Read Online Caught in the Act by Gemma Fox - Free Book Online

the door Gareth took a small box from his jacket pocket, on top of which was an intricate curl of scarlet ribbon.
    Leonora pulled a face, trying very hard to sustain the emotion that had propelled her downstairs after him. ‘What on earth is this?’ she snapped.
    He grinned. ‘Something to remember me by.’
    â€˜What do you mean, remember you by? I thought you said you would be back on Sunday evening?’
    As she lifted the lid Gareth was already stepping out into the street. Inside the box was a pair of black silk stockings, not unlike those he had tied Leonora to the bed with the very first night they had slept together.
    â€˜Gareth?’ she said, looking up, but he was already gone.
    â€˜Mummy?’ Patrick tugged at her cardigan. ‘Where’s Daddy gone?’
    Leonora shook her head. ‘I’ve got no idea,’ she said, taking his hand and scooping the baby up from the pram just inside the hall door. ‘No idea at all.’

THREE
    â€˜Callista? Callista Haze?’
    Callista Haze looked up from a battered copy of Macbeth and her thoughts. Although it took her a moment or two to focus on the face she would have known that voice anywhere. George Bearman, former head of Drama and English at Belvedere High School, stood beside the pub table, looking down at her and smiling nervously.
    George, it seemed, was not quite so certain that he’d got the right person. ‘It is you, isn’t it?’ he asked.
    She laughed. ‘Of course it is, George. Who on earth did you think it was? How many women looking like me do you think there are going to be at this reunion?’
    â€˜I just wanted to check. Actually, I was thinking how very little you’d changed,’ he said quickly, colouring up to crimson.
    â€˜Been watching me long, have you?’ she asked, raising one perfectly plucked eyebrow.
    George’s colour deepened. ‘Good God, no, of course not. Well, all right, maybe a few minutes, if that,’ he blustered. ‘I was up at the bar and I couldn’t help noticing. You look wonderful, actually. You don’t mind if I join you, do you?’ He indicated the seat alongside hers. He was cradling a pint of beer, a packet of crisps and a pie on a plate. Tucked into his top pocket were a knife and fork wrapped in a checked napkin.
    â€˜No, not at all,’ said Callista, half-rising to greet him.
    George set down his drink and makeshift lunch and then, catching hold of her elbows, pulled her towards him and kissed her clumsily on each cheek. He smelled of pipe smoke and shaving cream, his skin all rough and ruddy against hers.
    â€˜Have you been up to the hall yet? I dropped my bags off. They said their dining room and some sort of little café place they run was closed until later and recommended the pub; thoughtI’d come and grab a pint and a bite before the off.’ George paused, suddenly all dewy-eyed. ‘I’m gabbling, aren’t I? It’s just that it’s been so many years. You know, I didn’t think that I would ever see you again. Isn’t it wonderful? I’ve been trying to imagine what it would feel like, you know, to meet up again after all this time,’ he said.
    â€˜And how does it feel?’ Callista asked, her expression held very firmly in neutral.
    George considered for a moment or two, lips pursed, face set and then he said, ‘Rather odd, actually. I felt quite nervous driving down—but it’s good—a little unnerving—but it is wonderful to see you again. I wondered whether you might have changed—I mean, one never knows. But you look re ally, re ally…’
    Callista could see him struggling to find the right word. ‘Wonderful?’ she teased.
    â€˜Yes, exactly, wonderful,’ he said.
    As George settled himself into the seat alongside her, Callista prodded the slice of lemon down into her gin and tonic and said nothing. After all, what was there