Page 9 of All Mine
‘Not that you’re counting!’
‘I guess it’s like a palate cleanser between courses?’ Rosie suggested. ‘Give yourself a bit of time to get over the bad taste left by the last one?’
Isabella laughed and shrugged.
‘It’s that and it’s the fact I want to prove to him that I can do this on my own. I can be single and successful. I don’t need anyone else.’
‘But I guess you own a good vibrator.’ Wren wasn’t asking a question. It was a statement of fact.
‘Several,’ Isabella agreed and all three women nodded.
‘So, have you not seen anything to tempt you since you got here?’ Wren asked, still in disbelief.
Isabella thought of the way she’d felt as Etienne’s eyes burned into her yesterday.
‘No.’ She shook her head. ‘But I’ve hardly had time to venture past the supermarket and the DIY store.’
‘Well, you never know, you might find some of the men in Honeybridge are irresistible.’
‘No, thank you. Not until after my year is up and this restaurant is open.’
‘We’ll see,’ Wren said, lifting herself off the sofa and helping Rosie up afterwards. ‘We’d better be off.’
‘Now that we’ve drunk all your wine! Sorry about that!’ Rosie said, not looking sorry in the slightest. In fact, looking happy and mildly drunk.
Wren handed her phone over. ‘Pop your number in for me. I’ll set up a WhatsApp group.’
Rosie hiccupped. ‘And you’ll love our friend Amber. She only moved here a year or so ago too. We normally go to The Bolthole every few weeks if you fancy it?’
Isabella did.
After the front door had closed, Isabella picked up her phone.
Mia Famiglia WhatsApp group
Isabella: I made some new friends!
Papà: Great! Who?
Isabella: Rosie and Wren. They run the local bookshop.
Papà: Other local businesswomen! A great start.
Isabella: They wrought bine with them.
Mamma: Do you mean brought wine?
Isabella: Yes. They’re lovely!
Mamma: Drink some water, Isabella. Have you eaten?
Isabella: Don’t worry, Mamma.
She licked the empty packet of crisps as she went to bed.
Chapter Four
Etienne
