Page 15 of All Mine
‘We’ll try our best, darling, but it’s tricky. Our route means we’ll be very rural at that time.’
They chatted shop for a while, and Isabella mentioned the need to start sourcing suppliers.
‘Is there not someone that could help you with that, darling?’
‘It’s okay, Mamma. I can do it.’
‘I know youcando it,’ her mum said. ‘But everyone needs a bit of help sometimes, you know.’
Isabella hummed in agreement to appease her mum without any intention of complying. She didn’t need any help. She wanted to do it all herself. Then Tutto Mio really would feel like it was ‘all hers’. After a moment, Isabella blew kisses and promised to speak the next day.
As she pocketed her phone, she watched as the front door of The Bistro opened. A woman came out, a blonde with a pixie cut. Trendy vibes. The stranger lingered in the doorway, adjusting her bag on her shoulder. Etienne came out after her. Bit early for a business meeting, she would have thought. He leaned casually against the door frame while they spoke. They laughed, then the woman leaned forward to kiss Etienne on the cheek and walked away. Isabella could tell by the way the woman was walking she was desperate to turn back and look over her shoulder but wouldn’t let herself.
Isabella studied Etienne, still leaning against the door jamb. Only when the woman turned onto the high street did Etienne head back inside. Isabella had the feeling the woman might have rubbed more than his hand. And for some reason that pissed her off.
Girl Gang WhatsApp group
Wren: Amber needs a night out.
Isabella: Who’s Amber?
Rosie: She rocks. You’ll love her.
Wren: The Bolthole on Thursday? We’ve swapped baby daddy nights with Toby.
Isabella: I’m in. Dress code?
Wren: Isabella, you could wear a sack and still look gorgeous.
Chapter Eight
Etienne
When Samantha turned onto the high street, Etienne let out a long sigh. He’d never had a night like it. Shaking his head at himself, he turned to head back inside.
Mile End Mickey was prepping in the kitchen, the radio blasting, so Etienne started to sort the bar for the day. There were several trays full of glasses to be polished and hung. He picked up a cloth and got to work, letting his mind run back over the night before.
It all started innocently enough. Samantha and he had matched on an app. Determined to end his dry spell, he’d messaged her. Their chat had been great, flirty and surprisingly funny, and he knew he was off to a good start.
They’d arranged to meet for a drink in town. The bar was noisy and had a younger crowd, one of his normal venues for a date or a hook-up. Samantha was lovely. Perched on her stool, she made sure to put her hand on his forearm when talking or nudge his thigh with her knee when she leaned in close to listen. She licked her lips after sipping her drink, her pink tongue glistening. Everything was going in the right direction.
A bottle of wine later, she was coming back to his, for one reason and one reason only. She’d expressly said so in the bar. And he didn’t need asking twice.
It was when they got back to his flat above the restaurant that things started to get weird.
‘You all right, mate?’ Mickey asked, jolting him back to the present. He held a tiny espresso cup in his hand and was peering at him over the bar. ‘Looking a bit peaky.’
Etienne ran his hands through his hair.
‘Late night, that’s all.’
Mickey sipped, then winked.
‘Saw you showing the lady out this morning.’
Etienne grimaced but tried to turn it into a grin.
‘Another in the long line of one-night stands?’ Mickey said. ‘I don’t know how you do it, mate.’
