Page 14 of One Hollywood Sunset

She looked at him. Jonny Sanders. Who was this man stood before her? He’d let her down before. Could she trust him with a project that meant so much?

‘Freya, I mean what I say. No hidden agendas,’ he reiterated.

She nodded. ‘Well then, I think it’s an amazing idea. I mean, here would be a perfect location and…’

‘Can we be friends?’ he interrupted.

‘Look, this is all very weird, Jonny. It’s been so many years and I’ve tried so hard to put that life behind me, I don’t…’ she started.

‘It would mean a lot to me. I know what I did was wrong and I can only put it down to being a stupid teenage… “dirtbag” I think is the term over here,’ he spoke.

He looked sorry. He looked genuine. What he was offering was more than she dared to believe.

‘How much is all this going to cost your company?’ she asked.

‘I have no idea and… who cares?’ He smiled and shrugged his shoulders.

‘Come here then, friend. Have a hug.’ She opened her arms to him.

He put his arms around her and held her tightly against him.

‘This hug feels good,’ he admitted.

‘Yes, it does.’

It also felt truly awkward and was bringing back so many memories of the past. She let him go and stepped away, straightening her top. She hugged her arms around herself, trying to stave off the winter wind.

‘Well, let’s head back to Exposure and we can make an appointment for you to start photographing the Recuperations,’ he suggested.

‘I haven’t agreed to that yet. And as far as I can remember, most of the buildings are really ugly,’ Freya said, screwing up her face.

‘Cost was taken into account when they were designed but we do offer you a choice from ten different textures of pillows,’ Jonathan reminded her.

‘And five different coloured bath robes,’ Freya added.

‘You really have stayed in one.’

‘We were very desperate at the time, but I do still have the red bathrobe.’

‘The red ones are in short supply. A popular colour with the clients that want to take a souvenir home with them,’ he teased.

‘What are you insinuating?’

‘Absolutely nothing. I wouldn’t dare.’

6

When Freya arrived home that evening, Nicholas was sat in the garden, his back to the house, reading through a script. Freya crept out of the patio doors and walked on tiptoes towards him, hoping to catch him by surprise. It was only when she was caught by a gust of icy wind she saw he was wearing a sweater and perhaps she should have thought about a coat.

‘You would never make it as an assassin,’ he said as Freya stopped just behind his chair.

‘Oh, how did you know I was there?’ Freya asked, disappointed.

‘Did you not see Willis climb out of the tree licking his mouth at the prospect of Mommy arriving home to feed him treats? Here he comes now. Hey, boy, you ruined Mommy’s surprise.’

Willis nuzzled his hand and then weaved in and out of Freya’s legs.

‘I told you he was clever and it’s Mummy! He isn’t bilingual, you know. He recognises English, not American. Anyway, have you had a good day? You’re tired, aren’t you? Hallmark channel a bit emotionally draining?’ Freya asked, kissing him on the lips then sitting in the chair opposite him. She could have done with a blanket.

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