Page 26 of Hit For Six
‘I honestly thought she’d be more aloof. Wow.’
But Monty didn’t dare respond yet, and the next thing she knew, Squiffy was nudging his thigh with her ginger head. Monty let slip a nervous giggle.
‘I think we’re growing on each other,’ he finally chanced.
At this, Squiffy put a tentative paw on his lap, testing his thighs for paddability. Liking what she felt, she jumped up and started to circle for the best spot.
‘Okaaaaay. Easy, Tiger.’
Uh-oh. Lola had competition. Hang on. Why was she thinking that? She’d been an estate agent in a rush not five minutes ago. Estate agents didn’t throw themselves at their clients. This was fine. It was more than fine. Now she could go to Frankfurt and maybe even enjoy herself.
Slowly, Monty reached out his hand, barely touching Squiffy’s soft fur. The little minx was putty already. Only when she took a seat and elongated her paws beneath her so she couldrest her chin on them, did Monty decide it was safe to smooth her. Now Squiffy was purring so loudly, Lola could almost feel the vibrations through the floor. As wonderful and life-affirming as all of this was, it had created something of a situation.
Relaxed at last, Monty was looking extremely comfortable for somebody who’d called in to quickly run through a To-Do list. Lola placed his cup of tea on the kitchen table, wondering if it would be impolite to ask him when he planned to get to it. What other answer could he give her than ‘whenever this little fluffball decides to let me; I’m not in charge of my life anymore’?
Well, this was a complete one-off. Squiffy could think again about any ideas of Monty becoming a regular.
‘Anyway, now that you’re properly acquainted, I’m going to have to grab an early night,’ said Lola. ‘Let’s talk dietary and toilet habits. You can stay right there. I’ll give you a presentation.’
Making Monty feel like he’d prolonged his visit before he’d taken a sip of his tea was the last thing she wanted to do but it was best that she set firm boundaries. Lola was proud of herself for getting through these two unplanned encounters with him today without encouraging a move. Monty had been on her mind 24/7 since that kiss and all the sweet nothings he’d shared with her in the rain. She was stronger than she’d given herself credit. All she had to do now was rattle off an informative spiel, hold up an array of objects, explain their location in the apartment, hand him a spare set of keys and assure him that she’d talk to the grumpy neighbours in the top floor apartment so they didn’t think he was breaking in. Then they were done.
‘Sure,’ said Monty, a curious grin lighting up his face as Squiffy rearranged herself to cuddle into him and Lola tried not to feel envious. ‘And then I was wondering if you might do something to help me?’
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Monty
If you’d toldMonty this time last week that he’d be slow blinking at a cat as he counted its biscuits into a bowl, gradually opening his eyes to gaze into the marmalade madam’s striking green pools so she was in no doubt that he could be trusted, he would have belly laughed until he passed out. And yet, here he was, taking domestication to new levels and feeling rather proud of himself.
It helped to make up for the disappointment that nothing else had developed between himself and Lola, anyway. It wasn’t for lack of trying. But every time Monty attempted to give her a certain look, she’d quickly turn away and every time he went to woo her, she’d deftly change the subject, turn it into a joke, or quip sarcastically. And Monty knew that he needed more than friendship with Lola if she was to become a constant in his life. Friends to lovers might be a film and book phenomenon that worked on screen and page. Mediums where romantic stories could be gobbled up in a matter of hours. But this was the real world, where he’d fallen for Lola in practically the same timeframe, and he was far too impulsive to wait.
That’s why he played T20 and not the long, drawn out game of test cricket. Even a One Day International was akin to watching paint dry for Monty. Yes, as a fellow cricketer he admired the skill when those occasional sixes or fours came along, and he could appreciate the discipline that was patience. But he couldn’t be cautious if he tried. When opportunity came his way, he liked to grab it with both hands. He was already beginning to suspect this was a result of all the restrictions setupon him as a child. He’d learnt so many things about himself in these few days that he’d known Lola.
After breakfast at Roly Poly, he’d gone in for a kiss cheek, only to be presented with Lola’s outstretched hand and her supercilious grin. But maybe that was best, even if he could still feel the tingles from their shake hours later. If he’d gotten too loved-up, he’d have floated into the meeting with London and Will Curtis and given them both a full on snog.
Once the contract formalities were over, the press had arrived to take photos. There would never usually be this much pomp but Seth and Sanjay had signed on the dotted line right after Monty, and London thought his personal hattrick was deserving of a write up in some of the national papers. It was flattering to be the centre of attention, however Monty would have preferred for this to happen when he was looking less haggard. He bargained with everyone that he’d only take off his cap if the eye bags could be airbrushed away. Now he had to hope they’d kept their word.
Another thing he was hopeful for was sleep. And maybe (just maybe) by offering to look after Squiffy, he’d inadvertently created another date opportunity. Lola had given him a tentative yes to his proposal without even realising what it involved. Which meant he had one more (and probably last, unless she found a future cat sitter) chance to impress her.
No pressure.
Squiffy cleared her bowl and Monty was about to tidy up, when his phone vibrated against his arse. Fishing his mobile out of his back pocket, and hoping that it might be Lola telling him how much she missed him, he let out an exasperated sigh when he saw his mother’s number flash across the screen. But he couldn’t continue putting Helena off, especially when he’d been absent from the office. Tongues would already be wagging and he needed to do what he could to build bridges and reinstate asense of harmony in both his family and work life. Completely overlooking the fact that he should have handed in his notice by now as far as the business was concerned.
‘Darling! I’ve finally caught you. What an elusive man you are! But I–we– just wanted to say a huge congratulations.’
‘Erm… hi, Mum. The news is out already?’
‘A little bird saw the announcement on social media, which you know I don’t particularly approve of, but in this instance…’ That would be Saskia. His sister was glued to her phone in-between playing taxi to Roddie and his older brother and sister, Archie and Charlotte, who were ferried about to all manner of extra-curricular activities– piano, French lessons and riding meeting with their grandmother’s wholehearted approval. ‘Anyway, well done to you and your teammates. If there are future fixtures in Paris, Madrid or Rome, do let me know, I feel a European cultural city break coming on.’
‘Will do.’
His mother had always been typically two-birds-with-one-stone about watching him play T20 in the flesh, alleviating her disappointment with a more civilized tonic. It sounded as if he’d been given a glow up in the papers, at least. She’d be the first one to comment on an unkempt photo.
‘So, your father and I are off to the summer house in Provence at the end of next week. One final holiday before the season is over. The Cotswold house staff are taking their annual leave and I was wondering if you wouldn’t mind calling in every other day to water the plants. Stay away from the orchids, though.’
At this, Monty had to let out a chuckle, recalling the time he’d pulled the snowy white petals from his mother’s favourite flowers, stuffing them in the drawers of the antique dresser and trying to pin the blame on his sisters. Hmm, perhaps Helena still held a grudge and that was why he so often found himselffrowned upon. And ha, so this was the reason his mother had called. Always a thinly veiled agenda. She hadn’t as much as asked him about his new training schedule. He could only just commit. One week later and he’d be in the grips of a full-on fitness regime.
‘Sure. Saybonjourto France for me.’
