Page 36 of Be More Octopus

Em hadn't expected that at all. He normally exuded a quiet confidence.

She tried reassuring him. 'If I appear to be staring, I'm only looking for light and shadow. You're just a series of lines and shapes to me when I'm in the zone.'

'I'm not sure how to take that. It feels like you're looking into my soul.' He laughed nervously.

What was he worried about her seeing? How did he want her to see him? Better not ask that. It could all get intense very quickly. She remembered the hot Argentinian. Moving Jack into a pose where he wasn't looking directly at her might help. 'Can you swing around about 45 degrees to your left? Focus on that painting on the wall.'

Jack followed Em's instructions, but he was soon drumming his fingers again.

What could she talk to him about that would distract him in a good way? 'How did you become a television presenter?' she asked.

'A production company asked my old professor to write and present a documentary, but he didn't have time. He suggested me instead. I wasn't particularly interested, but I'd just finished my PhD, and I needed the money, so I agreed to do a test shoot. Apparently, I came over rather well. And the rest is history.' He grinned at her.

Em groaned. 'If anyone ever suggests you do standup comedy, say no.'

At least he'd relaxed now. But not for long. He started to look pensive.

'Are you uncomfortable?' Em asked. 'You can move again if you want.'

'It's not that. I was thinking that if I'd said no, I would never have met Isabella. Funny how one quick decision can have a massive impact on one's life.'

'How did you meet Isabella?' It wasn't a question that would make him relax, but Em had been looking for an opportunity to find out.

'At the television production company offices. They were throwing a party - their tenth year in business or something similar. Isabella was a guest too. She was going out with one of their directors. She made a beeline for me. She told me how she loved watching my documentaries. She asked if I'd give her a personal tour of the Maritime Museum. So we exchanged numbers, and a couple of days later, that's what I did. '

'Is she interested in ships?'

'No. Not at all. But I didn't know that then. She fooled me into thinking she was. She hung on my every word. I was flattered. I fell for her. We exchanged lots of texts. Went out for a meal. The following weekend she turned up on my doorstep saying she'd left her boyfriend and asking if I could I give her a bed for the night. We were rarely apart after that.'

He was still looking thoughtful.

'Can you move again, please?' Em asked.

Jack turned. He was looking directly at Em now. 'Is this ok?'

'Yes,' she said.

She started drawing him on a new sheet of paper. His look was soft, almost appreciative. Em found it incredibly sexy. She began to feel uncomfortable in an 'I want to walk over to you and tear all your clothes off right now' sort of way. More memories of the hot Argentinian came flooding back. Jack looked away for a moment.

'Tell me how you met Connor,' he said.

Talking about Connor was the last thing Em wanted to do, but at least it would break the sexual tension. Had Jack done that deliberately?

'It was at a work colleague's wedding in Birmingham. I almost didn't go. I knew I'd be the only one without a partner there. But it was either that or sitting at home with my parents, so I dragged myself out. And I had a good time until the end of the evening.' She realised she'd stopped drawing. Jack was watching her closely again.

'The slow music came on, and everyone coupled up except me. I was sitting on my own at a table. And then, a drunk Connor appeared and asked me to dance.'

She hesitated. She'd made it sound more romantic than it actually was. 'Well, what he actually said was, 'Don't sit there on your own looking miserable. You may as well be miserable with me.' Quite prophetic, as it turned out. I found out later his girlfriend had walked out on him about ten minutes earlier. She'd caught him by the toilets touching up one of the bridesmaids. There's a lovely moment on the wedding video where you can see her in the background slapping him across the face. Anyway, I took him up on his chivalrous offer. And you know the rest.'

'You deserve better than that.' Jack was still looking at her intently.

'Thank you,' she said. ‘You're right. One quick decision can have a massive impact on your life.' She sighed. 'I think I've done all I need to for now. Shall we call it a day?'

CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

That afternoon a text distracted Em from the landscape she was painting in her living room. It was from Jack.

I'm cooking chilli tonight. Do you want to join me for dinner? 6.30?