Page 10 of The Temp

‘I’ll see you on Monday, then, Bella. Bye, Mr Harris,’ she calls out over her shoulder. Tom appears next to me on the doorstep, refill in hand. Slipping his arm around my waist, he nestles his head on my shoulder.

‘Did I hear right, is she sleeping in the car? he asks as Daisy walks down the path.

‘Afraid so.’

‘So, she’s homeless?’

‘Yeah,’ I say, then I look at him and our eyes lock. ‘Are you thinking what I’m thinking?’

‘Just until she gets on her feet. We’ve plenty of room.’

I race to the end of the driveway. ‘Daisy, wait.’

Chapter 8

Linda sprinkles mozzarella cheese on the herby mushrooms while I arrange the lemon drizzle cake on a glass stand, which she told me she bought from Ikea, especially for tonight. The dining table looks stunning, with glistening crystal glasses, gleaming cutlery and gold-coloured tableware adorning a crisp white tablecloth with matching napkins, and there’s a huge vase of fresh purple tulips on the sideboard. She’s certainly pulled out all the stops for this evening.

‘Help yourself to some wine,’ Linda says as she prepares the starters at the worktop next to me.

Helping myself to a glass of Merlot, I glance out of the window. Theo is showing off his new summerhouse to Zelda and Keiko, and Tom is making his way along the path to join them, hands in pockets. I suddenly feel a bit jittery about meeting Keiko. I really want this relationship to work out for my sister. There are so many dodgy men out there. I shudder at the thought of Frank. You really never know what someone’s like, or could be hiding. Zelda hasn’t been lucky in love. Apart from Jake, all those years ago, her only other true love was Chris, her ex-married lover, and I think that’s because he looked so much like Jake. The image of Jake sends a shockwave through me. So beautiful, so young.

‘These won’t take long,’ Linda says, wiping her hands on her white chef’s apron, which she’s wearing over black skinny jeans and a khaki blouse with a gold flower print, matching her blonde, cropped, afro hair. Linda is a natural beauty. Men, and some women, can’t keep their eyes off her whenever we go out. ‘We’ll call them in in ten. How’re you anyway, and why are you dressed like Karren Brady?’

I glance down at my blue Hobbs suit and pale pink tie-neck blouse. ‘I’ve had a shit day. Didn’t have time to change.’

‘You need another one of those.’ Linda gestures at my almost empty glass and I nod, drain my glass, while Linda unscrews the cap off the wine bottle. ‘Come on, tell Auntie Linda all about it. You look amazing, by the way.’ She fills my glass to the brim. ‘You need to give me your PT’s number.’

‘I’ve quit the gym,’ I blurt, shooting a look at Tom in the summerhouse, who has just thrown his head back and taken a gulp from a bottle of beer. I’m going to have to carry him home tonight. ‘Cancelled my membership online on Wednesday.’

‘What? I thought you loved it there,’ Linda says, astonished, ‘said it was unpretentious.’

‘I did, but I had no choice.’

Linda goes to take a sip of wine but stops midway. ‘No choice?’

‘He. Frank. My personal trainer. Got a bit fresh with me.’

‘No Way!’

‘Yes way.’

‘What did he do, try to kiss you?’

I nod furiously, then take a large gulp of wine. ‘I lost my balance during a stretch after a Muay Thai lesson, he grabbed me to break the fall. When I looked up to thank him, he had that dreamy, lustful look in his eye, then he went for my lips. I was so shocked. I really didn’t see it coming.’

‘Fucking hell. What did you do?’

‘Pulled away, of course,’ I exclaim. ‘I almost got whiplash.’

Linda blows out air, cheeks puffed ‘Well, I hope he’s been sacked.’

‘I didn’t report it,’ I reply briskly. I dart a glance at Tom again – he’s safely engrossed in a conversation with my sister.

‘Why not? I’m sure there are rules about stuff like that.’ Linda takes another mouthful of wine.

‘I couldn’t report him,’ I say irritably, suddenly feeling hot. ‘I didn’t want any comebacks.’ Shrugging out of my jacket, I drape it over a bar stool at the breakfast table. ‘We’d got quite friendly and I told him stuff that I probably shouldn’t have,’ I explain, not meeting her eye. ‘Anyway, he just tried his luck. Probably thought I fancied him. Most of the women do.’

Linda raises an eyebrow and offers me an olive from a small white bowl. I shake my head, my appetite gone, and she pops one into her mouth.

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