Page 57 of Hit For Six
‘Yes, I think we might just do that. But I also think I heard a noise.’
‘Oh, my god! That’s–’
‘Terrifying, I know.’
‘I was about to say the most joyful thing I have ever heard in my life.’ He pulled her into his warm body and even in the panic, Lola’s belly began to pool with need. ‘But I won’t get ahead of myself.’
‘That part is brilliant, yes. If I’m going to be snatching moments with you once your overseas tournaments start, then it’s a must! I’m sure Squiffy will feel the same now she idolises you. But Monty, did you not hear what I just said about the noise?’
‘Oh, that’s nothing. Come here.’ Lola cuddled into him, staying as alert as she could with her uncovered ear. ‘It’s probably just the heating cranking up ready for the morning. Old houses make so many weird noises.’
He fell back to sleep within moments. But Lola’s mind was a livewire. She crept out of bed and moved the curtains, peeling them back to look out the window at the rear of the estate. Nothing there, nobody there. What did she expect?
There was no ensuite in the bedroom– the cheek in a house this big– so she made her way on tiptoe to the bathroom down the hallway, listening out for intruders. Fortunately, she heard nothing but it took her forever to get back to sleep, and even then, gut instinct would only let her toss and turn.
At eight o’clock, a bleary-eyed Lola woke to Monty’s hotness pressing against the small of her back.
‘You’re incorrigible!’ she sat up and grinned at him, wondering how she could resist being ravaged again. ‘I want to, Monty. But I can’t relax. I can’t believe I let down my guard and went back to sleep. That noise in the night… it was like a key scraping in a lock, a door slowly creaking open then shut.’
‘You probably dreamt about it. It’s just you and me.’ He wrapped his arm around her waist, sliding his hand upwards to fondle her breasts. Lola’s nipples betrayed her instantly. ‘My parents aren’t due back for a couple of days. There’s nothing to worry about.’ Lola didn’t feel so sure. ‘Why don’t we have breakfast to put your mind at ease and then we can come back to bed for some morning snuggles.’
They threw on some clothes and crept downstairs, hand in hand. Monty shook his head with each step that they were going to these lengths.
‘Anyway, I’m going to whip us up the fluffiest pancakes. What do you want yours drizzled with?’
But Lola knew that he’d be eating not so much breakfast as his words. Her heart was in her mouth. Somebody was here. She’d definitely heard something. Dreams weren’t that loud.
‘Syrup, chocolate chips, jam. I’m so hungry I’ll take all three,’ she whispered.
‘I’m going to call it. That sounds a tad revolting, Lola.’
Monty slapped her playfully on the buttock before pushing open the kitchen door. Lola held her breath. She was wearing Monty’s sweater over her short satin nightie. Hardly the most conservative attire for the occasion. Whatever would his parents think when they laid their eyes on her?
But someone else entirely turned to greet them as they burst through the kitchen door.
‘You didn’t tell me we’d have company, darling!’ exclaimed Joanna, dressed solely in a racy black teddy with a deep V at its front. ‘I’m whipping us up scrambled eggs.’ She looked pointedly at him, waving her whisk in the air. ‘I suppose I could spare somesourdough toastfor your friend.’
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
Monty
‘What the hellare you doing here?’ yelled Monty, eyes bugging out at the stomach-churning sight.
‘H-hang on a minute! How do you know my client?’
Lola stepped back from him, the look on her face suggesting that he had a lot of explaining to do, very fast.
For the moment, both of them remained speechless, suspended in time as they took in the bizarre situation in front of them. Yes, she knew how to wear the garment in question but Monty could never be attracted to Joanna in a life prior to Lola. She totally repulsed him.
‘Now, now, children!’ Joanna laughed and Monty quickly realised that she really was more than slightly unhinged in her pursuit of him; that he needed to protect Lola at all costs, and that he had to get their intruder out of here. ‘Your mother gave me a set of keys so I could help out with the plants. I’m just being neighbourly and making sure you’re fed.’ She smirked and gave the eggs in the pan a leisurely whisk. ‘I was about to tell you at the party that I’d moved into the same village as your parents, but then you kissed me and it flew right out of my head.’
‘I did no such thing!You’re out of your mind. Get some clothes on for fuck’s sake, get out of this kitchen and don’t ever set foot in this house again!’
‘Monty?’ Lola cried, and he could tell from the desperation in her voice that he was in the deepest of pickles.
‘I will explain everything as soon as she is out of here, I swear.’ Monty ran a hand through his hair, more than awarethat, to an outsider, this wouldn’t look good, however he relayed the story. ‘She’s a friend of Bea’s with an unhealthy obsession.’
‘She’s been stalking me?’ Lola deduced.
