Read Chanel Sweethearts for Free Online

Nick’s smiling face flitted through her mind. ‘...And, you know, my friends down here?’
    â€˜Darling, it’s the city, not Europe,’ Tori scolded, lightly tapping Jessica on the wrist. ‘You have everything running smoothly here with Linda in control, and Melbourne’s only an hour-and-a-half away. You could come home on weekends and have the best of both worlds.’
    â€˜Yes, that’s true. There’s nothing really stopping me,’ Jess said, and chewed her thumbnail thoughtfully.
    Tori waggled a finger at her. ‘What about Nick? What will he say?’
    Jessica frowned. ‘What are you talking about? What’s Nick got to do with it?’
    â€˜Found your problem, Jess,’ came Nick’s voice from the kitchen. ‘I found what’s making the god-awful smell.’
    â€˜Oh, Jeezuz! Keep it down!’ Jess leapt up from the table. ‘Excuse me, Tori, kitchen issue. I’ll get Trixie to bring you some lunch.’
    As she entered the kitchen, she fumed. ‘Could you not announce to the entire restaurant that we have a stinky kitchen?’ she demanded.
    Nick’s cheeky grin emerged from the manhole. ‘Keep your hair on, Red. Look.’ A dead mouse dangled by its tail from his fingers.
    Jess flew over and slammed the lid on a stockpot that was bubbling away precariously close to the carcass.
    â€˜Shit!’ she whispered in horror. ‘We haven’t got mice, have we?’
    â€˜No, this little guy’s a one-off. The traps are all empty and the bait hasn’t been touched. Have you noticed any mouse droppings?’
    â€˜None at all. You’re a star. How about a steak sandwich for your efforts?’
    â€˜With fries, cos I’m about to nail that loose verandah board down.’
    â€˜Your prices have gone up,’ she told him, smiling.
    â€˜I’m a skilled worker, you know. You can’t expect me to charge mere bread and water.’
    She laughed as she wrote down his order and took it over to the chef.
    It was funny that Tori had mentioned Nick. It wasn’t as if they were an item – never had been – though they’d been the closest of friends at high school. Back then he’d constantly had a troupe of admirers happy to be his girl but he’d never settled on any one favourite. Then, during their HSC year, Imogen had come along with her sleek big-city attitude and had finally tamed the most popular boy in school. They’d got married after she fell pregnant but tragically the baby had died just after birth and the relationship ended soon after. Nick had simply seemed to disappear for a few years after that, and when he did resurface it was without his trademark confidence and easy smile. Both had taken longer to restore, but now he seemed to be in a good place again. Four years ago, just before she met Graham, Nick and Jess had picked up their friendship where it had left off. Nick had been an absolute star since Graham walked out, supporting her through the darkest times, but they were still just best friends and nothing more.
    â€˜I’m off, darling,’ Tori said, peeping around the swinging kitchen door.
    â€˜We haven’t finished our chat,’ Jessica protested. ‘I haven’t even asked about your life.’
    â€˜Never mind, I can see you’re busy. Hi, Nick.’
    â€˜G’day, Tori,’ Nick said, leaning against the bench. ‘I’ll get to your place tomorrow first thing.’
    â€˜Thanks, that’d be fabulous. I might catch you at home later, Jess. But right now, I’m going shopping: there’s a new homewares shop in Red Hill.’
    Then she looked back at Nick as a thought struck. ‘Hey, you don’t know a cobweb guy, do you? I have cobwebs in the corners of my windows and I need an HLM to get them off.’
    â€˜An HLM?’ Nick asked.
    â€˜Yes, a Helpful Little Man,’ Tori said. ‘I’ve never