Bad House by Sam West Read Free Book Online Page B

frantically racked his brains, searching for something, anything to change the subject: “I didn’t realise you were Spanish. You’re English is excellent.”
    “Thank-you. I guess you mean I’m not exactly known for my personality.”
    “That’s not what I meant.”
    She waved her hand dismissively in the air. “Relax, I know exactly who and what I am. Since you ask, I come from a poor little village in Spain. And I did what I had to do to get ahead.”
    Ian found himself actually liking this woman, and that really wasn’t good. In his eight years of marriage, he hadn’t once thought about straying. But looks aside, there was just something about her….
    “I’d better go,” he said abruptly, getting to his feet.
    “So soon?”
    “I really must. Thanks for the coffee.”
    “Anytime. So what does your wife do for a living?”
    “She’s a Maths teacher.”
    “So she’s out at work every day. Interesting.”
    “It was nice to meet you, Marianna,” he said, feeling decidedly flustered as he walked away on shaky legs.
    “I get lonely sometimes,” she said when he had reached the door.
    He stopped dead in his tracks, heart thumping hard.
    Don’t say it Ian. Don’t say it …
    “Pop round anytime you want,” he said with his back to her.
    Fuck …
    “I might just do that, Ian Webster.”
    Stealing himself, he turned round to face her. She smiled sweetly at him, her face composed and angelic and her long legs neatly crossed on the stool.
    Although the picture of innocence was ruined when she uncrossed her legs and let her thighs fall apart for a second before re-crossing her legs. He clearly saw the lips of her plump, shaved vulva and he went dizzy for a moment as all the blood rushed to his groin.
    “Goodbye,” he managed to mumble before he left.
     
    Half an hour later, Ian was stood outside Smooth Moves Estate Agent in the heart of Manchester. Peering through a gap in the window display of houses for sale, he saw Jefferson sitting at his desk in his cheap and shiny looking, pin-stripe suit. He was on the phone, and his slick-backed, dark hair glinted under the harsh fluorescent lighting. One other person was with him in the office, an attractive blonde woman in a sharp navy trouser-suit sitting at a desk adjacent to his.
    Ian slipped a hand inside his short leather jacket, and fingered the penknife he had stashed away in an inner pocket.
    Just in case, he reminded himself. It’s not like I’m actually going to use it .
    He pushed open the door of Smooth Move and stepped inside.
    “Hello Mr Jefferson. Remember me?”
    The man’s well-practiced smile seemed to falter for a second. “Of course I remember you. How are you settling into your new home, Mr Webster?”
    “That’s what I came to talk to you about. I would like to talk to you alone for a moment, if that’s alright with you.”
    Jefferson was beginning to look nervous. “My colleague has every right to remain in her own office, Mr Webster.”
    Ian flashed the girl a smile. “What’s your name?”
    He wasn’t a vain man, but he knew that for some unfathomable reason a lot of women found him attractive. Maybe it was his height and athletic build. Or perhaps it was his face which he had been told a hundred times before was a bundle of contradictions, being an odd combination of strong-jawed ruggedness and boyish charm.
    Fleetingly, his thoughts wandered to Marianna Hobbs. Was she as attracted to him as he was to her? Or was she just playing games? He pushed all thoughts of her aside and concentrated on the blonde before him. A glow suffused her cheeks at the intensity of his gaze and she giggled slightly when she answered:
    “It’s Jean. Jean Metcalf.”
    “Well, Jean, I need to talk to Jefferson here about a personal matter. Would you mind leaving us for a moment?”
    “No, of course not,” she said, discreetly smoothing a wayward strand of blonde hair off her face. “I have to pop out for a moment anyway.”
    “Thanks