Tempted by Trouble Read Online Free PDF Page A

reached Sean McElroy. ‘Sean?’ he prompted.
    â€˜Sorry, I can’t make up my mind. I’m rather tempted by the chicken in a herb crust. Can you tell me exactly what the herbs are? Elle,’ he added, proving that his vision was twenty-twenty too, since he could obviously read her name badge across the table.
    So much for hoping to avoid another encounter with those blue eyes.
    She looked up to find them fixed on her, his expression suggesting that she had some explaining to do which, under the circumstances, was some nerve.
    The woman beside him, slender, cool in a linen shift of such simplicity that it had to have cost a mint, straight blonde hair shining like something out of a shampoo advert, turned to look at him and, instantly sensing that there was more going on than just a discussion about food, frowned.
    â€˜I thought you were going to have the steak, darling. You always have the steak,’ she added, declaring herself in possession.
    â€˜Do I? I hadn’t realised I was so boring, darling,’ he said, keeping his eyes fixed resolutely on Elle. The ‘darling’ had sounded like an afterthought. Maybe the woman noticedthat too, because she followed his gaze to Elle and her frown deepened.
    â€˜The crust consists of fine wholemeal breadcrumbs,’ Elle rattled off quickly, ‘and a mixture of fresh herbs including parsley, lemon thyme, a touch of sage, seasoned and bound together with egg.’
    â€˜No lovage ?’ he asked.
    Well, she’d seen that one coming. Was ready for it. ‘No lovage, no basil.’ She waited, pencil poised.
    â€˜A pity. I’ll have the salmon.’
    She made a note, moved on. It was just another table, she told herself as she brought a jug of water, went around the table with a basket of warm rolls.
    â€˜Roll, madam?’ she asked the blonde.
    She shook her head.
    She moved on ‘Roll, sir?’
    Sean looked up, his face so close to hers that she could see a thin jagged scar just above his eyebrow. Had he fallen off his bike when he was little? Been cut by something? Been hand-bagged by some woman he’d seriously annoyed?
    He took his time deciding, then, when she’d finally picked out his choice with the tongs and she was congratulating herself on keeping her cool when all she wanted to do was crown him with them, he murmured, ‘Tell me, Lovage, who is Bernard?’ At which point the roll shot out of the tongs, knocked over a glass of water and in the confusion most of the rolls landed in his lap.
    â€˜One would have been sufficient,’ he said, rescuing the basket and picking warm bread out of his lap, while she scrambled on the floor for the rest.
    â€˜Fetch fresh rolls, Elle. Quickly as you can.’ Oh, no, Freddy would have to be looking… ‘And replace this glass,’ he added, handing it to her. ‘I’m so sorry, everyone. Can I offer you fresh drinks? On the house, of course.’
    â€˜How about a fresh waitress. Someone in control of her hands. And her eyes,’ the girl in the linen dress suggested,pointedly brushing away a few drops of water. ‘My dress is ruined.’
    â€˜There is nothing wrong with the waitress,’ Sean said as Freddy mopped up the spill, straightened the table.
    â€˜We can all see what you think of her—’
    â€˜The accident was entirely my fault,’ he continued, speaking to Freddy, ignoring the woman at his side. ‘And there’s no need for fresh drinks. We’re fine.’
    Sean watched Lovage—Elle—Amery walk away and discovered that he wanted to go with her. Take her hand and walk out into the dusk with her. Walk across the village, along the towpath by the Common. Walk her home and kiss her on the step, ask her out on a date, just like they did in the old days.
    â€˜What did you say to her?’ Charlotte demanded, intensifying the feeling.
    â€˜I asked for the roll with pumpkin seeds,’ he