Cherry Girl (Blackstone Affair) Read Free Page B

to be unaware, but I was pretty sure Denny was dealing drugs as a side business of his main one—that of being a spoilt prick.  If my father were still alive, I wouldn’t have ever hooked up with Denny, or probably with any guy for that matter.
    I’d most likely still be a virgin.  An innocent.   A pang of guilt and sadness washed over me at the thought of my dad.  I missed him still…so very much, and knew he would be sorely disappointed in me if he could see where I was, and what I had been doing.
    If I was honest, Denny’s betrayal didn’t really hurt me as much as I let on with him.  I hoped to have a place in Italy by summer’s end, and if everything worked out, Denny Tompkins would be just another memory from my rebellious past, that could fade away with very little bother to me.
    I wanted out of England and to forget about all of the things I couldn’t have , and all of the things I’d done.
    Right now I had Neil sitting on the barstool just beside me but nowhere close enough for what I desired.  Not fair.   I took a huge gulp from my glass.
    “Don’t you think you need to slow it down, Cherry?” he asked in his quiet way, managing to sound direct even though he spoke softly.
    “Why should I?  I’m not bothering anybody.”  I gave him a thorough look and inhaled, catching a whiff of his manly scent that did more to hasten my drunkenn ess than the wine I kept pouring down my throat.
    “That’s not true.”
    “Why, whatever do you mean, Neil?”  I stared and watched him for a reaction, my curiosity piqued.
    “ It bothers me seeing you unhappy and getting drunk at the bar.  It bothers me a lot.”  He narrowed his eyes a little and swept those nearly black beauties back and forth in an effort to read me.
    “What makes you think I’m unhappy?”
    He swept a hand in front of me.  “This is supposed to look like happiness?”  He gave his head a shake and took a drink off his beer.  “I don’t think so, Cherry.”
    “I was waiting for Denny to show up and apologize,” I confessed, mimicking his hand gesture toward my own body, “but he’s probably off shagging the same twit from last time behind my back.  Who am I kidding?  These things happen.”  I shrugged at Neil, hoping he was getting my veiled reference to his totally unsuitable girlfriend Cora, loud and clear.
    “You need to lose that fool.   I don’t like him. Why even let him near you?  You’re better than that piece of news, Cherry.”
    “ Don’t call me that anymore.” I pegged him with a hard look.  “Why do you allow your piece of news near you?”
    “Cora?”  He looked surprised at my question, a slight smile reaching his mouth.
    My stomach in knots, I grew reckless with my tongue and let it all out.  “I can’t have the one I want, so I guess I settle for sloppy seconds and get pissed in the pub when even that doesn’t work out.”  I let my ugly words sink in for a moment and then delivered the sucker punch.  “Your turn, Neil. ”
    He stared at me then.  His eyes moving slow and purposeful, like a caress.  It was as if he was trying to bring more confessions out of me by force of will.  It nearly worked too.  His beautiful dark eyes held the power to make it happen when he looked at me like he was right now.  Does he know how I feel about him?  Has he always known?  How could he not know?
    Those soulful eyes just about managed to pull the dreaded trifecta of emotion from my lips—just, but not quite.  I only thought the words in my head.  I love you.   I was drunk and he was right here with me acting as if he really cared.  I love you.   And then, I was left with the unbelievable idea that Neil didn’t know.  How could he be that unaware?  How could he not know how I felt about him?  I love YOU, you idiot man.
    I ’m guessing he truly didn’t know after all, because he didn’t take my bait.
    “Cherry, I know all about what Cora’s been up—”
    “ —I said , don’t