‘Teenage female attention,’ he corrected her.
He received a playful dig in the ribs. ‘Okay then Mr Babe Magnet, sit down and wait for your adoring fan to deliver your drink.’
Doug ambled over to the living room where he found Derek sprawled out on the sofa.
‘I see living in a house full of women isn’t all bad,’ Doug ventured, taking the armchair. They hadn’t spoken since the day Abby had lost her job and Doug wasn’t quite sure where they stood.
‘There has to be some compensation for hormones and shrieking,’ Derek replied gruffly, though Doug knew, by the way his eyes twinkled, that he wouldn’t have it any other way. ‘Lad, about the last time we spoke. Sorry if I came across a bit harsh.’
‘You were looking out for your daughter. I’d have done the same in the circumstances.’
Derek nodded. ‘I believe you would. She’s cock-a-hoop with her new job, you know.’
‘She got it on merit.’
‘I know, but I also know what you had to do to make it happen.’ Dark eyes, so similar to Abby’s, flickered over to his daughter. ‘Look out for her and make her happy. It’s all I ask.’
‘The first is a given.’ He thought back to his father’s threat, I’ll never let that woman be a director in my company. He’d see about that. ‘As for making her happy, I’ll try every day, for as long as she’ll let me.’
Derek held out his hand. ‘Sounds good to me.’
Doug grasped the offered hand and they shook.
‘What are you two colluding about?’ Mandy asked as she came to join them, popping the wriggling George down on the floor in front of her. It seemed to Doug, from the mess still on the boy’s hands and face, that he’d been attempting to absorb his meal through his skin.
‘I made Doug a bet,’ Derek announced, startling Doug into sitting upright.
‘Oh?’
‘What bet?’ Ellie cried, wrapping her arms around her father’s neck. ‘Did you make a bet on them getting married?’
Doug wasn’t just sitting straight now, he was rigid.
‘Who’s getting married?’ Holly asked, flopping down next to Mandy.
‘Nobody,’ Abby replied firmly, arriving just in time to come to his rescue. The idea of spending the rest of his life with Abby sat surprisingly easy with him, but marriage? He wasn’t sure he could make that leap, at least not yet. The thought of ending up like his parents sent cold shivers through him.
‘So what was the bet you made?’ Abby asked, sliding onto the armrest of his chair. Deciding she was too far away, he circled an arm around her waist and tugged her onto his lap, making her squeal. ‘I’m too heavy. Especially after that roast.’
‘What you’ve just eaten wouldn’t make much difference,’ Sally announced, carefully placing a too-full mug onto the table in front of him; not a coaster in sight. ‘I mean, as a percentage of your overall weight, the weight of that meal must be ridiculously small.’
Doug coughed and winked at Sally. ‘I believe what Sally is saying is you can carry on eating roasts because your weight is in perfect proportion to your height.’
Sally giggled. ‘Oh yes. That’s what I meant.’
‘Well rescued.’ Abby snuggled further into his arms. ‘So come on then, about this bet?’
Derek grinned as his family watched him expectantly. And Doug twitched nervously.
‘I bet Doug twenty quid he wouldn’t change young George’s nappy.’
The girls all dissolved into laughter. ‘Are you going to do it?’ Ellie demanded, scrambling onto her hands and knees and sniffing George’s bottom. ‘He’s a bit whiffy.’
Doug reached into his back pocket, pulled twenty pounds from his wallet and placed it on the coffee table.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Four weeks into her new role as management trainee and Abby was shooting down the motorway on her way to a business workshop on marketing strategy. She was running late, all thanks to George who’d managed to be so sick last night he’d kept Mandy up. That in turn had meant Mandy had been in no fit state to help get the others off to school this morning, so Abby had been forced to hang back and wait till they were on the bus before setting off – half an hour later than she’d intended. Not a great start to what was supposed to be, George willing, a residential three day course. She’d known when Geraldine had suggested it that it would be hard to get away but for once she’d put her needs first.
She prayed to God that George recovered quickly or she’d be turning straight round and heading back.
