Sophie pulled a face at herself in the mirror and with her brush tugged at her hair, split it in two and plaited it into scruffy plaits. She didn’t want to impress Todd. Where the hell had the incipient excitement dancing low in her belly come from? It could just sod off. It was like being fifteen again and you spot the best-looking boy in the school glancing your way across the corridor and your stomach gets in a bit of a spin before you realise that actually he’s looking at Laura Westfield who’s already got a 36C bust.
Pulling on her favourite pair of jeans, she rubbed her finger over the threadbare worn-out patch on her thigh with a laugh. They were now officially trendy, although it was only because they were so old and comfortable that she couldn’t bear to part with them. OK, they also did good things to the shape of her arse, but that was an added bonus. The faded blue T-shirt vest came out because it was clean and then she topped it with a baggy white linen shirt.
She gave herself an approving look in the mirror. It didn’t look as if she were trying to impress anyone, and then she added battered royal-blue Converse not because they matched the vest but because they were practical. She had no idea where Todd planned to take her, but he’d said it was a tour of Brooklyn, so she surmised there’d be quite a bit of walking involved.
At the last minute, she slapped on some of her favourite tinted moisturiser that gave her skin a golden glow, a touch of her standard understated Lancôme lipstick and a quick brush of mascara. There were some limits to her pride.
Packing her favourite Love Food tote bag with essentials like water, a camera, her phone, plasters, paracetamol and an umbrella, she felt like a proper tourist and for the first time since she’d arrived had that holiday feeling of excitement and enthusiasm.
When Todd rang the bell on the intercom, she patted her bag and skipped down the stairs, throwing open the door with a wide smile.
‘Morning.’
‘Oh Jeez, you’re a morning person.’ Todd lifted his sunglasses to reveal rather bleary eyes.
‘Late one?’
‘Just a bit. Party in Tribeca. New club opening. Didn’t get to bed until after three. The things I do for my job.’
‘Poor you. That’s work?’
‘Hell yeah, it’s work.’ He sounded fierce and very slightly defensive.
‘Are you OK for today?’ she asked, her spirits plummeting slightly. She’d been looking forward to this all morning and the thought of having to find something to do for the rest of the day suddenly made her feel hollow inside. ‘We can always take a rain check. Perhaps go for a coffee.’ She was rather proud of herself, using the phrase made her sound like a local, or at least she thought it did, and made light of her disappointment.
‘No way, José. No lightweights here. I’m fine. Just keep the volume down and a bit less of the Heidi, wide-eyed bounce. Loving the plaits, by the way.’
‘I’ll do my best. And thank you. So where are we going?’ She looked down the street. At ten o’clock in the morning it was busy with families and groups, everyone heading out for brunch.
‘Bella’s first for coffee to go, and then nine blocks north to Hoyt-Schermerhorn to pick up the subway. And then,’ he paused, smiling to himself, ‘actually, do you know what English, let’s make it a surprise.’ He steered her towards the bakery and pushed open the door, ushering her through first.
Sophie paused in the doorway and grinned. ‘I love surprises.’
‘Somehow I thought you might. Not normally my thing. I like to know.’ His jaw tensed very slightly. ‘That way no one ends up disappointed.’
‘I won’t be disappointed.’ Sophie, still poised in the doorway, tipped up her face with a happy sigh. ‘The sun is shining and it feels like I’m on holiday. And I have my own personal guide, which makes it even better. I don’t even have to do any thinking. I can relax.’
‘What, you think you’re in safe hands?’ asked Todd, a flirtatious dimple appearing to the right of his mouth.
‘I didn’t say that.’ Sophie shot him a severe, quelling look. ‘I don’t think any woman should ever think of you as a safe pair of hands.’ She walked into the bakery and joined the queue in front of the counter.
‘Have you been listening to my cousin again? She’s not a reliable witness. Bears grudges. I wouldn’t listen to a word she says.’
‘Not just her … remember, I spend half my days fending off calls from Amy, Lacey and Charlene.’
He grinned wolfishly. ‘I can’t help it if I’m irresistible.’ His eyes danced with amusement and she knew he was sending himself up.
‘Who knew girls in New York were so desperate?’ said Sophie, grinning back at him.
‘Are English girls more discerning?’ asked Todd.
‘Absolutely,’ said Sophie, her lips twitching. ‘We like a touch of brains with our brawn and good looks.’
‘Ouch. What happened to Heidi?’
‘Heidi’s alive and well, she’s just in touch with her inner minx some days,’ retorted Sophie.
‘For that you can buy the coffees.’
‘Morning Sophie,’ said Bella. ‘Todd. What can I get you guys?’
‘Morning Bella, ooh you look rough.’
