Intimate Strangers by Susan Lewis

Author:Susan Lewis
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781409008750
Publisher: Random House

Chapter Fourteen

A WEEK LATER Nick was heading into Davey’s, the pub-style restaurant on Fisherman’s Walk, when he spotted Elliot sitting at a window table, and went over to greet him.

‘Why don’t you join me?’ Elliot said. ‘I’m waiting for Laurie, but she’s not due till one.’

Deciding he could always duck out when Laurie arrived, Nick offered to top up Elliot’s drink, and went to get one for himself.

Thanks to Elliot’s obvious distraction, the conversation got off to an awkward start, though for a while it settled into a fluent discussion about an editorial in that morning’s Times, of interest to them both, since it concerned US foreign policy. Elliot was extremely knowledgeable on the subject, which was no surprise to Nick, but though he seemed perfectly in tune with what he was saying, Nick couldn’t help noticing how restless his eyes were, constantly glancing across to West India Quay, or at the door when someone came in. It didn’t take a genius to work out that this lunch with Laurie wasn’t one he was looking forward to.

After a while the conversation started to falter again. Nick watched Elliot as he stared out at the passers-by, seeming almost to have forgotten he wasn’t alone. Then his eyes came back to Nick, and realizing they’d stopped talking, he said, ‘Sorry. What were we saying?’

‘No need to apologize,’ Nick assured him. ‘I can leave you to it, if you prefer.’

Elliot had just started to respond when his phone cut him off.

It was hard for Nick not to listen when he was sitting right there at the table, and it soon became clear, from the tone of voice as much as the words, that it was the new girlfriend.

‘Yes, I’m here now,’ Elliot was saying softly, slightly averting his head. ‘You know I do. Yes, even now.’ He paused, then started to smile. A moment later he was serious again. ‘I don’t know how long I’ll be. I’ll call when I get back to the flat.’

As he rang off he looked up, and from the way his face paled, Nick guessed that Laurie must have arrived. Elliot stood up. Nick turned round, and one look at the beautiful young blonde staring at Elliot with such bleak, haunted eyes was enough to make him wish with all his soul that he could be anywhere else on the planet right now.

‘Hi,’ he heard Elliot murmur as he pulled her into an embrace. ‘Are you OK?’

‘Yes, I’m fine,’ she answered.

Her gaze moved to Nick as he got up.

He smiled and held out a hand to shake. ‘Nick van Zant,’ he told her. ‘I guess you must be Laurie.’

‘Nice to meet you,’ she replied, with a smile that didn’t quite make it to her eyes. ‘Is Sherry joining us?’

‘No. I was … just passing. Probably time I was going.’

‘Please don’t leave on my account.’

‘Stay and finish your drink,’ Elliot insisted.

Not sure how to refuse, Nick sat down again, and watched as Laurie slid past Elliot to sit on the chair next to him.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.