Remember My Name Read Free Page B

a good rub.
    ‘Yeah,’ I replied, grateful for the warmth. ‘But until they come up with a Dutch Disney Princess, I’m screwed. I’m so sorry, I’ve messed up all your clothes …’
    His once-white shirt was now splattered with mud, and hisblack jeans were smudged all across the waist, crotch, and thighs. He glanced down at himself and his face broke out into that grin again. He must have been quite a bit older than me—early thirties or something, I’d have guessed—but that grin made him look like a naughty schoolboy.
    ‘Yes. It looks a bit like I’ve been having sex with a pig, doesn’t it? From behind.’
    ‘I suppose it would have to be,’ I answered, finding myself giving the idea some serious thought, ‘you’d get squashed otherwise.’
    ‘What a way to go, though, eh?’ he asked, those gorgeous brown eyes crinkling up in amusement. As he spoke, he picked up a full glass of red wine and passed it to me. I looked at it as though it was the Holy Grail—I don’t think I’d ever wanted a drink more in my life.
    ‘Uh, no,’ I said. ‘Ta very much, though. But princesses are like the police—we never drink on duty.’
    ‘Nobody will ever know,’ he said, gesturing to the back of the gazebo, where Evil Jocelyn was sitting on what looked like a throne, surveying her minions as they finished up their birthday song and started on three cheers. I couldn’t help it—I stuck my tongue out at her. And that was without the wine.
    ‘Did you just blow a raspberry at the birthday girl?’ he asked, sounding shocked. I thought he was faking it, but I wasn’t sure, and I felt myself blush under the mud on my face. My Elsa plait was now completely covered in dirt, and draped over my chest like a big brown turd.
    I grabbed the wine and downed it in one. He was right, nobody would notice.
    ‘Yes, I did,’ I said. ‘She’s … a bit strong spirited?’ I ventured, trying for diplomatic—which was never my strong suit. He definitely wasn’t Jocelyn’s dad—I’d already met him—but he must be connected to the family somehow to even be here. Though the fact that he was necking wine with me in the naughty corner rather than passing a gift to the Golden Child suggested they weren’t that close.
    ‘Strong spirited. I like that one. I suspect what you wanted to say, though, was “evil little bitch from hell”, wasn’t it?’
    ‘Maybe,’ I said, wiping my lips so I didn’t end up with tell-tale red wine stains. ‘But that wouldn’t be professional.’
    He glanced back at the present parade behind us. Everyone was handing over a beautifully wrapped parcel or an elegant gift bag, and Jocelyn was throwing them all to one side like Henry VIII with chomped-up chicken legs. Ugggh! She was enough to put you off having kids for life.
    ‘Jocelyn is my niece,’ he said, calmly. ‘My only niece.’
    I froze for a moment, wondering if he was secretly pissed off at me for almost (but not quite) slagging off his flesh and blood. His face stayed serious for a second, but then the grin was back, and I was able to let go of the breath I didn’t know I’d been holding.
    I punched him on the arm—which is a sign of affection where I come from—and smiled back.
    ‘You had me going then,’ I said. ‘I was a bit worried you might report me to the Princess Police for being a bit of a cow about the birthday girl.’
    ‘Never. I’ve known Jocelyn her whole life and, believe me, she brings out the cow in every sane person. Anyway … nowwe’ve been mud-wrestling together, how about you tell me your name? Assuming it’s not Elsa.’
    ‘Ha ha. No. I’m Jess. Or Jessy to my family. And Jessica when I’ve been naughty.’
    He held out his hand to shake, and kept his fingers wrapped around mine for far longer than was decent.
    ‘And are you naughty often, Jessica?’
    His eyes met mine, and I suddenly felt very, very warm, despite the rain and the soaking wet costume and the soggy plait.
    ‘Er … I’m trying