The Riviera by Karen Aldous Read Free Book Online

apartment.
    ‘Oh, so sorry. I feel a little better now though. I’m really sorry, Thierry darling. We’ll go again another day. Mummy felt very sick and you wouldn’t like Mummy to be sick in the pool would you?’
    When Lizzie got back to the office, she dashed to the cloakroom to tidy her hair and face. The mirror confirmed her inner state. She took out her make-up bag and rubbed in some moisturiser before adding her usual light foundation and blusher to her cheeks. After brushing her hair, she waltzed with some relief to Sophie’s consulting room. As she stepped into the doorway, she stopped as a tall male figure stood by her friend’s desk.
    ‘Oh, I’ll come back later, Soph.’
    Sophie jumped up and called out, ‘No. Lizzie, come back. Your timing is good actually. Come in and meet Angus.’
    Lizzie gripped the doorframe for a few seconds. ‘Angus. Oh, you’re Sophie’s colleague, er, associate?’ She peered directly at the tall figure holding out a hand and glaring at her with bright, cornflower-blue eyes and golden hair. ‘Very nice to meet you.’ She shook his hand.
    ‘Yes, well, we both lecture at the same college part-time. I was also practising in Belgium before I decided I needed a change so until I sort out where I want to put down roots, I’m at your disposal, ladies.’
    Lizzie was immediately captivated by his Scottish accent. ‘Well, I’ve heard good things about you from Sophie whom I trust with my life.’
    He threw out a warm smile which dimpled the sides of his mouth and a few laughter lines creased his eyes. Lizzie guessed he was close to his mid-thirties, a similar age to Cal and, she considered, good looking as well as, on first impression, charming.
    ‘Why don’t we sit down? My next client is not for twenty minutes,’ Sophie said pulling over another chair for them both and sitting back at her desk.
    Angus pinched up his trousers at his knees before he sat. ‘I’m only too pleased to help out. The money, of course, always comes in handy. Actually, I was shopping and couldn’t resist popping in. It caught my eye, and Sophie just gave me a quick tour. It’s quite a set up you have here. Very impressive in fact. Sophie says you set up a few years ago in the beauty industry?’
    Lizzie relayed some history of her buying the business about four years ago when Thierry was born and how luck and support from her best friend had secured her future.
    ‘That’s admirable. Shrewd too.’
    ‘More of a necessity really,’ she told him, trying to hide her blush. ‘Tell me more about what you’ve done?’ she asked, crossing her legs.
    Both she and Sophie listened as he clarified his original Edinburgh accent and revealed his study background from Glasgow University to Europe, to America, Canada, Australia and back to Europe. Sophie had heard it all before, it seemed, but Lizzie was impressed that he’d done so much work reconstructing breast cancer patients as well as working in many cosmetic clinics with various procedures and support staff.
    ‘Well, we’re strictly day cases but you will have assistants,’ Lizzie said, comfortable that he sounded more than capable. ‘So feel free to come back Saturday with any further questions or to get more familiar with the place and the staff.’
    Sophie smiled. ‘Good idea. The staff and consultants here are fantastic. And you’ll love Josephine, the Manager who you met. Oh but now I’m repeating myself.’
    Angus chuckled. ‘That’s great, I love the enthusiasm.’
    ‘You’ll love Betty the cleaner too. She’s such a sweetie. And we may even have some male groomers by April too. A little expansion programme we’re doing.’
    ‘Yes. It’s pretty much an all-female institution at the moment,’ Sophie added.
    As soon as Angus left reception, Sophie asked, ‘Well?’
    Lizzie smiled. ‘Good choice, Sophie. He seems to have loads of experience. Very presentable, charming, so I’ll take your word he can do the job. It will be