Read Online Reckless Runaway at the Racecourse by Ros Clarke - Free Book Online Page A

you.’
         She shrugged. ‘I was used to it. Mostly.’
         Only she hadn’t been, not really. Not when she’d been frying eggs and bacon one Sunday morning for the three of them and her mother had waltzed in to announce that Steve had gone. Steve, who Fliss had secretly started thinking of as her dad, after he’d been around for a year. Steve, who Fliss had hoped was going to marry her mum and adopt her, and make a real little family. Steve, who’d broken her heart and shattered all her illusions when he went without even saying goodbye.
         After that, Fliss had tried to stay detached. She had tried not to care when any of the men took time to get to know her a bit or gave her presents. They would leave one day, she reminded herself. She mustn’t start to rely on them.
         Ironically, after Fliss had left home, her mother had finally settled down. For the last five years she had been living with the same man. Hugo was lovely and kind and had been divorced before. He was wonderful to her mother and had tried his best to welcome Fliss into his family as well. But the memories were still too strong. Fliss didn’t go to visit her mother at Hugo’s house. She arranged meetings on neutral ground - lunch in restaurants, shopping trips, visits to the cinema when Hugo was working late. She knew her mother wished that she would make more effort to get to know Hugo, but Fliss just couldn’t do it.
         She’d made the same rule in her own relationships. She never let herself start to rely on a man. She never trusted that he would stay around for long. So she’d never taken the step of moving in with a guy. She liked the safety of distance.
         ‘A few weeks?’ she checked.
         ‘Until after the Derby. Middle of June. Will you?’
         ‘What would I do with myself?’ Fliss wasn’t prepared to be anyone’s kept woman. ‘Do you know anyone looking for a temporary secretary?’
         ‘Yes.’ Luke grinned. ‘I am.’
         She shook her head firmly. ‘No, you aren’t. You said so. I’m not going to be a charity case, Luke.’
         He took hold of her hands. ‘I lied. I’ve been in need of a new secretary for months. Since my old one left in February. I just haven’t got round to advertising and interviewing and all that. But if you could do it for a few weeks, that would be amazing. Then I’ll have a breathing space to look round for someone more permanent.’
         A few weeks. She could do that. There wasn’t time for her heart to get broken in just a few weeks. Luke had been very clear that he wasn’t looking for anything serious either. They would just enjoy this short time together and then go their separate ways.
         Fliss watched a wisp of cotton wool cloud drift through the sky above them. In the distance there were sounds of horses neighing and birds singing. It was blissful. Just then she couldn’t bear the thought of going back to the city, ever.
         Luke tickled her nose with a blade of grass. Fliss giggled and pushed his hand away.
         ‘Say yes,’ he prompted her, tickling again, this time under her chin.
         ‘Or you’ll torture me into submission?’
         ‘Right. Say it?’
         ‘Oh, fine!’ she retorted in mock exasperation. ‘But only because you made me!’
         Luke rolled on top of her, trapping her body beneath his. ‘Fine.’ He took a moment to gaze at her, releasing one hand while he pushed the tangled hair gently back from her face. He traced the curve of her jaw, then cupped his hand beneath her chin and lifted her face to be kissed.
         They walked slowly back to the house, hand in hand, leading their horses. Fliss had enjoyed watching Luke’s nonchalant attempts to recapture her mount, eventually resorting to sheer bribery with the production of the end of a packet of mints to lure the animal within reach. His expression dared her not to tease but she