Free All Because of You (Lakeview #2) by Melissa Hill Page A

a five-mile radius of Central London – she preferred the city on her doorstep. Still, she knew this couldn’t last forever, particularly if she and Steve were to get married. No doubt he’d want to move somewhere sensible and affordable, whereas Natalie would give anything for a pied-à-terre in Belgravia. Well, a girl could dream.
    Reaching her flat, she flung her bag and coat on the sofa and headed directly for the shower. Their housing arrangements were certainly something they’d have to discuss when he popped the question tonight. Well, one thing at a time, she thought, massaging Clarins shower-gel onto her bronzed skin – bronzed courtesy of the good people at Sun FX. If tonight Steve produced the ring like she was certain he would, they could think about the practicalities some other time. 
    Half an hour later, Natalie was fully made up and dressed to impress in a strapless raw silk Ben de Lisi, the raspberry colour of the dress setting off her dark eyes and glossy hair, now styled with seductive flicks à la Kelly Brook.
    An hour later she was still waiting, the flicks drooping in tandem with Natalie spirits.  Where the hell was Steve? He’d assured her he’d pick her up at eight before heading out to this surprise destination, which Natalie hoped was a suitably romantic spot for a marriage proposal. She’d tried his mobile, which was switched to messages, sent him a text enquiring about his whereabouts and still, nothing.
    At about nine thirty, when Natalie was just about to give up and change into a pair of comfy pyjamas, ignoring the La Perla ensemble she’d bought especially for the occasion, the love of her life appeared at her door.
    “I’m so sorry,” he said, when Natalie had thrown the door open, her hands on her hips and the expression on her face leaving him in no doubt that he was in the doghouse. “Something came up at work, and I couldn’t get away.”
    “You couldn’t get away for long enough to phone and let me know what the hell was going on?”
    “Don’t be like that, babe,” he said, reaching out and lightly caressing her bare arm, “You know how these things can go.”
    Almost immediately Natalie’s resolve softened. She could hold a conversation with someone as important and charismatic as Bill Clinton any day of the week without batting an eyelid but when it came to this man she was like a piece of limp lettuce. In a way, it was what she loved most about him. He was unpredictable, could be very unreliable but yet was totally addictive. 
    And if he was planning to propose she couldn’t go too hard on him either, could she? Heaven forbid then that he might change his mind!
    “You could have let me know,” she went on, her tone softening. 
    “I know and I was going to, but I didn’t think things would go on this late. If I had known I wouldn’t have let myself get caught up in it. Especially when you look so good,” he pulled her into his arms, “so good that I don’t know if I want to go out at all.” He began to gently nuzzle her neck.
    “But what about your surprise?” she asked.
    He stiffened slightly. “My what?”
    “Your surprise,” she reminded him. “You told me you were bringing me somewhere special for our anniversary, but you wouldn’t say where.”
    “For our what?” Suddenly, Steve released her from his arms and drew back.
    “Our anniversary,” she said. “Our six-month anniversary?.”
    Steve gulped. “Em, right, yes.”
    By his tone, Natalie knew he’d forgotten all about it. He hadn’t planned any bloody surprise for them at all, never mind a big proposal! He hadn’t even remembered that today was their anniversary – that they’d had six whole months of romantic bliss.
    “I’m sorry, I erm … thought we were just going out for a bite to eat . . . I didn’t realise it was that important to you.”
    Obviously not, Natalie thought, disappointment flooding through her as Steve went through to the living room. OK, so maybe she’d