Josephine Cox 3-Book Collection 1: Midnight, Blood Brothers, Songbird. Josephine Cox

Чтение книги онлайн.

СКАЧАТЬ you really want him, Molly, you know I would step aside.’

      ‘You’d better not!’ She pressed her body into his. ‘I’m yours now, Mal. And don’t you ever forget that.’

      Mal heard only what he wanted to hear. He adored her, and she knew that. But even then, for the sake of Molly’s happiness, he really would have let her go, although it would have crippled him to do so. He prayed she was not lying to him, like last time, when she broke his heart. He had to trust her now, because life without her was too empty.

      But Molly had no conscience. No shame. Jack was still her priority. Yes, he needed bringing under control, but she already had that in hand. Emotional blackmail was a powerful thing.

      In her arrogance, she truly believed that now Jack had been given a glimpse of what life would be like without her, he would give in and abandon his plans. Like all men, he would lick his wounds, then he’d be all over her, begging her to come back. Meantime, she would enjoy Mal and his puppy dog devotion, in every way possible. Live for the minute, that was her motto.

      When she now suddenly responded to Mal’s touch with a crazed, sensual energy, he foolishly believed it was his own prowess that had aroused her in such an exciting way.

      But then, that was exactly what she wanted him to think.

       Chapter Nine

      HAVING WORKED a week of four-hour shifts to cover for another woman who was taking a short holiday, Libby was thankful when Friday afternoon came.

      ‘Glad it’s the weekend are you?’ asked Madge Lovatt, the supervisor. A smart, single woman in her late fifties, she had ten years of dedicated service under her belt. Well respected by all the staff, her fair-minded manner brought out the best in people.

      ‘Yes, I’m off now,’ Libby replied as she walked between the aisles towards her.

      ‘I see you’ve got your mother’s ginger biscuits, then?’ Madge gestured to the package in Libby’s hand. ‘I must admit, I’m rather partial to a ginger-nut myself.’

      ‘I’d be shot at dawn if I went home without them,’ Libby joked. ‘The minute I open that gate she’ll be looking for these biscuits. She’ll have them out of my hands before I know what’s hit me.’

      ‘Does Thomas still look after her?’ Like most of the staff at the supermarket, Madge knew of Libby’s burden, and she was filled with admiration. The young woman’s dedication to her ailing mother was commendable.

      ‘He does, yes.’ When Libby entered the staff cloakroom, Madge went with her. ‘D’you know what, Madge – I really don’t know what I’d do without Thomas. He’s such a good man – the best friend ever. I can leave Mum in his care and be content that no harm will come to her.’

      Madge was impressed. ‘That’s wonderful.’ After several disasters involving the opposite sex, she had long ago lost her trust in men. But from what she’d heard about Libby’s neighbour, he was obviously an exception to the rule. ‘How old did you say he was?’

      Libby gave her question a moment’s thought. ‘I’m not altogether certain. He’s never really let on, but I reckon he’s in his late sixties.’

      ‘Ah, that’s a shame. I’m looking for a good man – and for a minute there I thought I’d found him, but late sixties . . . hmm.’ She gave Libby a comical glance. ‘A bit wrinkled round the gills, is he?’

      Libby laughed. ‘No, actually, he’s not! In fact, he’s not a bad-looking man at all. He’s tall and well built, with a smile that would melt snow. Added to which, he has a heart of gold, and a mountain of patience.’

      ‘So, a man like that – he must have a wife tucked away somewhere.’

      ‘No – not as far as I know, anyway.’

      ‘How’s that?’

      ‘Sad story, really. His wife packed her bags one day and cleared off, without so much as a by your leave.’

      ‘Got family, has he – children and the like?’

      ‘No. He’s all on his own.’

      ‘No baggage then, by the sounds of it.’ Madge glanced about to make sure no one was listening, as she asked with a twinkle in her eye, ‘You say he’s well built?’

      ‘That’s right.’ Intrigued by the other woman’s curiosity, Libby went on, ‘He likes walking, and he has an allotment. I expect that keeps him fit.’

      ‘Mmm . . . a good-looking, active man who grows his own veg – it gets better and better!’ Leaning towards Libby, she asked confidentially, ‘D’you reckon he’s fit’ – she blushed – ‘down under, if you know what I mean? Or has it been dormant for so long, it’s neither use nor ornament?’

      Shocked and amused, Libby collapsed into a giggling fit. ‘How would I know?’ she chided. To even mention Thomas in that way, was embarrasing.

      ‘You do understand, I wasn’t being smutty,’ Madge assured her. ‘It’s just that, well – if you must know, I’m on the lookout for a fella, only they all seem withered and brain-dead, or they’ve got a face that would frighten a horse.’

      ‘Well, I can promise you, Thomas doesn’t fit any of those descriptions. He’s just a regular bloke who keeps himself to himself, and he’s got a kindly heart. If it wasn’t for him, I wouldn’t be able to work. That means Mum wouldn’t get her little treats, and life would be less comfortable financially.’

      Madge was impressed. ‘He sounds very interesting, your Thomas. Obviously, your mother enjoys being with him while you’re at work.’

      Libby smiled. ‘Mum adores him. Thomas makes her laugh, and he’s always got some outing planned – like a trip to the shops, or a walk in the park. Apparently, they talk about when they were young, and if Mum is having one of her forgetful days, he reads the signs and treats her gently.’

      Madge thought it over. ‘D’you reckon he fancies your mother?’

      ‘Don’t be daft!’ Taking her jacket out of the locker, Libby shrugged it on. Fastening her buttons as she walked, she assured Madge, ‘He’s just a really good friend, to me and my mother both.’

      ‘Ah, but your mother is a good-looking woman. When you brought her in here the other week, we all thought she must have been a stunner when she was younger.’

      ‘Yes, she was.’ Libby had seen the photographs, and was struck by how attractive her mother had been as a young woman. ‘She’ll always be beautiful to me,’ she said, a little wistfully.

      ‘I’m sure she will.’ Madge understood. She could only imagine how hard it must be for Libby to deal with the current situation. ‘I meant no offence, talking like that about your friend Thomas. He sounds like a really decent bloke.’ She gave a weary little sigh. ‘They’re few and far between, I can tell you.’

      ‘It’s all right, Madge,’ said Libby. ‘No offence taken.’

      ‘So, СКАЧАТЬ