Chances & Choices Read Free Page B

West."
    He grinned, relaxing, her little performance releasing the tension in the air.
    "Hiring that ad agency was the best thing I ever did.  I sometimes think after their promotion it wouldn't matter what I designed."
    "Oh no, Julian.  Your designs are wonderful.  They're so comfortable, the way the fabric falls, they practically caress you."  Claire attempted to control the flush she knew was creeping up her neck, suddenly irrationally embarrassed by her choice of words.  "I don't know why I never wore them before."
    No?  Well he had a pretty good idea.  His designs were worn by women who were not afraid of their own femininity, and Claire had not always been aware of her womanhood.  This was certainly not the case now, every inch of her declared her sex.  But he accepted the laughing comment she offered to cover her embarrassment.
    "Probably because I couldn't afford them."
    Shrugging, he took a sip of his drink, his eyes twinkling at her over the rim, before he replied.  "You get what you pay for."
    "Mercenary!  And here I was hoping you'd offer me a discount."
    He laughed.  "I'll think about it.  Why don't you work on me a while?"  He put down his drink.  "Have you eaten?"
    "Yes, but it was plastic, plane food.  I could easily eat again."  Taking one last sip, she handed him her drink and he placed it beside his own.
    "You usually can.  Okay, let's get out of here and find somewhere equipped to handle that horrendous appetite of yours."
    "Horrendous!  Of all the nerve.  My appetite is healthy.  You're just used to models who starve themselves, that's your trouble."
    He squinted at her as if assessing her and said.  "Well, you're alright now, but I'd be careful if I were you, you wouldn't want to fill out too much more."  
    She was a lot more than alright, but he didn’t tell her so, comfortable with the light-hearted mood their banter had produced.  
    He shook his head.  "A few more pounds and you might have to curb your healthy appetite."  
    Still shaking his head he walked away, intimating she was a hopeless case.
    Claire ran after him, giving him a playful push, and then took his arm in hers.  “Just for that you can take me somewhere really fancy.  If you're not going to give me a discount the least you can do is buy me a decent meal."
    "Who said I was paying?  You're a working woman, you can buy.  It's about time you bought me dinner."
    "What! I fly three thousand miles to see you and you refuse to feed me.   Some friend you are!"
    Their banter continued as they walked out, Julian flicking the light switches as they left, darkening the scene of their reunion.

Chapter Two
    Over dinner, Claire kept the conversation on professional or general topics.  Every time the discussion threatened to move into her social life, she steered adroitly away from the subject.  Finally, Julian asked her outright about the man she’d been seeing in New York.  It was typical of him; he would only take evasion for so long.
    "We split up."
    "I see.  That wouldn't have anything to do with your transfer to L.A., would it?"
    Claire shrugged, feeling miserable.  She wanted to confide in him, but not in a restaurant.  She put him off.  "I'd rather not talk about it, right here and now."
    He nodded, but gave her a thoughtful look, he knew her well enough to realise when she was upset.  
    Attempting to lighten the mood, she asked him teasingly.
    "What about you?  Still avoiding all the women playing the grieving widower?"  She regretted the remark immediately.  "Sorry, that was heartless of me."
    He smiled.  "No, thoughtless perhaps, but not heartless.  Claire, Susanna died eight years ago, it's not a subject you have to skirt around."
    Glad she had not offended him, Claire continued eating, growing thoughtful.  She realised that although she had known him seven years, she'd mentioned that subject to him only once, the first time they met in fact.  
    The occasion was the night of an annual charity