Rumor Has It by Jill Mansell Read Free Book Online

thought you were calling from London! Why didn't you tell me you were coming down?'
        'I can see I'm going to have to explain some basic rules about surprises. They kind of work better if they happen without warning.' Her eyes dancing, Tilly said, 'And this isn't a visit.'
        'It isn't? What is it, then?' Erin was by this time thoroughly confused; Tilly didn't even have an overnight bag with her.
        'You said I'd like it here. Well, you'd better be right,' said Tilly, 'because I've done it: I live here now. As of today.'
        'What? Where? Where are you living?'
        'Beech House. I'm working as a Girl Friday for Max Dineen.'
        Erin sat bolt upright. 'Dineen! Max Dineen who was married to Kaye? Daughter with red hair called…'
        'Lou. That's right.'
        Astonished, Erin said, 'Wow.'
        'I know! And we really get on well.' Tilly pulled a face. 'Please don't tell me he's a raving psychopath.'
        'Don't worry, everyone likes Max. And Lou's a cutie; she used to come in here with Kaye and eat—'
        'Strawberry sweets. She told me about that. And now I'm living here, in their house! Wait until I go to the Fox and tell grumpy Declan. He won't believe it!'
        'I can't believe it.' Erin shook her head, still in a daze.
        'I know, isn't it great? New job, new home, whole new life! And on my evenings off, we'll be able to go out together!'
        At that moment the door opened again and more customers drifted in. It occurred to Erin that with its usual unerring sense of timing, fate had managed to get it wrong again. All these years without a relationship and now Tilly had turned up. Maybe this was God's way of telling her she wasn't cut out to be a lying, deceitful, husband-stealing bitch.
        'What? What's wrong?' said Tilly.
        'Nothing.' Erin gave her a hug. 'I'm just glad you're here.' As she said it, the other customers began pulling dresses off the rails and posing in front of each other. It probably wasn't the best time to be confiding in Tilly about her top-secret budding romance with Fergus.

Chapter 6

    'HERE SHE IS,' MAX announced as Tilly, back from her visit to Erin, padded into the kitchen in her socks. 'Here's the girl I was telling you about.'
        Tilly turned to greet the visitor and stopped in her tracks. Because there, leaning against the stove with his arms casually folded in front of him and a devastating grin spreading across his face, was one of the most disconcertingly good-looking men she'd ever seen in real life. Thickly fringed green eyes surveyed her with amusement and glossy dark hair flopped over his forehead. His face was tanned, emphasizing the whiteness of his teeth, but the teeth themselves were just imperfect enough not to have been the work of a dentist.
        Phew. And he was wearing faded, paint-splashed jeans, Timberlands, and a pale brown polo shirt beneath a well-worn dusty grey vest. Pretty spectacular body too.
        Max performed the introductions. 'Tilly, this is my… friend , Jack Lucas. Jack, meet Tilly Cole.'
        'OK, let's just make something clear, shall we? From the word go? I'm not Max's… friend ,' said Jack. 'I'm just his friend. No hesita tion, no significant emphasis. Max likes to say it that way to try and embarrass me, to make people wonder what he's insinuating. He thinks it's hilarious. Just ignore him.' Hauling himself upright, he reached forward and shook hands. 'Hi, Tilly. Good to meet you.'
        'You too.' Tilly did her best to behave as if being introduced to knee-tremblingly attractive men was a daily occurrence. His handshake was warm and dry, and when she breathed in she smelled a mixture of paint, delicious aftershave, and brick dust.
        'You know, something about you reminds me of something…' Letting go of her hand, Jack circled an index finger as the connection eluded him.
        'Oh God, here he goes.' Max shook his head in disgust. 'You don't