Read Online All the Rage by Spencer Coleman - Free Book Online Page A

traumatic upheaval in your life and you’re not expected to behave in a rational manner. Believe me, I know exactly what you are going through - listen, let’s meet for a drink and I’ll do the talking this time, OK? Come up to town and we’ll go out for a meal, what do you think? Great. Great. Catch the train. Do you know the Monsoon restaurant off Monmouth Street, Covent Garden? It’s just opened to good reviews. Let’s meet tomorrow night, say, eight thirty? Good. No. No. You can stay at my place, are you OK with that? ’ He paused. ‘Fine, Lauren, I look forward to it. Take care. ’
    Kara heard him replace the receiver. Even from her hidden position she detected his nervous excitement at the prospect of meeting up with her. With any luck, he had sufficient health insurance to cover all eventualities, she thought. Then she quietly slipped away.
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    ***
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    Kara had agreed to meet Marcus directly after work at a wine bar just a few hundred yards from the gallery, one which she was familiar with. This made her feel more comfortable, rather than enter alone and order a drink in a strange place. Marcus was late. She drank her chilled Pinot and made idle chat with the barman, whom she knew as Jack, an Australian from Perth. Feeling relaxed, they swapped banter and insults as only two people could who came from their respective mother countries. The more insulting the joke, the less offence was taken. That was the way it was between the Brits and the Aussies.
    She checked her watch again and sighed. Then the door opened and in breezed the boy.
    â€˜Hi, sorry I’m late. ’ Marcus said, plonking himself beside her on a stool. Catching the barman’s eye, he shouted, ‘bottle of Becks, mate! ’
    Kara stared at him, disdain in her eyes.
    â€˜How’s it going? ’ he asked, oblivious to her annoyance. He overfilled the space between them wearing a huge grey duffle coat and scarf and a cheeky grin. Kara shifted backwards on her stool, feeling overpowered.
    â€˜A good way to impress me,’ Kara remarked, glancing at her watch and then deflecting her gaze toward Jack. ‘A girl can get easily distracted if kept waiting. Is this your idea of playing hard to get? ’
    The grin on Marcus’s face widened. He grabbed his bottle of Becks and swallowed hard at the ice cold beer.
    She could tell he wasn’t going to apologise.
    â€˜My creative juices were operating big time, I just had to go with the flow,’ he said. ‘The painting’s great, even if I say so myself. Besides, can’t have you putting round the rumours that I’m chasing you. I have a reputation to uphold. ’
    â€˜Reputation? ’ Kara asked, raising her eyebrows.
    â€˜Yup. Being seen to be punctual implies that I have nothing better to do with my day, as if I’m just hanging around waiting…’
    â€˜For a date? ’ she interrupted, punching his arm playfully.
    â€˜Well, kinda. Is this an official date? ’
    â€˜Far too soon, Marcus,’ she said. ‘I’m distinctly unimpressed with your attitude and now the timekeeping leaves a lot to be desired. It’s rubbish. Not looking good, is it? ’
    â€˜Hmm, I was rather hoping you would give me the benefit of the doubt and put it down to the eccentricities of my artistic temperament. ’
    â€˜Well,’ she amused herself, ‘how about we beg to disagree and in the meantime let’s put our so-called relationship on hold, calling timeout while you undertake a strict period of probation, set by me. Deal? ’
    â€˜Hell,’ he shrugged, ‘you’re going to be one hard nut to crack. ’
    They moved to another bar and then on to an Italian restaurant, Mario’s, where they shared seafood pasta and a bottle of Chianti. His treat. She was warming towards him.
    â€˜Do you know of an artist called Julius Gray? ’ Kara asked, forking her