The Girl in the White Dress by Paul Barrell

Author:Paul Barrell [Barrell, Paul]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: PMB Publishing
Published: 2020-02-03T22:00:00+00:00

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I was jolted awake, by an orchestra of tiny hammers chipping away at my skull. I felt guilt-ridden: I would have to take my vow of abstinence all over again. I was unsure whose bedroom I was in until I felt Lottie jump on the bed.

‘I’m hanging up my drinking boots,’ I said to the dog, who nudged her way under my arm. I rubbed her tummy tenderly and she responded by placing her head in my lap. Maybe Amber was right all along, it was going to be different living on the farm, but that didn’t mean it couldn’t be fun and invigorating. The curtains were still drawn and I explored the other side of the bed with my other hand. It was empty.

I eased my body gingerly out of bed and padded downstairs to the kitchen to make breakfast. Ten minutes later the smell of freshly brewed coffee and grilled bacon lured Amber downstairs. She appeared a little unsteadily at the kitchen door in a night shirt that was indecently short. Even allowing for the hangover from hell, my eyes spent a little too long on her slender legs.

‘How did you sleep? I can’t even remember how we got home.’

She tugged at the nightshirt in the forlorn hope that a few more inches of material would cover her bum.

‘Terribly. Your snoring is loud enough to wake the dead. I tried everything, not even a sharp knee in the back would stop you. At one point I contemplated smothering you with a pillow and eventually took myself off to the spare room for some peace and quiet.’

‘Sorry. Double whammy then. You get a bad night’s sleep and I’ve mislaid the menu card and photographs.’

She yawned.

‘Oh shit, we forgot didn’t we? Hang on a moment.’

Amber rummaged through her handbag hanging on a coat hook by the back door.

‘It’s OK, they’re safe.’

I poured coffee.

‘I’ll just have to wait for another opportunity, and let’s be honest, a few days here or there isn’t going to make any difference.’

She rubbed her temples.

‘That house has a lot to answer for.’

I turned the bacon.

‘You know, apart from the gardener, I still haven’t seen any sign of life next door.’

She looked absently out of the kitchen window.

‘How does he do it? His legs must be hollow. I’m not drinking for a week.’

I turned my head. Peter was in the courtyard, his white rugby shirt emblazoned with the Cross of St George.

‘He’s been up for ages, and I know what you’re thinking, but no, not Peter. Not this morning.’

‘OK, let’s leave it for today. By the way, have you any painkillers because my head is banging.’

Amber took her coffee and bacon roll and curled up in the snug. She placed her mug on the window ledge and stretched her arms and legs in such a sensual way that I found my arousal button pushed and there was nothing I could do about it.

My voice dropped to a husky whisper.

‘The girls won’t be back for a while.’

Amber rolled her eyes, but it was too late.

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