Read Online Accidental Reunion by Carol Marinelli - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Carol Marinelli
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Yvonne, I’m sorry if it’s none of my business, but I really need to know what’s going on. Is there anything between you and Declan? If there is I can only apologise for what happened…’
Yvonne put up a rather unsteady hand. ‘Honestly, there’s nothing to apologise for.’
‘But you did say that you and Declan were an item. If you’ve got some sort of—I don’t know—open relationship…’
‘We don’t have a relationship. Not for the want of trying on my part, though.’
‘I’m sorry.’
‘No, you’re not,’ Yvonne said, and some of her earlier venom returned. ‘But I haven’t finished yet. I didn’t come from the other side of the world to be beaten by an ex from eight years ago.’
‘It isn’t a competition,’ Lila reasoned.
‘Isn’t it?’
‘Of course not. And anyway, Declan and I were over years ago.’
‘Good.’ Yvonne stood up as headlights lit up her face. ‘And I intend to keep it that way.’
The hooting of the car prevented Lila from responding, not that there was much that she could have said. Instead, she sat awkwardly in the back of the car after Yvonne jumped like a scalded cat into the front seat. Lila couldn’t have cared less where she sat—the back suited her fine. At least the journey gave her a little time to collect her thoughts. Her heartwas hammering, her mind whirring. Nothing tonight made any sense, but, then, why should it? Since Declan had appeared on the scene she had been spun into utter confusion.
Even when he dropped Yvonne off at the casino, Lila remained in the back, sitting in silence as Declan glided the car through the deserted Melbourne streets.
She was somewhat taken aback when he let her inside his house. Lila cast a look around. It was a classic Melbourne townhouse—beautifully refurbished, polished floorboards lining the hallway and stairs, lead light windows filtering the glow from the lamppost outside.
‘Are you and Yvonne renting together?’ They were the first words she had spoken to him since the bitter exchange outside the hotel.
‘I own it,’ he said curtly. ‘Why do you look so surprised? Were you expecting a students’ dive? Like I told you, I’ve come on a bit since then.’ He climbed down off his high horse. Bragging really wasn’t Declan’s style and Lila knew his tirade would be short-lived. ‘Actually, I own it, along with the bank.’ He managed a sheepish grin. ‘But at least I keep this place tidy.’ Running a hand through his hair for the first time since their paths had crossed again Declan actually appeared uncomfortable.
‘I don’t know about you but I could really use a drink right now. Can I get you one?’
Lila nodded, following him though to the kitchen.
Years might have passed and, yes, they might have changed, but as he opened the fridge and went to pull out a bottle of white wine he immediately closed it again.
‘Sorry.’ Taking a bottle of Lila’s preferred red from the wine rack, he started to open it as Lila rather shakingly took two glasses from the overhead cupboards.
It felt strange, surreal, both of them in a kitchen opening a bottle. It reeked of yesterday, felt so…so familiar that it hurt, it actually hurt.
He carried the glasses through to the lounge, waiting till Lila was seated on the sofa before passing her glass to her then joining her on the couch.
‘Yvonne and I aren’t together. We never have been,’ he said when the silence had gone on for far too long.
‘Then why did she say that you were?’
‘You tell me.’ When Lila didn’t respond he cast around for answers. ‘Maybe she likes me…’
‘Likes you?’ Lila actually laughed. ‘Oh, believe me, Declan, she likes you all right. The woman’s followed you to other side of the world, for heaven’s sake!’
‘Come on Lila, she’s not that bad. I think she just had a bit too much to drink tonight. Perhaps Yvonne thought if she said that we were on together, it might…’ He didn’t finish the
Yvonne put up a rather unsteady hand. ‘Honestly, there’s nothing to apologise for.’
‘But you did say that you and Declan were an item. If you’ve got some sort of—I don’t know—open relationship…’
‘We don’t have a relationship. Not for the want of trying on my part, though.’
‘I’m sorry.’
‘No, you’re not,’ Yvonne said, and some of her earlier venom returned. ‘But I haven’t finished yet. I didn’t come from the other side of the world to be beaten by an ex from eight years ago.’
‘It isn’t a competition,’ Lila reasoned.
‘Isn’t it?’
‘Of course not. And anyway, Declan and I were over years ago.’
‘Good.’ Yvonne stood up as headlights lit up her face. ‘And I intend to keep it that way.’
The hooting of the car prevented Lila from responding, not that there was much that she could have said. Instead, she sat awkwardly in the back of the car after Yvonne jumped like a scalded cat into the front seat. Lila couldn’t have cared less where she sat—the back suited her fine. At least the journey gave her a little time to collect her thoughts. Her heartwas hammering, her mind whirring. Nothing tonight made any sense, but, then, why should it? Since Declan had appeared on the scene she had been spun into utter confusion.
Even when he dropped Yvonne off at the casino, Lila remained in the back, sitting in silence as Declan glided the car through the deserted Melbourne streets.
She was somewhat taken aback when he let her inside his house. Lila cast a look around. It was a classic Melbourne townhouse—beautifully refurbished, polished floorboards lining the hallway and stairs, lead light windows filtering the glow from the lamppost outside.
‘Are you and Yvonne renting together?’ They were the first words she had spoken to him since the bitter exchange outside the hotel.
‘I own it,’ he said curtly. ‘Why do you look so surprised? Were you expecting a students’ dive? Like I told you, I’ve come on a bit since then.’ He climbed down off his high horse. Bragging really wasn’t Declan’s style and Lila knew his tirade would be short-lived. ‘Actually, I own it, along with the bank.’ He managed a sheepish grin. ‘But at least I keep this place tidy.’ Running a hand through his hair for the first time since their paths had crossed again Declan actually appeared uncomfortable.
‘I don’t know about you but I could really use a drink right now. Can I get you one?’
Lila nodded, following him though to the kitchen.
Years might have passed and, yes, they might have changed, but as he opened the fridge and went to pull out a bottle of white wine he immediately closed it again.
‘Sorry.’ Taking a bottle of Lila’s preferred red from the wine rack, he started to open it as Lila rather shakingly took two glasses from the overhead cupboards.
It felt strange, surreal, both of them in a kitchen opening a bottle. It reeked of yesterday, felt so…so familiar that it hurt, it actually hurt.
He carried the glasses through to the lounge, waiting till Lila was seated on the sofa before passing her glass to her then joining her on the couch.
‘Yvonne and I aren’t together. We never have been,’ he said when the silence had gone on for far too long.
‘Then why did she say that you were?’
‘You tell me.’ When Lila didn’t respond he cast around for answers. ‘Maybe she likes me…’
‘Likes you?’ Lila actually laughed. ‘Oh, believe me, Declan, she likes you all right. The woman’s followed you to other side of the world, for heaven’s sake!’
‘Come on Lila, she’s not that bad. I think she just had a bit too much to drink tonight. Perhaps Yvonne thought if she said that we were on together, it might…’ He didn’t finish the
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