When her phone started to ring ten minutes later, her heart sank, lifting again when she looked at the number flashing on the hands free set her father had recently installed. Not Mandy asking her to turn around, but Doug.
‘Hey there.’
‘Hey back.’ There was a pause but now she expected it. More than that, she cherished it because it was so much a part of the man she’d fallen for. ‘Are you on your way to the workshop?’
‘Yes, finally. Are you at work yet?’
‘No. I thought, at least I’d hoped, you might pop in before you left.’
Oh shit. Abby vaguely recalled promising she’d do that last night. ‘I’m so sorry, I didn’t have time. George kept Mandy awake most of the night and trust me, you don’t want to know how he managed that. Suffice to say he was onto his fourth sleep suit when I saw him this morning.’
‘Is he okay?’
‘Oh yes, but it meant Mandy was so tired this morning I didn’t have the heart to drag her out of bed so I had to get the girls off to school. Hence I’m running late.’ Another pause, but this one stretched and stretched so much it became uncomfortable. ‘Doug?’
‘I’m still here.’
‘That’s kind of hard to know, when you don’t actually speak to me.’
‘Sorry. I’m just … disappointed not to see you.’
She imagined him waiting alone at home, expecting her to drop in any moment, looking at the clock as the minutes ticked by. A lump balled in her throat. ‘Did I mention how sorry I am? If it helps any, I’d rather have been with you than dragging mouthy teenagers out of bed.’
‘It helps.’ Before she had a chance to reassure him she’d rather be with him than doing anything at all, he changed the subject. ‘Who’s the guest business guru on your workshop? Anyone I know?’
‘I think it might be. I remember he phoned you a while back and I had to take a message. Robert Langstone?’
She heard his sharp intake of breath. ‘Yes, I know Robert. Be careful there, Abby. He’s the monstrous flirt I warned you about.’
‘The one who told me he was going to take me to lunch. I remember now.’
‘I’m sure you do.’
He sounded just a little bit off, a little bit hurt. ‘I’m not going to be having any lunches with him, Doug. At least not by myself.’
‘I’m pleased to hear that.’ Another pause and she began to revise her earlier opinion of them. She couldn’t cherish the silence when she sensed he was upset. ‘I guess I’d better get to the office and pretend to make some sharp decisions. Enjoy the course.’
‘I’ll enjoy it more when it’s over and I’m snuggling up to you in that big bed of yours.’
At last, a pause where she could almost hear him smile. ‘I’m counting the hours.’
It was well into the afternoon session before Abby spoke to Robert Langstone personally. He was exactly how she’d imagined him: handsome, hugely confident, utterly charming.
‘You used to be Doug’s personal assistant, didn’t you?’ he said as he joined her in the coffee area during the break. He sat with his legs apart, a swagger to his stance that made her smile.
‘I did. I remember speaking to you on the phone. I didn’t think you’d remember me.’
‘Oh, I remember all the pretty girls.’ Somehow he managed to say it without sounding creepy. Perhaps it was the genuine smile, or the kindness in his eyes. ‘You’re Doug’s girlfriend, too.’
‘I …
’ She trailed off, flustered. ‘Sorry, I wasn’t expecting that. How do you know?’
He laughed, taking a swig of his coffee. ‘Doug happened to mention it when he called this morning. When I say happened to, I think we both know he phoned deliberately to make sure I knew.’
‘Oh.’ An uncomfortable heat pricked at her cheeks and she knew she was blushing, something she absolutely hated doing in front of this hot-shot businessman she was trying to impress professionally. ‘I don’t know why he’d do that.’
Again Robert laughed. ‘Oh come on, sure you do. He knows my type when it comes to women, and you’re most definitely it.’
Her discomfort increased. ‘I don’t know what to say. I’m flattered, of course, but I’m not here to impress you with my looks, such that they are. I want to impress you with my business knowledge.’
‘Oh, don’t you worry, you’re doing that, too. The presentation you gave just now was spot on. The best I’ve ever seen on one of these workshops.’ He sat back and studied her for a moment. ‘Are you happy working with Doug?’
