Playing for Keeps: A fun, flirty romantic comedy perfect for summer reading. Rosa Temple

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СКАЧАТЬ ‘I thought I could practise on the cat.’ She looked under the other sofa. ‘But the cat hates me. Look.’ She raised the bottoms of her wide-legged sweat pants. There were long, pink scratches on her lily-white legs. I shuffled as far back into the chair as I could.

      ‘Not one to put a negative spin on things, Anya, but I don’t think a wild pussy is going to help you become a good mother.’

      ‘That cat only turned crazy since I brought it home. It was cute as anything at the shop. You see, the cat hates me. It threw up the Purina I bought and runs to the other end of the house if it sees me.’

      ‘Oh, Anya.’ I got up and walked her out of the lounge, closing the door firmly behind us. We went into the dining room and sat on the chaise longue by the French windows.

      The gardener was out pruning roses at the far end of the garden. Anya slumped forward, her hair falling over her face. I pulled the long, dark strands away and leaned towards her.

      ‘I think it’s great you left the house to buy a cat, Anya. That’s progress. I was beginning to think you were becoming a recluse.’

      ‘Actually,’ she sighed, turning just her big eyes to me. ‘I didn’t go out to buy the cat. That vos Heather, my manager. She turned up at the front door vith it, holding it in her arms. The cat took von look at me, screeched and legged it into the boot room. I’m a horrible person. All the things people say about me: cold, icy, aloof. It’s all true. The cat sees it and the baby… I can’t do it, Madge. I’m going to call an adoption agency.’

      ‘No, you’re not.’ I sprang to my feet and pulled Anya to standing. ‘Don’t flake out on me. I need you, Anya. I’ve got so much I need to organise to get this new shop up and running and you’re a vital part of all of it.’

      She looked down at her feet, pouting like a hormonal teen.

      ‘You’re just saying that to make me feel better.’

      ‘Don’t flatter yourself. I need someone to help me interview staff for the shop and… and I’m starting a new range of really trendy mum bags for carrying baby things around and you’re going to model them.’

      ‘Really? You’d be happy for me to model your new bags?’

      I shook Anya.

      ‘Darling. You’re a top international model, have been for over a decade. You think there is one person left in this world who hasn’t heard of you? Now stop it. Stop feeling sorry for yourself. So you’re pregnant. Big deal. You look slimmer than me! You’re five months gone and your tummy is flatter than mine. You, my dear, are glowing. That’s what you are. You’re glowing and you’ve never looked more beautiful. Now get on the phone to your agent and tell them you’ll take all the baby-bump shoots they can throw at you. Then I want you to call the hospital and tell them you’re ready to arrange the eighteen-week scan you missed. Let’s find out if we’re painting this nursery pink or blue.’

      I let go of Anya’s hands with gusto, making her hop back and almost fall into the chaise longue.

      ‘You really think I can do this, Madge? Be a proper mother?’

      ‘You already are a proper mother. For one thing you actually eat food these days, every day; no more starving yourself for photo shoots. You see? That’s how it starts. It’s called motherhood and you’re nailing it already. You and I are going to see this thing through together and in four months’ time you’ll have mother of the year awards coming out of your ears.’

      She pinched her lips in, nodded sternly and crossed her arms.

      ‘I can do this,’ she said and marched out of the dining room and into the kitchen where she picked up her mobile from the breakfast bar and started tapping the keys.

      ‘Who are you calling?’ I asked.

      ‘My manager. First I’m going to tell her to get that mad cat out of my house and then I’ll let her know about your new mum bags. I can see myself as the face, and bump, for them. Thank you, Madge. I love you. You know that, don’t you?’ She put her finger up before I could answer and began busily chatting away to her manager, making plans for a comeback.

      I gestured that I’d see myself out. I moved stealthily out into the hallway and darted for the front door before the cat, who was either throwing himself at the closed living-room door or hurling ornaments at it, could get out.

      Outside in the sweltering late morning I got back into the car and turned on the engine. As I pulled out of the drive I made a mental note to myself. Well, two actually. First: arrange some advertising for shop staff so there would be actual candidates available for me and Anya to interview. Second: rush back to the office and start designing these so-called ‘mum’ bags I’ve asked Anya to model. They didn’t exist ten minutes ago and now I’d have to make them happen. Damn.

Chapter 2

       Shearman Bright is hiring!

       Do you have what it takes to manage and run London’s next fashion extravaganza?

       Are you a sales assistant with an eye for detail and a lover of accessories?

      If so, we need you.

      Applications are open for a manager to deal with the day-to-day running of the Shearman Bright flagship shop.

      We are also looking for a talented sales assistant.

      Experience is essential.

      Call and ask for an application form and job description today.

      ‘That sounds great, Riley. Just add the bits about salary, hours and start date and get this advert out as quickly as you can.’

      ‘Will do, boss.’

      I went to leave the reception but my assistant, Riley, called me back. Riley had bunched her auburn hair into a top knot and wore clip-on studs that matched her overly large blue eyes. Her vintage, sleeveless blouse was tied above her navel, the outfit completed by fifties pedal pushers and kitten-heel mules.

      ‘Have you been doing some shopping for Anya?’ she asked, looking down at the Mothercare carrier bag I was holding.

      ‘Oh that.’ I held up the bulky plastic bag. ‘Research. I was thinking about designing baby-changing bags for trendy mums.’

      ‘That’s a bit of a departure from the current lines but it sounds like a great idea. I suppose it’ll be a while before they go into production though. You’ve got so much on at the moment.’

      ‘Actually, they were a bit of a brainwave. Thought I could knock something out in a week or two.’

      ‘You what?’ Riley’s eyes widened more. ‘Magenta, are you sure? You’re meeting the architect at the shop in an hour and then there’s—’

      ‘I know, I know,’ I said, backing out into the hallway. ‘But it’s ideal.’ I was at the foot of the stairs, about to dash up to my office. ‘We’ll have Anya Stankovic modelling the range. It’ll be great. Trust me,’ I called as I ran up the stairs.

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