Making Your Mind Up Read Free Page A

noise.
    â€œHurh-hurh-hurh-WAAAAAHHH!”
    â€œWell, thanks again.” Lottie paused as a thought occurred to her. “Um…did you hear me singing earlier?”
    â€œThat was you?” He grinned. “More to the point, that was singing ?”
    Her dark eyes danced with mischief. “I sound a lot better underwater.”
    As a fresh round of sobbing broke out inside the cottage, Tyler said, “I’ll take your word for it.”

Chapter 2
    Changed into a lime-green tank top and white jeans, Lottie made her way out onto the broad terrace behind Hestacombe House, where Freddie was sitting at the table levering open a bottle of wine.
    â€œThere you are. Good, good. Have a seat,” said Freddie, thrusting a glass into her hand, “and get some of this down you. You’re going to need it.”
    â€œWhy?” Lottie had been wondering why he’d asked her to come over to the house this evening. Not normally reticent, Freddie had been out and about a lot recently without letting on what he was up to. Tonight, in his white polo shirt and pressed khaki trousers, he was looking tanned and fit, maybe even a little trimmer than usual. Don’t say he’d found himself a lady friend at last.
    â€œCheers.” Freddie clinked his glass against hers. There was definitely a secret in there, waiting to burst out.
    â€œCheers. Don’t tell me.” Delighted for her employer, Lottie held up her free hand to stop him in his tracks. “I think I’ve already guessed!”
    â€œActually, you probably haven’t.” But Freddie was leaning back, smiling at her as he lit a cigar. “But fire away. Tell me what you think.”
    â€œI thiiiiiink ”—Lottie drew out the word—“that love could be in the air.” Playfully, mystically, she wiggled her fingers. “I do believe we could be talking romance here.”
    â€œLottie, I’m too old for you.”
    She pulled a face at him. “I meant with someone your own age. Am I wrong then?”
    â€œJust a bit.” Freddie was puffing away on his cigar, his signet ring glinting in the sunlight.
    â€œYou should, you know. Find someone lovely.” Since Mary’s death, Freddie hadn’t so much as looked at another woman, yet if the right one were to come along Lottie knew he could be happy again. It was what he deserved.
    â€œWell, that’s not going to happen. Are you drinking that or letting it evaporate?”
    Lottie obediently took a couple of giant gulps.
    â€œLike it?” Freddie surveyed her with amusement.
    â€œWhat kind of a question is that? It’s red, it’s warm, it’s not corked. Of course I like it.”
    â€œGood, seeing as it’s a Château Margaux 1988.”
    Lottie, who knew nothing about fine wines, nodded knowledgeably and said, “Ah, yes, thought so.”
    His eyes sparkling, Freddie said, “Two fifty a bottle.”
    â€œHey, excellent. Is that one of those half-price offers in the supermarket?”
    â€œTwo hundred and fifty pounds a bottle, you philistine.”
    â€œJesus, are you joking?” Spluttering and almost spilling the rest of the wine on her jeans, Lottie clunked the glass onto the table. Seeing that he wasn’t joking she wailed, “What are you doing, giving me stuff like that to drink? That’s the stupidest thing I ever heard!”
    â€œWhy?”
    â€œBecause you know I’m a philistine, so it’s just a complete waste .”
    â€œYou said you liked it,” Freddie pointed out.
    â€œBut I didn’t appreciate it, did I? I just guzzled it down like soda, because you told me to! Well, you can finish my glass.” Lottie pushed it across the table toward him. “Because I’m not touching another drop.”
    â€œSweetheart, I bought this wine ten years ago,” said Freddie. “It’s been in the cellar all this time, waiting for a special