Page 29 of When We Are Old

Okay. Let’s not panic.

No really let’s.

The phone rang on my desk and through the glass partition of the office, Natalie waved at me to pick up.

“Yes?”

“Call from a sexy Scot.”

“That’s not professional. Liam Carling is a prospective clie—”

“Just putting him through.” She gave me a cheery wave through the glass.

I glared at her as I soothed, “Mr Carling?” down the line.

There was a pause. “Any chance you can say that in the bedroom? It’s got a nice ring to it.”

“Oh.” Air pushed out of my lungs. “Matthew.”

“You sound surprised.”

Really stupid panicked tears prickled my eyes. “I went to send you a message on Messenger, but you’d gone.”

Another pause. “Truth is I hate social media. I only set up an account to break the ice with you.”

I scrunched my face. My panic subsiding like a swell in a storm that petered before it hit land. “Your plan wasn’t very convincing by the way. Hi.” I chuckled, remembering his one-word message. Hi.

“I know. I’m a rude arsehole.”

“You never used to be. I don’t believe you really are.”

He gave a dry laugh. “I shall hope you continue to live with blind faith.”

“I don’t have your phone number.” I shifted in my seat trying to not let my inner demons stop me from speaking out. We’d pushed past this now. I had to keep pushing and never stop.

“I know. I realised about ten minutes ago, hence why I’m calling your office.” His voice rumbled on the line and I knew I’d never grow tired of hearing it. “Have you got a pen?”

Everyone knows the moment you are asked if you have a pen, they all disappear by magic.

“Bollocks.” I waved through the window and shouted, “Pen,” while covering the mouthpiece so I didn’t explode his eardrums to smithereens.

A dark shape moved by the reception door and Natalie grinned so wide she looked like she might pass out. I stared for a moment making sense of the view.

“What are you doing here?”

Matthew stretched out his arm and looked at his watch. “Taking you for lunch. I’ve got two hours until my flight back.”

“Wha—” my heard whirled. “You flew all this way just to take me to lunch?”

Behind where he stood in the doorway, Natalie resembled an overexcited child at a birthday party as she bounced her feet up and down.

Matthew didn’t take his eyes off my face. “The weekend seemed too far away.”

A heavy weight pressed on my chest. “Haven’t you got a business to get up and running?”

The glint in his eyes made my thighs ache again. “Told you. I need one on one time with my consultant.”

I stood from my chair and marched for the door, edging around his broad shape.