Carmen couldn’t help her wry smile. “Well, when you put it that way.”
“See? You know I’m right.”
“Whatever.”
They locked gazes and smiled at each other.
“So, how is the lovely Ash? Last time we talked, things had moved on from that silly ‘let’s just be casual’ idea. Is everything still going well?”
“It is.” Carmen swirled her drink, watching the ice cubes bump their way around the glass. “It’s wonderful. It—she—really has grabbed me. Although I’m a little scared, if I’m honest.”
“Of what?”
Carmen frowned as she tried to conjure the right words. “Of the way this seems to be consuming me already. Am I going to fall fast and deep and then get my heart broken?”
“Quite possibly.” Felicity shrugged. “But that’s absolutely no reason to back away from it. Sometimes we just have to do it. Be brave with our hearts. Dare to love, even though we’re scared of how it might turn out. Because sometimes it turns out just fine.”
Carmen took a deep breath and laid her hands on her knees, straightening her shoulders as she did so. “You’re right. Again. Damn, I hate that.”
Felicity laughed.
From somewhere in Carmen’s bag her phone pinged with a text message notification. She pulled it out.
Still on for tonight? I have one more client and she’ll be here any time now. Really looking forward to seeing you xx
Oh God. Ash. Dinner tonight. She’d forgotten all about it in the drama of the evening. Maybe she should cancel. She’d hate to do so because they couldn’t see each other again until Sunday, but…
No, fuck that. I need to see Ash . But she also wanted to give Ash the chance to cancel—after all, Carmen knew she might not be able to shake this off and relax fully into the rest of the evening.
Only fair to tell you I’m not in the best of moods. Had a client turn up earlier and rip us to shreds for letting her go. It will be okay but I’m rather tired. Will totally understand if you’d prefer to cancel x
Definitely not! I want to hug you now.
Carmen’s heart swelled, and she took a few moments to breathe before responding.
Then I’ll see you at nine. Can’t wait xx
Chapter 34
“Have you spoken to your brother lately?” Ash sat back in her chair, willing her body to relax.
“Hmm.” Carmen gazed into her espresso cup. “Last week.”
“All good with him?”
“Yes.”
Ash sighed. It was like trying to get blood out of a stone. Carmen was obviously exhausted after her intense day, and their conversation had been this stilted since they’d met an hour ago. “Look, do you want to call it a night? You’re obviously tired, and that’s okay, but—”
“No, I’m fine.” Carmen’s smile was forced. She took a sip from her drink. “How does your weekend look?”
“You, um, asked me that already.” Ash kept her tone gentle. She wanted to support Carmen, of course she did, but right now it was difficult to know exactly how to do that. Except, I guess, by just being here.
“I did?” Carmen flushed and shook her head. “Sorry.”
“It’s okay.” Ash saw the waitress approaching. “Shall we get the bill?”
“Sure.”
Ash added her credit card to Carmen’s on the small tray that held their bill.
As soon as they’d paid, Carmen stood and stretched. She walked around to Ash’s side of the table and stepped in close. “I’m so sorry. I’m being crap company, aren’t I?”
She looked contrite and sad, and it broke Ash’s heart. Knowing from running her own business that reputation was everything, she could sympathise with how upset Carmen was at what that stupid actress had said.
“I know that was hard for you this evening. But please don’t worry that you’re not on top form. I understand.”
“But it’s such a waste of your time, isn’t it? You deserve better company than I can offer.”
Ash smiled and motioned for them to leave the restaurant. “Look, you are totally allowed to feel the way you do. Like I said earlier, I’m pretty sure I’d do the same in your position.”
They stood outside the restaurant, the cool evening making both of them immediately pull on their jackets.
Carmen slipped her hand through the crook of Ash’s arm and looked up at her. “I’m worried that, with all my drama, I’m too much for you to take on. That you’ll run out of patience.”
Ash pulled her closer. “I doubt that. You’re an amazing person, and we’re having a pretty amazing time together so far. So tonight isn’t so good. Well, that happens. It wasn’t anything to do with us . It was work-related, and anyone can have that happen to them. I don’t see that as drama at all. Just normal life.”
“Are you sure? I mean, with my whole new sexuality thing too, I don’t want to—”
Ash slipped her arm free so that she could wrap both arms completely around Carmen, loving again just how incredible Carmen felt in her arms. “I’m sure. Trust me, okay?”
A smile, a real one, broke out on Carmen’s face. “I do, you know. Completely.”
Ash’s heart beat a little faster at the conviction in Carmen’s tone. “Good.”
“I don’t want to go home yet.” Carmen exhaled loudly. “I’ll understand if you don’t want to, so please feel free to say no, but could we maybe find a pub or bar for another drink?”
Although she wasn’t entirely sure it was the right idea, there was no way she was going to dampen Carmen’s attempt to lift herself out of her mood. “I’m in. Come on. There’s a place just up the road I know.”
Carmen linked their arms once more. “Then lead on.”
Five minutes later, they snagged a small table with two less-than-comfortable chairs in the centre of a pub that was busy but not heaving on this Thursday night. Ash politely pushed her way to the bar, ordered their drinks, and returned to their table with the two tall glasses carefully
