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‘So, does yer friend always get you yer blokes?’ he says in a Cornish accent so strong it takes me a moment to figure out what he’s just said. ‘Because, just for the record, you don’t need her to.’
I blink. ‘I beg your pardon?’
He grins, his white teeth stunning against his olive skin. ‘Not everyone may go for your dainty looks, but every now and then, I quite like a lady, if only on the outside.’
A lady only on the… What is he talking about?
‘Do you mind?’ I snap, indicating with my chin that he’s in my way.
‘Go right ahead. I’ll wait.’
I feel my eyes popping out of my head. ‘I beg your pardon?’
He snorts. ‘I thought you were a bit more amiable. Suits me. We don’t have to do it in there,’ he says, indicating the cubicle. ‘Here’s fine. I don’t care if anyone sees us – and by the time I’m done with you, nor will you.’
I simply stare at him. He’s winding me up, of course. That’s what louts like him do. I’m absolutely going to kill Maisie for this.
‘You’re drunk,’ I dismiss him.
He grins. ‘Always. But that doesn’t deter from the fact that I’m willin’ and ready.’
For a moment, our gazes hold like earlier across the tables. He’s waiting for a sign from me to go ahead. As if I were someone out looking for a good time and not worrying who with. All he needs is a nod or a smile or a sultry look like the ladies back in the bar. Well, he’s going to have a long wait. I groan as I march past him, half expecting him to reach out and grab me. But he doesn’t. He merely watches me with those liquid eyes, while I’m defying him with mine. If he gets any closer, I’ll scream the house down.
Something must have flashed across my face, because he steps back as if I’ve slapped him.
‘Women,’ he says, his handsome face marred by a sneer as he turns on his heel and saunters out through the swinging doors.
*
‘I swear I didn’t tell him to jump your bones, Emmie!’ Maisie pleads as she follows me, stumbling drunkenly, back to the inn.
It’s dark outside, but the old-fashioned street lamps and sea of Christmas fairy lights illuminate our way. If I wasn’t so furious with her, the walk back could have been a real winter’s delight.
‘All I asked him was where you could have some fun…’
I whirl round. ‘Youwhat? Maisie, what the hell is wrong with you? You’re so worldly and then you go and do something so naïve like that? Don’t you know how dangerous that is?’
‘Dangerous, in this one-horse town? Please. I was only trying to make you have some fun…’
‘I don’t want to have fun!’ I bellow.
‘Don’t I know it! All you do is pine for that overstuffed bore! You’re much too nice to chain yourself to an arse like that. When are you going to act your age and be carefree?’
‘What are you on about, Maisie?’
‘I’m on about you dumping Stephen. God, it makes me so angry to see you wasted on him. You could do so much better. Why am I the only one who can see that?’
‘Better?’ I snort. ‘Like that slosher in there?’
‘I just don’t want you to marry Stephen,’ she whines.
And then I finally get it. How could I have been so obtuse?
‘Maisie, you know that my marriage won’t change anything between us. We’ll still be the best of friends.’
Maisie snorts. ‘My poor little innocent one. If you think that Stephen is going to let you live your own life, then you’re sadly mistaken. He already tells you what to do.’
I stare at her. ‘That’s not true.’ Mostly because it’s Audrey who does the telling.
