The Naughty Girls Book Club. Sophie Hart

Чтение книги онлайн.

СКАЧАТЬ that surprise me?’ The words slipped out of his mouth almost before he realised what he was saying, and Gracie turned on him angrily.

      ‘There’s nothing wrong with having a little self-respect. Not all women are as pathetic and submissive as books like Ten Sweet Lessons imply.’

      ‘Ah, you weren’t a fan of that, were you?’ Reggie grinned, his eyes twinkling as he teased her.

      ‘Look, you can’t deny that books like Ten Sweet Lessons are a totally unrealistic representation of a male-female relationship,’ Gracie began hotly. ‘They offer an unhelpful stereotype that women – and men – simply can’t live up to.’

      ‘In what sense?’ Reggie challenged her.

      ‘In every sense!’ Gracie was becoming increasingly frustrated. ‘They imply that everything – in the bedroom – is going to be amazing, and sometimes it’s just not. I mean, you can’t just – you know – so easily and so frequently. Not every time,’ Gracie faltered, tying herself up in verbal knots and wishing she’d never started this rant.

      ‘It’s supposed to be a fantasy,’ Reggie continued, aware that he was infuriating Gracie, and enjoying watching her become increasingly animated. ‘Anyway, maybe some people can – you know – so easily and so frequently.’

      ‘Well I haven’t ever … like that,’ Gracie retorted, eager to win the argument, but revealing more about herself than she intended.

      ‘It’s all a question of chemistry. Maybe with the right person you could … It’s about buttons. Pushing them, I mean …’ Reggie finished awkwardly, jabbing at the air in a clumsy mime.

      ‘Great technique, Reggie,’ Gracie broke down in helpless giggles.

      ‘It’s not … I mean … That’s not what I do …’

      ‘Really?’ Gracie shot back, relishing the fact that the tables had turned, and Reggie was now the one squirming with embarrassment. ‘What do you do? Maybe you could outline your technique for us at the next book club meeting.’

      Their voices were growing louder, and Gracie’s manager looked across sharply.

      ‘Gracie,’ he hissed. ‘It’s not very often that I have to tell the staff to be quiet, but you and your friend are disturbing people.’

      ‘Sorry Simon, I—’

      ‘And I’m not sure your conversation is entirely appropriate for the workplace either,’ he added pointedly.

      Gracie caught Reggie’s eye and saw that he was trying not to laugh. It was impossible to keep a straight face, and soon they were both grinning naughtily at each other, like schoolchildren being told off by the headmaster. Gracie found herself wondering how on earth they’d ended up on this subject. The last person she’d have expected to be discussing sexual chemistry with was Reggie.

      ‘So do any other libraries have it?’ Reggie whispered, his eyes dancing as he leaned over, resting his elbows on the counter.

      ‘Have what?’

      ‘Lady Chatterley’s Lover.’

      ‘Oh, yeah, I’d forgotten about that!’ Gracie quickly typed in the title and squinted at the screen. ‘There are three copies in the central library. We can order one for you, and it’ll be here tomorrow after three, or I can reserve a copy and you can pop in yourself to collect it.’

      ‘Um …’ Reggie pondered the issue for a moment. ‘I’ll call in. I’ll be over that way this afternoon.’

      ‘Okay,’ Gracie nodded, feeling unexpectedly disappointed. ‘I’ll put it on hold and it’ll be there waiting for you.’

      ‘Great. Thanks, Gracie.’

      ‘No problem.’

      ‘Well … I guess I’ll see you at the next meeting.’

      ‘I guess you will. If you turn up, that is.’

      ‘Oh, I’ll turn up,’ Reggie insisted. ‘You lot aren’t so bad after all, you know.’

      ‘Oi!’ Gracie exclaimed, narrowing her eyes. ‘And don’t worry – I won’t tell everyone at Cafe Crumb about your appalling seduction technique,’ she smirked.

      ‘You’d better not, or else I’ll tell everyone I witnessed you being inappropriate in a library,’ Reggie returned, causing Gracie to giggle, and Simon to glare fiercely at them once more.

      ‘I’d better get back to work,’ Gracie whispered apologetically.

      ‘Okay. Oh, I might be a little late for the next meeting – I have a seminar that afternoon which is likely to overrun. Could you tell Estelle for me?’

      ‘Of course.’

      ‘Thank you.’

      ‘My pleasure.’

      ‘See you there then.’

      ‘Bye, Reggie.’

      ‘Bye, Gracie.’

      Gracie watched him walk out of the door into the dazzling spring sunshine, and realised she was smiling.

      Outside the library, as Reggie strolled down the path and back out onto the street, he found himself mentally replaying what had just happened.

      His mind had been full of the research notes he needed to make today, and seminars that he thought it might be useful to attend, so his only thought when entering Clifton library had been to pick up a copy of Lady Chatterley’s Lover as quickly and as painlessly as possible.

      Then he’d bumped into Gracie, and what had started out as a somewhat hostile encounter had quickly turned into something … what, exactly? Fun, Reggie supposed, the realisation taking him by surprise. ‘Fun’ and ‘Reggie’ were not words which usually went together.

      But he’d enjoyed chatting with Gracie; he found her intelligent, sparky and challenging, and she’d made him feel the same. The way she’d teased him when they’d somehow ended up talking about the most outrageous of subjects … it was a long time since he’d laughed like that.

      Reggie made his way towards the city centre, a spring in his step as he marched along. It was almost as though he’d made some kind of a breakthrough back there, managing to be self-assured and humorous – flirty, even. The sensation was all too rare, but he liked the person he became when he was relaxed and confident.

      To Reggie’s surprise, he found himself fervently hoping that Gracie liked it too.

      9

      The delicious smell of baking filled the flat; an intoxicating blend of warm scones, freshly mixed chocolate brownies and rich coffee cake. The windows had steamed up from the heat of the oven, the atmosphere cosy as Estelle moved busily around the kitchen, humming away to Radio Bristol which was playing quietly in the СКАЧАТЬ