AllFreeNovel
Share Us
‘Lucy Griffiths,’ Sean interrupted with a wry grin, and Lucy gasped and clapped her hand over her mouth.
‘Sean?’ With an unladylike shriek she sc
rambled off her seat and hurled herself into Sean’s arms.
Sean hugged her back, his hard features softened by affection as he stooped to kiss her on the cheek.
‘You’ve grown up.’
‘Yes.’ Lucy gave him a bright smile and pulled away from him, the warmth she felt for him evident in the glow of her eyes.
Did everyone know him? For a moment Ally felt a stab of emotion she didn’t recognise. Jealousy? Surely not—why would she be jealous of Lucy? It wasn’t as if she herself wanted Sean, and Lucy deserved to find someone.
‘Oh, fancy it being Sean!’ Lucy turned to Ally with a beaming smile which Ally managed to return. ‘I never thought you’d come back here!’
Sean gave a short laugh. ‘I was coerced.’
Lucy giggled deliciously. ‘By Will?’
‘By Will.’
Ally glanced between them. Obviously they knew each other well. She told herself off firmly for minding. Why on earth should she mind? Stupid!
‘Where are you staying?’ Lucy was still beaming and Sean stepped inside the room and closed the door behind him.
‘With Ally.’
Ally dredged up a smile. ‘He’s renting my stable.’
Lucy’s eyes widened. ‘Gosh, you’re honoured. Ally never usually rents to men.’
‘So I gather.’ Sean’s eyes met Ally’s. ‘Let’s just say that she was coerced, too.’
Lucy’s jaw dropped. ‘Will again?’
Ally managed a smile. Just. ‘You guessed it.’
‘He should run a dating agency!’ Lucy giggled and glanced from one to the other. ‘Isn’t he sweet?’
‘Irresistible,’ Sean drawled sarcastically, glancing at his watch with a quick frown. ‘I need to get on but I wanted to talk to you, Ally…’
She stiffened. She had nothing to say to him. Nothing. ‘I’m in the middle of surgery.’
He raised an eyebrow. ‘About a patient.’
She blushed and fiddled with her pen. ‘Oh—right. What’s the problem?’
‘That woman you mentioned to me a few days ago…’ He leaned broad shoulders against the doorway and frowned. ‘Wasn’t her name Thompson?’
‘Mary Thompson.’ Ally stared at him. ‘What about her?’
‘I may have found a clue to her problems.’ Sean tossed a newspaper onto her desk and made for the door. ‘Read the report on page four. It might shed some light.’
‘Thanks.’ Ally watched as he closed the door behind him and then reached for the paper, noticing that it was the local newspaper. Page four, he’d said hadn’t he? Her eyes scanned the different stories. PRIMARY SCHOOL WINS AWARD FOR DESIGNING P[smallcaps]OSTER[reg]. OLD LADY MUGGED WHEN SHOPPING. She frowned as her eyes focused on a small piece at the bottom of the page—MAN CHARGED WITH DRUNKEN D[smallcaps]RIVING[reg].
‘What is it?’ Lucy peered over her shoulder and gave a low whistle. ‘Ouch. Lost his licence and he’s an insurance salesman. I suppose that means he’s lost his job, too, does it?’
‘If he needs the car for work then I suppose so,’ Ally murmured, putting the paper down. She was sure that Sean was right. This probably was the key to the problem. Was Mary’s husband an alcoholic or was the driving ban just a one-off? Either way she was going to have to handle it very tactfully.
