Annie walked up the steps to the big navy-blue double doors, getting her key out of her bag. What the hell had he sent the taxi away for? Suddenly all she wanted was for him to be gone, to just be alone.
On the step underneath the porch light, he took her hand. Then, to her surprise, he pulled her in close, and started to kiss her. He pushed his tongue into her mouth and Annie jerked her head away.
‘Don’t do that,’ she snapped.
‘Oh, come on,’ he said, and she saw him smile. ‘The evening’s been a bit of a disaster so far, but that’s no reason to call it off altogether.’
He moved forward again. This time Annie shoved him, hard, and he half-staggered down the steps and nearly fell.
‘What the fuck’s wrong with you?’ he said, glaring up at her as he regained his balance.
‘Me? Nothing. You? You’re a pushy arsehole looking down your stupid nose at the entire world, and you know what? I don’t like you.’
She opened the door and went inside, slamming it behind her. She wiped her mouth, irritated at him, at herself too because she’d hated him kissing her but what did she expect? Violins? Heavenly choirs? She marched across the hall and into the study, fell into her chair and picked up the phone on the desk. She dialled.
‘Doll?’ she asked when she heard the familiar voice on the other end of the phone.
‘How’d it go?’ asked Dolly excitedly.
‘It was horrible. He’s a prick.’
‘Damn. That’s a shame.’
‘He tried to French me.’
There was a brief silence on the other end of the phone.
‘Annie, love,’ said Dolly, ‘you used to run a knocking shop. You were a gangster’s moll, pardon me for pointing out the flipping obvious. And you married into the Mafia. And you’re shocked that some guy French kissed you?’
‘Oh fuck the men. Who cares? I’m happy enough without them.’
‘You can’t give up yet.’
Annie stared at the phone. This from a woman who, as far as she knew, had never so much as given any man a second glance.
‘Tea tomorrow? The Ritz? Don’t forget.’
‘I haven’t forgotten.’
‘And listen, Ellie was telling me about this fantastic bloke…’
Annie let out a groan. ‘Don’t. I’ll see you there tomorrow, OK?’
‘Chin up,’ said Dolly.
‘Oh fuck off,’ said Annie, and hung up to the sound of Dolly laughing merrily in her ear.