Shopaholic & Baby by Sophie Kinsella Read Free Book Online

moment we arrived.
    Fabia raises her eyes to mine. “I like your boots,” she says.
    I’m momentarily speechless.
    Play it cool, Becky, play it cool.
    “I waited a whole year for these boots,” I say at last, feeling as though I’m treading on eggshells. “You can’t get them anywhere.”
    “I’m on the waiting list at Harvey Nichols,” she bats back.
    “Maybe.” I force a casual tone. “But you won’t get them. They only made fifty pairs and they’ve run out. I’m a personal shopper, so I know these things.”
    I am totally bluffing here. But I think it’s working. She’s practically salivating over them.
    “Becky?” Luke is coming back up the path toward me. “What’s going on?”
    “Luke!” I lift a hand. “Stay there!” I feel like Obi-Wan Kenobi telling Luke Skywalker not to interfere because he doesn’t understand the strength of the Force.
    I wriggle out of my left boot, leaving it standing on the doormat like a totem.
    “It’s yours,” I say. “If you accept our offer. And the other one when we exchange contracts.”
    “Call the agent tomorrow,” says Fabia, sounding almost breathless. “I’ll talk my husband round. The house is yours.”
    I did it! I don’t believe it!
    As fast as I can, in one boot and one stockinged foot, I hurry down the steps toward Luke.
    “We’ve got the house!” I throw my arms round his neck. “I got us the house!”
    “What the
fuck
—” He stares at me. “What did you say? Why are you only wearing one boot?”
    “Oh…just a bit of negotiation,” I say airily, and glance back at the front door. Fabia has already kicked off her gold ballet pump and thrust her jean-clad leg into the boot. Now she’s turning it from side to side, fixated. “If you call the agent in the morning, I think you’ll find it’s a deal.”
     
     
    We don’t even need to wait until the next morning. Less than two hours later, we’re sitting in the car on the way to Mum’s, when Luke’s phone rings.
    “Yes?” he says into his headset. “Yes. Really?”
    I’m making faces at him, trying to get him to tell me what’s going on, but he’s keeping his eyes firmly on the road, which is really annoying. At last he switches the phone off and turns to me with the tiniest of smiles. “It’s ours.”
    “
Yes
!” I squeal in delight. “I told you!”
    “They’re relocating to New York and want to move as soon as possible. I said we could complete by December.”
    “We’ll have our new baby in our gorgeous new house in time for Christmas.” I hug myself. “It’s going to be perfect!”
    “It’s pretty good news.” His face is glowing. “And all down to you.”
    “It was nothing,” I say modestly. “Just good negotiating.” I get out my mobile phone and am about to text Suze the good news, when all of a sudden it rings.
    “Hello?” I say joyfully into it.
    “Mrs. Brandon? It’s Diane from Venetia Carter’s office here.”
    “Oh!” I stiffen, and glance at Luke. “Er…hello.”
    “We just wanted to let you know that the vacancy
has
arisen on Dr. Carter’s books. She would be very pleased to see you—and your husband if you wish—on Thursday at three P.M.”
    “Right,” I say, a little breathless. “Um…yes, please. I’ll be there! Thank you very much!”
    “Not at all. Good-bye, Mrs. Brandon.”
    The line goes dead and I switch the phone off with trembling hands. I’ve got a place with Venetia Carter! I’m going to meet celebrities and have holistic Thai massage!
    Now I just have to break the news to Luke.
    “Who was that?” says Luke, turning on the radio. He frowns at the digital display and presses a couple of buttons.
    “It was…um…” I drop my phone accidentally-on-purpose on the floor and bend down to retrieve it.
    It’ll be fine. He’s in a good mood about the house and everything. I’ll just tell him and that will be that. And if he starts objecting, I shall point out that I’m a grown-up mature woman who can choose