“I know you haven’t been here long, but honestly.” Georgia rolls her eyes and takes another biscuit. “They’re all the same. Beautiful and shallow as ditchwater. We’re all waiting for him to fall in love, like, properly. Know what I mean?”
I do know what she means. Romance novels are my guilty pleasure. You’d be amazed at how many seem to end up in charity shops. Some of the language in them might be dated, but the stories of love are timeless. Meet someone, fall for them, end up living happily ever after. I always dreamed of meeting someone like that and, when I met Dean and he swept me off my feet, it felt like the dream was coming true.
But Dean isn’t here. By the end of September he was gone, our sweet summer romance just a treasured memory. His company transferred him to Dubai, some sort of high-flying real estate role. Eloise helped me through the heartache of missing him. Now all we have are messages and sexy phone calls, the occasional snatched weekend together whenever he can get away. I spend more time with the neighbour’s cat. It’s awful. More a nightmare than a dream, really.
But I still have an image of how it’s going to be, when we finally get our place together. Being on the coast, looking out at the sea. Someone tall, dressed in a sweater, coming up behind me to put his arms around me. Someone with whom I feel safe. I’d rather pull my own fingernails out than tell anyone, of course.
“Ooh, maybe he’ll fall for you!” Georgia collapses in giggles. “You know, the old story. Boss falls for his assistant. We thought he liked Eloise for a while but then she went and got married.”
Heat flares in my face. “Me? I’m the last person Myles would fall for. I think he just likes that his life runs smoothly, that’s all. Plus I have a boyfriend, anyway.”
“Well, that’s not surprising, though the Soho office will be devastated to hear.” Georgia regards me critically, hands on her hips.
“The Soho office?”
“Oh Zara, you’re more of a dish than I think you know. Half of them are in love with you.” She claps her hand to her mouth, her eyes wide. “I should not tell you that.”
“No, you shouldn’t,” I say, but I’m laughing too, warmth in my chest. To be honest, the whole long-distance relationship thing is getting to me, especially as Dean hasn’t been replying to my messages as quickly as he used to. It feels nice that someone has noticed me.
“So, who’s the boy? Is it someone here?”
“No.” I shake my head, blushing. “His name is Dean and he lives in Dubai.”
“Dubai?” She frowns. “How’d you meet him?”
“Oh, he used to work in London. Got transferred last year.”
“How often do you see him?”
“Not often enough.” It’s been three months since our last stolen weekend, spent mostly tangled in the sheets at a hotel.
“But it’s, like, a five-hour flight? Doesn’t he come back to London at all? Sorry, I’m being nosy.”
“No, it’s fine.” It is fine. I like Georgia, and it feels good to talk about it with someone who doesn’t know Dean. No matter how much Eloise loves me, I always feel slightly as though she thinks I could do better. “He works out there, mostly.” Even though his head office is in London. I push down the slight flicker of disquiet. He loves me, and I love him.
“Huh.” Georgia’s brow clears. “Hey, I’ve been meaning to ask if you want to go out sometime. What do you think? Just for a drink after work or something?”
“I’d like that a lot.”
“Give me your number and I’ll message you.” She pulls out her phone. “Shit. I have to go.” She quickly punches in my number. “Break’s almost over.”
“Me too.” I finish my coffee. “Oh, Myles and Katya won’t be breaking up next Monday, so you might want to change your bet.”
“They won’t?”
I shake my head. “Myles is off to Cornwall, remember? Testing out the new wetsuits.”
“Arrgh!” Georgia squeals, then rushes out of the kitchen.
I grin, putting my mug in the dishwasher. There’s still a couple of things I need to finalise for the Cornwall trip, so I’ll have to try and grab Myles in between his meetings this afternoon. Plus, he’s heading off to Morocco the following week, and I need to confirm all his meeting arrangements. But when I get back to my desk he’s standing there, looking down at Katya’s shoe with a frown on his face. I’d stood it up, like an impossibly jewelled and ridiculous desk ornament. I’d thought of using it as a mobile phone stand, but felt that might be too much. At my approach he looks up. Despite the frown he’s still ridiculously hot, tousled raven hair falling forward over his brow. I feel slightly breathless.
“There you are.” His expression softens slightly, but he still looks stern. “Is this Katya’s?”
Well, it’s not mine, I want to retort, with a flash of irritation that surprises me. I work hard for Myles, but it’s not as if I can afford Valentino. All I do is nod.
He picks it up. “I’ll get it back to her. Now, come in here. I want to ask your opinion on something.”
“You do?” Surprise causes the words to tumble out.
