A Funny Thing About Love (10 page)

‘Thanks,' Will said, taking a portion of sushi. ‘Like the get-up, Molly.' Molly turned as scarlet as her lipstick. Carmen winced in sympathy: who would be a teenager again?

Then Carmen and Will were alone once more. ‘Okay, this is me being serious for a minute, and I don't want you to laugh at me or tease me.'

Carmen put on a mock-innocent look. ‘When do I ever do that?'

Will rolled his eyes. ‘When do you not? I wanted to ask if you'd have dinner with me next week. Now we're not working together it's going to be much easier to see each other. You know Tiana had that problem with inter-colleague fraternising, as she called it, but now we can do what we like, can't we? Not that I ever needed her permission.' The ‘do what we like' was practically dripping with suggestion.

Carmen liked the suggestion, liked being asked, in fact was wildly flattered. ‘Are you asking me out, Will?'

‘I think that's pretty obvious, don't you? I have to after that kiss.'

That kiss!
Carmen got the free-fall elevator sensation again and the butterflies batted their wings in anticipation, but she still couldn't resist playing him. ‘I'll have to check my itinerary,' she said loftily, ‘and get back to you on that.'

‘Come on, Carmen, you're unemployed, you're going to have shedloads of free time – there's only so many episodes of Jeremy Kyle the spirit can take.'

‘I'm not unemployed!' Carmen shot back. ‘I'm a writer, remember!' Oh God, now she had said it, she had better bloody get on with it. But it wasn't just the work issue; she actually hadn't been out with anyone since she split up with Nick. She wasn't sure if she was ready, whatever that meant.

Will was stopped from pressing his cause any further as Molly enthusiastically rang a gong, declaring, less
enthusiastically, ‘Dad's going to make his speech thing now.'

‘Don't worry,' Matthew called out from his position by the fireplace, crammed with family photos, Penny at his side, resplendent in a black sequinned flapper dress – neither she or Matthew did understated. ‘I'm not going to witter on, I know there is valuable drinking time to be enjoyed and liaisons to be struck up.' Carmen was sure it wasn't her imagination that he seemed to glance over at her and Will.

‘I just really wanted to say a massive and heartfelt thank you to everyone in this room. Thank you to everyone I've worked with over the many, many years; it really has been the most tremendous fun. It never felt like work to me to be alongside you all and signing up such marvellous acts and watching their talent flourish. Only lately.' He paused. Everyone knew what he meant.

‘I have to thank Trish especially for looking after me so wonderfully,' at this he raised his glass in Trish's direction; tears were streaming down her cheeks. Poor Trish, Carmen wondered how long she would last with Tiana. Matthew revelled in people's quirks, but she had a feeling Tiana would not tolerate Trish's enormous collection of cacti for long. ‘And for this lovely cactus,' Matthew gestured at the giant cactus on the mantelpiece. ‘Apparently she's called Fifi and her favourite song is “You're All I Need to Get By”.' He smiled at Trish.

‘I also have to thank my family, especially Penny.
My work took me away from home a lot, but I think it's my turn to make it up to her, and I'm going to be the domestic rock for a change and support her in her work.'

He raised his glass to Penny, who said, ‘Don't worry, kids, I'll still cook.' Matthew was known to be able to make macaroni cheese and that was it. But there was real warmth in her voice; theirs was a marriage that had weathered many a storm.

‘And this is of course also Carmen's leaving party, so I'm now going to hand over to her.' Matthew ignored Carmen's frantic gesticulations to the contrary. What the hell was she going to say? She hadn't prepared anything and she hated speaking off the cuff.

‘Thanks, Matthew,' she replied through slightly gritted teeth, aware of everyone in the room looking at her. ‘Before I say anything, I think we should all give a toast to Matthew. He's been a fabulous boss, an inspiration. I'm sure we're all going to miss him greatly. Here's to Matthew, and good luck in his new career as a writer and apparently a domestic goddess, though I'm guessing Nigella doesn't have anything to fear just yet.'

‘I protest!' Matthew called back, ‘My macaroni cheese is without compare.'

‘To Matthew,' the room took up the chorus. Then looked at her expectantly.

‘So as you know I also resigned last week. I'm going to miss all of you, but I felt it was time for me to have a change. I'm absolutely terrified about it, but it had
to be done. Thanks for all your support over the years, the gossip in the ladies' loos, and the many laughs.' She ground to a halt, not knowing what else to say.

