Summer of Love by Sophie Pembroke Read Free Book Online Page B

to Lily. ‘You think he’d be a good fit?’
    ‘I do.’ Lily flashed a smile at Alex. ‘Besides, he’s fun to have around.’
    Pushing his chair back from the desk, Max got to his feet. ‘Get a portfolio together this week, and I’ll take it to the next co-op meeting, on Thursday.’
    Alex stood and stretched a hand out across the desk. ‘I’ll have it to you before Monday.’
    ‘As you like. I’ll see you then.’ Max gave him another assessing look. Definitely time to get out of there.
    Grabbing Alex’s arm, Lily shuffled him towards the door, calling her goodbyes over her shoulder to Max and only relaxing when the office door swung shut behind them.
    Max was going to want to have another conversation very soon. One she was looking forward to even less than the last one.
    * * * *
    ‘So, that went well, right?’ Alex asked when they reached the bottom of the stairs and stepped out into the courtyard, a safe distance from Max. He wasn’t a hundred percent sure exactly what Max had made of his career change, but it was obvious that Max trusted Lily. With her on his side, Alex reckoned he had an excellent chance of making this work.
    ‘I think so. Yes. Probably.’ A small frown line cut into Lily’s forehead. ‘Yes. I think so.’
    Alex laughed. ‘Don’t worry. If your influence isn’t enough, hopefully my portfolio will win everyone over. Especially since it’ll feature their own stuff – including your beautiful jewellery.’
    Lily blushed as if he’d called her beautiful, rather than her work. Interesting. That was the sort of fact he’d have tucked away to do something about later, back in London. But not in Felinfach.
    ‘I’m sure your photography skills will win them over,’ Lily said.
    ‘You haven’t seen them yet,’ Alex pointed out.
    ‘Well, then. You’d better get started, hadn’t you?’ Her eyes were bright with excitement. He supposed she was thinking about the Mill, and how having all the units filled would be good for them all. Whatever the reason, it felt good to have a companion in this, someone to share his ambition.
    ‘I really better had. I’m going to head home, dig out my equipment from the packing boxes. But I’ll meet you at the shop tomorrow to take some shots?’
    Lily nodded. ‘Then I can introduce you to the rest of the guys here. Bet you can charm them into voting you in, anyway. Whatever Max says.’
    Alex grinned. ‘Maybe I can.’ Her belief made it easier, somehow. Like, with her cheering him on, he could do anything at all. It was a good feeling. Better, in some ways, than the feeling he used to get from a new romantic conquest. Lily might not be on the market for that kind of fun, but having her as a friend seemed like it might be worth a lot more.
    They said goodbye at Tiger Lily, and Alex strolled through the iron gates and back down the hill towards town, whistling.
    He was almost in sight of his car when his phone rang, and he fumbled in his pocket to pull it out. Frowning, he saw his brother’s name flashing across the screen and checked the time automatically. Still working hours. Gareth never called him from work.
    He pressed the answer button. ‘Hey, what’s up?’
    ‘Can’t a guy call his baby brother for a chat of an afternoon?’ Gareth’s tone was light, but something in his voice sounded strained.
    ‘Historically? No.’ Reaching the car, Alex leant against the door, the metal warm from the sun. ‘So, I’ll ask again, what’s up?’
    Gareth sighed. ‘So suspicious, so young. Nothing’s up. Just wondered if you fancied meeting up for a drink sometime.’
    Also unprecedented. Nights out for them were impromptu things, when one had forgotten the other’s birthday, or when Gareth was sent to London on work. Not the sort of planned outing that would make it onto the calendar that Gareth’s wife, Della, kept hanging by the kitchen sink.
    ‘Sure,’ Alex said. ‘When were you thinking?’
    ‘Why? You got a frantically busy social