Page 114 of All Mine
‘What are you doing here?’ she asked.
‘Um, eating?’ Daniel said hopefully, trying to make everything a joke. As always. He peered past her into the restaurant. ‘Looks amazing, Issy.’ Something inside her hardened. How dare he think he had the right to turn up here on her opening day and call her by old nicknames?
‘I don’t have your booking here,’ she said brusquely, scanning the list.
‘I booked under Mr Daniels,’ he said with that bloody annoying look again which made her want to smack him. Sure enough, there it was. Table for two. Nine thirty.
She selected two menus.
‘This way,’ she said and didn’t look back as she led him to a corner table, the only one empty in the entire room. She pulled his chair out for him and he paused for a moment, unsure as to their changed dynamic, with her in control. He sat.
‘Table for two?’ she said stiffly, placing the menus on the table. ‘Are you waiting for someone?’
‘Yes,’ he said. The sheepish smile finally dropped and suddenly his face was lit by something else entirely. He raised his eyebrows in a question. ‘You.’
Chapter Sixty-Four
Etienne
Etienne had seen the steady stream of diners heading across the square since lunchtime and had felt ridiculously happy for Isabella. His own restaurant was still full, showing there was plenty of opportunity for both of them. He found himself craning his neck for a glimpse of her across the square several times during the day, but she’d be busy, and so was he, with a group booking of a French family reunion who told him The Bistro was a true taste of home. He’d smiled to himself and promised to pass it on to the chef– though he didn’t tell them the chef was a larger-than-life cockney who’d never been across the Channel.
By the time the last customer paid, he was aching to see her. Fred Barrow was already in bed and Mile End Mickey had closed the kitchen and gone. She hadn’t texted ‘come over’ yet but he couldn’t wait any longer. He did the quickest close down ever and turned off the lights. All he could think of was seeing her, hearing about her first day, and then taking off her clothes, one by one by one. His cock twitched at the thought. She was a drug and he couldn’t get enough of her. All of a sudden, he understood Alex, the addiction, the compulsion to do something again and again and again. Because he was well and truly addicted to Isabella. He wanted to be with her every second possible. He tucked his chin into his coat collar and set off.
The square was dark and quiet as Etienne crossed. The fireworks were over. The clock chimed midnight and he couldn’t believe it had been less than a day since he’d seen her but he missed her this much. He knew what it meant. He loved her. He’d never known the feeling before, this deep certainty, the warmth, the glow. But he recognised it as though he’d been waiting for it his whole life. He loved her. And he wanted to tell her tonight.
Tutto Mio’s main lights were off but there was still enough glow to see in from outside as he got closer. The dining room was empty, the team had gone home. As he neared the front window, he caught sight of a candle burning in the corner and smiled at the thought of Isabella sitting there waiting for him.
She was there. But she wasn’t alone. Etienne slowed, trying to work out what he was seeing.
Isabella sat opposite a man at the table, who had his head in his hands. There was a strange kind of intensity between them. Etienne had stumbled into the middle of something, he knew it. Isabella spoke; the man shook his head, without lifting it. Isabella shut her eyes and rubbed the spot between them as though thinking, before standing, putting a hand under the man’s arm and pulling him up from his seat.
Etienne saw the man’s face then, saw his floppy hair and knew who it was immediately. His chest sank but he couldn’t tear his eyes away as Daniel stumbled forward and wrapped his arms around Isabella.
Unable to help himself, Etienne stepped closer, not wanting to see but needing a clearer view.
Isabella disentangled herself and he felt a leap of hope. But then she secured her arm around Daniel’s waist, leading him across the restaurant to the stairs up to the flat. Daniel encircled her shoulders, leaning against her.
Etienne put a hand to his chest and watched as the door closed behind them on their way upstairs, before turning to walk away.
Chapter Sixty-Five
Isabella
Daniel was snoring when Isabella woke up.
She must have passed out, because she couldn’t remember falling asleep. But after the excitement of the day and then the emotion of the night, plus a couple of large glasses of wine while they were talking, it was hardly surprising.
But now, hearing him snoring through the wall from his bed on the sofa, she wanted him up and out as soon as possible. He wouldn’t have had to stay at all if he’d not sunk a couple of bottles of wine and then told her he was driving home.
Still wearing her shortie pyjamas, she pulled her hair into a sort-of bun and padded through to the living room to wake Daniel up. She had things to do. In fact, she had people to do. A thrill ran through her like a current at the thought. Having to postpone Etienne last night was the last thing she wanted to do, but it would have been impossible to relax with her ex-husband on the sofa. She hoped he’d understand. She’d call him as soon as Daniel had left.
Daniel rubbed his eyes like a small boy and stretched and Isabella felt nothing apart from impatient for him to leave. He scratched at his chin, and she couldn’t help but compare his patchy attempts to Etienne’s gorgeous stubble.
Eventually, he was ready and she escorted him to the door, to hurry him up more than anything.
The square was quiet and empty, as usual on a Sunday morning. The only sound was from the church bells in the distance. November air nipped her skin and she shivered on the doorstep.
‘Thanks again, Issy,’ he said. His eyes were bloodshot, and his floppy fringe looked lank. ‘It was good to clear the air.’
