Part 29 (1/2)

'Yes,' I say, and surrept.i.tiously scan the crowded lawn, searching for Jack.

'It's someone at work, isn't it?' Connor suddenly says, and my stomach gives a small plunge.

'Why do you say that?' I say lightly.

'That's why you won't tell me who it is.'

'It's not that! It's just ... look, Connor, can't you just respect my privacy?'

'I think I have a right to know who I've been dumped for.' He shoots me a reproachful look.

'No you don't!' I retort, then realize that sounds a bit mean. 'I just don't think it's very helpful to discuss it.'

'Well, I'll work it out.' His jaw sets grimly. 'It won't take me long.'

'Connor, please. I really don't think-'

'Emma, I'm not stupid.' He gives me an appraising look. 'I know you a lot better than you think I do.'

I feel a flicker of uncertainty. Maybe I've und,erestimated Connor all this time. Maybe he does know me. Oh G.o.d. What if he guesses?

I start to slice up a lemon, constantly scanning the crowd. Where is Jack, anyway?

'I've got it,' says Connor suddenly, and I look up to see him staring at me triumphantly. 'It's Paul, isn't it?'

'What?' I gape back at him, wanting to laugh. 'No, it's not Paul! Why on earth should you think it was Paul?'

'You keep looking at him.' He gestures to where Paul is standing nearby, moodily swigging a bottle of beer. 'Every two minutes!'

'I'm not looking at him,' I say hurriedly. 'I'm just looking at ... I'm just taking in the atmosphere.'

'So why is he hanging around here?'

'He's not! Honestly, Connor, take it from me, I'm not going out with Paul.'

'You think I'm a fool, don't you?' says Connor with a flash of anger.

'I don't think you're a fool! I just ... I think this is a pointless exercise. You're never going to-'

'Is it Nick?' His eyes narrow. 'You and he have always had a bit of a spark going.'

'No!' I say impatiently. 'It's not Nick.'

Honestly. Clandestine affairs are hard enough as it is, without your ex-boyfriend subjecting you to the third degree. I should never have agreed to do this stupid Pimm's stall.

'Oh my G.o.d,' Connor says in a lowered voice. 'Look.'

I look up, and my stomach gives an enormous lurch. Jack is walking over the gra.s.s towards us, dressed as a cowboy, with leather chaps and a checked s.h.i.+rt and a proper cowboy hat.

He looks so completely and utterly s.e.xy, I feel quite faint.

'He's coming this way!' hisses Connor. 'Quick! Tidy up that lemon peel. h.e.l.lo, sir,' he says in a louder voice. 'Would you like a gla.s.s of Pimm's?'

'Thank you very much, Connor,' says Jack with a smile. Then he looks at me. 'h.e.l.lo, Emma. Enjoying the day?'

'h.e.l.lo,' I say, my voice about six notches higher than usual. 'Yes, it's ... lovely!' With trembling hands I pour out a gla.s.s of Pimm's and give it to him.

'Emma! You forgot the mint!' says Connor.

'It doesn't matter about the mint,' says Jack, his eyes fixed on mine.

'You can have some mint if you want it,' I say, gazing back.

'It looks fine just the way it is.' His eyes give a tiny flash, and he takes a deep gulp of Pimm's.

This is so unreal. We can't keep our eyes off each other. Surely it's completely obvious to everyone else what's going on? Surely Connor must realize? Quickly I look away and pretend to be busying myself with the ice.

'So, Emma,' says Jack casually. 'Just to talk work briefly. That extra typing a.s.signment I asked you about. The Leopold file.'

'Er yes?' I say, fl.u.s.teredly dropping an ice-cube onto the counter.

'Perhaps we could have a quick word about it before I go?' He meets my eyes. 'I have a suite of rooms up at the house.'

'Right,' I say, my heart pounding. 'OK.'

'Say ... one o'clock?'

'One o'clock it is.'

He saunters off, holding his gla.s.s of Pimm's, and I stand staring after him, dripping an ice-cube onto the gra.s.s.

A suite of rooms. That can only mean one thing.

Jack and I are going to have s.e.x.

And suddenly, with no warning, I feel really, really nervous.

'I've been so stupid!' exclaims Connor, abruptly putting down his knife. 'I've been so blind.' He turns to face me, his eyes burning blue. 'Emma, I know who your new man is.'

I feel a huge spasm of fear.

'No you don't,' I say quickly. 'Connor, you don't know who it is. Actually, it's not anyone from work. I just made that up. It's this guy who lives over in west London, you've never met him, his name is ... um ... Gary, he works as a postman.'

'Don't lie to me! I know exactly who it is.' He folds his arms and gives me a long, penetrating look. 'It's Tristan from Design, isn't it?'

As soon as our stint on the stall is up, I escape from Connor and go and sit under a tree with a gla.s.s of Pimm's, glancing at my watch every two minutes. I can't quite believe how nervous I am about this. Maybe Jack knows loads of tricks. Maybe he'll expect me to be really sophisticated. Maybe he'll expect all kinds of amazing manoeuvres that I've never even heard of.

I mean ... I don't think I'm bad at s.e.x.