Your Place or Mine?

Your Place or Mine? A feel-good, laugh-out-loud romantic comedy Jo Lyons Gekko Press Copyright Copyright © 2023 by Jo Lyons All rights reserved. No portion of this book may be reproduced in any form without written permission from the publisher or author, except as permitted by UK copyright law. Jo Lyons asserts the moral right to be identified as the author of this work. All the characters in this book are fictious, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental. Dedication F or my sister Philippa Thank you for shining so brightly in our lives. Contents 1. Chapter 1 2. Chapter 2 3. Chapter 3 4. Chapter 4 5. Chapter 5 6. Chapter 6 7. Chapter 7 8. Chapter 8 9. Chapter 9 10. Chapter 10 11. Chapter 11 12. Chapter 12 13. Chapter 13 14. Chapter 14 15. Chapter 15 16. Chapter 16 17. Chapter 17 18. Chapter 18 19. Chapter 19 20. Chapter 20 21. Chapter 21 22. Chapter 22 23. Chapter 23 24. Chapter 24 25. Chapter 25 26. Chapter 26 27. Chapter 27 28. Chapter 28 29. Chapter 29 30. Chapter 30 Afterword Acknowledgments About the Author Benidorm, actually Coming soon...The Coach Trip Chapter 1 Kitty McAllister had always dreamed of one day being offered a well-paid job to work with a famous TV presenter in an exotic location; just not one who happened to be so familiar with the entrance to her reproductive system. She was looking forward to working with her ex-fiancé, Adam Johnson, in the same way she’d look forward to her house being burgled. He had humiliated her, all but jilting her at the altar and yet here she was, about to face him again after three whole years. The thought of having to direct him on set every single day for the next month was far from ideal, and she was on fire with embarrassment as she waited near the check-in desk for the rest of the crew to arrive. Her phone buzzed as she checked her bag once more to make sure all the work visas, car hire and hotel confirmations were where they should be. It was six-thirty in the morning and her friend and business partner, Perrie, was video calling. ‘Just checking you’re okay,’ she said. Kitty forced a bright smile. ‘Oh, you know. It’s not every day your executive producer bails on you without notice. I still can’t believe Jake has let us down like this.’ ‘I know,’ said Perrie, her voice catching. ‘And why did he book his brother for the talent? I mean, Christ Almighty, I’d have preferred anybody but him. I’m so sorry you’ve been put in this situation, Kitty. I really am. I have no idea what’s going on. He’s not picking up.’ Kitty nodded sadly. After all their years of working together, it was so unlike their business partner, Jake, to let either of them down. ‘What will it be like, seeing Adam again after all this time?’ Perrie said, breaking into her thoughts. Yes. What will it be like? Harrowing? Excruciatingly painful? Humiliating? ‘It’ll be fine,’ lied Kitty. ‘I’ll just remember to leave my personal baggage at the door. I’ll make sure that he knows that this is strictly business.’ ‘That’s such a relief. Unfortunately, we have too much at stake to risk him walking away. For some reason our company finances have not added up this month, so we’re having to do this shoot on a super tight budget and the last thing we want to do is antagonise or upset him and risk losing this contract.’ Kitty nodded in agreement. ‘Don’t worry. I’ll try not to remind him of what a terrible person he is. Or how he shattered my heart into a million pieces and never looked back. Not once. Or how he ruined the last three years of my life.’ Perrie, eyes ballooning, gave her an unconvincing smile. ‘I know what will cheer you up. This little lady would like to say good morning to her mummy. Wouldn’t you? Yes, you would. Who’s a little cutie? Who? Yes, you are. Who loves Aunty Perrie? Yes, you do.’ Kitty watched as Perrie, and an excited Alma, her ginger Cockapoo, slobbered over each other. Even though she was less than a year old she had the biggest, saddest-looking eyes Kitty had ever seen. Wise, troubled eyes. Deep wells of sorrow. It had been love at first sight. Kitty felt instantly lifted to see Alma’s wet nose sniffing the screen inquisitively. ‘That sleep suit looks so cute on her. The blue really makes her eyes pop.’ ‘Yes, she can wear absolutely anything and look adorable. Unlike her mother. Kitty, what are you wearing? You’re going to Spain, not off to dig for clams.’ Perrie, eyebrow poised, continued her instructions. ‘Don’t forget, Kitty. You’re in charge. Adam has to do what you tell him. Not the other way round, okay? You’ve done this a thousand times before. You’ve won a string of awards. Do not let him unravel you.’ ‘I know, I know. And I won’t, I promise. Even though he is a despicable human being, I’ll make sure not to upset him. I’ll be nothing but professional.’ ‘Good, because I’ve heard he’s a total nightmare these days,’ said Perrie. ‘A real diva on set and never sticks to the script. That’s not the worst of it. They say he’s got a terrible habit of sacking –’ She could almost hear the screeching of tyres as Perrie stopped talking. With her nerves wound tight to snapping, Kitty, keen to get off topic, ran through a few last-minute instructions on how Alma likes to wind down for bath time, what she likes to watch on TV and the detailed specifics of her bowel movement information. ‘And don’t forget, she can’t sleep without Mr Stinky. Whatever you do, don’t try and wash it or she’ll never settle.’ Perrie snuggled Alma. ‘We are going to have so much fun, aren’t