A Twist of Fate Read Online Free PDF Page A

‘You ask a lot of questions.’
    He shrugged. ‘Nothin’ else to do.’
    Actually there was something we could do, and an image of it forced itself vividly into my mind. He could take me right here on the sand, his hot, hard body could do anything it wanted to me. I blushed scarlet again and focused instead on discussing my time with Rupert. ‘I ended it. It had become more of a habit than a developing relationship.’
    â€˜Is that what you should always try for – a developing relationship?’
    â€˜Yes, don’t you think? There’s no point in being in something that just stagnates. You should grow together, always wake up thinking there’s something new to discover about the person. Something to figure out.’
    â€˜So you’ve decided you haven’t figured him out after all?’
    â€˜I don’t know. I just … he’s familiar to me. He’s easy. He treats me well.’
    He paused briefly. ‘Is that enough? Does that leave you enough to figure out?’
    â€˜I suppose I’ll find out.’
    I fell quiet. So did he. It didn’t matter. It was an easy silence, the only sound the crackling of the fire. After a while, I said, ‘It’s strange isn’t it, you and me?’
    â€˜How d’you mean?’
    â€˜Well, here we are talking, getting on perfectly well. We probably would never have spoken to each other in real life. I mean … we may never have had the opportunity.’
    â€˜I were sitting near you on the plane for over an hour. You could have talked then.’
    â€˜So could you!’ I chided with a smile.
    He laughed and poked the fire. ‘Mad, really.’
    â€˜Well, we haven’t exactly got a lot in common, have we?’
    He pouted. ‘Edward III.’
    â€˜Apart from him.’
    â€˜You never know though. There could be more. Try me.’
    I smiled at his game. ‘Alright. Umm … Tea or coffee?’
    â€˜Tea.’
    â€˜Earl Grey or PG Tips?’
    He looked at me wearily. ‘Whatever’s put in front of me.’
    â€˜ Downton or Game of Thrones ?’
    â€˜ Downton ? Isn’t that a song by Petula Clark?’
    â€˜Don’t be silly,’ I chided.
    He chuckled. ‘I don’t mind a bit of Game of Thrones . S’pose you like all those posh people poncin’ about.’
    â€˜ Downton ’s nice on a Sunday night. Cats or dogs?’
    â€˜Both.’
    â€˜Me too. Rugby or football?’
    â€˜Cricket. I’m a Yorkshireman, after all.’
    â€˜There we go. I love cricket too.’
    â€˜You were wrong then, weren’t you? We’ve got a lot in common.’ He smiled. I melted.
    Paul stood up and stretched. ‘It’s gonna be a scorcher.’ He reached for a net he’d mocked up with a stick and some mesh. ‘I’m gonna try to catch us some fresh lunch.’
    And right there in front of me, in one fluid motion, he pulled off his grey T-shirt. His naked torso revealed itself, broad, muscled, golden in the sun. I couldn’t help staring. I think my mouth fell open like a guppy. He could have mistaken me for one of the fish he was catching. Oh God, he was stunning.
    His chest was smooth, save for the faintest dusting of dark hairs along his breast bone. At rest, the muscles swelled and dipped with smooth grace, but I suspected when he was using them, they’d firm up gloriously. I swallowed and remembered to drop my head. Paul bent to pick up the net again and looked out to sea. ‘There’s something else too.’
    â€˜What?’ I asked, confused.
    â€˜Something else we have in common.’
    â€˜What’s that?’
    â€˜Survival. We have that in common. Life.’
    He looked down and held my eyes. Had I ever wanted anything so much?
    â€˜Oh,’ he grinned, before sauntering off to the sea and calling, ‘and gin and tonic!’
    Paul set about fishing with concerted