Read Online Beach Combing by Emma Lee-Potter - Free Book Online Page B

also the person she least wanted to see. Worst of all, he was arm-in-arm with a stunning brunette.
    ‘Lara. Why aren’t you in London?’
    ‘I… I’m working on my university dissertation. I’ve been doing some research in St Ives.’
    As Lara got to her feet, Ed dropped the girl’s hand and gave Lara an awkward hug.
    Lara stood motionless, scared to hug him back in case she betrayed how she felt. His skin was ice-cold from the sea and he smelled faintly of lemon soap.
    ‘It’s wonderful to see you, Lara. I thought… I thought I’d never…’
    He stopped in the middle of his sentence and turned to the girl next to him.
    ‘God, how bloody rude of me. Lara, this is Kitty. She’s my…’
    But Lara cut him off in mid-flow. She knew exactly who Kitty was and she didn’t want to hear him say the words ‘… she’s my girlfriend.’
    ‘You… you’re wearing a different wetsuit,’ she muttered, then checked herself crossly for sounding so crass.
    ‘Yeah, I bought a new one.’
    He stared at Lara again, then back at Kitty. ‘Can I catch you later, sweetheart? I need to talk to Lara.’
    ‘Course,’ said Kitty, and with a little wave, ambled along the beach.
    Lara stared after her, green with envy. Kitty was tall and statuesque and gorgeous. If she looked that good in a wetsuit, thought Lara, she must look like a supermodel in everything else.
    ‘So how are you, Lara?’
    ‘I’m fine. You know, busy, busy, busy. I’m back at uni and it’s my final year, so I’ve got loads of work to do.’
    She was gabbling but it seemed safer to fill the space between them with words that didn’t matter.
    ‘And how about Alfie. Do you see much of him?’
    Lara’s face softened at the thought of Alfie. It had been a real wrench saying goodbye at the end of the summer but at least she got the chance to babysit now and then.
    ‘He’s good. Really good. His mum is back in London so he spends half his time with her and the other half with Jago. I miss him though…’
    Her voice trailed away miserably. It wasn’t until her summer job ended that she’d realised quite how fond she’d grown of the little boy. She’d never have imagined that a five-year-old could be such good company till she met Alfie.
    Ed couldn’t bear to see the sadness etched on her face. He stepped towards her and tenderly brushed a strand of her hair behind her ear.
    ‘Don’t,’ snapped Lara.
    ‘Why not?’ said Ed. He was taken aback by her vehemence.
    ‘Because it’s not fair. It’s not fair on me. And it’s not fair on Kitty either.’
    A bewildered look appeared on Ed’s face.
    ‘What the hell has Kitty got to do with anything?’
    ‘For God’s sake, Ed, don’t make out you haven’t got a clue what I’m talking about. She’s got everything to do with it.’
    Ed was starting to feel irritated but he forced himself to keep his temper.
    ‘Look, Lara. You’re talking in riddles. If I’ve offended you in some way then I’m sorry. All I can say is that I’ve wanted to ring you a million times. I think you’re the most amazing girl I’ve ever met and if I could go back to that day we spent together on the beach at St Grace and start all over again I’d do it like a shot.’
    Lara’s heart was beating so fast now that she was sure Ed must be able to hear it.
    ‘But now you’re with Kitty, so it’s too late.’
    Ed was so taken aback by her words that he burst out laughing.
    ‘Oh Lara, I can’t believe what you just said. Don’t you know who Kitty is?’
    ‘Yes,’ said Lara sulkily. ‘She’s your girlfriend.’
    Ed threw back his head and laughed even more when he heard this.
    ‘What is it about you, Lara? First you don’t realise that Ollie is my brother. And now you can’t believe that Kitty is my sister. The three of us are as alike as peas in a pod – same blue eyes, same nose, same olive skin. Can’t you see the resemblance?’
    Lara gaped at him in astonishment. ‘But she can’t be. She’s got brown