Love is the Drug. Ashley Croft

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СКАЧАТЬ hurried down the pavement and stepped onto the wet cobbles.

      ‘Look out!’

      A bell jangled loudly and she felt a sharp tug on the back of her coat.

      ‘Hey!’ The curse from the cyclist was already just a streak of noise.

      ‘Are you OK?’ A tall man in a black padded jacket held her by the elbow.

      Sarah caught her breath ‘Yes. I … yes, of course.’

      ‘You do know you almost stepped right in front of that idiot?’

      ‘I know. I wasn’t looking where I was going. I think I might be the idiot.’

      ‘He was on his mobile, the twat, but you did seem to be in a world of your own.’

      If Sarah hadn’t felt so crap, she might have been offended but she didn’t have the energy. ‘I’m not feeling that great, but thanks.’

      ‘No problem.’

      ‘You can let go of my elbow now,’ she said. ‘You’re Ewan, aren’t you?’

      Ewan’s bushy eyebrows met in a frown that weirdly did nothing to spoil his ruggedly handsome looks. ‘Do I know you?’

      ‘I’m Moll’s sister.’ Sarah hoped she wouldn’t throw up on his Timberland boots.

      ‘Mol?’

      ‘Dr Molly Havers. Your colleague from the lab? I was at the – um … New Year party with her.’ Sarah could have kicked herself for mentioning the scene of Molly’s humiliation but it was too late now.

      ‘Oh yes. That Molly, of course. Sorry.’ He glanced down at Sarah. ‘You do look pale. Are you ill?’

      Wow, he is blunt, thought Sarah. No wonder Molly’s having a hard time with him and judging by the way he hadn’t instantly recognised her sister’s name, it didn’t bode well.

      ‘I just felt a bit light-headed and nauseated for a second.’

      ‘Do you want to sit down? I can get you a glass of water from the café?’ His dark brown eyes held genuine concern and boy, was he gorgeous. Poor Molly, thought Sarah, he might be a bit of a prat but close up he was a real heartbreaker.

      ‘I think I was just too hot but I’m feeling a bit better now and I don’t want to put you to any trouble. You must be busy. In the lab …’ she added, remembering Molly’s comments about her boss being a workaholic.

      ‘It’s no trouble. I came out for some fresh air, and to be honest I could do with a break. I’ve been in the lab since four o’clock this morning.’

      Ewan smiled, the way Sarah had seen him smile when he’d asked Molly to dance, only this time he was sober, she was sure, unless he had a secret daytime drinking habit. Sarah hesitated a moment longer then decided. Surely this was the perfect opportunity to bring Molly and Ewan together on neutral territory?

      She threw him a smile. ‘Then for your sake, I’ll say yes. Thanks.’

      ‘Good. Is the Old Church Café OK? It’s right opposite.’

      ‘Perfect.’

      By the time they’d found a table in the café, Sarah’s sickness had subsided although she still felt what her and Molly’s mum had liked to call “peculiar”. However, seated in a cool corner of the café next to a window that Ewan had insisted on opening, she was beginning to feel more normal. While Ewan queued at the counter, she glanced at the text she’d just had from Molly and felt slightly guilty.

       Running 10 min late. Just setting off from lab. See you asap. x

      Would Molly thank her or be furious? Would Ewan be embarrassed? Sarah didn’t think so; he seemed quite kind and considerate under the blunt exterior and he must fancy Molly or he wouldn’t have come onto her at the party, even if he was pissed. Perhaps he was being kind to Sarah specifically because she was Molly’s sister: maybe he wanted to show Molly he did have a softer side. Then again, Sarah thought, she might be making the situation far worse than it already was, but it was too late now.

      Carrying a tray, Ewan weaved his way between the tables, drawing admiring glances from several of the other customers. When Molly arrived, how would Sarah explain that she’d arranged to meet her and hadn’t mentioned the fact to Ewan? Oh shh … sugar.

      With a smile, he put the tray in front of her. ‘OK. I got a glass of iced tap water and a ginger tea and some ginger biscuits. It’s meant to be good for nausea although of course it’s purely the hydration and rise in blood sugar that helps.’

      ‘Um. Thank you,’ said Sarah, wondering if this could really be the cold and mercurial man who’d dumped Molly at the party. ‘How much do I owe you?’ she asked.

      ‘Nothing.’

      ‘Oh, I can’t let you pay.’

      Ewan looked at her sternly but not unkindly. ‘Shut up and drink your tea.’

      Right, thought Sarah, I will do. Bloody hell, Molly had definitely bitten off more than she could chew with this one. She was mightily glad he wasn’t her boss and that she didn’t have a boss at all because if she was going to feel sick, faint and burst into tears at random moments, she didn’t know how she would have held down a conventional job as she once did. But then again, a job would have come with its salary and rights and maternity leave …

      ‘Better?’ Ewan cut into her thoughts.

      ‘Yes, thanks.’

      Sarah sipped the water and tried the ginger tea while Ewan tackled a large cappuccino. Molly had told her he was an Iberian Celt. Sarah wasn’t entirely sure what that meant genetically but it had produced a very alpha human being and Sarah could understand exactly why Molly had fallen for him. It must be excruciating to work together on a project like the Love Bug …

      ‘Are you very busy at work? Molly says so,’ she said, hoping Molly would put in an appearance soon.

      ‘Does she?’ said Ewan, his interest piqued. Sarah wondered if she’d said the right thing.

      ‘Well, she obviously never tells me anything about what you’re working on,’ said Sarah hastily. ‘That would be unprofessional. She loved Science at school and always had her head in a textbook. I preferred English and Art.’

      Ewan smiled. ‘I enjoyed Art but I had to drop it. My teachers thought I had too much on my plate with my Science GSCEs and A levels and they were probably right. What do you do now?’

      ‘I run my own business.’

      ‘Really? What do you do?’

      ‘I used to work in a bank. I managed the SME liaison team but now I um … have my own small craft business.’

      ‘Craft? What sort? Sculpture? Woodwork?’

      ‘Jewellery, СКАЧАТЬ