AllFreeNovel
Share Us
His smile. That luminous look which seemed to hide no secrets. ‘Nah. I’m never nice.’ He looked at his watch. ‘We’ve got to get going now. Do you have ten minutes afterwards? I just need to discuss a few details for next week.’
* * *
When they got into the studio, it all clicked. He smiled. She smiled. She managed to find answers for the callers’ questions. She saw what nerves had obliterated last Monday—that Leo was feeding her all the time, never making statements, always leaving what he said open for discussion. The hour flew.
Justin was smiling when he walked into the studio, after they’d handed over to the next presenter. ‘Fabulous. Both of you.’
Leo seemed suddenly a little off-key. ‘Yeah, I enjoyed it.’
‘Follow-ups?’ Justin held up a manila envelope and Leo gestured in Alex’s direction.
‘Alex might like to take those.’
‘Yes. Thanks.’
‘There was something else...’ Leo was on his feet before Justin could get the rest of the sentence out.
‘Yeah. That’s in hand, Justin. Is the car waiting?’
‘No, it’s not here yet. As we’ve got a few minutes...’
‘Later.’ The one word was so final that even Justin got the hint. Leo picked up Alex’s coat, holding it out in an unequivocal intimation that she should put it on. Then he practically frogmarched her out of the studio.
‘What’s this all about, Leo?’ This was one version of Leo that she hadn’t seen in the hall of mirrors yet.
‘Can we talk in the car?’ He caught the attention of the show’s production assistant, who was passing in the corridor. ‘Jo, have you called the car yet?’
‘No, Justin said to wait...’
‘Yeah, I expect he did. Could you do me a favour and give them a call now?’
This was crazy. Leo obviously had something he wanted to say privately, and it seemed to be bothering him. So much so that he was prepared to spend almost an hour driving needlessly around London.
She tugged at his sleeve. ‘I could do with some coffee first...’
He shot her a smile. ‘In that case... Jo, forget about the car. I’ll call them.’
‘Sure thing, Leo...’ Jo broke off and watched as Leo hustled her away.
* * *
It was beginning to snow outside, large flakes drifting past streetlights and car headlamps. Almost a picture book scene. Leo offered his arm and Alex took it, her gloved hand resting lightly on the inside of his elbow.
This was ridiculous. He talked about all kinds of intimate issues to all kinds of people for a good proportion of his time. Putting things clearly and without embarrassment was part of his job, and he was good at it.
They walked in silence for a few moments and then she held her free hand out, catching snowflakes in her palm. ‘First snow of the winter.’
‘Yeah.’
‘I like it when it’s like this. Fresh and clean, ready for my footprints...’
‘Me too.’ It occurred to Leo that she was trying to put him at his ease. That thought was even more confusing because that was usually his job as well.
He opened the main door to his apartment block, standing aside to let her go first. Smiling to the security guard, he escorted her to the lift.
When he ushered her into the lounge, she gasped, walking over to the window. ‘Oh, it’s beautiful, Leo. Is it always like this when it snows?’
‘Not always.’ The sky seemed almost luminous, a pinkish-white bank of cloud hovering over London. Large flakes of snow drifted past the window and, further away, the falling snow gleamed on the rooftops. Maybe he’d just never noticed it before.
