Molly Cooper's Dream Date

Molly Cooper's Dream Date
Barbara Hannay

Molly’s Diary April 10thSo, I’ve finally done it. I’ve house-swapped my little cottage in Australia for a snazzy bachelor pad in Chelsea. I can’t wait to explore London. Most of all I’m hoping to meet my dream man, my secret fantasy: a perfect English gentleman. Though I’m starting to wonder whether Patrick, my house-swapper, might actually be HIM! Is that ridiculous?We’ve been e-mailing – and he sounds HOT! Oh, hang on, there’s another e-mail now – can’t wait to find out what Patrick’s been up to… What do you do when you realise the one you want is half a world away – living in your home, sleeping in your bed…?

Praise for Barbara Hannay

‘Barbara Hannay’s name on the cover is a sure-fire guarantee of a good read.’

—www.cataromance.com

‘Stories … rich with emotion and chemistry. Very layered and lifelike characters …’

—RT Book Reviews

‘Barbara Hannay will take you on an unforgettable journey …’

—www.cataromance.com

About Barbara Hannay

BARBARA was born in Sydney, educated in Brisbane, and has spent most of her adult life living in tropical North Queensland, where she and her husband have raised four children. While she has enjoyed many happy times camping and canoeing in the bush, she also delights in an urban lifestyle—chamber music, contemporary dance, movies and dining out. An English teacher, she has always loved writing, and now, by having her stories published, she is living her most cherished fantasy.

Visit www.barbarahannay.com

Also by Barbara Hannay

A Miracle for His Secret Son

Executive: Expecting Tiny Twins

The Cattleman’s Adopted Family

Expecting Miracle Twins

The Bridesmaid’s Baby

Her Cattleman Boss

Did you know these are also available as eBooks? Visit www.millsandboon.co.uk

Molly Cooper’s Dream Date

Barbara Hannay

www.millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk)

Special thanks to Jenny Haddon,

whose wonderful London hospitality inspired this story.

CHAPTER ONE

‘THIS is my favourite part,’ Molly whispered as the glamorous couple on her TV screen walked sadly but stoically to opposite ends of London’s Westminster Bridge. ‘He’s going to turn back to her any minute now.’

Molly was curled on her couch in a tense ball. Karli, at the other end of the couch, helped herself to more popcorn.

‘Don’t miss this, Karli. I cry every time. Look. He hears Big Ben, and he stops, and—’ Molly’s voice broke on a sob. ‘He turns.’ She hugged her knees. ‘See the look on his face?’

‘Ohhh …’ Karli let out a hushed breath. ‘You can see he really, really loves her.’

‘I know. It’s so beautiful.’ Molly reached for tissues as the gorgeous hero stood alone on the bridge, stricken-faced, shoulders squared, waiting for the woman in the long fur coat to turn back to him.

Karli grabbed a cushion and clutched it to her chest. ‘He’ll chase after her.’

‘No. It’s up to her now. If she doesn’t turn back, he knows she doesn’t love him.’

On the screen, a red double-decker London bus slowed to a stop and the movie’s heroine, in her ankle-length, glamorous coat, hurried to catch it.

‘No,’ Karli moaned as the bus took off with the woman on board, and the camera switched to another close-up of the hero’s grimly devastated face. ‘Don’t tell me it’s a sad ending.’

Molly pressed her lips together to stop herself from speaking. The camera tracked upwards to a bird’s eye view of London, showing the silvery River Thames curving below, and the Houses of Parliament, Big Ben … the solitary figure of the hero standing on Westminster Bridge … and the red bus driving away.

Karli was scowling. Molly hugged her knees tighter, gratified that her friend was hooked into the tension.

The camera climbed higher still, and the London bus was matchbox-size. The sounds of the city traffic were replaced by music—violins swelling with lush and aching beauty.

Molly had seen this movie more than a dozen times, but tears still rolled down her cheeks.

And then … at last …

At last …

The bus stopped.

The tiny figure of the heroine emerged …

The camera swooped down once more, zooming closer and closer as the lovers ran towards each other, arms outstretched, embracing at last.

The credits began to roll. Karli wrinkled her nose. ‘OK. I admit that wasn’t bad.’

‘Not bad?’ Molly sniffed. ‘I suppose that’s why you practically bit a piece out of my sofa cushion? Come on—admit it’s amazing. The look on Christian’s face when he thinks he’s lost Vanessa is the most emotional moment in cinematic history.’ She gave a dramatic sigh. ‘And London has to be the most romantic city in the world.’

Shrugging, Karli reached for more popcorn. ‘Isn’t Paris supposed to be the most romantic city?’

‘No way. Not for me. Paris is—Paris is … Oh, I don’t know.’ Molly gave a helpless flap of her hands. ‘Paris just … isn’t London.’

‘Admit it, Mozza. You have a thing for English guys. You’re convinced that London is full of perfect gentlemen.’

It was best to ignore her friend’s sarcasm. Molly wasn’t going to admit that it held a grain—OK, maybe even more than a grain—of truth. Her love affair with London was deeply personal.