Page 121 of Shout Out To My Ex

‘I promise I’ll make it up to you,’ he says.

‘I’d like that.’

His gaze falls away and he suddenly seems shy. I stop laughing.

‘What?’ I ask softly, trailing my fingertips down his cheek.

‘It’s just… you know.’

‘Oh right, yes.’ I expel a sigh. ‘I suppose we need to find out what their plan is. Like you said, they’re professionals and it’s their job to help us out of this mess.’

He chuckles. ‘Well, yes,that, but I meant…’ He catches his bottom lip between his teeth, then releases it and I finally understand.

‘Oh, right – that!’

‘Yes, that.’

‘Mmm. So…’ I grin at him.

‘God, woman, now you’re just torturing me on purpose.’ He drops his hands from the small of my back and starts to pull away.

‘No, wait,’ I say, clasping his chin between my fingers. I look him square in the eye. ‘I love you too, Leo Jones.’

He sighs, his eyes closing for a moment, and when they open, they’re glossed with tears. I really cannot believe that minutes ago I was going to end things – what a muppet.

‘I just need to catch my breath for a sec,’ he says, holding me tightly. I lean my cheek against his chest, listening to his heartbeat again, only this time, I’m not sad or afraid.

I’m in love.

I know that now. I am totally and utterly in love with Leo Jones and, even with everything else that’s going on, it’s so much sweeter the second time around.

36

POPPY

‘What’s going on in there?’ Paloma asks, stepping up beside me. I could pretend I have X-ray vision and retort like a smart-arse, but I don’t.

‘What Ihopeis happening is that Leo is convincing Elle to stick this out.’

Paloma looks at me, horrified. ‘You really think she’d call it off? The relationship, everything?’

‘Based solely on the past fifteen minutes? Unfortunately, yes.’

‘Well, bollocks,’ says Paloma, being uncharacteristically common. ‘I’ve become quite invested in these two.’

‘Really?’ The word is out of my mouth before I can temper my amazement.

‘Do you really think I’d work at a matchmaking agency if I didn’t champion our clients’ love stories?’ she asks, a smile twitching at the corners of her mouth.

‘Sorry,’ I say. And I am. Paloma and I may have been colleagues for five years, but this is the first time we’ve actually worked together on a case. I’ve clearly underestimated how much she cares about what we do here.

She shrugs. ‘It’s all right. With Sask being “The Swan” – always serene and magnanimous – I’ve had to be the tough one. Perhaps that makes me “The Crow”.’

If I were drinking something, this would be a spit-take moment.

‘Wait, so you know the rest of us call her “The Swan”?’ I don’t dare evenmention‘The Crow’ comment, but wait until I tell the others! George may wet himself.

Paloma’s laugh is low and throaty. ‘Of course, and so does she.’ She laughs again, louder this time. ‘Your face, Poppy.’

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