‘See.’ Maya lit a cigarette and was promptly asked to put it out by a snooty-looking woman on the table next to them. There were no ‘no smoking’ signs and they were outside anyway, so she feigned deafness and carried on. ‘Told you. I’ve never heard of such a roundabout way of getting your number, though. You have to text him.’
‘Really?’
‘Oh, stop it, Gracie, you know you do. You have what is known as… just pulled.’
‘He must be at least ten years my junior.’
‘Who cares, age is just a number. We’re all the same age lying down.’
Gracie grinned. ‘That’s hilarious. Shouldn’t that be height?’
‘Whatever. If you don’t, I will.’
‘I’ve literally just said goodbye to my ex.’
‘Like I said before, all the more reason.’ Maya smirked.
Gracie screwed up her face. ‘What do I say if I do text him, then?’
‘Gracie, you are out of practice, aren’t you?’ The pretty Czech took the card from her hand.
She read aloud. ‘Edward Duke. Landscaper – so you say,Hi, Ed, it’s Gracie from the common. My trainers are from wherever. How big is your cock?’
‘Maya!’
‘Or you could say,Hi Ed, blah blah re trainers and yes, I’d love to, thanks. Tomorrow, outside the café at six?’
‘I couldn’t be so forward.’
‘Oh, you so could. He’s cute. If he does nothing more than fuck your ex of your system, then he is so worth a hook-up.’
TWENTY-ONE
Cynthia Princeton opened the file on her desk and buzzed through to the intern.
‘What time is Mr Duke getting here?’
‘Ten thirty.’
‘Excellent, just show him through when he arrives, will you? Thanks.’
She smiled to herself. Bless Luke, feigning illness he hadn’t gone to Cornwall with her. She figured, if he was too scared to go for it when it was on a plate, he would certainly be no good to her in bed. No, she would maintain a professional relationship with this one. Probably for the best all round.
Persuading Emma to come instead, it had been lovely to chill out by the sea in Cornwall and have some mother-daughter time. Plus with all the headspace she had down there, she had found a loophole which with luck would get her client off his rape charge with ease.
TWENTY-TWO
Noms was combing Jack’s hair through with nit treatment in the kitchen when Gracie returned from the common.
‘Auntie G, tell her to stop.’ He screwed up his face in annoyance.
‘Here.’ Gracie took the comb. ‘Let me do it more gently for you.’ She winked at Noms. Boris leapt up at her knees.
‘Enjoy your run with the posh commoners?’ Naomi washed her hands.
Gracie smiled. ‘Hmm. It was a very short jog actually. Maya and I bunked off and had a chat for most of it.’
‘Well, you look better for it. It’s nice to see some colour in your cheeks.’
