Free The One Addicted by Alexandra North Page A

the while chewing on my bottom lip - everything apart from his last comment makes sense (he would not be playing gay daddy anytime soon - he found it hard enough to care for himself let alone a child - my child).  
    “And work? Who’s going to sort The Ashton in my absence?”
    “What, pray tell, am I - chopped liver? Jacks and I will work through your totally virgin-tight schedule and I’m sure we’ll be fine - besides you’ll be reachable by phone and email, Facebook, skype, FaceTime, internet, text….”
    “I get it, I get it - you’ll manage and I appreciate it but is it really the right time to be jetting off to Dubai when I’m just beginning to feel in control of things here?”  
    “Aha! We get to the root it – control, or lack of it. Babe, you need a break and to let loose. You work your curvaceous butt off as a mum and designer and have done for the past few years - maybe its time to have some fun in the sun?” his soothing voice is extremely cathartic and I nod my agreement of his comments.
    “Well - I’ll leave you to mull this over but just think of massaging sun-cream into Seb’s sexy body and that should be enough to sway you. Yum yum. I wonder if James and I should go away - I’ve some new D&G yellow speedo’s reminiscent of Ray Winstone’s in Sexy beast to parade around it - My Jamesy would be like a houndess on heat.”
         Recognising I’ve lost his focus from me to his lascivious mind I wink at him and return to my computer - a holiday was sounding more and more favourable by the minute.
    “Right back to work, boss - I bid you adieu. Oh and for God’s sake, throw the Minnie Mouse numbers in the bloody bin, you’re over 10 years of age now!” I watch as he wiggles his way back to his own work area. The man was as refreshing as his bright lime cravat.

    *****

“I’m down here!” I holler to the person who’s just entered my front door.  
    “Only me - I need a pee but here, shove that in the fridge and I’ll be back in min.” The bottle of Chardonnay hits my chest with an oomph and I smirk at my mate’s candidness - only Abs would make an entrance like that.
    “Do you want me to order the veggie combo now?”
    “Yeah - with chips. Ooh and that garlic mayo they make in-house that would kill vampires within a ten mile radius - I’m not seeing Nathan until Sunday so I can go all out - unfortunately R Pat won’t be flying through our windows tonight.”
    Shaking my head on a grin, at her unique humour I dial Aldo’s and order our usual, throw in a chocolate fudge cake to share for after’s and set about getting our trays, plates and cutlery for teas on knees. I still find it hard to eat pizza without a knife and fork and enjoy it and amongst our friends I’m definitely in the minority.
    I can hear Abby’s arrival as she heads back downstairs chattering with each step. “That’s better - I’d been busting since I set off. Did you ring the order in?”
    “All done and will be with us in 20 minutes. Come – let’s go veg out on the sofa and I want to hear all about Nathan and you.”  
    “Do you want me to carry anything, love? Trays, glasses, pillow to assist with the weight of your humongous nosey nose?”
    My giggles are instinctive and we both chuckle at her silliness. “No, no and no! I haven’t got a humongous nose! I’ve everything upstairs already… including nosiness in abundance.” I add with a grin over my shoulder and head off up the short flight of stairs to the cosy entry-level lounge, throw out with a dramatic toss of my hair, “I’ve also got news.”
    “Ooh sounds juicy. Me too.” She heads immediately over the mirrored console table that houses the vase with the roses I’ve received to date. I can see her mentally counting. “You got another one - when?”
    I nod. “The sixth. Came yesterday with some message about us ‘needing to communicate and meet up’ .”
    “Well, I’ll agree with that. They’re beautiful though aren’t