CHAPTER8
‘You’re kidding?’
Alex liked the way Aiden’s head cocked to the side like a puzzled puppy. When Pete was confused, he used to retract his neck like a turtle, but this was far more endearing.
‘Nope,’ she replied. ‘It was my book. I just get a bit embarrassed around readers. Normally I like to write the thing then hurl it into the void and get on with the next one.’
Ten minutes into the flight, Alex had confessed her connection toMidnightin a feeble attempt to explain why she’d acted like an absolute eejit at the bookshop. She could have told the truth and informed him that she was simply thrown by his handsomeness, but that would have meant spending the rest of the flight having him think that she was an absolute danger.
‘I’m not sure I believe you,’ he stated. ‘That’s just too uncanny.’
‘It’s true,’ she insisted. ‘If you google my name, you’ll see my picture pop up.’
‘Oh really?’
‘However, please don’t do that as the photos are all hideous. I’ve seen blobfish that are more photogenic.’
Showing her face, whether in a photo or a promotional video, was the one part of the job Alex hated.
‘A.S. Moran – what does the S stand for?’
‘Siobhan. It’s my middle name. After my ma. I don’t really use it, but I like the use of the initials. Alexandra was after my granny on my dad’s side. I never met her, but she was Greek, fierce and apparently I have her hair. Not her actual hair, that would be unsettling. Just her type of hair… you know. Curly.’
What in God’s name are you talking about?she thought, her soul slowly leaving her body.Either get a grip or get the cabin crew to duct tape your trap shut for the next hour. I’ve heard they can do that now.
Aiden grinned. ‘I’ve never met an author before. I’d love to be able to write, but it might get in the way of my reading time.’
‘You read a lot then?’
He turned in his face towards her. ‘Always have. My mom and dad were big readers, I guess it rubbed off. I think I read every book that they owned.’
Alex felt a warm, cosy feeling wash over her. She imagined that must have been a nice home to grow up in. ‘Do you have a favourite genre?’ she asked.
‘Not particularly,’ he replied. ‘I’ll read anything. Growing up, Mom was big into King, Koontz, Herbert, Shirley Jackson. Dad, big Grisham fan but also had quite the passion for romcoms. Interesting choice for a six-foot-two truck driver, but he loved those stories. Mom said it reminded him that the world didn’t have to be such a grim place.’
‘They sound like nice people,’ Alex responded. His voice was soothing. She could listen to him talk about books and his family for hours.
‘Great people,’ he affirmed, softly. ‘But yeah… actually being the one to write those stories… it’s very impressive.’
‘You think?’ Alex asked. ‘I can think of a million more impressive jobs. Running a homeless shelter, being a doctor, human rights lawyer – you know, that kind of thing. All I do is type words.’
‘Well, I’m a vet and to me it’s—’
‘A vet?’ Alex asked. ‘Wait, like an animalvet, or a you-used-to-be-in-the-army-type vet?’
He laughed. ‘A veterinarian. I have a clinic in Cedar Park– well, had a clinic, until I moved to London.’
Oh, feck off, Alex thought.He saves animals for a living? There must be something wrong with him. No one is this perfect.
‘Sorry?’
She froze. Had she just said that out loud?
‘Nothing. I have a dog. He hates everyone.’
‘Tea? Coffee?’ At that moment Alex was grateful to the flight attendant for giving her brain an opportunity to remember that it was capable of rational thought and conversation and not whatever she’d been doing up until now. She ordered a coffee and a small box of sour cream Pringles while Aiden ordered a coffee and a couple of KitKats.
‘So, your name, Aiden. That’s more Irish than mine.’
