Page 21 of Perfect

“I don’t really know what to say to that, he seems lovely but I’m not really after a summer fling or anything.” My reply wasn’t the total truth of course, but I wasn’t going to show my cards too soon.

“Surely that’s the perfect time for a fling, summer. Especially when you’re pretty much surrounded by guys here. Some ancient. Although it depends on your type of course,” she said, elbowing me suggestively from her seated position on the bench.

Ella angled her body further towards me, her fingers threaded on her lap. “Sorry, I’m back to talking about guys again. Believe it or not, I do havesomeother interests,” she promised.

I smiled and met her halfway, not wanting her to feel uncomfortable. “What’syourtype?” I quizzed.

Her expression brightened. She was obviously relieved that I’d jumped on board the boy train of discussion.

“Tall and dark, the usual I suppose, but older guys definitely. I can’t be doing with guys my age; immature and too wrapped up in the haze of their own self-righteous farts.”

I full-on grinned at the fart comment and agreed about the older guy thing, but how old were we talking? She’d mentioned the word ‘ancient’ a minute ago. Maybe she was dating someone’s dad on the quiet, hence the weirdness. I shook off the thought, her strange thought processes appeared to be contagious.

“How about you? What’s your type?” she volleyed.

I had the courtesy to look like I was thinking about it, but I felt quite bored with the conversation.

“I’m not sure really. I suppose tall, dark and handsome, the usual cliché.”

My thoughts roamed to Connor who unfortunately ticked all those boxes before I quickly added. “But personality iskeyfor me. So, someone who is interested in me with a sense of fun and who listens and stuff. I can’t do with all that moody bullshit.” Boxes he most certainly didnottick thank you very much!

She then pointed out the obvious. Which again proved that it was well documented that Connor was a grumpy sod and not just with me. Anna had said the same.

As if reading my thoughts, she chucked. “Connor’s out of luck then. He can be a right moody twat.”

My smile widened and I nodded. “He’s also my stepbrother.”

“He’s fucking gorgeous though; to look at I mean. Don’t you think so?”

And there it was as she finally cut to the chase.

That’swhy she’d come to see me, to grill the new girl to see if she had any intentions of making a move on her possible crush. She had a thing for Connor and felt threatened. Thathadto be it, hence the atmosphere.

Adrenalin pumped through me. I hated that just the sound of Connor’s name did something funny to my insides.

I cocked my head, constructing my reply carefully. It was the only obvious answer, she fancied Connor,that’swhy her behaviour was so weird.

“Totally not my thing, too angsty for me and too much like hard work,” I almost choked the words out with a gruff voice. ‘Act indifferent’ my head yelled at me. The words sounded so forced and Ella raised her eyebrows as if to say ‘busted’.

“So, youdofancy Connor then?”

I bit back a long sigh and gritted my teeth.

My face must have been a picture and I babbled my reply again, with a bit too much force.

“No way, not even slightly.”

Her eyes narrowed into slits as they assessed my face and she leaned forwards, her jean clad thigh brushing my own before commencing her interrogation. “You’re kidding right? You have to be. You’ve seen the guns on the guy? He’s fit as fuck.” The look of disbelief on her face was laughable. “Youdon’tthink Connor Barratt is smoking hot?”

She spoke like the thought of me not being attracted to my stepbrother was totally unpalatable.

I needed to do some damage control quickly or it would be all around the village that I fancied my own stepbrother. He’d love that too! I had watched plenty of those small village-based TV shows so Iknewwhat these tight-knit communities were like for gossip. Proper curtain twitchers. I’d literally just arrived and there was no way I wanted to be the main topic of the gossip. This girl was probably their ring leader.

“OK, I admit it, he’s good-looking. But he isn’t my type. Too aggressive and much too big,” I lied.

She gave me a knowing look. No doubt every female in these parts found Connor attractive with his perfectly sculptured body and bad-boy vibe. “If you say so. Heard he’s big everywhere too,” she added in a dirty voice.

There was now a definite ‘whatever’ tone to her voice, which was interesting. Surely if she was interested in my stepbrother, my news would have been welcomed. She obviously didn’t believe me.

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