her eyes before she got out of the car.
âAm I too early?â Evan stood by his car. She felt his gaze take in her formal attire. âYou look very smart.â
âThank you. Iâm sorry, I got held up at my appointment. The traffic was awful. Do you mind if I go in and change? Iâll feel a bit overdressed otherwise.â
âYou look fine to me, but go ahead. Weâve got plenty of time before the first appointment.â He smiled at her, and for the first time that day her spirits lifted.
âI promise I wonât take long.â She pulled her house key from her bag and led the way to her front door.
âI thought we could get some lunch on our way to the first house.â He stepped into the hall behind her.
âFine.â She was very aware of his proximity and moved away quickly down the hall, talking as she walked to cover her nerves. âHow many appointments have you made?â She hung her scarf on the coat hook and carried on through into the kitchen.
âIâve three booked. Two look promising. The third one is a bit of a long shot. I didnât find it through the agency. Actually, Jerome recommended it.â Evan leaned on the kitchen doorframe and watched her as she opened the fridge.
âWould you like a drink while youâre waiting?â Her hand shook as she reached for the juice carton. She hoped he couldnât see it.
âIâm fine, thanks.â
âAre they all near town?â She spilled droplets of orange on the countertop as she poured some juice into a glass. Her nerves felt shot to pieces after her appointment, and being so close to Evan in a small space wasnât helping.
âFairly near. I had to think about Pollyâs school.â
Nathalie was aware of his dark blue gaze levelled on her as she took a welcome drink of the cooling juice. All of her senses were on red alert. âGreat, Iâll nip upstairs and get changed. I wonât be long.â
âIâll wait right here.â He stepped back from the doorway to allow her through.
She scooted past, giving him a wide berth as she went by. Nathalie thought she saw the hint of smile on his lips as she headed for the stairs.
Once safe inside her room, she took another long draught from her glass and turned to her wardrobe. She caught a glimpse of her reflection in the mirrored door and was surprised to see two feverish spots of colour high on her cheekbones.
âThis is ridiculous!â Nathalie pulled a pair of jeans and a warm sweater from the cupboard and changed in a hurry. Before she returned downstairs, she took a moment to refresh her makeup and tidy her hair, relieved to see her colour had settled back to a more normal tone.
As she entered the kitchen, Evan turned round from his position by the window. âI was admiring your garden and watching your cat.â He nodded his head toward the window. Nathalie followed his gaze and saw Min stalking a long-dead leaf across the emerald surface of the small lawn.
âMin, the scourge of leaves everywhere.â She smiled.
Evan looked thoughtful. âPolly wants a pet. Sheâd like a pony, but because of her asthma, Iâve been a bit wary of letting her get too close to animals.â
âWhat does her consultant say?â
âHeâs left it up to me. Polly doesnât have an allergy to animals, at least not one that weâre aware of. Iâm just a bit overprotective, I suppose.â
âI can understand that.â Nathalie watched Min pounce on her prey.
âWell, weâd better leave if weâre going to get lunch before the first appointment. Iâve got the agentsâ details in the car for you to see.â
****
Evan watched Nathalie discreetly from his position at the counter while he waited to place their food order. The café was busy, considering it was the middle of the week, and as soon as a table had become free, he had insisted Nathalie
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