The Accidental Mistress by Portia Da Costa Read Free Book Online

provocative company. He too seemed chilled, asking her about her life since they’d last been together, about how Shelley and Brent were doing now, and especially about her sewing and how she liked working at the dress agency.
    ‘How’s that working out for you?’ he said, laying down his knife and fork, and taking a sip from his water glass. The enquiry seemed casual, but she sensed it was really far from that. ‘You sounded quite excited about it in your emails.’
    She was excited. Working at New Again was like a gift. ‘Fantastic! It’s a perfect, steady supply of sewing jobs … and I love working in the shop too. The clothes are wonderful, and Marie is a doll.’
    After she’d abandoned temping, Lizzie had popped into the local dress agency on a whim, thinking there was no harm in asking if they needed anyone to do alterations for them, and happily she and Marie, the owner, had instantly clicked. There was plenty of sewing work to do for New Again, and Lizzie had been thrilled when Marie had offered her a chance to work in the shop part time too.
    ‘I hope she’s not working you too hard.’
    ‘No, not at all,’ said Lizzie firmly, ‘and anyway, I’m not afraid of a bit of hard work.’
    ‘Well, then, here’s to New Again.’ Smiling, John lifted his glass and clinked it to Lizzie’s in a toast. ‘And to Marie, and plenty of work that’s not too hard.’
    After a while, they started people-watching, indulging in simple ‘couple’ fun and eyeing up other diners nearby, just as some were eyeing them up.
    ‘I’m sure that’s him off the telly,’ said Lizzie in a whisper, glancing to one side, without turning her head. A couple two tables away were chatting animatedly: he, with dark, curly hair and glasses, and looking strangely familiar; she, glowing and vivacious, beautifully voluptuous and clearly besotted with her man. ‘You know, the guy who does those history shows … The really cute one. He’s usually on BBC2 or BBC4 … I’ve always fancied him.’
    ‘Really? Is that a fact?’ countered John, with a mock saturnine quirk of his brow. ‘I’m not so sure I like you letching after other men when I’m right here in front of you.’ The words were possessive, but his puckish grin told her he was just having fun.
    ‘There’s no harm in looking,’ replied Lizzie, grinning back at him. ‘And what about his lady friend, don’t
you
fancy her? She has a gorgeous figure.’
    ‘She has indeed. But so do you. The most gorgeous ever.’
    She wanted to tell him not to be idiotic, but it seemed ungracious and combative to keep on rebutting his statements. When he said these wild things he seemed completely sincere … and it
was
nice to be complimented. In her heart of hearts, what woman didn’t enjoy being called beautiful?
    More importantly, though, John didn’t talk down to her, or treat her as if she were some brainless bimbo, easily manipulated by a few pretty words. A man of experience and great achievement, he always addressed her as his equal, except when they were power-playing, for fun.
    As the couple they’d been observing rose from their table,meal finished, Lizzie tried to follow their progress across the restaurant without being too obvious. The historian, Daniel Something, must be accustomed to being recognised, but it was still rude to stare. She supposed John got a lot of that too; even though she’d never seen him on the television or in the papers, his movie star looks and that special, almost regal air of his always drew the eye.
    But Daniel the historian and his lady friend had eyes for no one else but each other. Unable to help herself, Lizzie zeroed in on their hands. Yes, matching wedding rings. They were married. As she watched them disappear into the foyer, that fugitive niggle of wistfulness touched her heart again.
    Forget it, Lizzie. He doesn’t want marriage and commitment, so you’d better disabuse yourself right now of all notions along those lines. And