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First published in Great Britain by HarperImpulse 2015
Copyright © Nikki Moore 2015
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Cover layout design © HarperCollâinsPublishers Ltd 2015
Nikki Moore asserts the moral right to be identified as the author of this work.
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library
This novel is entirely a work of fiction. The names, characters and incidents portrayed in it are the work of the authorâs imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or localities is entirely coincidental.
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Digital eFirst: Automatically produced by Atomik ePublisher from Easypress.
Ebook Edition © February 2015 ISBN: 9780008114770
Version: 2017-10-10
This is for all the fabulous, lovely and enthusiastic bloggers, reviewers, readers and fellow authors who have supported and generally raved about the #LoveLondon series so far. Every review, rating, Tweet, Facebook mention, blog post, purchase or email is truly appreciated. Youâre all stars; thank you.
Spring is a time for new beginnings so this story is also for anyone starting out on a journey, whether itâs a professional or a personal one. Be fearless, and enjoy it.
Skating at Somerset House
New Year at the Ritz
Valentineâs on Primrose Hill
Cocktails in Chelsea
Strawberries at Wimbledon
Picnics in Hyde Park
Thursday
Sofia Gold sighed as she stepped into the trendy bar on the Kingâs Road. If she cared less about being polite, sheâd be wearing her own clothes. Instead, she was tugging down the hem of the clinging, vibrant yellow designer dress Tori and Christie had wrestled her into and fighting the urge to pull the plunging neckline up a few inches closer to her chin.
While showing off tons of leg and cleavage wasnât her at all, she had to admit the yellow outfit didnât look too bad with her long golden hair, which Christie had made her straighten. It was just a shame she was being slowly crippled by towering four inch high heels. They might make her short legs look amazing, but the balls of her feet were already aching and theyâd only left the girlsâ exclusive white-pillared, black-gated residence twenty minutes before.
Of course she liked partying, enjoyed going out and having a laugh. After all skating ramps and riding the waves on her beloved surfboard couldnât take up all of her spare time. She was also lucky enough to live in Bournemouth, and the coastal town had a great night life humming with stag and hen parties despite its reputation as the retirement capital of the south. The difference was, she usually went into town in tight jeans, mid-range heels at most and a cropped vest-top, not in outfits that felt designed to torture. Plus she drank at lively bars with the best, pulsing music and happiest, loudest crowd, not airy warehouse spaces with tons of lighting, exposed vintage-looking iron pipes and dark wooden floors packed with privileged and wealthy trust-funders.
But Tori and Christie were Mumâs best friendâs daughters and sheâd promised to make an effort during this visit. If she offended them itâd be a giant dinosaur bone of contention with her mother for years. The idea of being on the wrong side of her mum was scarier than the thought of wearing the outfit for the evening.
âYou look lovely, Sof,â Tori leaned close to whisper into her ear, âbut you would look better if you stopped pulling at the dress constantly. Just try and own it.â
âThanks,â Sofia murmured.
It was good advice.
Except.
Except she felt awkward and out of place. It wasnât her scene. Everyone was on show, all the little circles of people air-kissing and studiously not watching each other while totally watching each other, there to be seen and talked about. What did she know about dressing in luxury brands and living it up with the glitterati in the capital? Nothing.
âCome on darling, donât stand there gawping.â Christie grabbed Sofiaâs elbow, wrenching her from her thoughts and steering her around a couple of smooth looking guys in casually stylish jacket and jeans combos. âLetâs order some champagne. Despite being on the French Riviera at the moment, Mummy was so pleased you agreed to come that we simply have to make the most of it. Sheâll be very upset if she thinks weâre not looking after you,â Christie continued sharply, her narrowed blue eyes bright against her English rose complexion.