Blazing Obsession Read Online Free PDF

that on you.”
    I couldn’t believe she allowed herself to be controlled in this way. I said, as sympathetically as I could, “Are you going to spend the rest of your life in dread of Nick? You and Georgie deserve better.” I leant forward and reached for her hand.
    Pausing for a moment she said, “I know you’re right, but it’s difficult. Actually, I’d love you to meet my best friend, Alisha. We’re very close.”
    I smiled. “Sure. Is she going to run the rule over me?”
    â€œLet’s say I’d trust Alisha with my life.”

    *

    The following week, we chatted away at our usual seats in the cafe after working out in the gym. Pouring a Diet Coke into a glass, she said, “I had a long chat with Alisha last night. She thinks you’re mad.”
    â€œPerhaps I am.”
    â€œBut she agreed with you. I shouldn’t let Nick dominate my life. She thinks you’re too good to be true. She feels you
could
be my knight in shining armour, but wants to know if you’ve got any chinks. Can you make dinner, Thursday night?”
    â€œYes, of course.”
    â€œWhat about the
Grapes
Pub in Limehouse Basin? About 7.30?”
    â€œThat’s fine. What’s Alisha like?”
    â€œOh, we’ve known each other forever. We’re more than just great friends. She’s more like the sister I never had, even though she’s black and I’m white. I attended both her weddings and commiserated with both her divorces.”
    â€œDid she have any kids?”
    â€œFortunately, no.”
    â€œWhat does she think about your ex?”
    â€œNick’s always been jealous of our friendship. There’s no love lost between them.”
    â€œWhat does she feel about men, now?”
    â€œNot a lot. She’s had some awful experiences. Best not to get her started on the subject.”
    â€œI’ll avoid it, don’t worry.”
    She flashed a mocking smile. Wagging her finger under my nose, she said, “You’ll have to do a lot to impress her, be warned!”
    I felt like a schoolboy again.

    *

    They turned up at the bar just as I’d ordered a pint. Alisha, her short, black, lustrous hair framing a pretty, dark-skinned face with dark brown eyes, was an inch or two shorter than Lynne with a similar curvy figure.
    She made a point of looking me up and down as if I was something the cat had brought in. Taking off her coat, she nodded at my pint glass.
    â€œTaking on Dutch courage, are we?”
    â€œAlisha, give him a break! Poor man’s obviously nervous. You know what they’re like.” Lynne winked at me, trying to lighten the mood.
    Over dinner, I learnt that Alisha Alleyne worked as a sales rep for a pharmaceutical company based in the West End. Born to druggy parents in Trinidad, they’d divorced when she was five. Her grandparents thought she’d have a better life living in England. She had an aunt who’d married a wealthy white businessman living in Swiss Cottage and they’d brought her up.
    When we got to the coffees, Lynne excused herself to visit the loo. Alisha leant towards me and said, “You know, Lynne’s a special person. She’s been a wonderful friend to me. Especially when I was going through my divorces. Despite her own problems, she was always there for me. I don’t want to see her hurt anymore. She
deserves
a better life.”
    â€œLook Alisha, I love her. I want to be with her all the time. I don’t care what it takes. ”
    â€œYou’ve no idea what you’re taking on. You’ll have gathered by now her ex is a complete arsehole.” The waitress almost spilled the coffee as she topped up our cups.
    â€œWhat does Georgie think about him?”
    â€œOh, he idolises him. Nick spoils him rotten. Makes it difficult for Lynne.”
    â€œThere must be a way of getting it sorted.”
    Before she could answer, Lynne appeared at the table,