Carefully Abby put down her coffee, smiling to herself as she placed it on the coaster. Seems some of Doug’s mannerisms were rubbing off on her. ‘I’m not sure if you’re asking me from a personal or professional standpoint but the answer to both questions is yes. I’m very happy with Doug, in every sense.’
Robert let out a bark of a laugh. ‘Nicely handled and don’t worry, I’m not coming on to you, though I may flirt out of habit because I can’t seem to help myself when it comes to attractive women. What I actually wanted to find out was whether you feel you’re being stretched enough at Crumbs. Or whether you’d consider a move to a more dynamic company. Like mine.’
Shock had her lurching forward – thank God she’d put her coffee cup down. ‘You’re offering me a job? But you’ve only just met me.’
‘I’ve seen enough to know you’re exactly the type of bright young talent I want in my business. Crumbs is traditional and dated. Come and work for me and I’ll show you how companies of the future will operate.’ He rose to his feet then, though not before giving her a cheeky wink. ‘Think about it.’
Doug looked at his watch for the seventh time since he’d arrived in the office. It felt like she’d been away for three weeks, not three days, though technically for him it was four because of course she’d gone home to her family last night, not to him. He respected that, absolutely.
It didn’t stop him wishing he’d been the first one she’d dashed home to.
The days had dragged with no Abby to light them up at work. The evenings had been even worse. He used to be content coming back to his haven of a studio and painting. Now every evening spent without her seemed like a waste; hollow, stark, empty. It was funny that the two things he’d always been so obsessed about – removing himself from his father’s control and achieving success with his art – were now within his grasp, yet his current happiness was down to neither. It was all due to Abby.
His head turned at the sound of footsteps and then suddenly she was there, striding into his office, hair in a ponytail, body enclosed in a smart purple suit that looked amazing on her. Smile a mile wide. ‘Good to see you’ve not been slacking while I’ve been away.’
‘Abby.’ He stood and walked round the desk to hug her, uncaring of who might be watching.
She melted against him as he drank in her smell, her feel, her warmth. ‘Looks like you might have missed me,’ she teased when he finally let her go.
‘I did.’ His eyes searched hers. ‘Did you find the time to miss me?’
Rising onto her tiptoes she planted a soft kiss on his lips. ‘Of course I did.’ Then she arched her brow. ‘Why, worried Robert Langstone might have stolen your girlfriend?’
The way she emphasised the last word sent a rush of guilt through him. ‘Ah. I guess Robert told you about our … conversation.’
She smiled, fiddling with his tie. ‘He told me how you’d phoned that morning to warn him off, yes.’ Raising her expressive eyes up to his, she frowned slightly. ‘Don’t you trust me?’
‘Of course I do.’ She was as honest as they came, he knew that. ‘That doesn’t mean I’m going to make it easy for the competition to steal you away.’ He was disconcerted to find a slight pink tinge to her cheeks. ‘Abby?’
‘No, it’s nothing, at least not in the sense you mean.’
Jealousy fizzed through him and he forced himself to take a step away before he did anything awful like grab at her arms too tightly. ‘What happened?’ He knew his voice was too harsh, but the control he prided himself on was hard to find where Abby was concerned.
She bit on her lip, shaking her head. ‘Don’t look at me like that. I told you, nothing happened. He flirted, as you’d warned me, but he didn’t push. At least not personally.’
He heard the caveat, but was too focused on the more important issue to pursue it. ‘Did you like him?’
‘Of course I did.’ He flinched and she immediately closed the gap between them, putting her arms around his waist and squeezing him tight. ‘Oh my God, Doug, I don’t mean like that. I liked him as a person; he was fun and charming and easy.’ He didn’t miss the fact that none of those words described himself. ‘But I didn’t fancy him, if that’s what you’re getting at. How could I, when I’m utterly besotted by you?’
Slowly he felt himself start to relax. ‘You are?’
She thumped at his chest. ‘Of course I am, you great muppet. It turns out I don’t go for men who are cocky and easy-going. I like them reserved and complicated.’ Her lips gently brushed his. ‘Plus artistic and wildly attractive.’ Another brush of her lips. ‘And did I say athletic yet? I definitely love that in a man.’
