Page 83 of Secrets at the Last House Before the Sea

‘That’s a shame.’ Katrina stepped closer, breathing out gin fumes. ‘Are you all right, Liam?’

‘Of course. I’m always all right.’

‘Hmm. Has Rosie skittered off too?’

‘She and Matt have gone back to Driftwood House to get an early night.’

‘I dare say they’ll be heading back to Spain soon.’

‘Next Wednesday, I think.’

‘That’s a shame. I’m sure we’ll all miss her.’ Katrina’s mouth settled into a thin line. ‘Are you quite sure you’re all right, Liam?’ Draping her arms around his neck, she pulled herself tightly against him. ‘You can tell me if you’re lonely. I get lonely sometimes.’

Standing on tiptoe, she pushed her face towards him until their lips met and she kissed him. It was a long, deep kiss and, after a few seconds, he began to kiss her back, pushing his fingers through her long hair. The distant beat of the disco faded and his world shrank to her lips that tasted of gin and her body moulding to his. This was all right. This was what he’d been missing all these months.

Katrina was the first to pull away. ‘Come with me.’ She linked her fingers through his and started leading him towards the car park. ‘We can go back to mine.’

‘You can’t drive.’

‘Of course I can. I haven’t had that much to drink.’

‘What about Stephen?’ Liam stopped so suddenly, her hand slipped from his.

‘What about him? He’s in New York, I told you.’

Liam shook his head. ‘I can’t.’

‘You don’t have to worry about Stephen. He’s away doing who knows what. We have a very open relationship, if you know what I mean.’

‘I still can’t. I’m sorry, Katrina.’

‘We can go back to yours if you’re going to be all weird about my place.’ There was a petulant tone to her voice as she traced her finger down his arm. ‘Anyway, he’d never know, Liam. He’d never, ever know about us.’

It was so tempting. They could be discreet and the warmth of another person in his bed would be so welcome. Who cared if he was doing the same to Stephen that Deanna had done to him? He never used to care if the women he bedded were already in relationships.

But his heart was different now and, anyway, it wasn’t Katrina he wanted.

He put his hands into his pockets and stepped back. ‘You’re beautiful, Katrina, and most men would kill to spend the night with you, but I can’t start something that could never continue. There’s too much at stake.’ He shook his head when she opened her mouth to speak. ‘I’m sorry. That’s just the way I feel. And it’s not you…’ Oh no, he was spouting a stupid cliché, but on this occasion it was the truth. ‘It’s really not you, it’s me.’

Katrina stood and watched him, an expression of disbelief on her face as he walked away. She’d probably start spreading rumours that he was impotent, and Alex would never let him hear the last of it if he found out. But it was done now and another lonely night with no one but Billy for company beckoned.