While Lucky lapped it up she went to her fridge and poured herself a glass of Riesling she’d had in there for ages.
And anyway, it was a celebratory drink. Today she’d finalised the sale of her shares to Isabelle and told her that she wasn’t going to take the VP job in Australasia. Her sister had been shocked but Eleanore had known it was the right decision as soon as she’d said it. Instead she’d informed Isabelle that she was going to use the money to start her own consulting and design firm.
Things would be slow at first, she knew that, but she was ready for the challenge and Isabelle had said that once she’d squashed the Chatsfields’ attempted takeover bid she’d invite her to join the board so that she could still be a part of the Harrington brand. Eleanore smiled at the thought. It felt good to finally feel on equal footing with her sister.
So all in all it had been a great day.
And to make it a great night she’d eat her leftover brownies from the day before with the tub of ice cream she’d just picked up from Whole Foods. She also had a copy of her favourite romantic film on DVD to sit in front of.
A text message pinged on her phone and she pulled it out of her handbag. Her heart sped up just a little but it was only from the businessman she’d met at the gallery. Since she’d refused to have a drink with him he’d texted her a couple of times to invite her out for dinner. Both times his text had come in late in the afternoon and what sort of man invited a woman out at the last minute anyway? One who’d been stood up, she suspected.
It was almost as bad as a man telling you he’d call and then not doing so. Not that Lukas hadn’t called. He had but he hadn’t kept his promise to come and see her. And okay, maybe he hadn’t promised but—dammit, she wasn’t going to think about him again. It caused an ache in her chest not even Ben & Jerry’s Boston Cream Pie could ease. The only thing for it was to go cold turkey and not think about him or talk to him again. Which was why she jumped whenever her phone rang. It was because she wasn’t going to answer it if his name flashed up on her screen, not because she was.
When someone rang her doorbell she nearly jumped out of her skin again. Since her building had security it must be a neighbour. A desperate neighbour by the sound of how quickly they rang again. Probably it was Penelope’s new boyfriend who had locked himself out again.
Smiling she opened the door mid-knock. ‘Hello, Simo—’ Her heart stopped. It wasn’t her neighbour’s boyfriend at all; it was Lukas dressed in a crumpled suit he looked like he’d slept in. He hadn’t shaved either which wasn’t usual for him. ‘Lukas! What on earth are you doing here?’
‘Who’s Simon?’ He scowled. ‘He’s not the guy in the picture?’
He pushed past her before she could take in the fact that he was even standing on her threshold and she swung around to follow him down her short hallway to her living room. ‘What picture?’ She held up her hand and noticed it was shaking so she stuck it on her hip instead. ‘What are you doing here?’
‘I told you I was coming to town.’ He glanced around her small comfy living room.
‘Actually, you told me you weren’t coming to town.’
His gaze returned to hers and she had the oddest sense that he was nervous. He flashed his movie-star smile and she knew she’d been wrong.
‘Nice place.’
‘I don’t care what you think of my place,’ she said, fighting to keep her emotions at bay. ‘I’d like you to leave.’
He ignored her and walked over to her low coffee table and picked up her glass of wine. ‘Only one glass. Does that mean you’re not expecting Simon?’
Simon?
Not waiting for an answer he sniffed the plate of brownies. ‘I know these are not biscotti.’
‘No, they’re brownies.’ She moved closer and snatched the plate from his hands. ‘What are you doing here?’
‘You answer my question and I’ll answer yours.’
‘I can’t remember your question.’
‘Are you expecting Simon? Or perhaps that guy from the art gallery?’
Eleanore narrowed her eyes. ‘Are you trying to insult me? Simon is my neighbour’s boyfriend. And how do you know about Peter anyway?’
‘Petra saw the photo of the two of you together.’
‘It made the news?’
‘See?’ He smiled faintly. ‘I’m not the only one who doesn’t read their own press.’