Free The Unexpected Consequences of Love by Jill Mansell

that surprise me?”
    She was hyperventilating. “Please, I’m a really hard worker. I wouldn’t let you down, I promise .”
    But Josh was already shaking his head; he’d taken charge and was refusing to listen to any more. “I know you wouldn’t,” he said flatly. “Basically because you aren’t going to get the chance.”
    That was it; Tula gave up. But honestly, it was at times like this that it would have been handy to know how to do kung fu.

Chapter 10
    â€œNow hold up my book and smile… More than that… No, lift your chin so you don’t look pouchy… There, you see, that’s much better.” Marguerite, who had taken charge as usual, was orchestrating the situation like Steven Spielberg. Nodding at Sophie to begin, she called out, “Anyone else wanting their photo taken with me, just form an orderly line over there to the right. Everyone will get their turn!”
    Sophie hid a smile and got on with the task at hand, taking care to shoot only from the most flattering angles, as ordered by Marguerite. Resplendent in a bright orange silk dress teamed with zebra-print shoes, Marguerite had actually given a hugely entertaining after-dinner speech. The guests had enjoyed the evening and been thrilled to have the opportunity to meet her. All in all, it had been a good night for the charity.
    If less so for Sophie herself; after agreeing to pop in for an hour or two, she’d subsequently been forced to turn down an offer to spend a far more lucrative evening at a silver wedding celebration in Port Isaac. But that couldn’t be helped; you took the work as you were offered it.
    By ten thirty, when all the photos had been taken, Sophie was packing away her equipment when she became aware of someone standing behind her.
    â€œOh, hello.” Glancing around, she saw that it was Josh Strachan.
    â€œHi.” He paused, as if waiting for more. When it didn’t arrive, he said, “Cross with me?”
    â€œWould it make a blind bit of difference?” Sophie clicked shut the fasteners on the camera case and straightened up. “This is your hotel…well, partly. It’s up to you who you take on.”
    â€œI know.” Josh gave her a measured look. “What happened to your friend? Did she go back to Birmingham?”
    â€œNo. Nothing to go back to, remember? She’s still here.”
    â€œWhere’s she staying?”
    Two could play at being cool. “On my sofa.”
    â€œHas she found work?”
    â€œYes.” Sophie wondered where this was headed. “She managed to reschedule the interview she’d had to cancel in the first place in order to come here.”
    â€œAnd she got the job.”
    â€œShe did. Excuse me a second…” Waylaying Marguerite as she swept past in a cloud of orange silk and Guerlain perfume, Sophie said, “I can send you tonight’s photos by Monday, if that’s okay.”
    â€œPerfect. Thanks so much for doing this.”
    â€œAnd I’ve been here since nine, so I’ll email you my invoice at the same time.”
    â€œYou’ll invoice me ?” Mascaraed lashes batted in surprise. “Oh, no, darling, I’m the guest of honor here tonight! Just send the bill to the charity; they’ll take care of it!”
    And she was gone. Sophie suppressed a sigh, because the tiny strapped-for-cash charity hadn’t requested her services and would regard any form of invoice as an expense they couldn’t afford. Which meant she was going to be even more out-of-pocket.
    â€œWhere?” said Josh.
    â€œWhere what?” Distracted, she dropped her keys.
    â€œWhere’s Tula working?”
    â€œAt the Melnor Hotel.”
    You could tell he was unfamiliar with the name by the way he didn’t flinch. “And is she enjoying it?”
    â€œNo,” Sophie said evenly, “of course not. She’s hating every minute. It’s