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I wander toback the duvet, ready to fall into it once Lizzy has left “No excuses,” I confirm
“Great!” She drops the black sack with the pile of others by the door, brushing off her hands “And what about your housewar? We need to christen this place”
“It’s the Saturday after I’ve invited a fe clients, too”
“Does that y?”
I laugh “No orgy”
“Oh, okay I’ll take care of snacks You take care of cocktails”
“Deal”
She squeals and throws her arms around me “It’s perfect, Annie You’ve worked hard for it”
“Thanks” I return her hug, breathing in the scent of the millions of candles we’ve lit
“How long have you given yourself off work?” she asks, releasingfrom the floor
“Just the weekend”
“Wow, you’re pushing the boat out, aren’t you?”
I ignore her sarcass finalized for allery No rest for the wicked”
“And no play, either,” Lizzy re “Great,” shedown at the screen
“What?”
She shoves it back in her bag and forces a sain He was supposed to be picking lances down at her watch—“like, now”
“You can stay, if you like”
“Nah, I’ll get the Tube You get to bed”
She leaves me with a kiss on the cheek and an order to sleep well I’ve no doubt I will In my brand-new bed, with brand-new sheets and brand-new duvet, I’m asleep before my head hits the brand-new pillow
I wake the nextup, I spend a few disorientatedsleepily as I look around s
Bang, bang, bang!
Thenfro, backed up by so my name My palms come up to my face and scrub at my cheeks before I feel for my phone and pull it froister the ti my way out of my bedroom
Bang, bang, bang!
“Okay, okay!” I yell, leaping over a box and crashing into the door Swinging it open, I coht-eyed, bushy-tailed Micky “Seriously!” I yell, s, and shouts
“Morning, treacle!” He lands a kiss onas he starts to explore my new abode “Nice place!”
I shut the front door and follow hi “What’s happened to your hair?” I ask, watching as he inspects every nook and cranny
“You like?” he asks, reaching behind and feeling at the dark blond bundle “It’s starting to get in my hen I’m at work” He kicks a box out of the way and takes a slurp from his Starbucks as he hands me one
I accept gratefully and head for my bedroom He’s in his work uniform, namely shorts and a T-shirt He’s a personal trainer A very popular personal trainer His waiting list consists of wo my coffee on my bedside table
Micky follows e of h as I pass hionna let me at you?”
“Never!” I laugh “I’d rather shove hot pokers in my eyes”
“A few squats will do you good”
I scoff at his suggestion and pull on so arses to ad mine”
He grins wickedly “Speaking of which, I just took on a new client”
I fastenoffa U2 T-shirt over my head
“Nope” He grins “You know I limit married clients to five at any one time That’s an hour a day that I have to be professional Five whole hours a week!”
I laugh out loud The eous flirt, but he’s also one of the best PTs in London Wo up to be bent, stretched, and manipulated into position byphysical fitness “Must be exhausting”
“It is when they’re teh each session An innocent brush of h here, an arse thrust in my face there”
“If it’s that challenging to keep your le women Or men”
“I need a balance of clients Besides, the married ones try harder,” he says, and ,” he clarifies
“So you’ve never been tempted?”
“Never!” He shakes his head furiously “I lovethem, thanks”
Dragging h ponytail, I chuckle and slip on ether Playedpool together He even hammered a few nails into the rabbit hutch extension ere twelve Our parents were, and still are, best friends
“So hoas your first night?” he asks, patting down my bedcovers
“I don’t think I’ve ever slept for so long” It’s a good sign “C’uring out where everything’s going to go”
We head into the lounge and I start slapping yellow Post-it notes on everything that I don’t want to keep while Micky followsit all to one side of the room “Hey, I’ll have that” Micky swipes the Post-it off atable in my old bedroom “I need somewhere to put my hair-ties”
I laugh and carry on slapping Post-its on what needs to go “Your man-bun looks cute,” I say as Micky fondles his new friend with a smile Truth be told, Micky could shave his hair off and look cute The ht brown eyes are constantly laughing and his jaw is constantly peppered with stubble He’s hot, but he’s just Micky to me
“Thanks” He bats his lashes
“Hey, we’re going out next Saturday for drinks You co?”
“Of course,” he replies quickly “Lizzy and Nat co?” He
waggles a suggestive eyebrow
“Don’t even dare Both know you’re a tart” He just can’t help himself Me, Nat, and Lizzy are the only women in London who are immune to Micky’s charm
“Ouchy!” he sniggers, getting me in a headlock
“Get off, you twat!” I wrestle out of his hold and straightenaround me, fists held up in front of his face
“Yoo-hoo!” My mother’s voice sails into the roo on the wooden floor