‘To Carmen,' Will declared next to her. ‘Funny, impetuous, gorgeous Carmen. We're all looking forward to the comedy drama.'

‘To Carmen,' the room echoed.

Carmen smiled and Will raised his glass to hers. She rather liked his toast, but wasn't so sure that she wanted him to know that yet. As she was now surrounded by Lottie, Trish and Daisy, Will touched her briefly on the shoulder. ‘I'll catch up with you in a bit,' he said, moving off to talk to Janie, one of his clients, a female comedian whom Carmen was convinced had the hots for him. It had been one of the many things she'd teased him about.

‘He's not interested in Janie,' Trish told her, seeing Carmen looking at the couple.

‘He's been pining for you,' Lottie said, ‘in a state of depression.'

Carmen looked at the pair of them in disbelief. ‘No way.'

‘It's true.' Daisy actually spoke. Usually she restricted herself to glaring, eye rolling and vigorous gum chewing. ‘He really hasn't been himself.'

‘You see,' Carmen exclaimed, ‘this is exactly why I always said I wouldn't have a relationship with anyone at work. I don't need the analysis!'

‘Oh, shut up,' Lottie said good-naturedly. ‘And tell us if he's asked you out yet.'

A pause, which Carmen milked for dramatic effect, then she came out with, ‘He might have.'

‘Carmen!' the trio exclaimed in exasperation.

‘Okay then, yes!'

‘That's so romantic,' Trish sighed. ‘Will is lovely. I know he has that tough exterior, but underneath he's so kind and warm and passionate, I'm betting.'

‘She's just pleased that Will managed to get the fish for her,' Daisy said.

‘They're tropical – I've got some guppies and angelfish,' Trish said proudly. ‘Do you want to see the pictures of them?'

‘Could I get some more champagne first?' Carmen replied. She really could not be expected to look at Trish's fish sober.

Conversation then moved on from Will and fish, and Carmen didn't hold back on the champagne. She felt happier than she had all week and she wanted to hold on to that precious feeling, which had been in very short supply lately. The bubbles went straight to her head as she'd barely eaten anything that day, because she was so nervous about seeing Will. Then Casper turned up the music and dimmed the lights and people began dancing. Carmen found herself being led on to the dance floor by Matthew as they all danced to ‘We Are Family'. He spun her around and they both energetically threw some shapes. She was slightly worried about Matthew's dodgy hip, but it seemed to be holding up well.

‘So have you and Will got a bit of a thing going?'

Matthew shouted in her ear over the music. Carmen was surprised. Matthew didn't usually comment on people's private lives. She shook her head. Matthew looked sceptical. ‘Just be careful. Will is pretty ruthless. I think he only really cares about work, and I don't want you to end up getting hurt, especially when you're feeling vulnerable. I know how much the news about Nick and the baby has upset you.' Matthew was one of the very few people at Fox Nicholson who knew about that, and his reference to it took the wind out of Carmen's sails. Right now it was the very last thing she wanted to be reminded of.

‘We're just having fun, Matthew, and I might go out for dinner with him sometime. It's really no big deal.'

Matthew put his hand lightly on her arm. ‘Good girl, you deserve it.'

He made to spin her around but she smiled. ‘I'm going to get a drink.'

She wove her way through the dancers, trying to block out Matthew's words. Molly was passing out shots of tequila. Carmen waylaid her and downed two in quick succession. ‘Respect.' Molly said, looking at her in awe.

‘Rubbish,' Will replied, appearing at Carmen's side. ‘It's not big or clever.'

‘It's my leaving party and I'll get drunk if I want to,' Carmen replied, taking a third shot. She stumbled slightly and Will reached out to steady her arm.

‘Are you too drunk to dance?' he asked. ‘What about dancing cheek to cheek, my lady in red?'

‘I'd like to see Casper's face if you requested that particular number,' Carmen replied. She was definitely feeling wobbly.

At that moment The Cure's ‘Lovecats' came on. Molly let out a snort of disgust. ‘What is it with this old timers' music? I want a bit of Kasabian.'

‘It's a classic, young lady,' Will told her. ‘And anyway, it's your dad's leaving party, you've got to let him have his tunes.'

Molly gave him the face version of ‘whatever' before one of her waitress friends joined her and they both did that teenage girl thing of huddling together and giggling.

