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She made herself a cup of soup, climbed into bed with a really good book, set her alarm and determinedly tried not to think about it.
For about ten seconds!
Why didn’t they ever go out locally!
Why did it have to be like some sort of covert operation just to have a private conversation at work?
Draining her cup, Annie turned back to her book and made it to the end of page two.
Just because Candy had rung him this evening, it didn’t mean he was dashing off to see her. And he’d hardly been dashing off—his shift should have ended two hours before he’d left.
Turning off the light, she gave up.
Gave up trying to convince herself she knew the answers and gave up asking herself questions.
It was just so much easier to believe him.
Chapter 10
‘Doyouthink anyone at work knows?’ Melanie asked, sitting at Annie’s laden dressing-table and dragging ceramic hair straighteners through her hair.
‘Knows what?’ Annie said nervously.
‘About me and George, of course.’
‘I’m not sure,’ Annie lied, buzzing her latest contraption along her shins and biting on her lip as yet another guaranteed pain-free hair removal system failed to deliver. ‘Though you two don’t exactly try to keep it quiet!’
‘Why would we?’ Melanie blinked at Annie in the mirror. ‘I mean, we’re not exactly broadcasting the fact that we’re a couple, but there’s no crime against it. Why on earth would we keep it quiet?’
‘I don’t know.’ Annie shrugged. ‘I guess if you break up, things could get awkward...’
‘Oh, please!’ Melanie rolled her eyes. ‘As if there aren’t half a million exes working side by side at the hospital. I’m sure we could manage to remain civil if we ever broke up!’
‘I guess,’ Annie said casually, but Melanie’s words were biting. WhydidIosef insist on keeping thing so secret? Why couldn’t she be sitting on the bed, gossiping to Melanie about the man who made her heart flip? ‘But some people just like to keep their work and personal lives separate, I suppose.’ Only Melanie wasn’t listening. Bored with doing her hair, now she was trying on lipstick as she rattled on about the fabulous George!
‘He’s so impulsive. We were at the shops the other day, just to grab some supplies, and next thing I know we’re in a travel agent’s. He wants to go to Queensland for a long weekend! I’m going to ask Cheryl if I can swap my days off.’
‘Sounds great!’
‘I know.’ Melanie giggled. ‘You know, he’s fantastic—I mean, I know he’s not spectacular to look at...’
‘He’s lovely!’ Annie wailed.
‘I know he is,’ Melanie countered, ‘but...’ She gave a shrug. ‘I can be me with him. Imagine being that Candy.’
‘Candy?’ Annie tried to sound casual, grateful she could concentrate on the diversion of her legs and didn’t have to meet her friend’s eyes.
‘Iosef’s girlfriend,’ Melanie carried on. ‘Imagine trying to hold ontothat!’
‘I don’t think they’re together any more,’ Annie attempted. ‘I mean, I haven’t seen her around lately.’
‘She’s probably at a health farm.’ Melanie giggled again. ‘Or having a few hundred units of line fillers and Botox squeezed into her face so she can stay gorgeous for him!’
‘I don’t think Iosef’s like that.’ The temptation to talk about him was too much, the need for insight, even if it was misguided, too much to pass up. ‘He’s nothing like the rest of the Kolovskys. He’s worked in Russia for the last few years and did a lot of voluntary work, too—with troubled kids. I really don’t think he’s that superficial—he just doesn’t seem into all that, if you ask me. I’m sure he wouldn’t give two hoots what a woman looked like! ’
‘Please!’ Melanie was really laughing now. ‘Youknowthat’s utter bilge. Oh, we can all say the PC things, that looks don’t matter, etc., but I defy any woman to date a guy like Iosef Kolovsky andnotbe intimidated by all the supermodels that have come and gone. I mean, he’s beautiful to look at and everything, but give me George any day. Who needs that sort of pressure?’ Seeing Annie’s agonized expression, her voice trailed off. ‘Hey, are you OK, Annie? Did I say something wrong?’
‘No, it’s just this stupid shaving thing.’ Annie forced a smile but struggled to hold it. ‘It really hurts.’
