Modern Romance May 2016 Books 5-8. Дженнифер Хейворд
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with a little frown. ‘It seems like the whole world knows I was born two months after Miranda.’
He touched her face again. ‘Any more thoughts about meeting Richard?’
She pulled away as if his fingers had burned her. ‘No.’
‘What about Julius and Jake? Would you be prepared to meet them?’
‘Maybe.’
That was a win if nothing else. But the clock was ticking on that party date and he wanted her there. Everyone was expecting him to pull this off. She didn’t have to stay long, just meet her father and get out of there, if that was what she wanted. ‘I’ll organise something when Julius and Holly come over from Argentina. They’ll arrive a few days before Richard’s party. Jake might catch up with you sooner but it’d be nice if you met them together.’
‘Whatever.’
He brushed his thumb over her pouting mouth. ‘They’re good people, Kat. Don’t put them in the same class as your father. He’s in a class all of his own.’
She stretched her lips into a smile that didn’t show her teeth. ‘I’ll get that drink for you.’
* * *
When Kat brought in a glass of wine to Flynn he was sitting with his feet up, Cricket curled up by his side. He was checking something on his phone but put it down when he saw her. He smiled as she handed him the glass. ‘It’s going to be tough going back to microwave meals.’
‘Can’t you cook?’
‘I can but I don’t always bother. Too much fuss for one person.’
‘I know,’ Kat said. ‘I’m a bit the same.’
He patted the seat beside him on the other side of where Cricket was lying. ‘Got a minute?’
‘Sure.’
She sat down and he put his arm around her shoulders to draw her closer. ‘I’ve been thinking about your job at the café,’ he said. ‘It’s going to be tough getting to and from rehearsals.’
‘I can manage.’
A little silence passed.
‘What if I were to pay you?’
Kat swung her gaze to his. ‘For what?’
He gave a little roll of his eyes. ‘Not that. For helping me around the house. Walking Cricket and so on.’
She didn’t have to think about it. Her pride wouldn’t allow her to accept money off him or any man. Not unless she was officially employed, as in a proper job. ‘No. Absolutely not.’
‘But what if your shift runs overtime or you have a clash?’
‘I’ll cut back my hours,’ Kat said. ‘I’ll swap shifts. I’ll make it work.’
He let out a breath that had a hint of frustration to it. ‘It’s just money, Kat. I have plenty of it.’
‘That’s not the point.’ She sprang up off the sofa and folded her arms as tight as a steel band across her body.
‘What about if I gave you an interest-free loan?’
She gave him a wintry look. ‘I’m not a charity case.’
He studied her for a beat. ‘Oh, I get it. You don’t want to be beholden to me in case I turn the screws on you attending Richard’s party.’
Kat pressed her lips together. ‘It’s not about that stupid party.’
‘It’s about your pride, isn’t it?’
She didn’t answer.
‘Are you nervous about rehearsals on Monday?’
‘A little.’
‘Need any help with your lines?’
‘I can manage.’
‘Kat.’ The way he said her name in that achingly gentle way brought her gaze back to his. ‘You’ve been doing everything on your own for so long you’ve forgotten how to recognise a genuine desire to help,’ he said. ‘I want you to do well in that play.’
‘Why?’
‘Because I think you deserve this chance to show the world what you’re made of.’
Kat released a breath she hadn’t realised she’d been holding. ‘Okay...if you don’t mind. It would be good to run through my lines a few times.’
‘I don’t mind at all,’ he said. ‘I haven’t seen the play live but I’ve seen a couple of YouTube clips. We can work on it over the weekend.’
This will be the clincher. Helping you with your lines. Sheesh... What’s next? A wedding rehearsal?
What’s wrong with helping me with my lines? Any friend would do that.
Friend? Is that what he is?
Well, he’s not my enemy. Not now.
Flynn tapped her on the end of her nose. ‘You’d better not zone out like that onstage. Elisabetta will eat you for breakfast and spit out the leftovers.’
Kat blinked and pasted on a smile. ‘I’ll go and dish up. Don’t move. I’ll bring it in on a tray.’
* * *
The weekend passed so quickly it was Monday morning before Kat was ready. Not because she hadn’t rehearsed her part in the play, but more because the time she’d spent with Flynn had been one of the happiest times of her life. He was such easy company, funny and relaxing to be around. He settled her nerves by getting her to go through her part numerous times. He had even gone to the trouble of downloading and printing the script so he could take Kate or Greg’s part when needed.
Kat couldn’t stop herself thinking what an amazing partner he would make. The way he supported her, encouraged her, challenged her to give more than she thought herself capable of giving. The evenings, they’d spent lingering over dinner and chatting over current affairs or life in general. His sharp mind kept her on her toes; he saw the flaw in any argument and had the mental flexibility to adopt any other position and argue from that corner with just as much skill as from the opinions he held himself.
But it was the nights in his arms she enjoyed the most. Not just the wonderful sex, which seemed to get better and better, but the closeness she felt to him. The sense of him understanding her on a level no one had taken the time or effort to do before.
Even the way he had rescheduled his first client so he could have breakfast with her on Monday morning made her realise how well he knew her. How had it happened? How had the man she had seen as her mortal enemy now become her biggest ally?
Kat could still taste his kiss when she walked through the back door of the theatre. Elisabetta was already there, talking with the director Leon and the other cast member playing Greg. There were stagehands about, as well as the costume designer called Ruby, whom Kat had met on the day of the audition.
It was clear from the moment they began the rehearsals that nothing Kat could do would please Elisabetta. She kept insisting on Kat redoing the scene, even though Leon had been reasonably happy with it. But apparently Elisabetta’s demands overruled his opinion and he meekly allowed his biggest star to call the shots.
It was beyond exhausting but Kat hadn’t fought this hard and for this long to be bullied by a woman who should have been professional enough to put personal issues aside for the sake of the theatre company and the sponsors. Kat called on every bit of determination she possessed to get through the session without biting back. She withstood the stinging criticism, she turned a deaf ear to the insults and she channelled her frustration into her acting.
‘That’s it for the day,’ Leon finally announced. ‘We’re back on set at ten tomorrow. Well done, everyone.’
Elisabetta