Read Online Blueprint for Love (Choc Lit) by Henriette Gyland - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Henriette Gyland
Ads: Link
were none of her business. A Nosy Parker.
How could I have been so stupid?
As she lay with her face in the pillow to hide the embarrassment which still made her cringe, she felt her confidence and credibility evaporate. Perhaps it was best if she admitted defeat and went back to London.
It was the thought of never seeing Jonathan again which brought her to her senses. She knew she was falling in love with him, but whether he felt the same way about her or not, self-preservation dictated that she held her head high and apologised for her idiotic behaviour, like the mature and sensible individual she believed herself to be. The rest was up to him.
But that was easier said than done.
Jonathan didn’t give her an opportunity to apologise the next day. Whenever she was close enough to mention it, there was always someone else around requiring his attention, and when she finally had him on her own for a split second, he merely shook his head.
‘Forget it,’ he said, almost tersely.
She was left feeling even more like a wayward teenager. In the end she tried to put it behind her, but somehow Tabitha sensed something was up and exploited her hesitation.
Why did she have to be so sharp-eyed? Hazel thought, when Tabitha had sent her on another pointless errand for the umpteenth time.
The final straw was when Tabitha hinted that there was an ‘understanding’ between herself and Jonathan, whatever that was supposed to mean. By then Hazel was ready to scream. She escaped to the kitchen to offload on Irene.
‘Don’t take any notice of her,’ said Irene. ‘She’s a bit Upstairs, Downstairs , that one. Nothing you can do will change it. The best you can do is be who you are and keep minding your own ‘Ps’ and ‘Qs’. Then you’ll be above reproach if it comes to blows.’
Having someone as wise as Irene on her side made Hazel feel a little better, and she returned to the office with renewed determination. There was no reason why she should allow Tabitha to chase her out of a perfectly good job.
Jonathan sighed as he put the phone down after yet another lengthy and frustrating conversation with his client, Robert Miles. He liked working with the man and was impressed by his vision for regenerating the area, but Miles wanted to be kept informed of every little detail, which was immensely time-consuming. Jonathan had just reassured his client that their planning application was going through as hoped, but he was certain this wasn’t the last conversation they’d have today.
Another problem preoccupied him. When he’d caught Hazel looking in through the windows of his father’s lab, his first reaction had been anger and suspicion at what she was doing there, followed by genuine admiration for her pluck. Seeing her awkwardness, he’d believed her when she said she suspected a burglary. He’d liked Hazel from the very beginning; he had a feeling she was the kind of person who’d never be capable of lying without betraying it in some way. No, she’d definitely been telling the truth.
So why had he humiliated her? He’d treated her like a naughty child and knew he owed her an apology. Yet she was acting as if she owed him an apology. It baffled him, but whenever an opportunity presented itself to bring it up, he couldn’t find the words to express what he felt. It seemed easier to just tell her to forget the whole thing.
Except he didn’t want to do that himself. He had to clear the air between them somehow, so that they could go back to their former easy footing. The last thing he wanted was for her to feel awkward around him, and he suspected that was exactly what was happening at the moment. Besides, he really liked her, and the idea of her not talking to
How could I have been so stupid?
As she lay with her face in the pillow to hide the embarrassment which still made her cringe, she felt her confidence and credibility evaporate. Perhaps it was best if she admitted defeat and went back to London.
It was the thought of never seeing Jonathan again which brought her to her senses. She knew she was falling in love with him, but whether he felt the same way about her or not, self-preservation dictated that she held her head high and apologised for her idiotic behaviour, like the mature and sensible individual she believed herself to be. The rest was up to him.
But that was easier said than done.
Jonathan didn’t give her an opportunity to apologise the next day. Whenever she was close enough to mention it, there was always someone else around requiring his attention, and when she finally had him on her own for a split second, he merely shook his head.
‘Forget it,’ he said, almost tersely.
She was left feeling even more like a wayward teenager. In the end she tried to put it behind her, but somehow Tabitha sensed something was up and exploited her hesitation.
Why did she have to be so sharp-eyed? Hazel thought, when Tabitha had sent her on another pointless errand for the umpteenth time.
The final straw was when Tabitha hinted that there was an ‘understanding’ between herself and Jonathan, whatever that was supposed to mean. By then Hazel was ready to scream. She escaped to the kitchen to offload on Irene.
‘Don’t take any notice of her,’ said Irene. ‘She’s a bit Upstairs, Downstairs , that one. Nothing you can do will change it. The best you can do is be who you are and keep minding your own ‘Ps’ and ‘Qs’. Then you’ll be above reproach if it comes to blows.’
Having someone as wise as Irene on her side made Hazel feel a little better, and she returned to the office with renewed determination. There was no reason why she should allow Tabitha to chase her out of a perfectly good job.
Jonathan sighed as he put the phone down after yet another lengthy and frustrating conversation with his client, Robert Miles. He liked working with the man and was impressed by his vision for regenerating the area, but Miles wanted to be kept informed of every little detail, which was immensely time-consuming. Jonathan had just reassured his client that their planning application was going through as hoped, but he was certain this wasn’t the last conversation they’d have today.
Another problem preoccupied him. When he’d caught Hazel looking in through the windows of his father’s lab, his first reaction had been anger and suspicion at what she was doing there, followed by genuine admiration for her pluck. Seeing her awkwardness, he’d believed her when she said she suspected a burglary. He’d liked Hazel from the very beginning; he had a feeling she was the kind of person who’d never be capable of lying without betraying it in some way. No, she’d definitely been telling the truth.
So why had he humiliated her? He’d treated her like a naughty child and knew he owed her an apology. Yet she was acting as if she owed him an apology. It baffled him, but whenever an opportunity presented itself to bring it up, he couldn’t find the words to express what he felt. It seemed easier to just tell her to forget the whole thing.
Except he didn’t want to do that himself. He had to clear the air between them somehow, so that they could go back to their former easy footing. The last thing he wanted was for her to feel awkward around him, and he suspected that was exactly what was happening at the moment. Besides, he really liked her, and the idea of her not talking to
Similar Books
