The New Year Resolution Read Online Free Page A

backwards by the collar. “Sorry,” she said to a surprised Ryan, “he always does that with strangers.”
    “No problem.” Ryan walked into the front room, patting Rupert on the back. “That’s a beautiful dog you’ve got there.”
    “I know.” They stared at each other for a few seconds before Nicole said, “Why don’t you come in? I’ll make some tea.”
    “Thanks.” Ryan followed her awkwardly into the lounge and sat down on the sofa, in the exact spot where Nicole had been sitting only moments earlier. Nicole put the kettle on and turned to face him across the open-plan kitchen and lounge area.
    “So, I have to admit this is something of a surprise.”
    As are you , in those jeans and a t-shirt.
    Ryan looked the antithesis of the suave businessman he’d been last night. Denim jeans stretched around tight thigh muscles, giving the impression of someone who was used to hard manual work. His T-shirt had a surfing logo on it, a testament to an outdoorsy lifestyle and the pale colour contrasted nicely with his tanned arms.
    “Yes, I can see how it would be,” he began, clearly unsure where to start. “And I had no intention of bothering you today, believe me.”
    “It’s okay.” She smiled, trying to make a joke. “I didn’t have that much to drink last night. I’m hangover free.”
    Ryan fell silent as the kettle bubbled to a noisy climax.
    “Sugar?” asked Nicole.
    “Please, one.”
    Nicole stirred the teas, wondering why the teaspoon suddenly seemed incredibly loud against the edges of the mugs. “Here you go.” She handed a steaming cup to Ryan and perched on the leather armchair opposite him. “Now, why don’t you tell me why you are here? Did I leave something in the car?”
    “No, nothing like that.”
    Ryan took a sip, gathering his thoughts. This was harder than he had expected. When Vincent had called this morning with his proposal, Ryan had been ecstatic, until he’d heard what the proposal consisted of. But he couldn’t refuse. Vincent was holding out an olive branch and Ryan had to take it. It was his only shot.
    He looked at Nicole, face freshly scrubbed, barefoot and totally relaxed in her domain. She didn’t seem worried that he was seeing her with no make-up on. A far cry from Inge who wouldn’t leave the room without first spending an hour in the bathroom, or Gabriella who always had her personal make-up woman do her face before she appeared in public.
    “I have a proposition for you,” he said, feeling more confident. For some reason he felt that he could talk to this girl honestly and she wouldn’t berate him.
    She studied him with interest. “Oh?”
    “Yes. You don’t have to agree to it, but I’d be incredibly grateful if you did.”
    Please agree, he begged silently.
    The look of interest increased. Good.
    “I heard from Vincent Mahler this morning. He has invited me to spend a week with him and his family.”
    “Wonderful! Then you got the funding?”
    “Not exactly.” Ryan hesitated. At Nicole’s confused look he added, “He invited you as well.”
    “Me? But why me?” stammered Nicole, shaking her head.
    “Because he thinks you’re my girlfriend,” pointed out Ryan. “And the crafty old bastard is putting me to the test.”
    “You think he doubts us?”
    “I don’t know.” Ryan shrugged. “But he’s not going to hand over twenty million without doing some serious due diligence first.”
    “Twenty million?” mouthed Nicole, her eyes out on stalks. “No, of course not.”
    “So I need to ask you if you’ll come away with me?”
    Nicole leant her head back against the chair and closed her eyes. Ryan waited. She really did have a lovely neck. His eyes idly drifted downwards over her chest. He realised with a start she wasn’t wearing a bra. Her nipples pushed against the thin material of her T-shirt, becoming more obvious the more he stared at them.
    Quickly, he lifted his gaze. Nicole opened her eyes.
    “Look, I’m really sorry Ryan,