Long Game by Catherine Evans

Author:Catherine Evans
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Escape Publishing

Chapter 12

Quin swung between amused and concerned as Cress jiggled from one foot to the other while standing just inside the lounge room doorway. She used her finger and thumb to pinch at her bottom lip, and she only did that when she was really nervous … or she was begging for a favour.

If he had to guess, he’d go with begging. She didn’t have the right energy for nerves. ‘I’m not going to do it unless you ask me.’ He grinned when she jumped.

‘I thought you were watching TV. I was waiting for an ad.’

‘No, you were working on your courage.’

She laughed and poked her tongue out at him, and he knew then he’d broken whatever fear she had and now he’d find out what she wanted.

‘The Sirens have the season launch fancy do coming up in two weeks, and I wondered if you’d like to come with me?’ She held still for the first part but jiggled from foot to foot as she invited him. He tried not to grin too much.

‘I’d love to, Watercress. Thanks for asking.’

She shifted and squirmed, bit her lip and then squeezed her hands together. ‘Will you be okay there?’

His smile paused, as did his heart. ‘What? Why?’

‘It’s at the same place as, ummm, your incident with the phone.’ She wrapped her arms around herself as if it was her who’d be affected. ‘Will you be okay?’

He was going to brush off her fears, until the tendril of doubt crept through him. It’d be easy to use her as his shield and keep her by his side so he didn’t have to worry about memories besieging him, but it was her night. Her season launch. She had to be free to have a good time without worrying about him. He should be looking out for her.

‘I might be okay, but we could go there this weekend and make sure.’

‘On Sunday?’

He shook his head. ‘Let’s go Saturday night when it’s crowded and more like it was, and will be for your party. We can have dinner, drinks, dance. Give me a good test.’

She blinked and her hesitation made him frown.

‘Are you busy on Saturday night, Watercress?’

‘No.’ She shook her head. ‘I just …’ She shook her head again and turned to go.

‘Cress?’

She waved her hand. ‘It’s nothing. It’s fine. Saturday night.’

He jumped up and caught her in a few strides. ‘What? Tell me.’ Didn’t she think he’d handle it? Was she worried about looking after him if he couldn’t cope? ‘I’m sure I’ll be okay. I thought we should put both our minds at rest though.’

Her lips twisted and she looked everywhere but at him.

‘Watercress?’ His voice came out sharper than he intended but her reactions worried him. Wasn’t she comfortable with him? That made no sense, because she’d asked him to go to the launch. Maybe she didn’t feel comfortable being alone with him, except they were alone in the house every day. ‘Don’t you want to go out with me?’

Her eyes flicked to him, fast, and then she looked away.

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