B00CAXBD9C EBOK Read Online Free PDF

dress after discarding several other outfits. They met at a prearranged spot. Paul helped her out of her car and said he would drive, as he knew the way.
    ‘I’m glad you changed your mind. What did it? My unbelievable charm?’ He grinned.
    ‘I don’t know.’ All the wine she had drunk and the rushing to get ready had finally made her tired. ‘Maybe I shouldn’t have come. I don’t know why I’m here, really.’
    He looked at her. ‘I’m glad you’re here. I don’t think you’ll be sorry you came. In fact, I promise you that.’
    They drove a short way along the Heath until Paul pulled into the drive of an old rambling house. Its windows were ablaze with lights, and the belting voice of Solomon Burke screamed out from the stereo. A couple were arguing in the open doorway, and, as they arrived, several more people came pushing through the door with much laughter and yelling. Paul parked the car and they went in.
    The scene that greeted their eyes was wild to say the least. The front door led into a small hall with big rooms off either side of it and a large staircase in the centre. The staircase was littered with various people, a lot of men with beards, girls sitting and standing, and everyone steadily drinking. The room on the right was filled with couples, dancing or just standing and necking. There appeared to be no furniture, only a rather battered stereo set balanced precariously on the windowsill. The room on the left featured a thin girl with stringy red hair taking off her clothes to the beat of some bongos being hammered on by a West Indian clad only in white shorts. No one was taking much notice of them. Mostly people were watching a blond boy at the other end of the room, who was standing on a chair, quite naked, reciting an obscene poem.
    Paul squeezed Linda’s arm. ‘Come on,’ he said, leading her up the stairs, greeting people as he went. ‘Let’s get rid of your coat. Then we can get a drink.’
    Upstairs there were more rooms equally devoid of furniture. Paul steered her into a room with a bed creaking under the weight of many coats. Two girls were staring deep into each other’s eyes in a corner, and another girl was either asleep or had passed out at the bottom of the bed.
    Linda took off her coat and felt too dressed up in her neat blue dress. Paul said that she looked great, and took her to find a drink. They went downstairs to the room on the left. The redhead had abandoned her strip and was sitting on the floor, someone’s sweater covering her. She grabbed hold of Paul’s leg as he went by. ‘Hello, sexy. Wanna make it?’ Her voice was slurred. ‘I’ve got a great body. How ’bout you?’
    Linda found herself separated from Paul, so she headed toward a table where the drinks appeared to be coming from.
    A fat man pounced up behind her. ‘You look very smart,’ he said. ‘Who are you?’ His face was beaded with sweat and his breath a combination of onions and stale beer. ‘You want a drink?’
    ‘Yes, please,’ she said, trying to edge away from the full blast of his breath.
    He poured her a very large Scotch in a cracked glass. She drank it down hastily.
    ‘Let us go and dance,’ he said, and put his arm around her waist. She could feel the hotness of his hand penetrate her dress through to her skin.
    ‘Not just now,’ she said, trying to disentangle herself.
    He licked his pudgy lips, and then Paul arrived. ‘Hello, Bruno. I see you’ve met Linda.’
    The fat man removed his arm. ‘Oh, she’s yours, is she?’ he said hastily. ‘I don’t know what they see in you.’ He wiped his mouth with a plump pink hand and ambled away.
    Paul laughed. ‘Don’t take any notice of him,’ he said, and then was suddenly serious. ‘You’re great, you know that?’ He took her hand.
    ‘Thank you,’ she said. She had never been able to accept compliments easily. Quickly she drained her glass. ‘I’d like another drink.’
    He poured her a large Scotch which she drank