Sophie nudged him in the ribs. ‘And you wonder why she gives you a bad press.’ She shook her head in sympathy at Bella, who smiled warmly back before simpering at Todd, ‘Thanks, dear cous … wanna take your sunglasses off?’
‘Not yet.’
Bella turned back to Sophie. ‘And how come you look so bright-eyed and bushy tailed this morning?’
‘You two were out on the town last night?’ asked Todd, giving Sophie’s face a quick study.
‘I drank lots of water when I got in,’ said Sophie, smugly. ‘And took two paracetamol.’
‘I should have. Or maybe we shouldn’t have had that second bottle of Pinot. Was fun though.’
‘It was. Thanks Bella. I had a great time.’ It was the best night she’d had since she’d arrived in New York.
‘What were you doing?’
‘Just went to Harry’s bar and then Chinese take-away at mine,’ said Bella, handing over their coffees.
‘And that constitutes a great night out? You two need to get out more.’
‘We can’t all be Mr I’m papped coming out of the top clubs at 2 a.m.,’ said Bella, waving her hand at Sophie’s proffered ten-dollar bill. ‘On the house.’
‘How come I never get any on the house?’
‘One, because you put a corn snake in my bed,’ said Bella, snapping on the lids to their coffees and pushing them towards them, ‘and two, because Sophie helped out yesterday and is going to help out this week.’
Sophie picked up the coffees as Bella turned to take the next customer’s order.
‘See, that’s the grudge I told you about,’ muttered Todd, clutching his coffee as they stepped out onto the street again.
‘I’m not surprised, you must have been a horrible child.’ She levelled a reproving look at him.
His face split in a wide grin, ‘I did that when I was twenty-five.’
As they emerged from Fulton Station in Manhattan, Sophie felt a touch ashamed that she’d not ventured further afield in the last few weeks.
‘Wow, I feel like we’re in a different place altogether,’ she said, staring round at the crowded streets and wide road full of traffic.
‘There’s nowhere quite like Manhattan, it’s got a very different vibe to Brooklyn. Come on, we’re not staying.’
Sophie followed him as he took them down a side street with a determined stride, his hand periodically sliding under her elbow to guide her or bumping into her to let other pedestrians squeeze past on the crowded pavements.
Todd’s phone buzzed, which it had been doing rather frequently.
‘Do you want to get that?’
‘No, it’ll go to voicemail.’
They headed towards a very busy road and then Todd pointed. In the distance she could see water, the sunlight glinting off the surface, and ahead of them the towering pillars of Brooklyn Bridge.
‘I’m going to take you across the East River, across the bridge. The world’s oldest suspension bridge. And one of my favourite walks in the whole city. There’s nothing quite like it. You get the best of both worlds, a view of Brooklyn and then back the other way towards the Manhattan skyline. And I might treat you to an ice cream at the other end.’
As they joined the throng of people headed onto the bridge he pointed out a few landmarks including City Hall just across the street from them. Their walk was punctuated with another two calls on Todd’s mobile. Both times he pulled the phone out, checked the caller id and then slid it back into his pocket.
There was an infectious sense of gaiety on the path, as they strolled alongside walkers, tourists and the runners and cyclists separated by a designated lane. Under the midday sun with no shade, the breeze from the water was more than welcome. Beneath them, the cars made a rhythmic thunk, thunk noise as they crossed the sections of the road.
Todd came to stand behind her, pointing out the different skyscrapers, resting one hand on her shoulder, his animated face barely inches from hers. ‘That’s the World Trade Center, Four Seasons Hotel. That one with the green roof is the Woolworth’s Building and once, can you believe it, the tallest building in New York.’
As usual, his face was alive and alight with enthusiasm, his casual touch natural and at ease. It brought back a sudden memory: James, stiff and impatient, on a rare outing to see an exhibition at the National Portrait Museum and he discreetly shaking her hand off his arm as he dug through his pockets to check his wallet was still there.
‘Hey, English, there’s a new restaurant opening on the Upper West side in a couple of weeks,’ Todd piped up as they resumed walking. ‘You can come and be my foodie wingman.’
‘Oh, I can, can I? Because I’ve got nothing better to do with my time, than drop everything to go with you.’ Sophie put her hands on her hips and shook her head, half teasing about his calm assumption she’d be happy to accompany him. He really was just too sure of himself.
‘English, please, I could really use your help.’
Sophie immediately softened. ‘Why me? I’m more than happy to help but,’ she lifted her shoulders, ‘from what I can gather, you’ve got a queue of volunteers only too happy to step in at any time.’
‘That’s part of the problem. I ask them to come with me, then they get the wrong idea.’
‘Must be tough being so irresistible,’ Sophie teased. ‘Can’t you take a mate?’
Todd was no doubt used to women trying to impress him all the time. She wasn’t about to fall into that camp.
