job well done.
She climbed slowly up the steps to Mr K’s flat. She had often been in so she knew it was spacious and surprisingly luxurious for a man of Uncle Simon’s simple tastes.
`Aah, Roseanne you look all in,’ Euan greeted her warmly. `I have put some towels to warm in the bathroom. I thought you might be glad of a shower to freshen up before we eat?’
`Oh I would, if the meal will wa it? Something smells delicious…’
`You’ll have to wait and see, but I’ll pour you a glass of wine to take with you if you like? Red or white?’
`White please with a large dash of soda water if you have any. Remember I have to drive home yet.’
`You don’t have t o. There’s plenty of room here.’ She looked at him sharply and saw that he was smiling but his eyes were serious and her heart thudded at the invitation in them. It would be all too easy to fall in with Euan Kennedy’s wishes and she suspected he was a man who was used to getting his own way.
Apart from the two large fluffy towels there was an assortment of feminine toiletries to choose from. Euan’s own shower gel and aftershave and toothpaste were set apart on a glass shelf. She wondered if he entertained other women while he had the whole place to himself in the evenings. Some of the workers started early and she was sure there would be some gossip before long if he did. The thought did not please her, yet she had no claim on him, she reminded herself. Roseanne wished she had brought a change of clothes but she had not anticipated the day ending like this. At least she felt refreshed and clean and she had even tried the hair shampoo. She rubbed her hair vigorously but it was long and thick and she had to leave it loose to dry. It was already curling around her face in damp tendrils when she returned to the living room.
`Oh it is every bit as delightful as I imagined,’ Euan exclaimed as soon as he saw her and there was no denying the admiration in his eyes.
` Wh-what do you mean?’
`You hair – hanging loose like that all around your shoulders. It is enough to make a man wild, but it looks more golden in the lamplight. It’s beautiful.’ He wondered what she would say if he drew her close and buried his face in the sweet smelling tresses.
`I thought I would make use of the toiletries. Do you always keep a supply for the use of your lady friends? ’ She knew her voice was sharper than she had intended.
`Would you b e a teeny bit jealous if I did?’ he teased.
`Of course not. What you do in your leisure time is not my concern.’
`As a matter of fact I made a quick trip into the super market and brought the best they had on offer. I hope they were satisfac tory?’
`They were.’ She smiled now. `More than satisfactory. Thank you for taking so much trouble.’
`I wanted some fresh salmon for our meal. I have made a salmon mousse so I hope it will have set in time. I have never used gelatine before and it took a bi t longer than I expected.’ He looked as anxious as a small boy.
`I’m sure it will be fine, Euan, but you should not have gone to all this trouble.’
`I aim to please and I didn’t want you having nightmares after a heavy and indigestible meal. Anyway we have chilled melon cocktail for starters so come and sit at the table wh ile I bring if from the fridge.’
`Mmm, that was delicious,’ Roseanne said as she cleared the last drop of juice from her dish. `What is in it besides the melon?’
`The juice of an orange and a lemon, plus a light sugar syrup made with water of course.’
`And? I’m sure I tasted something else? Something different?’
`Oh maybe a wee touch of juice from the mar aschino cherries, nothing much.’
`You’re very modest. It was super, whatever your secr et ingredient.’
`Can I pour you some wine?’
`Er no thanks, better not risk it. It wouldn’t do if I was breathalysed on the drive home.’
`As I said you can easily stay the night.’
`I think not, thank you. Can you imagine the
She climbed slowly up the steps to Mr K’s flat. She had often been in so she knew it was spacious and surprisingly luxurious for a man of Uncle Simon’s simple tastes.
`Aah, Roseanne you look all in,’ Euan greeted her warmly. `I have put some towels to warm in the bathroom. I thought you might be glad of a shower to freshen up before we eat?’
`Oh I would, if the meal will wa it? Something smells delicious…’
`You’ll have to wait and see, but I’ll pour you a glass of wine to take with you if you like? Red or white?’
`White please with a large dash of soda water if you have any. Remember I have to drive home yet.’
`You don’t have t o. There’s plenty of room here.’ She looked at him sharply and saw that he was smiling but his eyes were serious and her heart thudded at the invitation in them. It would be all too easy to fall in with Euan Kennedy’s wishes and she suspected he was a man who was used to getting his own way.
Apart from the two large fluffy towels there was an assortment of feminine toiletries to choose from. Euan’s own shower gel and aftershave and toothpaste were set apart on a glass shelf. She wondered if he entertained other women while he had the whole place to himself in the evenings. Some of the workers started early and she was sure there would be some gossip before long if he did. The thought did not please her, yet she had no claim on him, she reminded herself. Roseanne wished she had brought a change of clothes but she had not anticipated the day ending like this. At least she felt refreshed and clean and she had even tried the hair shampoo. She rubbed her hair vigorously but it was long and thick and she had to leave it loose to dry. It was already curling around her face in damp tendrils when she returned to the living room.
`Oh it is every bit as delightful as I imagined,’ Euan exclaimed as soon as he saw her and there was no denying the admiration in his eyes.
` Wh-what do you mean?’
`You hair – hanging loose like that all around your shoulders. It is enough to make a man wild, but it looks more golden in the lamplight. It’s beautiful.’ He wondered what she would say if he drew her close and buried his face in the sweet smelling tresses.
`I thought I would make use of the toiletries. Do you always keep a supply for the use of your lady friends? ’ She knew her voice was sharper than she had intended.
`Would you b e a teeny bit jealous if I did?’ he teased.
`Of course not. What you do in your leisure time is not my concern.’
`As a matter of fact I made a quick trip into the super market and brought the best they had on offer. I hope they were satisfac tory?’
`They were.’ She smiled now. `More than satisfactory. Thank you for taking so much trouble.’
`I wanted some fresh salmon for our meal. I have made a salmon mousse so I hope it will have set in time. I have never used gelatine before and it took a bi t longer than I expected.’ He looked as anxious as a small boy.
`I’m sure it will be fine, Euan, but you should not have gone to all this trouble.’
`I aim to please and I didn’t want you having nightmares after a heavy and indigestible meal. Anyway we have chilled melon cocktail for starters so come and sit at the table wh ile I bring if from the fridge.’
`Mmm, that was delicious,’ Roseanne said as she cleared the last drop of juice from her dish. `What is in it besides the melon?’
`The juice of an orange and a lemon, plus a light sugar syrup made with water of course.’
`And? I’m sure I tasted something else? Something different?’
`Oh maybe a wee touch of juice from the mar aschino cherries, nothing much.’
`You’re very modest. It was super, whatever your secr et ingredient.’
`Can I pour you some wine?’
`Er no thanks, better not risk it. It wouldn’t do if I was breathalysed on the drive home.’
`As I said you can easily stay the night.’
`I think not, thank you. Can you imagine the
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