Rachel Lindsay - Rough Diamond Lover by Rachel Lindsay

Author:Rachel Lindsay [Lindsay, Rachel]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: x
Published: 2010-08-30T02:50:11.430000+00:00

CHAPTER SIX

In the following weeks Tim diplomatically stayed way from Eddlestone. Laura wondered if her father would remark on his absence, but he said nothing and gave no outward sign of being worried by it.

True to his word, Harold Simpson made the first overture to his old friend, calling at the house one evening without even bothering to telephone.

"I knew if I called you, you'd find some excuse for putting me off," he explained, laughing at the sight of John Winters's discomfiture. "You always were proud and obstinate."

"Not too proud to welcome a friend."

"That's good to hear. Once you get brass, you start wondering who your real friends are. I don't have that sort of problem with you."

From then on the two men saw each other regularly, and Laura was particularly pleased when her father went to visit Harold Simpson, for it forced him into some social life instead of the continual round of engineer's workshop and home.

From Beth she heard nothing, and as the weeks passed, she wondered if the woman had forgotten her promise. Then one lunchtime, during her busiest hour in the canteen, she received a telephone call from her.

"Sorry about not getting in touch with you," Beth apologized, "but I've been rushed off my feet at the hospital. Half our nurses have been down with flu."

"We've had the same problem here."

"Then you must be terribly rushed. I won't keep you. I just wanted to let you know we're going caving this Saturday."

"Saturday," Laura echoed. "That would suit me fine. I need some exercise to blow the cobwebs away!"

Jotting down the time and place of rendezvous on the pad in front of her, she straightened to see Jake standing beside the cash desk, a loaded tray in his hands. Quickly she tore the sheet of paper off the pad and put it into her pocket, at the same time adding up the price of his meal.

"I'd like to talk to you," he said as he paid her. "How about having lunch with me?"

"This is my busiest time." She paused. "Or are you giving me an order?"

"A humble request."

Reddening, she signaled one of the girls to take her place and followed him to a table. He set out his lunch and picked up his knife and fork. "Why don't you get yourself something to eat at the same time?''

"I never bother with lunch."

"You should. You're getting too thin."

"Elaine's thinner than I am."

The moment she had spoken she could have kicked herself, for he grinned broadly.

"She's not the same type as you. Redheads should be curvy."

"I'm sure you didn't ask me over to discuss my figure."

"I didn't. We can do that another time." He put down his fork. "How are you settling down in Eddlestone?"

She did not hide her surprise at his question. "I'm getting used to it. Why?"

"Then it's not you that's worrying your father," he muttered, ignoring her question. "I thought it might have been."

Only then did she understand the reason for his curiosity. "What makes you think he's worrying?" "I can tell from his manner.

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