Lou had responded to the signals Stephanie had given her. It had clearly taken a lot for Lou to ask, and Stephanie had treated her appallingly. She hadn’t spoken to Lou since, but she would have to soon. They were in the early days of the plan to roll the purchase order system out to the Southampton office, a project Stephanie had been roped into during her first week with the company. They needed to reach a place where they could work together comfortably, and for that to happen, Stephanie needed to apologise for what had occurred last week.

And she needed to work out a way not to be attracted to Lou so that nothing like this reared its ugly head again.

* * *

Lou’s music greeted her as she approached. Dexter Gordon. She took a deep breath and steeled herself.

When she was a few feet from Lou’s chair, she said, “Knock, knock.”

Lou looked at her with such pain in her eyes… Stephanie nearly cried.

“I’m so sorry,” she whispered before her brain could engage to keep the emotion out of her tone. “I shouldn’t have been so rude to you last week, and I’m really sorry if I gave you the wrong impression about…us.” Liar! You gave her the right impression; you’re just too scared to take a chance on where it will lead you.

Lou nodded slowly, her blush creeping across her neck and face.

“Can we just forget it—please?” she said in a small voice that ached with something Stephanie couldn’t identify.

She longed to wrap Lou in her arms and hold her tight. She clenched her hands at her side. Stop it. Fight it. You are not gay. You are not gay.

Stephanie nodded briskly and pulled up the spare chair.

“So.” Her business persona instantly slotted back in place. “Southampton—did you get the updated figures I sent you after our meeting with Tania?”

* * *

Matt rang her on Wednesday night. He had an uncanny ability to know when she was at her lowest.

“Hey, sweet pea, how’s life?” His voice, chirpy as ever, instantly put a smile on her face.

“How do you always do this?” she asked, laughing ruefully. “Do you have a sixth sense or something?” She picked up her glass of wine and took a deeply satisfying gulp.

“Darling, of course not. I’m just a gorgeous gay man who is so in tune with his BFF that he knows instinctively when she needs a little pick-me-up.”

Stephanie laughed out loud. “Oh, come on, seriously, what’s the secret?”

“You were supposed to call me last night. When you miss a call, that’s when I know you have something heavy on your mind that needs discussion. So,” he continued before Stephanie could even begin to apologise, “Friday night, our place. You bring the wine. Jake will cook.”

* * *