E for England Read Online Free PDF

kind to us.’ Annie licked her lips. The unconscious sexiness of the movement slammed into him like a wrecker’s ball. He forced himself not to fixate on her mouth. ‘Leonie’s a very smart woman. She’s a lawyer. She does claims assessing for our clients. We work for an insurance company which insures the shipping industry. I’m in the accounts department. Not nearly as high-powered as she is. Leonie travels a lot which is why this situation works, I guess.’
    Hugh nodded. ‘But you want to move.’
    â€˜Yes, I have to eventually but it’s so hard to find a place I can afford. What I’d really like to do is buy, but even though I could do repayments I can’t scrape up a deposit.’ She took another mouthful of wine and sighed. ‘I started my MBA last year but had to defer. If I can ever finish it I could get a better paying job.’ Her defeated expression showed just how unlikely that prospect was.
    â€˜Tough position to be in.’
    â€˜It is what it is. No use complaining. We’re managing.’ She flashed that bone-melting smile again and straightened her back. ‘Enough about me. What about you? What’s your life like?’
    Hugh tore his eyes from her smiling mouth and concentrated on the question. ‘I’ve just taken up a position at St John’s Hospital. I haven’t been there long so I’m settling in and finding my way. I like it so far.’
    â€˜Where are you from exactly?’
    â€˜London.’
    â€˜And James is your cousin.’
    â€˜Yes. Luckily his flatmate moved out just in time for me to move in. It’s perfect.’
    â€˜Lucky. So no strings attached?’
    He caught her eye and shook his head firmly. ‘No, not yet. I’d quite like to marry but I have no desire for children at all. In my experience women want marriage and children.’
    Annie smirked. ‘No need to give me that warning look, Hugh. Relax. I’ve been there and done that and when this one is over I’m not marrying again in a hurry. Not after that experience.’ She gave a theatrical shudder, reached over and refilled his glass then her own. ‘I’m hanging out for the year’s separation to be up so I can lodge divorce papers. We can be friends.’
    â€˜Sounds good.’ Hugh returned her smile with genuine warmth. It did sound good. He’d very much like to be her friend, to see her again. ‘I don’t have many friends here yet.’
    â€˜I’m sure you’ll collect plenty very quickly. Especially women.’ She put her glass down and ticked off on her fingers. ‘Professional, good income, good-looking, young, unattached, nice accent.’
    â€˜I don’t have an accent.’
    â€˜You do. You sound posh to us.’
    â€˜Hah. And you think I’m good-looking, do you?’ He raised an eyebrow. So she wasn’t as anti-men as she sounded. That was encouraging. He didn’t want a relationship with her but he didn’t want a rabid, bitter man-hater as a friend either.
    â€˜You know you are. Don’t be modest.’ Annie grinned. ‘You’ll have more friends than you can poke a stick at in no time. What made you move to Sydney?’
    The wine slowed down his reactions and the change of tack threw him for a moment.
    â€˜I lived in Australia when I was a teenager. I stayed with my uncle and aunt, James’ parents, for a few years. They live in Adelaide.’
    Annie frowned. ‘Where were your parents?’ Hugh hesitated. She said, ‘Sorry. I’m prying. None of my business.’
    â€˜No, it’s okay.’ He took a sip of wine. ‘My father died when I was young and my mother remarried. I never got on with my stepfather. Life was…difficult.’
    â€˜So you lived with your aunt and uncle instead.’ Annie had filled in the gap. Partially but it would do. ‘It must have been hard to come all this