Read Online Forty Things to Do Before You're Forty by Alice Ross - Free Book Online Page B

new life.
    The Duck Inn had pride of place on the village green. Built as a coaching inn during the eighteenth century, it had been extended, upgraded and refurbished over the ensuing centuries, its most recent addition being a spacious conservatory. The pub was abuzz with chatter and laughter when Annie arrived, with lots of patrons making the most of its gastro-delights.
    Annie spotted Harriet and Jenny at a table at the far end of the room and was about to walk over to them when she froze. At the next table was a man. She could only see the back of his head but it was enough to know that it was Jake Sinclair – deep in conversation with her friends. Resentment rapidly elbowed aside an initial blast of panic. After listening to what seemed like every female in the village raving about him all day, there was evidently to be no escape this evening. Her one and only night out of the week and Jake Sinclair had ruined it before she’d even sat down. In fact, now she didn’t want to sit down. She wanted to turn around and run straight back home. Which, if she was quick, she might just get away with. She could slip outside, call Jenny on her mobile, and invent a little white lie – like she’d remembered she’d left a cake in the oven, or she’d been abducted by aliens, or –
    â€˜Annie. Over here,’ called Jenny, waving furiously.
    Too late. Annie’s stomach lurched at exactly the same moment Jake whipped round his head to her. Their gazes fused and Annie’s legs turned to cotton wool as she watched his mouth stretch into a smile, even more devastating set against the background of dark stubble. Lust roared through her as she imagined what the stubble would feel like against her skin as he –
    A cackle of laughter from the group next to her broke her daydream. She attempted to pull herself together and consider how best to handle the situation. With her preferred choice of disappearing now past its sell by date, she had precisely … no other option. She’d have to brave it out. Which she could do. Of course she could. She’d handled much more difficult situations in her life. And hadn’t she resolved that very morning not to let Jake Sinclair affect her? Drawing in a deep breath, she averted her eyes from the man in question, and raised her hand to wave back to Jenny, accidentally slapping an old man in the face as she did so.
    Annie’s hand flew to her mouth. ‘Oh, I’m so sorry,’ she gasped, every one of her other emotions swept aside by a tsunami of mortification.
    Straightening his spectacles, the old man chuckled. ‘It’s all right, dear. I’ve had much worse from the wife.’ He gave her a reassuring pat on the arm before scuttling off.
    Annie held her breath for a few seconds, not daring to look across the room. With a bit of luck, no one had seen. But luck of any proportion had evidently by-passed her. Everyone at the tables opposite was in hysterics, including Jake. Well, great start to the evening, Annie. Brilliant. There was only one thing to do now and that was to pretend to laugh it off. The last thing she felt like doing. She willed her legs to move across the room. They responded – albeit shakily.
    â€˜Woops,’ she said, grimacing as she reached her destination. ‘Slight incident there.’
    â€˜Beating up men again,’ chuckled Jenny. ‘They’re not all bad you know.’
    â€˜Just ninety-nine point nine per cent of them,’ chipped in Harriet, whose bitterness was justified – and unwavering. Her husband had flitted off with his secretary ten years ago, leaving her with four young children to bring up.
    â€˜Well, remind me not to upset you,’ said Jake, his dark eyes twinkling. ‘Looks like you’ve a mean left punch there.’
    Annie opened her mouth hoping desperately that something clever and witty would spout forth. It didn’t.
    â€˜You look lovely,