Lady of the Shades by Darren Shan Read Free Book Online

do when giving interviews, saying I worked in a variety of job across the States. I move on quickly to my more
recent travels, the countries I’ve visited over the last few years.
    Given all the travelling, she’s convinced I have a girl in every port. I swear that isn’t true and pretend my modest sex life is a choice. ‘Sex by itself is nothing
special,’ I insist. ‘It’s not enough for bodies to touch — hearts and minds have to touch too.’
    She stares at me silently, solemnly, then explodes into laughter. ‘Bullshitter!’
    ‘What?’ I react with wounded innocence, but my smile gives me away.
    ‘How many girls have you sweet-talked into bed with that one?’ she jeers.
    ‘Not as many as I’d like,’ I admit.
    ‘No wonder. The sixties are a long time gone, flower boy. Get with the programme.’
    ‘So educate me,’ I encourage her. ‘What am I saying wrong?’
    ‘Everything. Ditch the lines. You don’t need them. Be yourself.’
    ‘OK.’ I chance it. ‘Despite the gruff front, I’m a quiet, introspective guy. One might even say shy, if one was so inclined. I was married once but that went wrong and it
hurt. I haven’t committed to anyone since. I often think I’m not meant for love, that I’m destined to be alone.’
    ‘Nobody’s destined for loneliness,’ she disagrees. ‘People choose it or they don’t. No one’s saddled with it.’
    I could argue that one with her, but I shrug diplomatically and mutter, ‘Maybe.’
    The serious turn in our conversation doesn’t drain the night of its pleasure, but it sets us reflecting and we don’t say much afterwards, just stand, hands joined, listening to the
sounds of the disco, staring out over the flowing water of the darkly entrancing Thames.

 
     
     
     
    THREE
     
     
     
     
    Deleena refuses to give me her phone number – she never gives it out to people she’s just met, even if they
are
‘fabulously wonderful writers’
– but she takes mine and promises to call sometime soon. I don’t get to sleep until nearly three in the morning, thinking about her, replaying our conversation inside my head.
    A ringing phone startles me. The ghost of the girl is in my face when I jerk awake, hissing silently at me. I ignore her and glance quickly at my watch — I’ve been asleep less than
half an hour. Sitting up, I grab my cell, shake the worst of the wooziness from my head and answer.
    ‘Did I wake you?’ Deleena asks.
    ‘Yes,’ I yawn.
    ‘I can call later if you’d like.’
    ‘No,’ I say quickly. ‘Don’t hang up.’
    There’s a long pause. Finally Deleena says, ‘I had a good time tonight.’
    ‘Me too.’
    ‘I hope I didn’t come across like a groupie. It was only when I got home that I realized how many questions I’d asked about your books. I wanted to ring and say sorry. I was
hoping to catch you before you went to bed.’
    ‘Please,’ I chuckle. ‘You don’t have to apologize for fawning over me.’
    ‘I wouldn’t have said I was
fawning
,’ she mutters.
    ‘Well you were,’ I smirk.
    Running a hand through my hair, I discover a long piece of purple paper stuck to my scalp. Peeling it off, I ask Deleena if she’d like to meet for breakfast or lunch.
    ‘I can’t. I start work early, and I only get to do lunch if it’s with a client. Every other day I’m stuck at my desk till closing time.’
    ‘I thought you said you worked regular hours.’
    ‘Regularly long,’ she laughs. ‘How about meeting up around eight?’
    ‘Great. Where?’
    ‘The National Film Theatre? They’re showing a season of eighties horror features. I think
Killer Party
is playing tonight. I know you love slasher flicks, so I thought we
could –’
    ‘What gave you that idea?’ I interrupt, then recall that
Summer’s Shades
features a protagonist who is hooked on gory films.
    ‘You
don’t
like horror?’ Deleena asks, taken aback.
    ‘Not really, apart from the classics like
The Omen
,
Hellraiser
,
The