The Girl on the Cliff by Lucinda Riley Read Free Book Online Page A

take-out from the Chinese. It’s your favourite, hon, crispy duck,’ she added as she headed for the kitchen. ‘You hungry?’
    ‘Nope,’ stated Matt as Charley sourced a couple of plates from the kitchen and opened the bottle of wine she had brought with her.
    ‘You need to eat, sweetie, you’ll waste away.’ She eyed him as she set the food and the plates on the coffee table in front of him. ‘Here.’ Charley rolled strips of duck and hoisin sauce into a pancake and offered it to him.
    With a sigh, Matt sat forward, bit into and chewed the food without pleasure.
    Charley rolled him another pancake and took a sip of her wine. ‘Wanna talk about it?’
    ‘What is there to say?’ Matt shrugged. ‘My girl has left me for reasons I don’t know or understand and refuses to speak to me to explain them.’ He shook his head in despair. ‘At least if I knew what it was I’m meant to have done then I could do something about it.’ He put another pancake in his mouth. ‘And by the way, your tactic of silence hasn’t worked. Grania hasn’t called me once. So much for playing it cool, hey?’ he added morosely.
    ‘I’m sorry, Matty. I really thought that if you gaveGrania some time and space she might respond. I thought she loved you.’
    ‘So did I.’ Matt grimaced bitterly. ‘Maybe I was wrong. And, just maybe, this is more to do with her feelings for me. Maybe –’ Matt ran a hand through his hair distractedly – ‘it’s as simple as her not wanting me any more. Because I have wracked my brains, and I can’t think of a single damned thing I have done to hurt her.’
    Charley put a comforting hand on Matt’s knee. ‘Perhaps it was losing the baby, maybe her feelings have changed …’ Charley shrugged. ‘Sorry, I’m all out of platitudes.’
    ‘No, there is nothing to say, is there? She’s gone, and as each day passes I lose belief that she’ll be coming back.’ He looked at Charley. ‘Do you think I should do as I originally planned and get on a plane to Ireland?’
    ‘I don’t know, Matty. I don’t mean to be negative, but it seems to me she’s making it pretty clear she doesn’t want anything to do with you just now.’
    ‘Yup, you’re right.’ Matt drained his wine glass and poured himself another. ‘I’m just deluding myself, trying to believe it isn’t over, when she’s real certain it is.’
    ‘How about giving it till the end of the week and seeing if she calls? Then maybe if she does, you could suggest that you jump on a flight to Ireland?’
    ‘Maybe, but I’m sure getting tired of feeling that I’m the bad guy. Besides, I’ve got a heap of work and I’m away lecturing for the next two weeks.’
    ‘Poor old Matty,’ Charley crooned, ‘you really are going through it just now. Promise it’ll get better, one way or the other. You know, we all have bad times like this … when it seems like the world has come to an end.’
    ‘Yup, I admit it – I’m in Self-Indulgent City,’ agreed Matt. ‘Sorry. I suggest you leave me be just now. I’m not great company, I know.’
    ‘That’s what friends are for, Matty, to be there when you need them. Changing the subject for a second, I came by to ask you a favour,’ said Charley.
    ‘What’s that?’ Matt, lost in his own misery, was hardly listening.
    ‘I have the decorators coming into my apartment in a couple of days’ time. They’re gonna be there for a month or so, and I was wondering if I could use your spare room while they are? I’d pay rent, of course,’ Charley added. ‘And you know me, I’m out most evenings and weekends.’
    ‘Hey, no need to pay me. As I said, I’m stacked with work and away more than I’m here, so feel free to move in whenever you want.’ Matt stood up, rummaged through his desk and produced a key, which he handed to her.
    ‘Thanks, hon.’
    ‘No problem. And to be honest, despite what I just said, I could probably use the company. You’d be doing me a