Beautiful Curses: Book One Read Online Free PDF Page B

cable knit jumper and black cord pants. Beth’s mum always insisted he wore nice clothes no matter what the occasion. Beth told Jo, it was one thing her mum could control. She didn’t want people to think because Jack had special needs he wasn’t loved and cared for.
      “Well darling, don’t you look lovely,” Peter said smiling at Beth, who wore a black linen dress with a scalloped neck and a short pink cardigan.
     Beth blushed and dipped her head to button up Jack’s jacket. Jo was pretty sure, she didn't receive sincere compliments very often and didn't like the attention, but was glad her uncle had taken notice. Even Spencer paused in the process of putting on his own coat and smiled at Beth.
     Jo caught the scowl on Gabriella’s face, obviously not liking the attention taken away from her.
    “I take it you’re driving, and sitting next to me in church,” she said, touching Spencer on the arm.
     Spencer took a moment to turn from his appraisal of Beth, before he patted her hand.  “Um … yeah of course, Beth’s taking her car because it has the child seat for Jack.”
     Beth nodded and continued to play with the buttons on Jack’s jacket, still not making eye contact with Spencer or anyone else.
     Peter smoothed down the few hairs he had left on his head and straightened his suit, then he put his arm around Sarah and ushered everyone forward. “Let’s go then, we don’t want to be late.”
     

     
    After having a few drinks at the local pub, it had just gone eight, when Jo found Beth settling Jack in bed. She decided to leave with Spencer after the church service. Spencer said he was waiting on a surprise delivery and Beth needed to get Jack home. At least Spencer had been useful and was in the kitchen heating the casseroles Sarah had cooked earlier.
     Once Beth had gotten Jack to sleep, the two of them walked into the family room and were about to take a seat on the couch when Gabriella yelled from the kitchen, “Jo, come in here for a minute.”
    Jo shrugged at Beth as she called again, “Jo, come here, you’re not going to believe this but I think Spencer's finally cracked, and has an actual girlfriend.”
     This piqued Jo’s curiosity, especially since Gabriella seemed so forth coming all of a sudden. Normally she loved keeping Jo out of the loop when it came to Spencer.
     Dragging Beth behind her, Jo raced into the kitchen as Spencer dropped a plate, smashing it into several pieces on the stone floor.
     Gabriella laughed. “Aw ... look how nervous he is.”
     “Who are you talking about?” Jo questioned and glanced over at Beth, who stared at her feet and edged toward the door.
     “It’s nothing. Leave off you two,” Spencer spat out, as he pulled a brush from the cupboard and began sweeping up the porcelain fragments into the dustpan. Lucky for him it wasn’t from Sarah’s good dinner set, or he might not be alive to enjoy Christmas.
     Gabriella smiled. “Oh go on Spencer. Let me tell Jo and Beth, about this Lisa girl. She was really nice when I talked to her today. I think she’s really keen, but doesn't want him to know how much—waiting for him to make the first move.”
     “Cut it out, Ella. We’re only friends. Don’t make something out of nothing!”
      Jo hadn’t seen Spencer this pent up in a while. Gabriella had obviously pushed some buttons.
     “Well you were keen to talk to her. I assume you switched on your mobile so she could reach you.” Gabriella raised her eyes, as if challenging him to argue. Instead he shook his head and continued to clean up the mess, ignoring her.
     His actions surprised Jo. The way he’d been openly flirting with Beth didn’t fit with him dating a serious girlfriend. And he was hopeless with his mobile phone. Never switching it on. Maybe Jo had misread the signals. She didn’t have much experience with boys and had never been flirted with in her life. The only relationship lessons she’d learnt were from characters