‘I could, but it’s useful to get a female perspective. You tend to get some funny looks if you start checking out the ladies’ restrooms. Besides, this time I can talk about the club vibe, the people, and you can tell me if the chef is any good or too high on coke to know his saffron from his paprika.’ He turned to her, those dazzling blue eyes like headlamps focused directly on her. For a dizzying second her pulse took off at a canter, mistaking his earnest look for something else completely. Luckily her head was in charge. ‘Please, Sophie. I need your help.’
Damn, was it even possible to say no to him? ‘You know, don’t you?’
‘Know what?’ he asked, suddenly all innocence.
She narrowed her eyes and studied his face, watching as that dimple flashed and his eyes slid over her head in studied avoidance.
‘That I’m incapable of saying no, if someone uses the magic word help.’
‘I might have noticed. Pleeease, Sophie. I really, really need your help.’
‘Put the puppy-dog eyes away. They won’t work.’
‘Sure?’ His winsome blinking made her burst out laughing. ‘Too much?’ he asked.
‘Way too much.’
They carried on walking, Sophie, like the other tourists, stopping to snap away. It was a blissful day and Todd was good company, telling her various interesting facts about the bridge.
His phone went again and he pulled it out of his pocket. With a wince he rubbed at his chin.
‘Will you excuse me? I ought to take this.’
With so much to look at, Sophie told him it wasn’t a problem.
‘Hey Amy. I got your message. Yeah, I’m sorry, I’ve been tied up. Babe,’ his voiced deepened, ‘not that sort of tied up.’
Sophie, hearing the laughter on the other end of the phone, immediately remembered Amy, of the high-pitched giggles, leaving messages at work.
‘Amy, you’re a very bad girl,’ he admonished, his face crinkling in a broad smile as he winked at Sophie.
She wanted to roll her eyes but his cheerful good-natured teasing of Amy was so open and friendly, it was difficult to disapprove, but it was very amusing when sudden horror crossed his face. ‘Of course I haven’t forgotten. Sure. The table’s booked. I’ll text you the address. You’re in for a treat.’
‘Nice save,’ she teased when he said goodbye and began tapping at the screen on his phone.
‘I don’t like to disappoint the ladies,’ he winked again, his eyebrows waggling lasciviously.
Sophie studied him, holding his gaze.
‘What?’
‘Nothing.’ His lady-killer routine seemed a little bit too hammed up.
‘Sorry, I need to make another call, d’you mind? And then I’ll be all yours.’
He scrolled through his phone, tapping away.
‘Aha, gotcha.’ He held his phone up to his ear. ‘Darla. Todd McLennan here. I’ve been trying to get in to do a proper review of the à la carte restaurant. Aw, no problem … The food was great … Yeah, I got the stain out. Poor guy, it was his first shift … Hell, no. No one died and I have a hundred other shirts … It was no sweat. I don’t suppose there’s any chance you could squeeze me in on Tuesday … table for two? That’s fantastic. Eight-fifteen. Darla, you’re a star. I owe you one.’
He caught Sophie’s eye and she gave him a cool look.
‘Handy … and presumably Amy need never know.’
Todd shrugged. ‘I like to keep my dates happy.’
Sophie winced.
‘What’s the matter?’
‘I’d hate to be referred to as a “date”, it seems so impersonal. As if you’re a pair of shoes being tried out for size. And the plural. Dates. Like they’re dresses hanging in a wardrobe and you choose one to take out for an airing.’
Todd burst out laughing. ‘I love that analogy, English. It’s pretty accurate but dates are to find out if someone suits you.’
‘Yes, but a stream of dates implies you’re not taking it that seriously.’
‘Or that you are taking it very seriously.’
She pursed sceptical lips, which failed to dilute the amusement on his face.
‘They’re dinner dates. Drinks. Dinner. Nights out.’
‘I’d like to say I think the dating scene is quite different here, but the truth is, I wouldn’t know.’
‘So how did you meet two-year man?’
‘Through work. I went to a launch party. New product.’
‘Oh, I love those gigs. Last one I went to had daiquiris and Armani goody bags.’
‘Mmm.’ Sophie thought back to the Benson’s Baking Powder event, more Darjeeling and Asda carrier bags.
‘Do you know how far it is across?’ asked Sophie suddenly, as a swathe of runners came jogging by in the separate lane.
‘Just over a mile.’
‘Do you think they run back again?’ asked Sophie.
‘Never thought about it.’
‘I ought to start running again,’ she mused out loud. ‘I’m a bit nervous running on the streets around the apartment, I don’t know the areas that well.’ At home, you knew where to avoid. In Brooklyn, you could walk down a street and in an instant it would turn into a very different area. ‘This would be quite a nice place to run, but it’s a bit too far to get to.’
