Free Drive Me Crazy by Portia MacIntosh Page A

of his questions. I am never usually so cheeky with Will, and my behaviour doesn’t go unnoticed. That’ll be the vodka.
    ‘So you know that I am doing all of this because I don’t want to lose you.’
    I nod my head.
    ‘So why do I feel like I need to worry about you and the new lad in IT?’ he asks. ‘You’re always together, laughing and joking – having inappropriate conversations.’
    ‘That’s all him. And no, I don’t want you to fire him,’ I say before Will has a chance to suggest it. ‘He’s just being friendly.’
    ‘Candice, take it from a man – he is interested in you. All you would need to do is say the word and he’d be all over you. Do you know how that makes me feel?’
    ‘But I’m only interested in you,’ I tell him as I walk around his desk and take a seat on his lap. ‘We were just having a chat and a drink at the party, that’s all.’
    I lean forward and give Will a reassuring kiss while we have a moment alone together. It’s a slow, sexy kiss. The kind that would usually lead to other things, except…
    ‘You’ve been drinking,’ Will says accusingly. ‘The two of you have been getting drunk at work. I could fire you both for this.’
    ‘It was one tiny, little drink,’ I tell him, suddenly aware of how tipsy I sound, but equally aware of the fact that, the harder I try to disguise it, the more tipsy I seem. ‘To toast Carly leaving.’
    ‘You mean Charlie?’ he asks angrily.
    Isn’t that what I said?
    I place my hands on either side of Will’s face and look him in the eye.
    ‘Look, it was daft. I’m sorry. But nothing is going on between the new guy and me – I don’t even want to be his friend. You know I’m head-over-heels in love with you.’
    Will softens a little. ‘It’s just…I worry. You know why I worry.’
    ‘I know why you worry,’ I tell him. ‘But it’s fine. This trip means everything to me – to us. This is our chance to see how we function as a proper couple, to figure out our future.’
    Will nods thoughtfully. ‘Good.’ He pinches my cheek. ‘OK, we’ll figure all this out while we’re away.’
    ‘What’s the plan for Friday then?’ I ask.
    ‘Well, we’ll need to set off nice and early. Caroline has made all the arrangements – apart from the hotels, obviously. I sorted that so she wouldn’t pick up on the fact we’re sharing a room. I’ll swing by your place, pick up your lovely self and your luggage and get straight off for the ferry to The Isle of Man, and a week of bliss.’
    ‘I can’t wait,’ I tell him honestly.
    ‘Can you do me a favour, please?’ he asks.
    ‘Anything,’ I reply.
    ‘I know we’re going to figure everything out while we’re away but, in the meantime, can you keep clear of the IT department?’ he asks. He must be really worried, to be trying to keep me separate from the new guy.
    ‘Sure,’ I reply. Anything to keep him happy and to show him that I’m serious about this.
    ‘Also, what’s a Tinder date?’ he asks.
    ‘It’s a new low for single people,’ I reply, not really answering his question.
    ‘Not us then.’
    ‘Nope, not us.’
    ‘Right, get back to work, you lush,’ he teases, slapping my arse playfully as I stand up.
    ‘Yes, boss,’ I giggle, unable to hide my excitement. This trip really will be make or break for us, but I just can’t imagine it going any way other than perfectly. We love each other, we get on so well, the thought of me flirting with other guys drives him crazy – you don’t get much better than that, do you?

Chapter 9
    Moments after leaving Will’s office and sitting back at my desk, the new guy turned up with a slice of cake for me. With Will just in his office, I panicked. As amazing as the cake looked…
    ‘I told you,’ I don’t eat junk, I reminded him.
    ‘I can vividly recall the speed at which you made two doughnuts disappear this week,’ he reminded me in turn, ‘which proves you do.’
    ‘That was a one-off from my usual