Page 57 of Love or Your Money Back

CHAPTER

For the rest of the dinner, Freddy tries hard to focus on his ethical plate of food.

But all he wants to do is stare into Kat’s eyes.

She looks so different to him now. Softer.

More vulnerable. Under that hard shell, she is sweet and earnest and so very, very interesting.

He wants to kiss her every time she talks.

Not to shut her up, which is sometimes why he kisses women. But because he likes what she’s saying.

Finally, the awkward meal finishes and Freddy suggests everyone has an early night.

‘Kat has a big day tomorrow,’ says Freddy, knocking back the last of his sparkling water. ‘Her meeting with Penguin Random House is at noon. And Ahmet, I’m guessing you’ll want to make the most of being in Frankfurt, won’t you?’

‘I do have a walking tour planned,’ Ahmet acknowledges. ‘And I was hoping to visit the German National Library. So yes, I suppose an early night is sensible.’

Ahmet gives Kat a chaste kiss on the cheek before retiring to the third bedroom. Freddy suspects he wanted to give her more than a chaste kiss but can’t because Freddy is watching like an overprotective father.

When Kat and Ahmet go to their bedrooms, Freddy assesses his options.

Since the hotel is packed with Book Fair delegates, there should be plenty of single, female publishing editors downstairs.

Freddy is learning that publishing is a pleasingly female industry.

However, the idea of being with another woman right now makes him feel nauseated.

He wants to be with Kat. He also doesn’t want to get drunk.

What if Kat has a relapse? He needs to be on the ball.

So. An early night it is.

Freddy turns to his hotel room. But sleeping in there doesn’t feel right either. What if Ahmet decides to break the rules and sneak into Kat’s bedroom? Freddy needs to be between Kat and Ahmet’s rooms, like a guard dog.

Decision made, Freddy grabs a blanket and pillow from his room and makes up an uncomfortable bed on the sofa.