Will turned to Carmen and held out his hand. ‘Come on, let's show these teenagers how it's done.'

Now this was a testing moment in any courtship. How did the man dance? Would Will sway from foot to foot as if he had concrete in his shoes, or would he throw some foxy moves that would have her wondering if he was entirely straight? Or would it be a version of Michael Douglas dirty dancing in a V-necked sweater with Sharon Stone in
Basic Instinct
that had the power to give any woman nightmares?

She took Will's hand and followed him to the dance area. Once they were in the throng she was all set to let go, but Will kept hold of her hand and they performed a version of an energetic jive to the music, with him spinning her round and performing some smouldering moves with his hips that would have had the judges on
Strictly Come Dancing
combusting with
delight. Will was a good dancer, he had rhythm. He went up further in Carmen's estimation.

After ‘Lovecats' came ‘Wake me Up Before You Go-Go', where Carmen and Will deliberately camped it up and strutted around the floor, occasionally catching each other's eye and giggling, then Casper dramatically slowed down the pace with Sinatra's ‘One for My Baby'. Carmen looked at Will and smiled. ‘Did you pay Casper to put this on?'

Will shook his head. ‘So will you dance with me?'

Carmen stepped into his arms. They moved slowly to the music, which was steeped in regret and loss. ‘Funny that we should be dancing to this,' Will said softly. ‘As this is about the end of something, and I really hope we're at the beginning.'

There was a moment at the end of the song when they held each other's gaze, then Casper segued into ‘Smack My Bitch Up', which had the consequence of clearing the dance floor as Molly and her posse took over along with Casper and his mates.

‘It's one a.m.,' Will said as they watched the teenagers do their thing. ‘D'you want to share a taxi?'

Here was a dilemma. Was Will just proposing a taxi ride? If he was, would she be offended at his lack of interest? If he wasn't, was she really in the right frame of mind? Was she too vulnerable for Will? She looked into his blue eyes, ‘I'll just have one more drink, one more for the road.' She reached for a glass of red wine from a tray Molly had abandoned on the top of the piano in her haste to get down on it.

‘Champagne, tequila and now red wine. Miller, you are hardcore and you are going to be so hungover. Come to mine and I'll make you a cup of tea and feed you paracetamol.'

Carmen glugged back some wine and then pulled a face; she really had drunk too much. She was getting the blurry, spinny-head feeling.

Will took the glass out of her hand and put it back on the tray. ‘Come on, let's call that taxi.' He took her arm and they wove through the partygoers.

While Will called for a taxi on his mobile, Carmen found that she had to cling to the banisters for support, swaying gently from side to side like some kind of drunk orang-utan. This was not good. Orang-utans were cute but not sexy. She tried looking down but the black-and-white tiles swam in front of her eyes. Looking up was no better as the light, table and Will started to perform a slow waltz in front of her. It was actually rather delightful but she wasn't in her twenties any more, she knew perfectly well what this signalled – the descent into drunkenness and the certainty of a humdinger of a hangover. She had to ask Will if he had peppermint tea. She always drank peppermint tea after a night on the lash as if it was supposed to offer some miraculous cure. It never did, of course.

Will finished the call. ‘Are you very drunk, Miller?'

‘Very,' she smiled at him. ‘So did you mean what you said about me? That I'm funny, impetuous and gorgeous?' She swung out one of her arms and nearly
lost her balance. Will put his arms round her waist and she sort of collapsed into him.

‘And drunk, but very lovely with it.' He was definitely being Sexy Will now, not smarmy. He leaned towards her and lightly kissed her lips. Yes, very sexy. Carmen lightly kissed him back, lord, how she hoped it was lightly and not a drunken slobber. And then Sexy Will slid his arms round her neck and she slid her arms round his waist, his very satisfyingly hard abs – all those sessions in the gym before work had definitely paid off. Got to love a man who worked out. She breathed in slightly. The only workout her abs had been getting lately was digesting Oreos and salt and vinegar Hula Hoops. And then the heat turned up on the kiss as it went from PG to a definite 18 certificate, a steamy, sexy, take me, devil-may-care kiss. Even drunk, Carmen registered how good the kiss was, even better than their first, and as Will pressed his body into hers she registered something else pressing into her at a very pleasurable angle – perhaps him being only slightly taller than her had its advantages after all. Except now the something was vibrating, which seemed a little freaky.