Read Online Naked Truths by Jo Carnegie - Free Book Online Page B

80-year-old spinster being eaten alive by cats flashed through her mind.
    â€˜Do excuse me,’ she said and fled to the bathroom. Inside, looking at her reflection, Harriet half-understood why Trey and Damien were being so sniffy. The purple pussy-bow chiffon shirt – which Saffron had persuaded her to buy from a trendy boutique one lunchtime – made her look more like a matronly schoolmistress. She also had the beginnings of a cold, and her nose and eyes were starting to go a rather unattractive red. After powdering her face fruitlessly, Harriet gave up and went back to the others. The pub was packed by now, and she was just trying to edge past a group of rowdy men in suits when Trey’s reedy voice came floating over.
    â€˜What you doing with a frump like her, Saffron? Thought you’d have more taste in mates.’
    Damien wheezed with laughter, but Saffron sounded affronted. ‘Don’t be rude! H is cool. She’s just not into high fashion or anything.’
    Fighting an out-of-character urge to kick Trey in his puny shins, Harriet approached the table. She looked at Saffron.
    â€˜Would you mind awfully if I pushed off?’
    Saffron looked disappointed. ‘Are you sure?’
    â€˜I’ve got an early start in the morning,’ Harriet said apologetically. She did have a mountain of things to get through in the office.
    Saffron jumped up. ‘I’ll walk you out.’ After a lukewarm farewell, they left Trey and Damien and made their way to the door.
    â€˜Trey’s a bit of a knob isn’t he?’ said Saffron. ‘I might as well stay for another drink, though, good for contacts and all that.’ A black cab drove up and Harriet flagged it down.
I’ll get the tube home tomorrow
, she thought guiltily, as she jumped in and waved goodbye to Saffron.
    â€˜Fulham, please,’ she told the driver. As the car pulled off in the direction of her cosy garden flat with its M&S risotto for one in the fridge, Harriet yawned and felt relief wash over her.
    â€˜I’m not cool and I don’t care,’ she said. The driver turned his head round.
    â€˜What’s that, luv?’ he said.
    â€˜Sorry, just thinking aloud.’
    Harriet sank back into the seat. She should have been upset by Trey’s comments, but oddly, they had just made her more determined. Mr Right was out there somewhere. Hit by a sudden flash of inspiration, Harriet knew exactly how to find him.

Chapter 8
    â€˜ WHY DIDN’T YOU return my call last night?’ Fernando’s tone was petulant. Saffron pulled a face. He was turning out rather more possessive than she liked.
    â€˜I didn’t get in until 1 a.m. and I was so tired I wasn’t in the mood to talk. Anyway, I thought you’d be asleep.’
    Saffron could hear the huffy silence. ‘I didn’t mean it like that,’ she said. ‘Come on, babe, don’t give me a hard time.’
    Fernando sighed dramatically.
    â€˜I’ve got two tickets for the launch of this really cool bar tonight,’ she said. ‘There’ll be loads of celebrities and modelling agency people there.’
    A short silence, Saffron looked at the ceiling, counting the seconds. She knew what the answer would be.
    â€˜OK, sexy, you’re forgiven,’ he said happily, his umbrage forgotten already. ‘What time and where?’
    Saffron smiled, a mixture of triumph and exasperation. Sometimes, it was like dealing with a difficult toddler.
    When Saffron had met the gorgeous Fernando in an underground club in east London, she’d only been single three days. Her last fling, with a professional skateboarder, had ended after he’d gone to live in California. Saffron hadn’t been that bothered, anyway, especially when she’d laid eyes on Fernando’s heavenly physique on the dance floor.
    When Fernando had found out what she did for a living, he had been just as impressed. He loved going to