‘So what are you going to do?’ he asked.
‘I’m going to wait for Diana to see the jewellery. I left it at her place with a note. I’ll see if she wants to talk about it. The ball’s in her court now.’
‘You know, you could research your mum and her adoption. I’m sure you can get the papers now she’s passed and you’re next of kin.’
Amanda slapped her own leg. ‘Great idea, I will. God, why didn’t I think of that?’
‘Because you’re not as brilliant as me?’ he teased.
‘Clearly! You should be wearing the top hat – it would look great with your gardening shorts.’
‘Why thank you, ma’am,’ Simon said, and pretended to tip his pretend top hat.
Are we flirting?wondered Amanda for a moment but then pushed it from her mind. Simon was just being funny. It was clear he was still pining after Anika.
‘Okay, I’m off to be Detective Amanda Cox, the dual-passport-holding, brilliantly talented and intuitive mystery solver.’
‘What’s your catchphrase? They always have a catchphrase.’
‘Hmmm.’ Amanda thought for a moment. ‘How about: I know what’s up.’
‘What’s up where?’ Simon looked confused.
‘The news, the clues, the mystery,’ she said. ‘Okay, that one doesn’t translate so well.’
She thought again. ‘Mysteries, I solve them.’
‘Wow, straight to the point.’ Simon laughed.
‘Or I attempt to.’ She laughed with him and stood up. ‘Thanks for the chat,’ she said.
‘Anytime. I’m going to keep planting out the pool.’
Amanda’s phone rang and she pulled it out of her pocket and looked at the number.
‘I don’t know who this is,’ she said.
‘Answer it – you might have won another house.’ Simon wiggled his eyebrows at her.
‘Very funny,’ she said as she answered the phone.
‘Hello, Amanda speaking.’
Amanda listened to the voice on the end of the line and looked at Simon.
‘I can, absolutely. Can you text the address to me on this number? Amazing, thank you – I’ll see you tomorrow.’
Amanda put the phone back in her pocket. ‘I have a job interview tomorrow, at a garden centre – the one the girl at the spa told me about.’
She jumped up and down and Simon jumped to his feet and grabbed her hands.
‘That’s amazing, how great,’ he cried and she jumped into his arms, hugging him close.
‘I know! I can learn stuff and get a discount on the plants.’
Amanda hugged him tightly and she felt his stubble on his cheek where it was pressed against hers. She breathed in the scent of the soil and his perspiration and felt his arm encircling her and she nestled into his neck.
His mouth was so close, she thought, just a slight move and they would kiss and then she would…
