Read Online Love-40 by Anna Cheska - Free Book Online Page B

sweet.
    But he kept his serve again to lead 4–1 when they changed.
    â€˜I thought about teaching once,’ Amanda confided, sipping her barley water.
    Liam was gob-smacked. ‘But you were a model.’ Maybe it was a dumb thing to say, but he couldn’t see Amanda at teacher’s training college to save his life. The women there were lovely – often dedicated, usually full of enthusiasm and sometimes good-looking too. But there weren’t many Amandas.
    She shrugged, an elegant movement of the slim brown shoulders. ‘That was then.’ She eyed Liam with what seemed like admiration. ‘I’m looking for a new career path.’
    â€˜Yeah?’
    She laughed. ‘Oh, I know what you’re thinking…’ the golden brown hand rested on his arm again.
    God, the woman couldn’t stop touching him. Liam wondered how old she was – late twenties maybe? Well, they said that younger women couldn’t resist the older, more powerful man. Liam wasn’t sure he was more powerful, but he was certainly older, and at forty, men had a certain panache, he’d heard. As Estelle had once said, complaining about the unfairness of it, a bit of grey around the temples made a woman look old, a man more distinguished.
    The blue eyes gazed into his. ‘You’re thinking I’m just some blonde bimbo with more money than sense.’
    â€˜Of course not,’ said Liam, who had been thinking precisely that. He tried in vain to think of a career path compatible with Amanda and failed miserably. He could imagine her shopping, having breakfast or lunch with friends called Sorrell and Saffron, even partying all night. But a career path…?
    Amanda’s eyes became almost steely as she took the next game, and Liam really struggled with his following service. All of a sudden Amanda seemed to be finding his serve relatively easy to cope with; the returns came back fast, fluid and with maximum topspin, making him race panting from one side of the grass court to the other. As if she were playing with him … And he wasn’t talking tennis. But at deuce, she flashed him a radiant smile and hit the return into the net. Liam put everything into the next serve, it flashed past her, and it was 5–2.
    At the end change, Liam became aware of Nick Rossi, standing on the patio, outside the clubhouse, arms folded, watching them. It had been him watching before, Liam was certain. Hardly a surprise since he and Amanda often played together – two of a kind, he supposed. ‘Rossi doesn’t look too happy,’ he remarked, since she didn’t seem to have noticed him.
    She towelled her face and neck and didn’t look round. ‘That’s his problem.’
    â€˜Had the two of you arranged a game?’ Liam didn’t much like Rossi (he worked, but was too social-strata-A for Liam’s taste) but he had no wish to tread on anyone’s toes.
    â€˜Mentioned but not confirmed.’ Once again, Amanda put her hand on his arm. ‘You don’t have to worry, Liam. Nick and I aren’t an item.’ She smiled, leaned closer. ‘It’s just a game.’
    And it was only when Amanda hit a double fault, allowing Liam to take that game and the set, that Liam began to wonder what on earth she might mean.
    *   *   *
    â€˜We should play together more often,’ Amanda said as they made their way back to the clubhouse. There was no sign of Nick Rossi now, but Amanda seemed neither to notice nor care.
    â€˜I’d like that.’ And Liam thought of the American tournament. Next time he played with Amanda, he decided, he’d rather like them to be on the same side.
    *   *   *
    After a game of doubles and a quick shower in the changing rooms, it was 7 pm and the committee were assembling in the clubhouse. Liam saw that Suzi hadn’t arrived yet, but Amanda, now wearing a scarlet mini-dress and black