Nadia Knows Best by Jill Mansell Page B

she’s jealous of me. If I were you I’d get out quick, and thank your lucky stars you found out what she’s like before it’s too late.”
    And with that she stalked off into the house.
    â€œWell,” said Jay finally. “That was… interesting.”
    â€œSorry.” Nadia gritted her teeth. She couldn’t think of anything else to say.
    â€œHad we better be making a move?”
    â€œYes.”
    Keen to avoid any further contact with her family, Nadia led him round the side of the house to where her car was parked on the drive.
    As she fumbled with the keys, the sitting-room window was flung open and Harpo screeched, “Nadia’s got a fat arse!”
    Jay looked startled. “Good grief. Is that your sister?”
    â€œMy grandmother’s parrot.” As soon as the words were out, Nadia wished she’d just said yes.
    And then Clare’s voice came bellowing through the same window: “She’s desperate to get married and have babies, you know!”
    OK, enough.
    â€œExcuse me.” Nadia abruptly wheeled round. “Won’t be a moment.”
    Aware of Jay’s eyes on her back, she crunched up the gravel path and stormed through the front door, slamming it hard behind her.
    â€œOw!” shrieked Clare, clutching the side of her face. She lunged forward but Nadia was too quick for her. Like the SAS, she was in and out in less than five seconds.
    â€œSorry about that.” Jumping into the driver’s seat, Nadia started the engine.
    Jay replied with amusement, “I don’t think you are.”
    Thankfully he didn’t appear too shocked.
    â€œWell. She deserved it. Sometimes only a really good slap will do.” Nadia paused. “We’re sisters. It’s allowed. Laurie used to call them our Oasis moments.”
    â€œGot it.” Jay grinned. “You’re Noel, she’s Liam. She winds you up, you retaliate. But you love each other really.”
    â€œI suppose. Anyway, it wasn’t true,” said Nadia. “About me being desperate to get married and have babies. Not that it’s relevant,” she added hastily, “but it still isn’t true.”
    This would have been an appropriate moment for Jay to have told her that she didn’t have a fat arse either—because she didn’t —but all he did was nod.
    Her heart sinking, Nadia drove him back to his car in silence.
    As he lifted the bubble-wrapped painting off the backseat, she said, “I expect you’ve changed your mind now about giving me the job. Had second thoughts about taking on a mad sister-slapper.”
    â€œOne thing,” said Jay. “Why did you persuade me to buy this painting?”
    â€œHonestly?”
    â€œHonestly.”
    â€œI liked it better.” Nadia paused. “And also Clare was having a dig at me this morning about my ex-boyfriend. She knew she was getting on my nerves and she was really enjoying it. But I really do prefer that painting.”
    He nodded. “OK.”
    â€œOK what?”
    â€œBetter hand in your notice at the garden center.”
    Nadia exhaled with relief, a huge smile spreading unstoppably across her face. “You’re sure?”
    â€œHey, I have a brother, I know what it’s like. We used to fight all the time.”
    Heroically, she suppressed a wild urge to fling her arms round him. “Used to? You don’t still fight?”
    Jay shook his head. “Not anymore.”
    â€œOh, thank you!”
    â€œHere, give me a ring in the next day or two.” He passed her a business card from his wallet.
    Clutching it like a winning lottery ticket to her chest, Nadia said fervently, “You won’t regret this. I promise not to slap any of your clients.”
    â€œGlad to hear it,” said Jay. “And it might be an idea to check the seal on that bottle of hair remover. Make sure it hasn’t mysteriously got squeezed into your