The Secret Life of Evie Hamilton - Catherine Alliott [131]
‘Get in,’ I muttered.
He hopped in, grinning. ‘I thought that went rather well.’
‘Did you.’
‘Thought I got us out of a tight spot rather adroitly.’
‘Really. Except that when she's given it some thought and finds out who you really are, she'll realize we've duped her, and then it'll be all round the village in moments. Evie Hamilton, found snogging in a stable with a man half her age.’
‘Being assaulted in a stable,’ he corrected me, ‘by a man surely only a few years younger than herself. How old are you, anyway?’
‘None of your business.’ I suppressed a smile and drove on fast towards town.
That shut him up. The driving, I mean. Occasionally I heard him utter a profanity under his breath as we took a corner, but then, most people did.
When I drew up outside Ludo's house, the lights were still blazing on the second floor, windows flung open to the night. The party was in full swing, music even louder. The noise drifted down the street, echoing in the still air. I turned to look at him. His eyes were shut.
‘Dare I look?’
‘Idiot. We're here.’
‘Thank the Lord.’ He opened his eyes, gazing around in mock wonderment. ‘You're quite a motorist.’
‘You're quite a liar.’
‘Hm?’
‘Back there. In the stable.’
‘Oh.’ He shrugged. ‘Goes with the territory. I'm a journalist. I make up stories.’
‘Not that sort of journalist. Hardly gutter press.’
He laughed. ‘No. True. That, indeed, was a lie.’
The mirth in his eyes slowly subsided as he looked at me. Watched me, rather. Fondly. Consideringly. All the frivolity of the last couple of hours seemed to slip out of the car and down the street. It was as if a convenient cloak of disguise had been plucked away and tossed aside to reveal something altogether more dangerous.
‘Fun, though, wasn't it?’ he said lightly.
I wasn't deceived by his tone but his steady gaze was very affecting. ‘Yes.’ I agreed softly. ‘It was.’ I sat, motionless, in the warm focus of his regard. The silence hung around us.
‘Night, Evie.’
‘Night.’
He leaned across to kiss my cheek, but instead, his head dipped, and his lips brushed my neck. It was the gentlest of touches but the most electrifying.
As the blood surged under my skin, I knew, in that instant, I desperately wanted him to kiss me properly. The thought shocked me. I was startled by my complicity.
‘Ludo —’
‘Shh.’ He put his finger on my lips and I saw in his eyes he'd read both emotions. The desire, and then the shock.
‘Don't panic,’ he told me quietly. ‘But don't go away.’ And then he got out of the car and was gone.
25
The following morning, Caro was on the phone before I'd even opened my eyes.
‘Are you all right?’
‘Yes, why?’ I turned my head on the pillow and blinked at the clock, trying to focus.
‘Camilla said you'd been assaulted. In a stable!’
I propped myself up on one elbow. Switched the phone over to the other hand. ‘Caro, it's a long story and it's only half-past seven.’
‘And I've been up for an hour and I'm armed with a coffee. Tell.’
I sighed, but knew better than to argue. When I'd finished there was a long silence.
‘So he did kiss you?’
‘Yes, but purely in the line of duty.’
‘On the lips?’
‘Yes, OK, on the lips, but—’
‘Tongues?’
‘Certainly not!’
‘Just asking. Was it nice?’
‘Caro!’
‘It was!’ she breathed ecstatically.
‘Goodbye!’ I snapped, putting the phone down.
I swung my legs out of bed, sat hunched on the edge for a moment, then heaved myself up and padded heavily to the loo, reaching in to turn on the shower en route. Was it nice? What a question! I pulled my oversized T-shirt over my head, got in the shower cubicle and shut the glass door behind me, turning my face up to the jet of hot water. I opened my mouth to let some in. Was it nice. I washed my hair vigorously, then, steaming and dripping, got out, found a towel and wrapped it around me. Walking slowly to the long mirror and,