Love on the Rocks by Veronica Henry Read Free Book Online Page B

was why Lisa’s relationship with George was so perfect. They’d met nine months ago, when she’d been employed to work on a riverside development he’d been overseeing just outside Stratford. The company had decided to hire specialist promotions girls to do the sales for the first few weeks, as the apartments were targeted at wealthy bachelors. Lisa had mistaken George for a prospective client and had proceeded to escort him around the show apartment, giving him such a beguiling spiel that he’d almost started believing in the complete flummery he’d written himself. He had to come clean, because he was enchanted: by her incredible enthusiasm, her complete conviction in what she was doing, her effervescent charm. And, of course, the amazing body that was evident underneath the low-cut cream trouser suit she wore.
    And now, they were both entirely happy with the status quo. They didn’t live in each other’s pockets. They were two people with their own lives who enjoyed each other’s company. Who made each other laugh. Who had fabulous sex. But if one of them wanted a weekend alone, the other didn’t fall into a sulk or a frenzy of insecurity. It was easy. And Lisa was happy. With George, she could be the person she wanted to be. He didn’t push her. He didn’t ask for too much. And she didn’t think he would. George seemed just as happy with the way things were as she was . . .
    The path down to the beach was incredibly steep. As they scrambled the last few yards and dropped on to the shingle, George saw you could walk around the finger of rocks to the main beach, but it wouldn’t be long before you were cut off again, so getting back to The Rocks would entail walking all the way back up the main road, adding a good extra mile to the journey.
    The two of them crunched their way over the shingle that soon gave way to sand. The wind took their breath away, whipping Lisa’s curls into a mad tangle and making George’s eyes water. He thrust his hands deep into his pockets. He was surprised that, when he woke up, he hadn’t felt a sense of doom at his behaviour the day before. If anything, he felt more resolute. They sat on a rock at the water’s edge, the two of them contemplating the scene in silence. In front of them the sea stretched interminably. The rise and fall of the waves was almost hypnotic.
    ‘This was a really good idea,’ said George. ‘It’s so exhilarating here. It’s as if the real world doesn’t exist. Yesterday seems like a lifetime ago.’
    ‘I have to confess, I panicked a bit when I woke up,’ admitted Lisa. ‘But now I just think bollocks to them. There’s got to be more to life than standing around in your stilettos handing out leaflets.’
    ‘My sentiments entirely,’ agreed George. ‘Not that I stand around in stilettos, obviously. But I think if I have to make another phone call to Bath City Council . . .’
    ‘So are you going to go back to work on Monday?’
    ‘I don’t know.’ George shrugged his shoulders. ‘I can’t just walk out without a plan, can I?’
    ‘Why not?’ demanded Lisa. ‘You’ve got no responsibilities.’
    ‘I’m not programmed like that. I’m not a risk-taker.’
    ‘Nor me. Not really. But you know what they say. Life’s not a rehearsal, is it? And wouldn’t you be annoyed with yourself if you died, and realized you’d spent your whole life compromising? That you’d never fulfilled your dreams?’
    ‘I wouldn’t be annoyed because I’d be dead,’ replied George, ever the pragmatist. ‘But I get your drift.’
    He looked at Lisa, who was gazing out to sea, her eyes fixed on the spot on the horizon where the water joins the sky. He was startled to see her eyes suddenly fill up with tears.
    ‘Lisa?’
    She turned to look at him.
    ‘I can’t think of anything worse.’ Her tone was vociferous and George recoiled slightly, alarmed by this uncharacteristic venom. ‘It happened to my mum, and I’m not going to let it happen to