Some Girls Do Read Online Free PDF Page A

that Yvonne was interested in Ivan for herself.
    ‘The bar is nice, isn’t it?’
    ‘It’s lovely.’
    ‘He designed it all himself,’ Yvonne said. ‘He did the décor and everything. Do you think that’s a bit girly?’
    Claire laughed. ‘No. He’s got great taste,’ she said, stroking the plush of the sofa. ‘But that doesn’t mean he’s gay. Anyway, why don’t you just go for it? You’ll find out soon enough if he is.’
    ‘He might be in denial.’ Yvonne poked her straw around in her drink.
    ‘Then I don’t think he’d go with the earring and play up his interior-decorating skills.’
    ‘True!’ Yvonne brightened. ‘You talk sense, O Wise One. Thank you.’
    Yvonne’s friends soon gravitated towards the sofa, and they were joined by everyone except Ivan, who was working the room. Claire found herself having to explain her position as a bookshop assistant to each of them in turn, meeting with blank incomprehension every time.
    ‘But … how old are you?’ Leah asked her pointedly.
    They all seemed to own chic shops or were hatching little start-up companies, playing entrepreneur on Daddy’s money. Claire sipped her water as the inane chatter went on around her, wishing once again she had something stronger.
    ‘Why did you have to invite that fucking pikey, Yvonne?’ Philip said suddenly, glowering across the bar.
    ‘Luca is not a pikey,’ Yvonne said, as Claire followed Philip’s gaze to another turquoise sofa on the far side of the bar where a dark-haired man was just visible between two very pretty blondes. One sat on his lap, her crotch-length mini riding up while his hand rested casually on her tanned skinny thigh. Claire was relieved to see that she was wearing underwear. The other was trying to get his attention with a frantic combination of hair-flicking and boob-shimmying.
    ‘How do you know?’ Fionn said. ‘Christ knows who hisparents are. He could be one hundred per cent, pure-bred gypsy for all you know.’
    ‘Anyway, we know he’s Romanian,’ Philip said. ‘They’re all pikeys.’
    ‘Philip! Anyway, Luca’s no more Romanian than I am,’ Yvonne said. ‘He grew up here. He went to the same school as you, Fionn. He’s as Irish as the rest of us.’
    ‘You can take the boy out of Romania …’ Philip said sulkily. ‘What’s Aisling doing with him, anyway?’
    ‘Trying to get into his jocks, by the look of it.’ Fionn smirked, turning to him. ‘Are they the same lips she kisses you with?’
    ‘Never again.’
    ‘Don’t pay any attention,’ Leah said soothingly, putting a hand on Philip’s knee. ‘Aisling’s just doing it to make you jealous. Don’t let her get to you.’
    ‘Round one to Aisling, I think,’ Fionn said, watching as the hair-flicker gave up and stalked off. Seconds later, the girl on Luca’s lap peeled herself off and headed for the bar.
    ‘Now’s our chance,’ Yvonne said, grabbing Claire’s hand and pulling her up. ‘Come on and I’ll introduce you.’
    Claire had no desire to be introduced to Luca, but she jumped at the chance to escape from Philip and the others. Another minute with that lot and her head would explode.
    ‘Sorry about Philip,’ Yvonne said. ‘He’s not usually that bad. He’s just pissed off because Aisling’s sort of his girlfriend – she’s the one who was sitting on Luca’s lap.’
    ‘Yeah, I gathered.’
    ‘Luca!’ Yvonne beamed, stopping in front of the sofa. ‘Hi. This is my friend, Claire. She works at the bookshop with me.’
    ‘Hi, Claire.’
    Claire had never felt so thoroughly checked out as Luca’s eyes raked over her. They were nice eyes, dark brown and wide apart, and there was something pleasingly feline about the shape of his face, framed by a mop of dark-brown curls. He was very handsome in a rugged sort of way, but he lacked the polished,robust look of most of Yvonne’s friends. His eyes were weary, and there was an unhealthy sheen to his skin. Still, he seemed interesting and