The Good Life by Martina Cole Read Free Book Online Page B

grabbed her hands and pulled her into his arms, enveloping her in a great bear hug, using all his considerable strength to try to keep her still, despite her kicking and struggling. Eventually, after about five minutes, she started to calm down.
    He had not said a word to her, knowing his voice would be like a red rag to a bull at this precise moment in time. He could feel her heart beating fast, and he was genuinely sorry for causing her so much distress. She was sobbing against his chest now and he hugged her to him, kissing her hair and neck. She always smelled so nice, did Caroline. Her thick hair was loose and he enjoyed the feel of it on his face.
    She didn’t deserve the grief he was giving her, but he couldn’t help himself. God forgive him, even now he wished he was holding his Jenny in his arms and, as disloyal as that was, he had to acknowledge the truth of it.
    ‘Where have you been, Cain?’
    Judging it safe to release his hold on her, he looked down at her face and said as honestly as he could, ‘I’ve been working, Caroline. I’ve got a delicate deal going . . .’
    Before he could finish his sentence she had kneed him in the groin with all her might. As he bent forward in agony she spat in his face.
    ‘I will get to the bottom of it, Cain, and if you have a bird bird , you will regret it to your dying day.’ With that she turned and went up the stairs to her bed.
    Left in the darkness of the hallway, Cain knew that he had to cool it with Jenny − at least for the time being.

Chapter Twenty-One
    The following day, Johnny Mac thought the story was the funniest thing he had ever heard.
    ‘It ain’t that funny, Johnny, she nearly removed them from the sac. Fucking painful, I can tell you.’
    ‘Well, Cain, you knew she was a spirited girl. That’s why you had that great big expensive wedding, remember?’
    Though Johnny Mac was laughing as he spoke, there was a note of censure in his voice and Cain asked him outright, ‘Do you think I’m being a mug, Johnny?’
    Johnny thought for a few moments before he answered his friend. ‘Truth be told, Cain, I like Jenny. She’s a lovely young girl − emphasis on the young − but you have a wife and a little boy. You know and I know that once Caroline gets the bit between her teeth she will move heaven and earth to find out the truth. All I am saying is, are you willing to take the flak? More to the point, is Jenny worth the trouble she is going to cause? It’s your funeral, mate. But think on this. You’ve got a lovely home, a lovely wife and a great little kid. That will all be up the Swanee if Caroline ever finds out the truth.’
    Cain knew his friend was speaking sense. He needed to cool it with Jenny for the sake of marital harmony − and his nuts. But it was proving harder than he had thought it would be. The more he saw of Jenny the more he cared about her. When he was with her nothing else really mattered.
    Johnny Mac watched the conflicting emotion crossing his friend’s face and felt a second’s sorrow for him. He was a man in love all right − the most dangerous emotion in the world.

Chapter Twenty-Two
    Cain Moran had put the hard word on Eileen and, as much as she would have liked to brag about her daughter’s boyfriend, she knew it was a no-no. Cain would launch her into outer space, and in a way she understood that; after all, he was a married man. But it was hard not to have even a little show-off.
    Cain was shrewd enough to compensate her for her silence with good hard cash. Money spoke louder than words in Eileen Riley’s life. Now, as she looked at her daughter all upset and flustered, she said gently, ‘Look, love, you have to see it from his point of view. He’s a married man, and that wife of his is hard as nails, by all accounts. All he is saying is, let the dust settle for a bit.’
    Jenny nodded. ‘I know, Mum, but it’s been a while now and I really do care about him.’
    Eileen rolled her eyes in annoyance. Young