With a sigh he drew her back against him again, kissing the top of her head. ‘You’ve no idea how much I missed you, Abby. No idea at all.’
He felt her smile against his chest. ‘I do, you know, because I felt it, too, even though I had Robert to keep me company.’
Laughing, he pushed her away. ‘Okay, I deserved that. Now tell me about the part of that sentence from earlier that went at least not personally.’
She glanced up at him rather coyly. ‘He did sound rather keen to have me work for him.’
It wasn’t the same gut wrenching jealously he’d felt earlier, but his heart still gave a painful lurch. If he lost her professionally, wouldn’t that be just a step towards the bigger loss? He knew damn well Robert’s business was up in Manchester – at least three hours away from him, on a good run. She’d have to move and he’d hardly see her.
‘Hey, don’t look so worried.’ Her hand cradled his face, reassuring him. ‘I told him no. I’m happy, Doug. Both personally and professionally, I have everything I need right here.’
He took her hand and raised it to his lips, praying she would always think that way.
Chapter Thirty
It was October, a busy time in the Spencer family with two birthdays coming up. It was a family tradition that birthdays were celebrated together. It didn’t have to be on the day itself, as long as the occasion was marked with presents, cake and candles.
‘When are we going to celebrate your and Dad’s birthday?’ Abby asked Holly as they all sat down for dinner midweek.
Doug had joined them, as he did now and again because otherwise, between home life and her new job – she’d been a management trainee for two months now – she hardly saw him. He was perched on the end, next to Sally who still blushed every time he spoke to her, and opposite the dynamic duo of Holly and Ellie.
‘This weekend.’ Holly beamed, bolognaise sauce dribbling down her chin. ‘Can we go out for pizza?’
‘Can’t do Saturday.’ Mandy put a spoon in George’s hand and helped him scoop up some bolognaise. He was fifteen months old now and determined to feed himself, though his co-ordination wasn’t always the best. ‘You said you’d look after George, remember? Dad’s got his pub quiz and me and Roger have that party.’
‘Damn, yes
, I’d forgotten.’
‘Not supposed to say damn,’ Ellie reminded her, sucking a piece of spaghetti into her mouth. ‘Not in front of our sensitive ears.’
Sniggering followed her comment, but when Abby glanced at Doug she saw that though his mouth smiled, his eyes were like those of a puppy who’d been accidentally kicked by its clumsy owner. And she was the bitch doing the kicking, she realised with acute shame. Only yesterday he’d asked her if she was still on for going away for the weekend. How had she forgotten her promise to Mandy? Juggling the Spencer diaries and PA work had been hard but do-able. Add in a more demanding job, and an actual social life of her own, and it was starting to seem flaming impossible. ‘Sorry,’ she mouthed.
He shrugged, and though she knew it was an accepting, can’t be helped sort of shrug, guilt slammed through her. ‘How about Sunday?’ she asked the table, figuring she could persuade Doug to take her away the following weekend instead.
‘I’m not giving up hockey.’ Ellie pouted. ‘We’ve got a tournament coming up and if I don’t go to training I won’t get picked.’
‘We could go out after that.’
‘But it’s Tabitha’s party on Sunday.’ Holly gave her a I-can’t-believe-you-don’t-know-that look. ‘I told you last week, remember?’
Oh God, she had, too. And damn it, that was a present they needed to buy. ‘Okay then, how about the next weekend?’
Finally there was agreement on the following Saturday. Another weekend when she’d be tied up with family, instead of the man at the end of the table. Her heart ached when she looked over at him again. He was talking to Sally now. Freshly seventeen, nearly a woman, she was transfixed by every word he was saying. Abby knew how it felt to be the sole recipient of Doug’s dazzling blue eyed focus.
It was no wonder Sally couldn’t look away.
With a sigh, Abby turned back to her meal.
‘That sounded as if it came from your boots, sunshine.’ Her dad gave her a nudge, his eyes filled with concern. ‘Everything okay?’
She smiled and touched his hand. ‘Don’t fret, I’m fine. Just wish there were more hours in the day, and more days in the week.’
Oh Crumbs Page 26