The Perfect Match Read Free Page A

can’t owe money to people. I’m constitutionally incapable.’
    ‘Well, that’s just silly!’
    She could tell instantly that he was not in the habit of being laughed at much, but felt it was good for him to experience it, all the same.
    ‘Is it? Most women I know are only too delighted to be paid for.’ He had stopped looking affronted and a small smile was gathering at the corner of his eyes.
    ‘And some are perfectly happy to pay for themselves and for other people – men even.’
    ‘So you’re one of these modern women?’
    It was rather lovely to be described as being modern. She smiled warmly at him.
    Just then the ticket inspector arrived at her side and – being law-abiding and unsure of the rules – she felt obliged to produce her Senior Citizen railcard, which Bella had insisted on referring to as her Old Person’s railcard in a very disrespectful way. This would teach her to flirt with younger men, she told herself.
    ‘Well, at least you’ll feel better about me buying you a snack,’ she said, ‘now you know I’m old enough to be – well, your aunt, at least.’
    The intense blue gaze was back. ‘Oh I could never think of you as an aunt.’
    Alice found herself blushing. It had been a while since anyone had chatted her up, and she wasn’t even sure he was. As she didn’t know how to respond she picked up her Kindle. ‘I think I ought to carry on reading now. It’s my book group soon.’
    ‘Are you enjoying the book?’
    Alice thought for a moment. ‘Not awfully.’
    ‘Then don’t read it!’
    ‘That would be taking anarchy too far,’ she said sternly and turned her attention to the least accessible of last year’s Booker Prize long list. Inside, she was smiling.
    Bella was there waiting for Alice when the train pulled into Stroud a little later than scheduled.
    Bella waved as she caught sight of her godmother amongst the small crowd coming out of the station. Alice was easy to spot in her drapey turquoise silk outfit that managed to be elegant and casual at the same time. With good bone structure and well-cared-for skin, she was someone Bella felt proud to be associated with.
    She kissed her godmother on the cheek. ‘Good day? Oh, no need to ask. I can see you had a lovely time! I’m afraid I haven’t cooked. Fancy fish and chips?’
    ‘Sounds lovely.’
    ‘So how was travelling first class?’
    ‘Brilliant!’ Alice said.
    Bella frowned slightly. Had Alice done something different with her make-up, or was she actually blushing?

Chapter Three
    A FEW DAYS later Nevil and Bella were sitting in Alice’s garden. They had a bottle of wine and a takeaway pizza. Alice had disappeared into her sitting room and they were alone.
    ‘So, how’s my little Curly Top, then?’ said Nevil, filling Bella’s glass.
    At the same time that Bella wondered if she could tell Nevil she hated his nickname for her she realised he was in a very good mood, so she decided to overlook the reference to her hair, which was indeed on the curly side.
    ‘I’m well – which you do know seeing as we’ve been working together all day.’ She smiled.
    ‘You know I like to keep personal stuff out of the office.’ He smiled too.
    He was, Bella thought, very good-looking. He had pleasant, even features, nice dark-blond hair, which fell over his forehead when he got excited, and he always looked smart. He was a few inches taller than she was and they made a good pair. Her dark curls complimented his fairer looks.
    ‘You’ve been in very cheerful lately,’ she said. ‘You didn’t moan when you realised the photocopier was out of paper. You didn’t even moan because you had to actually do photocopying!’
    Nevil laughed. ‘I was a bit annoyed about that, but as I had asked Tina to go out for sandwiches it wasn’t her fault she wasn’t there.’
    Bella was a bit surprised at this mellow attitude. He was very good at his job and, he frequently told her, you didn’t get to head your own estate agency –