A Girl Called Tegi Read Online Free PDF

celebrity in a way—a star in the racing world. Girls are always running up to us to kiss us. It is a kind of show business.’
    She could not think of a thing to say beneath tha t cool gaze. Tony had taken off his gloves and was idly hitting the open palm of a hand with them.
    He went on, ‘Those days have gone when girls shyly approached us for autographs. They have few i nhibitions and are more free with their favours. If I were to take every kiss a girl gave me seriously, I would need a harem in which to keep the donors.’
    Tegi laughed and felt a prig. What he said made sense.
    ‘I didn’t want Dorothy to be hurt. She’s very young, only twenty, and she has a lot to learn,’ she said seriously.
    ‘And you?’ His eyes were keenly probing.
    ‘I’m twenty-five.’
    He smiled. His teeth were a bar of whiteness in his limned face.
    ‘So you look eighteen and are twenty-five. I am t wenty-nine. You see, I have been around quite some t ime.’
    She coloured beneath his mockery. ‘I don’t think ti me matters where a man is concerned, especially if he ’s attractive. Besides, some young girls go for older men,’ she said.
    ‘True,’ he conceded. ‘But every man’s life is governed by the type of man he happens to be and the type of woman who most appeals to him.’ His eyes narrowed and again she noticed the strong, t hick lashes. ‘Your sister is not my type. Even if she were, I would not be hers.’
    ‘How can you be sure of that?’
    ‘Because I could take my pick of dozens of girls like your sister who just worship an image, not a real man. I am not saying this out of a sense of bragging, neither do I attribute it to my animal charm. I am merely stating a fact.’
    He was smiling at her with a charm which made her feel warm and wonderful, and she smiled back.
    ‘Will you come out with me this evening?’ he asked.
    Tegi’s heart was thudding. Idiot, her common sense urged, to be impressed by insolent good looks and physical charm. He can turn it on for every female he comes into contact with. Spare a thought for all those distracted females who’ve been left pining for him.
    But this is me, Tegi, her heart cried. I’ve been longing for something like this to happen, and now it has I’m scared.
    Tony could have read her thoughts. ‘Scared?’ he queried ! ‘ You need not be. I can behave like a perfect gentleman.’
    He was laughing at her again and it stung. Besides, he was too near for her to think straight until memory prodded.
    ‘I can’t this evening,’ she told him, recalling two entreating brown eyes beneath an untidy thick mop of brown hair. ‘I’m making some football shorts for Gary, my small brother. It has to be a rush job because he’s playing tonight in the junior team.’
    ‘I see. And where is he playing?’
    ‘On the football field on the left to the entrance of the park.’
    ‘I could see you afterwards?’
    ‘Sorry, I promised to go to see him play.’ She laughed tenderly. ‘I have to go to cheer him on to victory. He loves football next best to Sam.’
    He looked startled. ‘And who is Sam?’
    ‘His mouse. If I were more partial to Sam I’m sure he’d ask me to take him with me to the match.’
    Tony smiled. ‘Well, good luck with the shorts and . .. er Sam. Happy to have been of service to you. ’
    Tegi felt herself dismissed. She turned and walked down the lane, to be met by Gary, who threw himself at her.
    ‘Come on!’ he cried impatiently. ‘I’m sure you won’t finish my shorts in time for the match.’ His eyes alighted on the plastic bag of groceries she carried and he beamed. ‘Anything in there for me?’ he a sked.
    Tegi tapped the eager fingers on the bag. ‘Behave yourself !’ she grinned.
    Further words died on her lips as the sound of a motorbike split the silence like a pistol shot. Tony had gone when she turned round. It was all over too soon, that glamorous world she had glimpsed before returning to the clamorous one again.
    The last