was difficult.
‘You do that, sweetheart.’
Jodie thought for a minute. ‘And I’ll tell everyone that redheads are winners!’
Sarah managed a smile. ‘That’s what Aunty Imogen always said.’
Jodie beamed at her, ate the last mouthful of pancake and wiggled of her chair. ‘Can I watch some cartoons now?’
‘Of course—for a little while. Then we’ll head to the park, and you have Holly’s birthday party this afternoon.’
Once Jodie was settled in front of the TV, Sarah hauled in a breath and went into the bedroom she shared with her daughter. She stood by the window and stared at the azure-blue sky, the scud of clouds, the people walking the London streets. Tried to calm her breathing and the pound of her heart before punching Ben Gardiner’s number into her phone.
One buzz, two, three...and then a deep voice. ‘Gardiner speaking.’
‘Hi. It’s...um... Sarah. Sarah Fletcher. We met...’
‘I know who you are.’
Amusement vibrated across the line and the molten chocolate of his voice shivered over her skin.
‘I wondered if...if the offer to come to Milan is still open? My mum and her best friend have said they will look after Jodie and I have decided I’d like to do it.’
A heartbeat of silence and she braced herself for rejection. Then, ‘Fantastic. We fly out tomorrow afternoon. But we’ll need to sort some details today and go to the warehouse, so you can choose some clothes from the new range.’
‘Shall I meet you there?’
‘It’s easier if I pick you up. About an hour?’
‘I’ll see you then. Thank you.’
And the only reason her pulse-rate had upped a few notches was in anticipation of the clothes, not the man.
Perhaps if she told herself that enough she’d believe it.
CHAPTER FIVE
BEN DROPPED HIS phone into his pocket, surprised by the level of jubilation he felt. On a business level. Because he knew that he was right. Taking Sarah Fletcher to Milan was a sound choice. Instinct told him that—the instinct he’d relied on plenty of times in order to pull off the most outlandish of deals, or to take a quirky fashion risk that the pundits had told him wouldn’t work in a million years.