Night Fires by D. H. Sidebottom Read Free Book Online

sure you don’t get too wet without me.”
    I frowned at his strange words but then rolled my eyes. “I’d cook something to say thanks but without water I think it might be a bit hard. Sorry.”
    He shook his head. “It’s cool.”
    Then he shut the door behind him and I was once again alone – or I hoped I was. Taking a nervous glance around, I ran through the house flicking off the lights and jumped into bed, yanking my duvet up and over my head. My duvet would save me. It always did.

B RAY GRINNED AT me from the other side of the counter when I emerged from the kitchen, still tying my apron around me in haste as I was late – again.
    “Morning, sunshine.” He beamed. “You’re looking particularly gorgeous today.”
    David, who was sitting next to him, gave me a warm smile. He frowned when I smiled back nervously.
    “What you done?” Bray asked, gesturing to the bandage around my wrist.
    “She went water-skiing.”
    All eyes turned to look at Carter when he slid onto the stool on the other side of Bray.
    “Eh?” David asked with a humorous expression.
    Narrowing my eyes on Carter, I explained what had happened. Before I’d finished all three men were laughing at me.
    “Leave her alone.” Janie scowled playfully as she slipped an arm around my waist and hugged me close.
    A smug smile lifted the corners of Bray’s lips and I braced myself. “Well, I only came in for a bacon sarnie, but a three-way works for me.”
    Janie rolled her eyes and shook her head. “You never disappoint, Bray.”
    He grinned wider. “I’ve offered to prove that to you time and time again, Janie. One day you’ll actually take me up on my offer. After all, it’s not every girl in the village that is offered such an amazing gift.”
    Janie lifted her eyebrow. “You’re right.” She pointed a finger at him. “Mary Arnold who runs the weekly knitting club hasn’t had the honour of sharing your bed yet.”
    Bray slapped his hand on his chest. “You wound me.”
    She scowled at him then disappeared to take an order from a man at the end of the counter. I smirked when I noticed Bray’s eyes on her backside as she sashayed away. Turning back to me as I took Carter’s order for breakfast, he said, “By the way, Saturday is the village carnival. You want to come with us?”
    I flinched and shook my head, giving him a small smile. “Sorry, I have plans Saturday. But thanks for the offer.”
    Carter narrowed his eyes on me. “What plans?”
    I blinked at him then shrugged and turned to David. “Coffee to take away, David?”
    He nodded, his eyes flicking to Carter who sat simmering on his stool with his eyes glued to me. I could feel the heat from his glare boring into me. Why he was so concerned with what I did confused me but I shrugged it off. Carter was such a complex character that if I knew him a lifetime I’d never actually know all of him.
    “It’s the carnival, Alice. You can’t not go,” Bray said, but I shook my head again and proceeded to make David’s coffee as I slipped Bray’s order through the hatch for Betty to start on.
    David smiled and placed a fiver on the counter when I passed him his coffee. “Well, better get on. Staff meeting this morning. I hate them. I swear one day I’ll actually get to know all the names in that place.”
    “You need a PA,” Bray suggested. “A pretty blonde PA with long legs and huge…” His eyes shot to me and he grinned, “…eyes.”
    Carter and David snorted.
    “We’d all like one of those, Harrison.” Carter laughed.
    I couldn’t help but stare at him. It was the first time I’d properly seen him laugh. His eyes turned from deep silver to the most vibrant blue, his smile as wide as his strong jaw. His usual stern face completely transformed, leaving in its place a stunning man who caused my heart to stop for a moment.
    Noticing me looking at him, he frowned. I swallowed and looked away, thankful when Betty shouted through the hatch for me to serve an