Rumor Has It by Jill Mansell Read Free Book Online Page B

stuck his head round.
        'Bloody hell, you're supposed to have gone,' said Max. 'How are we meant to talk about you behind your back if you're going to creep back and eavesdrop?'
        'Sorry, sorry.' From the way Jack was grinning it was obvious he'd overheard every word. 'I was leaving, then I spotted something interesting out in the hall.' He raised an eyebrow at Tilly. 'Two in teresting things, actually.'
        Tilly blinked as he reappeared in the kitchen holding the boots she'd kicked off and left by the front door five minutes ago. Were emerald-green leather cowboy boots with customized glittery heels not allowed in Roxborough? Were they against the law, perhaps? A health and safety risk? Might their glitteriness cause herds of cows to take fright and stampede through country lanes?
        'I love Tilly's boots.' Louisa leapt loyally to her defense. 'They're cool.'
        'I didn't say I didn't like them,' said Jack. 'I think they're very… individual. The kind of boots you might wear when you're leapfrog ging over trash cans, in fact.' He paused. 'Well, when you're trying to leapfrog over a trash can.'
        Tilly's hand was already clapped to her mouth. 'You saw me?'
        'Oh, I did more than see you.' His own mouth twitched. 'I shouted at you.'
        She let out a squeak of dismay. 'That was your car?'
        'My brand new car,' Jack emphasized. 'Only two days out of the showroom. You left grease marks all over the window.'
        'I said I was sorry. It was an accident. Unlike you,' Tilly added pointedly, 'splashing me when you drove through that puddle. You did that on purpose.'
        'Semi on purpose,' Jack conceded. 'It was only meant to be a little splash. Hey, I'm sorry too. But look on the bright side: at least now you know I wasn't spinning you a line.' His eyes glittered good-humoredly. 'I knew I remembered you from somewhere, I just didn't know it was from the night you ended up spread-eagled across my new car.'

    'Come in, come in. Sorry my room's a mess. Dad used to moan and tell me to put things away but now he's given up. I told him there's far more important stuff for us to fight about and being untidy doesn't matter. Anyway, it feels more cozy like this.'
        Louisa was sitting up in her double bed wearing purple pajamas and reading A History of the Industrial Revolution . She smelled of soap and toothpaste.
        'Like doing your homework,' said Tilly. 'That's more important.'
        'I'm doing it now.' Louisa beamed and waggled the school text book at her. 'Revision. It's really boring… oh no, Dad told you!'
        'Sorry. He's the boss.' Having lifted the pillow next to the one propped up behind Louisa, Tilly located the copy of Heat and whisked it out of reach. 'He said if I looked under here I might find one of these.'
        Louisa pulled a caught-out face. 'I was only going to glance at it for five minutes. Our history test isn't till next week anyway.' She sat back, her eyes bright. 'So, do you think you're going to like it here?'
        'I hope so.' Tilly sat on the edge of the bed, checking out the framed photos on top of the bookcase and deliberately not thinking about Jack Lucas. 'I like that one of you and your mum.'
        'That was taken on the beach in Hawaii. We went there on holiday last year. Everyone else was tanned and glamorous.' Louisa grimaced. 'And there was me with my stupid red hair and my spindly white legs, looking like a complete dork.'
        'You don't at all.' Reaching for the photo, Tilly surveyed the two of them laughing together into the camera. 'And look at your mum—she's got red hair too.'
        'She's covered in fake tan. And factor fifty sunscreen. I don't know how she stands it out there in LA. I'm more of a cold-weather person. I like living here.'
        Carefully, Tilly said, 'You must miss her a lot.'
        Louisa shrugged. 'Yes, but when I was over there living with Mum, I missed Dad loads