AllFreeNovel
Share Us
‘No, it’s an accident. For which I apologise, because that’s what decent people do when they’re in the wrong. They apologise. They don’t deny responsibility.’
He was lecturing her about morality and responsibility? Flaming cheek. ‘Don’t take the high moral ground with me, matey.’ And then she realised her breasts were stinging. The heat of the tea had registered with her brain. It was hot. Really hot.
She needed to take action. ‘Excuse me.’
‘Can I do anything?’
She brushed past him. ‘No.’
‘Can I get you another tea?’
‘No, thanks.’
‘Can I pay for the dry cleaning?’ he called after her, as she headed for the toilets.
‘I don’t need anything, thank you. You’ve done quite enough.’
She barged through the toilet door, already unbuttoning her shirt, her chest burning. It was also bright red, the colour creeping up her neck.
Shrugging off her shirt, she unclipped her bra, not caring if anyone came in and saw her splashing cold water against her chest. Her skin was throbbing, the stinging making her eyes water. Soaking her stained shirt in cold water, she held it to her chest. The pain finally subsided.
She glanced at her reflection in the mirror. Strands of dark hair had come loose and trailed down her neck, her cheeks were flushed and she had smudges of brown mascara above one eye. What a mess.
Ten minutes later, the stinging had stopped. Her skin was tinged pink, but she was satisfied there were no serious burns. She had some E45 cream in her handbag that would soothe her skin… except she didn’t have her bag with her – she must have dropped it. If someone hadn’t handed it in, she’d have to cancel her phone and credit cards. As if her day could get any worse.
Her shirt was too sodden to put back on. As was her bra.
Thankfully, she wasn’t well-endowed in the breast department, so she could get away with just wearing her suit jacket… except she didn’t have that with her either.
She was semi-naked, with no means of calling for help and no way of retaining her dignity.
She dropped her head against the cool sink. This was her worst nightmare.
She was just at the point of resigning herself to putting on her soaking wet see-through clothing and walking into a busy cafe in search of her bag and jacket, when the toilet door opened and one of the serving staff came in.
Beth immediately stood up and covered her breasts.
If the girl was shocked, she didn’t show it. She offered Beth her bag and jacket. ‘The big guy who knocked into you said you might need these.’
Beth nodded for the girl to drop them on the floor, so she didn’t have to unclasp her arms and expose herself further. ‘Thanks.’
The girl shrugged and left her to it. ‘No drama.’
Grateful for small mercies, Beth slipped on her jacket and buttoned it up. There was a little more cleavage on display than she’d like, but nothing too scandalous.
She couldn’t be bothered to tidy her hair, but she wiped away the smudged mascara and made herself as presentable as she could before leaving the sanctuary of the toilets.
With shaky legs and a throbbing chest, she returned to the cafe. A few people looked over, but nothing too alarming.
Much as she’d prefer to head straight back to the office, she couldn’t leave without speaking to Zac, as it would be rude not to offer an explanation. But to her utter dismay, the first person she encountered as she left the toilets was the man who’d knocked into her.
‘Oh, please. Give me a break. Haven’t you done enough?’
‘I wanted to check you were okay.’ His expression was no longer angry. His eyes dipped briefly to her chest, a fleeting movement, but she spotted it nonetheless.
Her hand came up to cover her bare neck. ‘I’m fine.’
‘I got you another drink,’ he said. His deep voice had a slight gravelly tone to it. ‘Tea, right?’
