Red Hot by Cheryl Alldis, Leonie Alldis Page B

deny it. Eddie’s rough, tough boy image intrigued her as it did most women. She gave him a shy smile as she went across to the table reserved for them.
    Eddie then spotted Ellie and Francis as they made their way to the stage, ready for the entertainment.
    Then he spotted her. ‘
She looks so lovely,’
he thought
. ‘If only I could walk
across the room and take her by the hand and lead her out to the middle of the floor. I’d hold her close and not give a shit who sees us!’
    His thoughts ended abruptly when three young local boys went up to them.
    ‘That’d be right… Should’a known she’d have a date,’
Eddie thought, feeling disappointed.
‘I don’t stand a chance anyway. Old man Miles wouldn’t let me within ten feet of his daughter.’
He turned and ordered another beer.
    ‘Well, hello sexy!’ a voice purred behind him. He felt a warm body brush against him. ‘I was hopin’ you’d be here.’
    He turned to see Dot McClaron behind him.
    ‘G’day, Dot. How’s things?’ He knew he would be onto something here if he wanted it. Her invitation was plain to see as usual.
    ‘I’m good. How about gettin’ me a beer?’ He bought her the beer and watched in wry amusement as she guzzled it down far too quickly. She was openly flirting with him and although he wasn’t really interested, he played along with her. He had a few more beers himself, all the while keeping an eye on Kathy.
    Kathy had spotted him the moment she arrived, noticing again how sexy and ruggedly handsome he looked. Their eyes met across the room. She wanted to go and speak to him, but wasn’t game; her father would be furious, not to mention it’d set all the local gossips’ tongues wagging.
    She sat watching Dot and Eddie as they danced together to a slow number. Ellie and Francis had chosen it for the first dance. She could see Dot rubbing her body seductively against Eddie’s.
    ‘What a tease!’ she muttered to Tammi who was sitting next to her.
    ‘They’re good for each other,’ Tammi replied.
    Kathy didn’t comment any further and allowed Greg Johnson, one of her friends from school, to take her out to the floor as well.
    The hall was now full of local people. The talk that buzzed around was all about the firebug, but they were all determined to have a good time regardless. Bodies were moving to the rhythm of the music, others sat in groups at their tables. There was plenty of food catered for by the women and plenty of grog to wash it down.
    ‘C’mon, love, have this dance with your handsome husband?’ Digger held out his hand to Win.
    Karl took Emmie onto the dance floor and, because she was such a respected lady, everyone cleared the floor and Karl waltzed his mother the full circle of the floor. Eileen was sitting looking sullenly at Eddie and Dot.
‘
She makes me sick!
’
she murmured to herself
.
‘Slut!’
    A young bloke from the valley pony club asked her to dance and she accepted disinterestedly.
    Dawn saw her dancing and breathed a sigh of relief. It hadn’t escaped her notice when Eileen had seen Eddie. Dawn sensed he appealed to her daughter. She was happy to see her dancing with this young fellow; at least he was respectable.
    After a couple of numbers, Emmie insisted Karl let her sit down, urging him to go and ask some of the women around and enjoy himself. He brought her a port and lemonade before approaching a striking redhead, asking her to dance.
    Ellie and Francis upped the tempo with some great old rock and roll numbers. This gave Kathy and Tammi the opportunity to show off how well Francis had taught them to jive.
    Then Francis really turned up the beat, belting out modern rock and roll tunes one after another. He had everyone in the hall up on their feet!
    Jackets were tossed aside, ties were loosened or taken off altogether, high heels were kicked off. Everyone was in the party mood! The dance floor was packed. Party lights twinkled. Laughter and happy voices echoed from the hall out into