Free Up Close and Personal by Leonie Fox Page B

turning in his grave.’
    Juliet winced. ‘Yes, it was a bit embarrassing, wasn’t it?’
    ‘She was very rude to Dante too. I don’t know how he managed to keep his cool.’
    ‘With some difficulty, I suspect.’
    ‘Still,’ Yasmin continued, ‘I’m sure once the Ingrams see Dante’s getting involved in the upkeep of Ashwicke they’ll be a bit nicer to him.’
    Juliet licked her lips. ‘Actually, I don’t think Dante’s going to be getting involved.’
    ‘But I thought you said he was going to be Customer Liaison Manager.’
    ‘Apparently not. We had a huge row about it afterwards.Dante was pissed off because I hadn’t discussed it with him first.’
    Yasmin shrugged. ‘Oh well, I suppose that’s understandable. I’m sure he’ll come round to the idea.’
    ‘No, he won’t. He’s going to get a bartending job. He says he doesn’t want to be dependent on me.’
    ‘That’s not a bad thing, is it?’
    ‘I suppose not.’ Juliet looked down at her hands, absent-mindedly rubbing her wedding ring. ‘I think I’m just disappointed because I assumed he’d want to be involved in the business.’
    ‘Didn’t you discuss that sort of thing before you got married?’
    ‘No, it sounds crazy now but I was so caught up in the moment I didn’t really think about the practicalities of our life together. Actually, there were lots of things we didn’t discuss. Before we came to England, I didn’t even know what Dante’s favourite movie is or how he takes his coffee. She frowned. ‘Come to think of it, I still don’t know what his favourite movie is.’
    Just then the intercom buzzed into life, making them both jump. ‘That’ll be Nicole,’ Yasmin said, rising to her feet. After pressing the entry button, she opened the front door and stood on the threshold until the lift doors parted.
    ‘Hi, Nic,’ Yasmin said as her friend emerged from the lift, looking harassed. ‘Is everything all right?’
    The furrow between Nicole’s brows deepened.
    ‘You look as if you’re chewing a wasp,’ Yasmin added.
    Nicole’s hand went to her forehead. ‘Do I?’ She followedYasmin into the apartment and sat down heavily on the sofa. ‘It’s Connor,’ she said, after she and Juliet had exchanged a brief greeting. ‘He’s just so bloody selfish.’
    ‘What’s he done now?’ Juliet asked.
    ‘He resents me having a social life,’ Nicole said, folding her arms crossly in front of her chest. ‘He seems to think it’s perfectly okay for him to spend hours at the gym, or stay out all night drinking with his golfing buddies, but the minute I want to set foot outside the house he kicks up a fuss.’
    ‘Is it because you’ve left him looking after Tilly?’ Yasmin enquired.
    ‘That’s part of it,’ Nicole conceded. ‘I know babies can be hard work, but given that he’s barely laid eyes on his daughter all week I thought he’d really enjoy spending some time with her. But, no, all he can do is moan about the fact I’m going out and ask me how he’s supposed to entertain her.’
    Yasmin groaned in sympathy. ‘This is the reason I’m never getting married.’
    ‘Naturally, the lazy sod jumped at the chance when I suggested taking Tilly to my mum’s,’ Nicole continued. ‘No doubt he’ll sit there reading the paper like he always does, while Mum keeps her granddaughter amused.’ Her mouth tightened. ‘ And he said I looked fat in this dress.’
    ‘He didn’t!’ Juliet gasped.
    ‘As good as.’ Nicole pulled thoughtfully on her lower lip. ‘Honestly, I don’t know what’s got into him these days. He’s not the man I married, that’s for sure.’
    ‘I’m sure it’s just a temporary blip,’ Juliet said. ‘All marriages go through rough patches. Have you told him how you’re feeling?’
    ‘Yes, several times,’ Nicole said wearily, ‘but it doesn’t seem to have much effect. Connor just sits there with a strangulated look on his face, like he’d rather be examining some old dear’s