Read Online Cupid's Way by Joanne Phillips - Free Book Online Page A

The skin on his face was grey and taught, and his hands were lumpy and curled in on themselves. She reached out to touch his back, but then pulled her hand away before making contact. Her granddad wasn’t one for cuddles. She figured her mother had taken after him.
    Mavis burst into the room, carrying a tray of cupcakes. ‘Evie, is that what you’re wearing for the party? Now, I don’t want to interfere but I think it’s important to dress to impress. We’re all counting on you to come up with a plan of action for us, and you might hold more weight with the residents if you were wearing something smarter than jeans and a holey old jumper that looks like it’s been chewed by rats.’
    ‘Gran, you knitted this for me.’
    ‘Did I?’ Mavis peered at the offending item, then shrugged. ‘Well, it’s certainly seen better days. I suggest a nice skirt and a proper blouse.’ She looked at Evie dubiously. ‘You do have such a thing as a blouse, don’t you?’
    Evie had the shirt she’d worn to the conference, but after stuffing it into her suitcase while still damp she couldn’t vouch for what state it would be in. She nodded mutely, then pointed to the stack of cakes.
    ‘Can I just ask – what party?’
    ‘It’s hardly a party,’ Frank said, huffing. ‘It’s a council of war.’
    ‘We’re having a meeting of our own,’ Mavis explained, turning on her heel and heading back to the kitchen. Frank and Evie followed. ‘All the residents are coming. We’re going to form a proper residents’ association, come up with some ideas to fight the planners.’
    Evie smiled. Her gran was a force to be reckoned with, and she didn’t fancy Dynamite Construction’s chances against her. Or Bristol City Council, for that matter. But Frank’s face was still grim.
    ‘She’s taking on too much. Offering to do the food, organising the whole bloody thing. She’ll be printing leaflets next, and knocking on doors with a petition.’
    ‘Not a bad idea,’ Mavis said, grabbing a notebook and pen off the top of the fridge. ‘Petition,’ she repeated. ‘Leaflets. Right, the meeting starts at eleven sharp, so you’d better go and make yourself decent, young lady.’
    Evie started to protest, but Frank bent down and whispered in her ear. ‘It’s either that or get roped into making sandwiches for sixteen people.’
    ‘I’ll go and get changed,’ she said, risking a quick kiss on his stubbly cheek. Frank smiled and touched her arm briefly.
    ‘It’ll be alright, Evie,’ he told her. But as she crept upstairs, Evie felt as though she’d let him down. It should have been her reassuring him.
    *
    ‘Evie! Come over here.’
    The party was in full swing – and it was definitely more party than council of war. Evie found the upbeat spirit of the residents both reassuring and slightly worrying. She had the feeling they didn’t realise just how serious the situation was.
    She also had the uneasy feeling it would be up to her to tell them.
    Mavis arrived at her side, out of breath and dragging a blonde-haired man behind her. ‘Evie, have you met Zac Jones? He’s our newest resident – he bought number four and number six last year, and he’s doing one of them up for his mum.’
    The man stepped forward and held out a tanned hand. ‘Hi, Evie. It’s nice to meet you. I’ve sure heard a lot about you.’
    He was solidly built, with short hair and blue-green eyes. Although not as tall as Michael, he was one of those people who gave the impression of height by holding themselves confidently erect. It wasn’t a swagger though, Evie was glad to note, and neither was he the shaven-headed thug-type she’d feared. Zac was pleasing to the eye and had a ready smile. He gestured towards the bright blue gazebo where Frank was manning the beer pump.
    ‘They should have had some of that flowing at yesterday’s meeting,’ he said with a grin. ‘Might have made the pill less bitter to swallow.’
    Evie laughed. ‘I’m not sure