The New Year Resolution Read Online Free

interesting...” Nicole began, unsure how to proceed. The night had progressed much along the same vein, with Vincent Mahler promising he’d think about Ryan’s proposal.
    In the car on the way home Nicole had sensed Ryan’s frustration. He’d hoped for a more positive response, obviously. Although Nicole didn’t know the ins and outs of the project, she knew it was important to Ryan to secure Vincent’s approval and she hoped it worked out for him. She’d said as much when he dropped her off outside her house. It was two in the morning when they’d finally got home. The latest night Nicole could remember since Olivia was born.
    As midnight had struck, Ryan had leant over and kissed her gently on the cheek. It was a platonic kiss, with no hint of anything more. Nicole also had the sneaky suspicion it was more for Vincent’s benefit than her own. Right then she knew this date wasn’t going to progress anywhere – and she was fine with that. It had been fun. Ryan was great, but that’s all it would ever be. One fun night.
    “Nicole, I want to thank you for your help tonight. I really appreciate it,” Ryan had said on the way home. “I know I took you by surprise and I’m sorry about that.”
    “Don’t be, it was fun,” scoffed Nicole, unperturbed. “It’s not often I get to pretend I’m some millionaire playboy’s girlfriend.”
    Ryan frowned. “What makes you think I’m a playboy?”
    “Google,” said Nicole, with a cheeky grin. She’d looked him up on her iPhone while waiting in the line for the loo, earlier that evening. His love life made for interesting reading. “Not that it matters to me. I had a great time tonight and Vincent and Sylvia are lovely. I hope you get to work with him.”
    “Me, too,” said Ryan, giving in and smiling with her.
    They pulled up in front of Nicole’s house. The Merc drifted to a stop, the engine idling. “Thanks again, Nicole.”  There was a note of finality in his voice.
    “Goodbye, Ryan,” she whispered, and climbed out of the car. The Jacaranda blossoms had covered the pavement with a soft lilac carpet which muted the sound of her heels on the concrete.
    It was nice knowing you.
     
    “Hot interesting or boring interesting?” pressed Janine, refusing to let it go. Nicole giggled.
    “Jan have you Googled this guy? He’s a bona fide playboy. He dated some Spanish princess and when they split up it was plastered all over the international press. A month later he was with some super-model in Majorca. The guy’s way out of my league.”
    “I had no idea...” There was a pause as the information filtered through. “I never would have suggested it if I’d known. Dave didn’t say a word.”
    “Perhaps he didn’t know, either,” suggested Nicole, stroking Rupert’s big head that was now resting on her knee.
    “Actually, he probably didn’t,” admitted Janice. “He does have his head buried in an engineering book most of the time. Foreign princesses and super models aren’t really his forte, thank goodness.”
    Nicole laughed. “Never mind, Jan. I had a great night. It was worth it just for the experience. It’s not like I wanted anything serious, anyway. This was the perfect splash of colour to kick-start my new year.”
    The doorbell rang.
    “Oops, sorry, better go. There’s someone at the door.”
    They hung up and Nicole padded barefoot to the front door. Rupert, ever faithful, trotted along at her heels.
    “Who is it?” Nicole called.
    “It’s Ryan,” came the curt reply.
    Nicole frowned. What on earth was he doing here? Despite her confusion, her heart traitorously skipped a beat. Then she chastised herself. He had only shown her polite indifference last night. It was not a romantic reason that had brought him back here this morning.
    She pulled open the heavy wooden door. Rupert immediately gave Ryan the once over and then stuck his big wet nose into the man’s crotch.
    “Rupert, come here,” hissed Nicole, pulling the big dog