This Man (This Man 1)

After much deliberation on what to wear – I’m shocked the decision hasn’t been made for me – I settle on my beige capri pants, a nude, silk shirt and cream ballet pumps. I make sure I put my coral lace underwear on – he loves me in lace. I rough my hair up and smoke my eyes out. Nude gloss finishes me off.

I walk onto the landing, finding an irritable Jesse pacing up and down. I frown. ‘I didn’t take that long. ’

Author: Jodi Ellen Malpas

He looks up, giving me his glorious smile, reserved only for women, and I’m reassured again. As I approach him, he looks me up and down with satisfaction, and as soon as I’m close enough, he yanks me into his muscled body.

‘You’re impossibly beautiful. ’ he breathes in my hair.

‘So are you. Where’s Sam?’

‘Kate’s giving him a tour of the van. ’

Oh, I almost forgot about Margo Junior. I pull back, giving him a suspicious glare. ‘You brought Kate a van?’

He smirks. ‘Are you jealous?’

What? ‘No!’

His face straightens. ‘Yes, I brought the van. ’

‘Why?’ Doesn’t he think it’s a bit weird? Is he trying to buy my friend so she overlooks his unreasonable behavior?

‘Because, Ava, I don’t want you being tossed about in that shed on wheels, that’s why. And I don’t have to explain myself to you. ’ he huffs, standing back from me with his arms folded across his chest.

I actually laugh. ‘You brought my best friend a van so I won’t get injured holding a cake up?’ Oh, this is laughable.

He scowls at me good and proper. ‘Like I said, I don’t have to explain myself to you. Let’s go. ’ He grabs my hand, leading me down to the car.

‘You made Sally’s day today. ’ I say, virtually jogging to keep up with his long strides.

‘Who’s Sally?’

‘The waif like creature in my office,’ I remind him, while considering if his lack of memory is an indication of his age too.

‘Oh, has she forgiven me?’

‘Undoubtedly,’ I mutter.

Kate spots us and launches herself at Jesse. ‘Thank you!’ She sings it repeatedly in his face.

Jesse holds on to her with his one free arm as she continues to screech excitedly in his ear. I roll my eyes at her, spotting Sam shaking his head. I’m comforted by the fact that Sam seems to find this all a bit over the top too.

‘It’s for my benefit, Kate, not yours. ’ he says.

She releases him. ‘I know!’ She grins, turning her bright blues onto me and mouthing, ‘I love him!’

‘Hey! Where’s the love?’ Sam calls. She skips off to throw her arms around Sam.

I roll my eyes. I’m surrounded by crazy people.

We pull up outside a small Italian restaurant in the West End. I get out of the car, and Jesse comes to collect me, grabbing my hand and pulling me into, what can only be described as, a sitting room. Dimly lit and with Italian paraphernalia in every nook and cranny, it’s like I’ve stepped back in time to the eighties in Italy.

‘Sir Jesse, how very good it is to see you. ’ A small Italian man approaches. He has a naturally happy face.

Jesse clasps his hand. ‘Luigi, good to see you too,’

‘Come, come. ’ Luigi gestures us further into the room.