Blood Lost by Anna-Marie Morgan

Author:Anna-Marie Morgan [Morgan, Anna-Marie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2019-01-20T22:00:00+00:00

17

Kate

Kate breathed deep, savouring the sweet scent of grass, mown that morning, mingled with jasmine.

Perhaps, today would be the day when she found Shayne Steadman the house of his dreams. They bored her, the same conversations, the same difficulties and quirks, that meant Shayne didn’t want this property, or that. There wasn’t a house on their books that could satisfy him.

This one was well-presented and spacious, for a two-bed semi.

The interior smelled of lavender and polish and had been well-maintained.

She took off her coat, placing it on a hanger on the wall in the hallway. Her bag, she placed over the coat, rather than take up any more of the hooks. The last thing she needed was for Steadman to find it cluttered.

The houses’s appearance mattered. Her appearance mattered.

In the hall mirror, she straightened her skirt and adjusted her hair before checking the time. Ten minutes early, enough time to freshen her lipstick and think about Will. She worried about him. What would he do when she could no longer accompany him to his appointments? How would his first serious relationship go?

Michael accused her of mollycoddling him. She hated that word. A word invented to install doubt in mothers. A word to curb the maternal instinct. It made her sad, and it made her afraid to be herself.

The doorbell chimed, and she jumped, having forgotten where she was.

He reeked of cheap cologne and wore a wide tie, picked up from a charity shop, or else dug out from the bottom of his wardrobe. An ill-fitting suit and greased-back hair completed the effect. She realised, with a quiet sadness, that he had made an extra effort today.

“Mr Steadman.” She held out her hand.

“Mrs Harries.” He took it, holding on until she coloured and pulled it away. She wanted to run, not looking back.

He smiled at her. His tobacco-stained teeth, and receding gums, had her returning her eyes to her clipboard.

“Did you receive the details for this one?” Her eyes perused the paperwork.

He nodded. “I did. It looked promising on paper.”

“Then, we’ll start, if that is okay? We’ll go round the inside and then I’ll show you the garden.”

He grinned. “After you.”

The way he looked her up and down, gave her goosebumps. As she led him up the stairs, she could almost feel his eyes on her rear. She felt exposed. Unsafe. Her mobile was in her bag. She quickened her pace on the stairs.

“It’s small.”

Though he was still at her back, she sensed his nose wrinkling. She narrowed her eyes. Here we go…

“I’m not sure there’s enough light coming down this stairwell.”

“There are light switches at the bottom and top of the stairs.” She forced the cheerfulness in her voice as she took him to the bedrooms.

In the first room, he said not a word.

She dreaded showing him the second.

“Call this a bedroom? I’ve had hamster cages bigger than this. How did they get the bed in?”

“Didn’t you say you’d be living alone?” Her voice remained calm.

“I need an office.”

She cringed at his churlishness.

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