My Year of Saying No - Maxine Morrey Page 0,6

poodle, a little miniature schnauzer, and a dash of mystery, but clearly all heart and cuddles.

‘I think we can say he definitely likes you,’ the kennel assistant laughed as I picked the little dog up and snuggled him into me, whereupon he nuzzled into the crook of my arm and made himself comfortable, surveying the waiting room and looking for all the world as if he was right where he was supposed to be. And that was exactly how it felt. My year of saying no was beginning with most definitely saying yes to this little boy.

‘You really called him Humphrey?’ Seb asked, grinning at the little fuzzy face now peering at him through the screen. ‘Is that even legal?’

I covered Humph’s soft ears with my hands. ‘Don’t listen to the big mean man. He’s just jealous.’

‘You’re not wrong, there. He looks like he’s being thoroughly spoiled.’

‘In a good way.’

‘Of course. We all need a bit of spoiling from time to time.’

I glanced up from popping Humphrey back in his soft bed down by my feet, where he was now busy walking round in circles to find the exact point which would be the comfiest. From observation, this usually took him three or four turns. Right on cue, he plopped down with a contented sigh and within moments was snoring gently. ‘I guess we do.’

‘So, he’s settling in OK?’

Seb had been travelling on business quite a lot over the last few weeks, raising the profile of the charity and taking on a keynote speech at a conference in America. We’d spoken by message on and off, but this was our first proper catch-up for work in three weeks.

‘He is. I was a bit worried how he’d be as the rescue place thinks he’d been abandoned and had lived on the streets for a short while before some kind soul brought him in to them. But he’s so chilled. It’s brilliant. He loves his toys and walks but seems happy to just sit curled up with me when I’m reading or working.’

‘Sounds like this was definitely one of your better dates then?’

‘This,’ I said, ‘was the perfect date.’

‘So, how’s work?’ Jess asked, handing me a glass of chilled white wine as I sat, legs curled under me, on her sofa. Half-packed boxes surrounded us, as Jess began to pack up her little flat, ready for the next step.

When we’d both embarked on the year of saying yes, neither of us had envisioned it involving Jess saying a very big yes to the huge, sparkling rock she now wore on her left hand. Moments into New Year’s Day, as I was being propositioned by a belching city type, Jess was receiving a far more romantic proposal from a far more evolved city type. I’d never seen her so happy and they’d decided that her moving in to Harry’s larger apartment was the logical next step. She’d already begun turning his once sleek and shiny bachelor pad into a much more homely place, filled with scented candles and scatter cushions. She practically lived there anyway, so paying rent on a place she hardly used didn’t seem the most financially wise decision.

Jess stepped over a box and plopped down next to me.

‘Good thanks. I’ve got a couple of new clients and I’m just helping finalise the guest list for the charity’s summer gala so we can get the invitations printed and sent.’

‘Don’t forget to make sure Harry and I are on it.’

‘Already done. Thanks, Jess. We both really appreciate you supporting it.’

Jess smiled. ‘And how is the delectable Major Marshall?’

I rolled my eyes at her.

‘He’s fine.’

‘Still single?’

‘I’ve no idea,’ I said.

Jess gave me a look.

‘What?’

‘Why don’t you just ask him out?’

‘Because I don’t want to!’

She gave a snort of disbelief. ‘We’ve known each other since we were four. You’re going to have to try harder than that.’

OK, so maybe she did know about my crush then. That still didn’t mean I had any intention of actually admitting it.

‘I don’t! He’s a client, that’s all.’

‘A client you talk to every day. A client you remotely watch Eurovision together with. A client who—’

‘Yes, all right. I get your point. OK, he’s a friend, as well as a client.’

Jess opened her mouth to speak, but I headed her off.

‘But he’s still a client. Besides which, he’s never suggested anything, and he’s not exactly the shy and retiring type. If he had any interest in me, he would have said something by now. I think he probably prefers