Page 31 of The Plot Twist

Allie bit her lip and looked up at him. She should tell him now, she should confess everything; that this wasn’t a good idea, that her track record proved she wasn’t good girlfriend material at the best of times, and, putting aside this ‘date’, she was definitely not in the best of times. But instead, she said, in a small voice, ‘I liked it.’

‘Even with the blisters?’

‘Even with the blisters.’

The look on Will’s face told her everything, that she was already in too deep, and he was too. She took a breath, committing this feeling to memory so that she could pour it out into her laptop later.

‘Where did you go?’ he asked.

‘Sorry?’

‘You were miles away. What were you thinking?’

‘Nothing,’ she replied hastily, deciding that although it might be flattering, she didn’t want him getting the idea she was purely using him for research purposes. His grey eyes crinkled at the corners as he smiled; he really was the best research project Allie had ever worked on.

‘Come on,’ he said, evidently realising she wasn’t about to elaborate. ‘We’d better get going. I made us reservations.’

Allie frowned slightly. ‘I thought your friend ran this pub?’

‘He does. But that doesn’t mean it’s easy to get a table there.’ Will looked at his watch. ‘And if we’re late, he won’t do me a favour the next time I want to take a beautiful woman there.’

Allie swatted his hand playfully away. ‘Allie,’ he said slightly gruffly as he successfully grabbed her hand this time and pulled her to her feet. ‘This might be too early to say, but I’m going to say it anyway. I’m not planning on inviting any other beautiful women out for dinner.’

‘What about average-looking ones?’ she quipped.

Will’s face did something which made her stomach dip and her heart start to pound. Dating etiquette could go to hell, there was nothing sexier than a man being straightforward and honest about what he wanted.

ChapterNine

‘That’s it, I absolutely cannot stop seeing him.’

‘Yay! I’m glad you’ve seen sense, what persuaded you?’

Allie had caught Jess during her lunch break to let her in on a startling revelation; that a date with a hot man led to increased productivity the next day. It was the morning after the night before and Allie had woken up, in her own bed, alone, but still with the sensation of Will’s lips on hers, the scent of him lingering in her hair. She’d got up, and before the kettle had even boiled had opened her laptop, pulled up her new document and started typing.

‘I need him in order to write.’

‘Okaaay.’ Jess sounded unconvinced. ‘I mean, I guess I don’t really care why, just glad you’re enjoying yourself … finally.’

‘I know how to enjoy myself,’ Allie said tartly.

‘Hmm. Do you? It’s not like you were enjoying yourself with Dominic, was it?’

‘Hey!’ protested Allie, ‘I’m not with him anymore, although, incidentally he does want to meet to swap belongings.’

‘Just make sure swapping belongings doesn’t segue into swapping something more intimate,’ Jess said warningly.

‘Not going to happen, and anyway, he doesn’t really have anything of mine I’m desperate to get back, so it’s not urgent.’

‘Apart from your self-esteem.’

‘Jess!’

‘Sorry. But anyway, I’m glad you’ve decided to continue seeing Will. But maybe just enjoy yourself Allie, don’t see this as a means to an end.’

‘I’m not!’

‘You are. You’re not letting yourself enjoy this just because. You think you have to justify it because you believe that seeing him inspires you. And incidentally? You’re a damn good writer and you don’t need a man to make you that.’

---