Irresistible You Read Online Free PDF Page B

it would be yours - right now - I promise you. But it ain’t that simple.’
    Mark could feel one of Barney’s protracted stories about to materialise. ‘It’s been seven months,’ he began.
    ‘I know, man, but things are difficult. In fact, you couldn’t have picked a worse time,’ he said, falling backwards onto the sofa. ‘Linda’s going to have a baby.’
    ‘What?’
    Barney nodded. ‘It’s due in July.’
    ‘Shit!’
    ‘There’ll be plenty of that,’ he joked but his face was grim.
    ‘What are you going to do?’
    ‘I don’t know. I’ve been applying for jobs.’
    ‘What - regular jobs?’
    ‘Yeah.’
    For a moment, Mark tried to picture Barney Malone wearing a suit and working in an office but it was absurd. ‘What about the band?’
    He shook his head. ‘It’s dead, man.’
    It was Mark’s turn to shake his head. If he were perfectly honest, he’d never really expected No Name to reach the top of the charts but it would be sad if it were just to die out. It was Barney’s life-force. Mark had never known him talk about anything else since they’d met at high school.
    ‘Then you haven’t got the money?’ he said, aware that his voice was an ugly mix of despair and blame.
    ‘What did you want it for, man? Was it something important?’
    Mark nodded. ‘You could say that. I need to get to Venice to see Elena.’
    ‘Elena?’
    ‘My fiancé.’
    ‘Wow, man! You’re engaged? That’s like – mega!’
    Mark couldn’t help smiling at his enthusiasm.
    ‘This is serious, then?’
    ‘Yeah. I’m worried about her. I don’t know – I’ve just got a bad feeling. I know I have to see her straightaway and that bloody skint Finn at the school hasn’t paid me yet this month. And I still owe my credit card for that hideously expensive diamond I bought Elena. I’m stony broke.’
    Barney shook his head, managing to look an even whiter shade of pale than normal.
    ‘Here!’ he said suddenly. ‘I feel real bad about owing you, man. Have you got a mobile?’
    Mark reached into his pocket and handed it to him wondering why he didn’t use the phone on the table next to him.
    ‘Got cut off last week,’ he said as if following Mark’s train of thought. ‘Hello? Linda, it’s Barney. I’ve got Mark here with me. Yeah. I know I do. That’s why I’m ringing you. Listen, babe, I want you to lend me that three hundred quid. I’ll pay you back - I’ve got an interview next week and the job’s practically in the bag.’
    Mark stood up and walked across to the window.
    ‘Okay,’ Barney said a few seconds later. ‘That’s sorted. She’ll meet you by the cash point on the corner in ten minutes.’
    ‘Yeah? Are you sure that’s okay?’
    Barney smiled. ‘Hey, man - it’s your cash and we’re grateful for you helping us out.’
    Mark grinned at him. He felt just terrible about hassling Barney at a time when he was down on his luck but what could he do? He needed that money. His future, he thought, might very well depend on it.

Chapter 6
    Rosanna was not sure whether she’d got through to Elena that first night but they went to bed in good spirits and she was happy to leave things like that. She knew she could be a bit bossy sometimes but it only came from caring deeply about her sister. She wanted Elena to be happy, of course but, most of all, she wanted her to be safe. If Mama was around, she’d be reeling in horror. She’d never approved of Elena’s conduct with the opposite sex and would quiz her at every opportunity.
    ‘No supper until you tell me who you’ve been with!’ Mama would yell from her permanent position in the kitchen, waving a wooden spoon like a gladiatorial weapon.
    Looking back, she couldn’t really blame Mama. Having a daughter like Elena must have been a nightmare. The telephone would never stop and they’d seriously considered installing one of those rotating doors to ease the flow of all the boys who came and went.
    It had been strange sharing a bed with