Keep Me (Beggar's Choice #3) Read Free Page B

freshen up and redo my
make-up. Once done I head over to the wardrobes which are of such a colossal
size that my small amount of clothes look ridiculous hanging in a tidy corner.
    I opt for comfort and pull on my grey flannel cigar trousers
that I roll up my ankles. I team them with a white t-shirt, my grey Converse
and clip my hair back with a bulldog clip. I pull out my asymmetrical black
jacket and my oversize black scarf which I’ll throw on when I go out.
Satisfied, I grab the university welcome package with my induction details in
them and go to the door.
    For a second I hesitate feeling a little uncertain. Bram is
after all a complete stranger and it’s awkward staying in someone else’s home,
but I’ve had plenty of practice at first mornings with total strangers during
my years with foster families so I suck it up and head downstairs. As I reach
the bottom of the staircase I see the kitchen opposite and hearing the sound of
voices I head there, hoping fervently that Mina has got some clothes on this
time.
    However, when I enter the room it’s to find Bram talking to
a man instead. They turn at my appearance and Bram smiles blindingly with that
slightly crooked grin of his which turns his expression wry. “Here she is,” he
exclaims. “Cousin Alys.”
    “Please don’t,” I say wearily. “You can only pull that out
in times of emergency.”
    The other man laughs loudly at this. “That’s not the only
thing he likes to pull out in times of emergency. Just make sure that you’re
not near him if there’s a natural disaster. It gives new meaning to the word
ballast.”
    Bram looks slightly indignant but I laugh turning to look at
the man and Bram hastens to introduce us. “This is Mick. Don’t bother getting
to know him because you’ll just need psychiatric care if you do.” I smile at
him. He’s about Bram’s age with thick brown hair and a rotund belly. He also
has the loveliest expression comprising mischief and humour and I instantly
like him.
    Mick doesn’t even try to look offended and puts out his hand
to shake but then obviously thinks better of it. “Better not babe. I’ve just
had my hand down the u bend. I’ve washed them but you never know.”
    My hand hovers in the air for a second and then I hastily
put it in my pocket and both men laugh. “Mick’s a plumber Alys,” Bram offers.
“He came over to look at the downstairs loo but he seems to have abandoned it
in favour of raiding my fridge.”
    Mick looks unapologetic. “I’m a growing boy and I need food.
Anyway, I’ve already sussed out the problem.”
    Bram looks wary. “Do I want to know?”
    “Only if you’re missing a red lace bra size 34B.”
    Bram shakes his head and scratches his rough beard. “How the
fuck did that get down there?”
    “I don’t know mate. Perhaps you ought to take up with a
normal woman that takes her clothes off in one place rather than strewing them
all over the sanitary appliances.”
    Bram huffs and Mick looks at me but then he seems suddenly
to become aware of my chest size because his gaze goes down there and stays.
“Well I’d wonder if it was Alys here but obviously not. That silly little bra
could not contain those …”
    He’s interrupted by Bram groaning. “Oh my God stop talking
for fuck’s sake,” but I laugh and click my fingers at my face.
    “Up here mate,” I whistle and Mick grins unrepentantly and
then turns back to putting some bacon in a frying pan.
    I settle down on one of the white leather barstools at the
huge breakfast bar and look around the kitchen. It’s beautiful and I’m
definitely in room envy. The cabinets are shiny black and the work surface is
made of a white onyx. The appliances are all stainless steel and there’s a big
table which seats twelve sitting in front of floor to ceiling windows which
give a perfect view of The Thames.
    Bram stands in front of an industrial sized coffee machine
and shakes a mug at me. “Coffee?” I nod gratefully and after