Free The Girl he Never Noticed by Lindsay Armstrong

looked uncomfortable.
    ‘At least I’m honest,’ he countered.
    ‘I haven’t been dishonest.’
    ‘Not precisely,’ he agreed, and simply waited for her reply.
    Liz ground her teeth. ‘What you may not know is that being a single mother lays you open to…to certain men thinking you’re…promiscuous.’
    She wasn’t expecting any more surprises at this point, but she got one when Cameron Hillier leant forward suddenly, his blue eyes intent. ‘I know quite a bit about single mothers. My sister was one—and that, I guess, even while I’m not prepared to be dishonest, is why I have some sympathy for you, Liz Montrose.’
    Her mouth fell open. She snapped it shut. So that explained the understanding she thought she’d seen in his eyes when she’d told him her story!
    ‘And, further towards complete honesty,’ he went on, ‘I need the right influence in Archie’s life at the moment—which I think you could be. I can’t be with him nearly as much as I should. He starts school next year, so that will distance us even more. I want this last year of his before school to be memorable for him. And safe. And happy.’
    ‘You don’t know—how do you know I could do that?’
    He sat back. ‘I saw you with him just now. I’ve seen, from the moment you first mentioned her, how much your daughter means to you. How it lights you up just to say her name.’
    ‘I still…’ She paused helplessly. ‘It’s come up so fast!’
    ‘It’s part of my success—the ability to sum things up and make quick decisions.’
    Liz looked at him askance. ‘Your modesty is amazing at times.’
    ‘I know,’ he agreed seriously, but she could suddenly see the glimmer of laughter in his eyes.
    ‘Well—’
    ‘Er…excuse me?’ a strange voice said, and they both swung round to see a woman standing in the doorway. ‘Lunch is ready, Mr Hillier. I’ve served it in the kitchen if that’s all right with you?’
    Cam Hillier rose. ‘That’s fine, Mrs Preston. Thank you.’
    It was a huge kitchen—brick-walled, with a tiled floor and rich woodwork. Herbs grew in pots along the windowsills, a vast antique dresser displayed a lovely array of china, but all the appliances were modern and stainless steel.
    There was a long refectory table at one end that seated six in ladder-back chairs with raffia seats.
    The lady who answered to ‘Mrs Preston’, grey-haired, pink-cheeked and of comfortable girth, was dishingup steaks, Liz saw, and baked Idaho potatoes topped with sour cream and chives. A bowl brimming with salad—cos lettuce, tomatoes, cucumber, capsicum and shallots—was also set out, and there was a bread basket laden with fresh warm rolls.
    The steaks, she realised from their tantalising aroma, had been marinated and grilled along with button mushrooms.
    A bottle of red wine was breathing in a pottery container.
    ‘Hungry?’ Cam asked as they sat down.
    ‘I’ve suddenly realised I’m starving,’ she confessed and looked around. ‘Where’s Archie?’
    ‘At the dentist in Leura—just for a check-up. Mrs Preston,’ Cam added, ‘may I tell Miss Montrose what you told me on the phone a couple of days ago?’
    Mrs Preston blinked at Liz, then said, ‘Of course.’
    Cam reached for the bottle of wine and poured them each a glass. ‘For quite some years now Mrs Preston has been housekeeper and most inspired chef all rolled into one.’ He lifted his glass in a silent toast and went on, ‘Well, maybe
you’d
like to tell it, Mrs Preston?’
    The housekeeper clasped her hands together and faced Liz. ‘I did ring Mr Hillier a couple of days ago because I knew he’d understand.’ She stopped to cast her boss an affectionate glance. ‘I’m getting on a bit now,’ she went on to Liz, ‘and I’d really like to concentrate on my cooking. I’ve always liked to choose my own fresh ingredients, but for the rest of the provisioning of a household this size, and with the amount of entertainingwe do, I’d like just to be