Read Online Starlight by Anne Douglas - Free Book Online

because it was cheaper than where we were. But I love Leith, anyway. Some folk disapprove – say it’s all sailors and fallen women – but I say it’s exciting and a fine place to live.’
    â€˜Another place for you to show me, then. At this rate, I’ll soon be an expert on this part of the world.’
    â€˜You are half Scottish. It’s your world, anyway.’
    â€˜I’ve got two worlds, that’s my trouble.’
    â€˜You miss England?’
    He nodded. ‘And my folks. But, it’s strange, I do feel an affinity with Scotland. Maybe if I can get to be head projectionist some time, I think I’ll settle.’
    Jess’s eyes widened. ‘Head projectionist? Why, that’d mean Ben would have to leave!’
    â€˜Wouldn’t be the end of the world, would it?’
    At the coolness of Rusty’s tone, Jess said quickly, ‘No, but he’s very good, isn’t he?’
    â€˜And handsome?’
    Jess stood up, clutching her bag. ‘Train’s stopping. We’re there.’
    â€˜Didn’t take long.’
    â€˜Won’t take long to get to where I live, either. It was nice of you to bring me home, but you needn’t have done, you know.’
    â€˜Who’s talking about need? I wanted to take you home.’
    On the short walk to the flat, they didn’t attempt to link arms, and it seemed to Jess that Rusty had lost his usual good humour. Had she given herself away? Shown too clearly her dismay at the thought of Ben’s leaving? No, she’d recovered very quickly – he couldn’t have noticed anything. Still, when they reached her door at the side of Derry Beattie’s shop, she stole a quick glance at Rusty and saw that for the first time his face was turned away from her. He was certainly upset.
    â€˜This is it,’ she said cheerfully. ‘This is where I live.’
    He stopped in his tracks, staring around at the traffic hurtling along Great Junction Street and the people hurrying by.
    â€˜Where?’ he asked. ‘Where d’you mean?’
    â€˜Here, over this greengrocer’s. We’ve got the flat upstairs.’
    â€˜Oh, I see.’ He looked up at the lighted, curtained windows, and suddenly seemed to relax. ‘Over a fruit shop – that’s nice.’
    â€˜Used to love to look at the apples and oranges,’ she told him. ‘Used to love to smell all the different fruits and vegetables. Still do, in fact.’
    He was looking at her now, smiling down, as she was rapidly trying to decide whether or not she should ask him in. No, she didn’t think so. This was only the first time they’d been out, and if she were to bring him up to see her mother and Marguerite, they’d be sure to think he was more than she’d said he was. It was true, it was still not late and she felt bad ending his evening for him, but what could she do?
    On a sudden impulse, she reached up and kissed his cheek.
    â€˜There you are, Rusty – a colleague’s kiss. Goodnight, and thank you for a lovely evening.’
    â€˜A colleague’s kiss?’ he repeated, and took her in his arms. ‘Well, here’s another.’
    Not true, thought Jess, as his mouth met hers in a long, sweet and deliberate kiss. Oh, not true at all! Pulling herself away, she felt a touch of unexpected excitement coursing through her, and was annoyed with him again, that he should have been able to make her feel like that.
    â€˜I thought you said you were going to behave yourself in future,’ she said coldly. ‘We’re supposed to be just a couple of colleagues.’
    â€˜I was hoping you didn’t want just that.’ He was winding his scarf around his neck, keeping his eyes on her face. ‘I’m sorry, Jess, I couldn’t help myself.’
    â€˜Yes, well, all right, but I’ve got to go in now.’ The effect of his kiss having now faded, Jess was feeling