Page 54 of Playing for Keeps

“What kind of thoughts?” She rested an elbow on the bar, her body angled towards him.

“Mostly I was thinking about what a good purchase that cap was.”

Allie felt her cheeks heat as she smiled.

“It had never really occurred to me before how practical it would be to keep the sun off my face,” he teased.

“Very practical,” she said, rolling her eyes.

His hand moved to brush her knee and she could almost feel the tension in the air as their eyes locked. She wanted to kiss him again, but a quick glance in Kevin’s direction not only quashed that idea but also had her moving quickly but discreetly away from Hugh.

“You can get going if you want,” Kevin said, striding behind the bar.

“It’s okay. We’ve still got drinks.”

Kevin said goodnight to his friends before he addressed Allie again. “I’m locking up shortly, so I’m afraid I need to kick you out. You can take your drinks with you though.”

It crossed Allie’s mind how daft it was that she was being asked to leave a place she owned. Also, if they had to leave now, Hugh might take it as his cue to go home and she didn’t want that.

“I could lock up,” she suggested.

Kevin’s smile was irritatingly condescending. Though she supposed it was unrealistic to think he’d agree to her locking up given that she’d only worked there for a week and a half. From a business perspective, she should be glad he hadn’t agreed to that.

“Or we could just go,” she said quickly, feeling as though she’d made the most ridiculous suggestion ever.

Kevin looked pointedly at their drinks. “Like I said you can take those with you.”

“Right.” Allie slipped off the stool, an itch of irritation prickling along her spine. “Goodnight,” she said to Kevin.

Hugh sounded much chirpier when he said goodbye.

In the foyer, Daisy had her head propped on her hand as she tapped away on the computer.

“Are you still working?” Allie asked, taking in Daisy’s drooping lids.

“No rest for the wicked,” she replied, barely looking up from the computer monitor as she echoed her grandad’s earlier words.

“Do you ever lock up?” Allie asked, curious as to just how much responsibility Daisy had.

“Sometimes,” she said flatly. “If Kevin isn’t here. Usually he does it though.”

“Right.”

Daisy gave her an impatient look, then switched her attention back to her computer. Allie reminded herself of what Ron had said about her being slow to warm to people.

She and Hugh wished Daisy goodnight and continued outside. Short stumpy lights dotted around the car park created puddles of orange light while the full moon cast silvery shadows.

“Shall we finish these at your place?” Hugh asked, indicating his beer.

“Yes.” Allie glanced behind her as they walked away from the clubhouse. “Daisy seems to be there around the clock.”

“What do you make of Kevin?” Hugh asked.

“I don’t know.” She cast her eyes down, wary of the uneven gravel underfoot. “I’m not sure I like him, but it’s hard to put my finger on why, since he always seems nice enough.”

“He doesn’t have the best reputation locally,” Hugh said.

“How come?”

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