Love on the Rocks Read Free Page B

work surface. He pulled open the refrigerator, took out a bottle of Tiger beer and sat down on a chrome bar-stool at the island, swinging his legs casually as if to convince himself that he was relaxed and off duty. In fact, he was as tense as a piano wire.
    He wondered about picking up the phone to Lisa, then remembered she was working at some motor show. It was a pity. He felt like taking off somewhere for the weekend, somewhere he might be able to forget the day’s dreadful events. If he stayed at home he would be waiting for the phone to ring with news. Or he might be tempted to call the hospital, or even sneak in there to see how Colin was. He’d have to be inhuman not to care about the outcome. And what on earth would his wife think? He couldn’t even call her to explain that he couldn’t call her.
    The trilling of the phone suddenly broke the silence. George didn’t answer it in case it was Richard ordering him to come back to the office – he’d already switched his mobile off. He let the answerphone intervene, and was surprised to hear Lisa’s voice cut through the silence. Her accent was tinged with a Gloucestershire burr that she always protested she hated, but George thought was charming. It summoned up images of milkmaids dropping curtsies. Or Cider with Rosie , which had always been one of his favourite books. But she thought she sounded like a Wurzel.
    It brought a smile to his face now, to hear her.
    ‘George! It’s me. I just phoned your work and your secretary told me you’d walked out. She seemed to think you were upset about something. What’s going on? Give me a ring as soon as you get this message—’
    George crossed the room and picked up the handset.
    ‘Hi. It’s me.’
    ‘George! What happened? Did you really walk out?’
    ‘Yep.’ He quickly filled her in on what had happened.
    ‘What bastards!’ She was suitably outraged. ‘I don’t blame you for walking.’
    ‘No. And I’m tempted not to go back either.’
    ‘Well, you can join the club. It’s you and me both.’ Lisa sounded defiant. ‘I’ve just told Tony to stick it up his Prada jumper.’
    ‘You’re kidding?’
    ‘No. I’ve had enough. I’m not putting up with it a minute longer. I’ve had enough of dirty old men gawping at my chest and thinking I’m easy—’
    George chuckled. He knew for a fact that wasn’t the case. He should know. He’d been dating Lisa for nearly six months before they’d finally ended up in bed.
    ‘Don’t laugh at me. I mean it!’ She sounded indignant. George could imagine her eyes sparking dangerously, her chin tilted in the air.
    ‘I’m not laughing at you. I’m laughing because I know you’ll have given them what they deserve,’ he reassured her swiftly. ‘And you’re quite right not to put up with it. What are you doing now?’
    ‘I’m still on the motorway. Heading back home. Stuck in the Friday-afternoon traffic.’
    ‘Why don’t you carry on and come straight here? We could go away for the weekend. Somewhere we can reflect on our rash behaviour. Sounds like we’ve both got some thinking to do.’
    ‘That sounds great. I think I’d go mad if I had to stop at home all weekend.’
    ‘Where do you fancy going?’
    Lisa thought about it for a moment.
    ‘The seaside. I’d like to go to the seaside.’
    ‘Why not!’
    ‘But I’ll have to go home first. I haven’t got any clothes with me.’
    ‘Don’t bother. I can lend you some stuff. You can sleep in one of my T-shirts. We can buy you some clothes in the morning.’
    Lisa giggled. He loved her giggle. It was an elixir. A tonic. If you could bottle it and sell it, it would lift your mood quicker than any prescription.
    ‘I’ll borrow a pair of your boxers. I’ll be with you as soon as I can.’
    As soon as she finished speaking to George, Lisa put her foot down and swooped into the fast lane. She felt better already. It was as if she and George were partners in crime, the pair of them sneaking off,