“Not really.”
“Okay.” Lisa, true to form, only wanted the details Bo was willing to share. It wasn’t that Lisa wasn’t interested in Bo or Bo’s problems; it was simply that she didn’t want to pressure her into revealing them. Lisa was a good journalist, and one who knew when to investigate, when to put all her training to use. If Lisa wanted, she could get on the phone right now to a hundred reporters or investigators in London, all of whom would happilydig into Bo’s history to work out what was going on. If she wanted.
She didn’t want to, though. Lisa was happy enough for Bo to work through her own problems in her own time and only come to her when necessary. Nick was obviously a different matter.
Bo frowned when she thought of Nick. Like Lisa, she knew her brother was unhappy. Like Lisa, she knew her brother had some unresolved issues he hadn’t worked through, and like Lisa, she worried about him.
“Why are you frowning like that?” Lisa asked, pushing a black coffee towards Bo, and Bo took it gratefully.
“I was thinking about Nick.”
“Oh.” Lisa sighed. “Yes, that’s how my face looks when I think about him too.”
“Maybe I’ll stop and see him on the way back to London.”
“You’re really going back?” Lisa asked.
“Why wouldn’t I?” Bo was surprised by the question, but Lisa simply shrugged.
“You know. The man trouble you’re having.”
“Not having. Had,” Bo clarified, and Lisa nodded, sipping at her own coffee.
“You still don’t want to tell me anything?”
“No.” Talking about Max,thinkingabout Max hurt. Right now, Bo just wanted space. That included space from her hurt.
“Want to talk financial planning then?”
Bo smiled. “Or you could tell me about you.”
Lisa laughed. “There’s nothing to tell. I do this.” She gestured to the office. “Are you sure you don’t want to stay for good? I’ll get you onto the paper. A nice gardening column and—”
Bo cut off that stream of thought rapidly. “No. I can’t write, you know that. You and Nick took the lion’s share of Dad’s talent.”
“What did you get then?” Lisa asked, and Bo laughed again.
“My mother’s looks.”
Lisa didn’t laugh with her. “You’re more than that. I hope you understand that. I know Margot spent every minute of your childhood putting you on those God-forsaken catwalks or in front of a camera lens, but you’re more than how you look to other people.”
Max had said something similar. Vibrant, that was the word he’d used.
Stop thinking about him,she ordered herself.Start putting him from your mind.
“I wish you’d give up the acting nonsense too. That’s what Margot wanted for you, not whatyouwanted for you,” Lisa carried on.
Bo smiled. “You’ll be happy to hear I’ve given it up then.”
At that, Lisa gave a wide smile. “Have you?”
“Yes. I’m going to buy a small business, you see.”
Lisa’s smiled faded. “A small business? Bo, if this is some jewellery scam or knife-selling scheme . . .”
Bo laughed. “No, no, no. Nothing like that. Actually, Ida’s selling up her flower shop. The one I’ve been working at. She’s asked if I want to buy it, and I’ve decided I do.”
Lisa sat back, looking stunned. “A flower shop?” Suddenly, she grinned. “That’ll be perfect for you. You and your gardens and your flowers . . . you’ve always loved them. This is perfect, Bo. Is that why you wanted to talk about financial planning with me?”
