Цитаты из книг автора «Sophie Love»

“Well,” Amy said, her tone sounding as though she were gearing up for a big reveal, “we totally can! The two-bed has just come on the rental market and we can totally afford it.” Emily paused, letting the information filter into her mind. When Amy and Emily had been students in New York, they’d constructed a whole fantasy about living in the converted church, surrounded by all the cool bars in the Lower East Side that they loved to frequent. But that had been back when they were in their twenties. That wasn’t Emily’s dream anymore. She’d moved on. “But I’m happy here,” Emily said. “I don’t want to come back to New York.” There was a long pause on the other end of the phone. “You mean, ever?” Amy finally said. “I mean for at least six months. Until my savings run out. Then I’ll have to make other arrangements.”

This time it wasn’t Ben’s name, but Amy’s. Emily snatched the phone up, relieved for the lifeline. “Amy,” she gasped. “I’m so glad you called.” “You don’t even know what I’m going to say,” her friend quipped. “I don’t care. You could read the phone book for all I care. I’m just glad to hear your voice.” “Well,” Amy said, “I do have something exciting to tell you actually.” “You do?” “Yes. You know how we always used to talk about living in that converted church in the Lower East Side, and how awesome it would be?” “Uh-huh,” Emily said, not knowing where this was going.

“We should take a break,” Emily said. They’d both been working for hours and this seemed a good a time to stop as any. “I could make us some food.” “Like a date?” Daniel said, shaking his head jokingly. “No offense, but you’re not my type.” “Oh?” Emily said, joking along with him. “And what is your type?” But Emily didn’t get a chance to hear Daniel’s response. Something had fluttered out from the ledge of the window, where it must have been lodged for years, and it had

Well,” Daniel said, eyeing the grandfather clock. “You have Internet now, don’t you? You could do some research. It would be a shame just to throw it all out.” Emily considered what he was saying, and was struck by one particular detail. “How did you know I had Internet?” Daniel shrugged. “I saw the truck is all.” “I didn’t realize you were paying such close attention to me,” Emily replied with an air of faux-suspicion. “Don’t flatter yourself,” came Daniel’s dry response, but Emily noted that there was a wry smile on his lips. “We’d better

Neither am I,” she snapped. “Nor was I proposing it.” He smiled wider. “Good,” he said. Daniel held out his hand for her to shake. Emily frowned, uncertain about what she was getting herself into. Then she shook his hand. “Strictly business,” she agreed.

He smiled. “I’m in,” Daniel replied. “But I’m not taking your money. I’m doing it for the sake of the house.” “Because you think I’ll break it?” Emily replied, raising her eyebrow. Daniel shook his head. “No. Because I love that house.” At least they had that in common, Emily thought wryly. “But if I do this, know that this is strictly a working relationship,” he said. “Strictly business. I’m not looking for any more friends.” She was stunned and irritated by his reply.

“Look,” Emily said, growing irritable, “I said I’d pay you to help. It’s just moving some furniture, maybe painting a bit. I’m only asking because it’s more than I can do on my own. So are you in or out?”

“I noticed you’d been doing some clearing out,” he said at last. “How long are you planning on leaving that mound for? You know the neighbors will get twitchy.” “Leave the mound to me,” Emily replied. “I just need to know if you’ll come help out.” Daniel folded his arms, biding his time, making her stew. “How much work are we looking at?” “To be honest,” Emily said, “it’s not just the ballroom. I want to clean out the whole house.” “That’s ambitious,” Daniel replied. “And pointless, considering you’re only here for two weeks.” “Actually,” Emily said, drawing the word out to delay the inevitable, “I’m staying for six months.”

You’re most welcome,” he replied, stepping out onto the front steps. “Oh, and thanks for the coffee. That was really great. You should think about opening a cafe!” Emily saw him out, mulling his words over in her mind. Maybe she should open a cafe. There wasn’t one on the high street that she’d seen, whereas in New York there was one on every corner. She could just

Someone’s popular,” the service man said, chuckling as her phone vibrated again with another incoming email. “Something like that,” Emily mumbled, stowing her phone back in its perch by the front door. “Thank you, though,” she added, turning to the service man as she opened the door. “I’m really glad to be connected to civilization again. It can get a little isolated out here.”