‘I run in Prospect Park, it’s about ten blocks from the bakery. I cycle up there first. You could come with me sometime if you like.’
‘I don’t think I want to go running with you.’
‘Why not?’ He actually looked quite put out, which made Sophie smile.
‘Because you’re probably super fit.’ And would probably run at a pace she couldn’t possibly keep up with and no doubt had half the female population of Brooklyn looking out for him over their cornflakes. ‘And I don’t have a bike. I can’t remember the last time I went cycling.’
‘No problem. My neighbour on the floor below me has a couple. We could cycle up and then go for a run.’
‘Don’t you think you ought to ask him first?’
His lips quirked. ‘My neighbour’s a she and I’m sure she won’t say no.’
‘Does anyone ever say no to you?’ sighed Sophie, shaking her head with a rueful smile.
His face broadened with a wide beam. ‘No,’ he said simply. ‘But I’ll ask her tonight and let you know at work. Did you run with your boyfriend?’
‘Ha! You’re joking. I ran at the weekends, he wasn’t around then.’ She gave a hollow laugh, suddenly realising that it had been her way of chasing away the loneliness at the weekends when everyone else was coupled up.
They reached the end of the bridge and took a flight of stairs down to the waterfront, and Todd headed towards a white clapboard building with pale-sage green trim around the windows.
‘Come on, this is the place for an ice cream and the view from the deck is great.’
‘Sounds bliss. And just what I need. I hadn’t realised it was going to be quite so warm.’
The ice creams were huge and Sophie wanted to try everything and dithered over Peaches and Cream, which she’d never had before and really felt she ought to try, and Butter Pecan, which sounded so delicious and she knew she’d love it.
‘The lady will have Butter Pecan,’ said Todd firmly, putting a casual arm around her shoulders. Sophie stiffened for a second but he seemed totally focused on the ice cream choices. ‘You said today felt like a holiday. So you should have want you want.’ He paused, appraising the ice creams in front of them and leaned forward and then shook his head, looking at the pretty young girl behind the counter in her red-and-white striped hat and matching apron. ‘Sorry, can’t do it. Peaches and Cream. Seriously, that is not a proper ice cream flavour. I was going to have it so that you could try it but no, I’ll have the Double Chocolate Chunk.’ The girl behind the counter smiled back at him, because who wouldn’t when Todd was giving you his full attention?
Ice creams bought and paid for, they wandered out onto the wide wooden deck and crossed to the far rail right on the water. Sophie couldn’t take her eyes from the view of the towering skyscrapers.
‘This is one of my favourite views,’ sighed Todd.
‘City boy, then?’
‘Hmm, no, because I love the beach too. My family has a place out in Long Island. The beach there is incredible, another one of my favourite places. What about you – city girl, beach or country?’
‘Well, not so much the beach. Have you seen the weather in Britain? I grew up in the country, which was … OK, but going to the city, to London, was an escape. I think I’m a city girl. I love London, Barcelona, Paris, and I’ve been to Copenhagen. That was gorgeous.’
They swapped stories of the places they’d seen while admiring the high rises of downtown Manhattan opposite them.
‘It almost doesn’t look real. It’s so perfect today. I feel like I’m in a film or a photograph.’ She pointed across at the water, where the cerulean-blue sky, with the odd cloud, was reflected in the mirrored windows of the skyscrapers opposite. ‘I ought to take some pictures. Prove to my friend Kate that I’m getting out and about.’
Todd seemed perfectly happy to walk alongside her as she took lots of pictures of the Manhattan skyline and the bridge above. Two stereotypically perfect all-American cheerleading-type girls, their blonde hair, immaculate teeth and long tanned limbs shown to their best advantage in Daisy Dukes and vest-top T-shirts, slowed and nudged each other as they walked towards Sophie and Todd. One of them gave Todd the sort of smile that hinted at a lot more than friendliness.
As they passed, Sophie took a look over her shoulder and saw that both of them had stopped and were unashamedly watching him.
‘Really, some women have no shame,’ said Sophie with a hint of laughter in her voice. ‘I can’t believe those two were blatantly ogling your bottom.’
Todd’s mouth quirked at one side, something she recognised now as a precursor to his teasing. ‘And you’re not impressed?’
‘What, by your bottom? No, not at all,’ she lied, feeling a sudden flush. Since when had she started imagining men naked? Or specifically Todd. ‘Is it particularly special?’ she asked, keeping her voice light.
‘That’s what I like about you, English,’ Todd punched her arm gently, ‘you’re good for my ego.’
‘Glad I can be of service,’ she said crisply, grateful that he wasn’t a mind reader. At least if those two young women’s reaction was anything to go by, it meant that her response to him was perfectly normal and nothing she should worry about.