Page 38 of All Summer Long

‘You didn’t tell her though?’ Alice knew she didn’t really need to ask.

‘No, I bloody didn’t!’ Niamh said. ‘But he needs to lay really low if he’s serious about keeping his presence here out of the village newsletter.’

‘It’s more the nationals I’m worried about,’ Alice said quietly.

‘I know, hon. That’s why I came to see you. He might need a disguise if he goes out and about.’

Alice coughed. ‘Any suggestions?’

‘Borrow one of Stewie’s wigs?’ Niamh laughed. ‘Or get Hazel to cast some sort of invisibility spell?’

Ignoring Niamh’s less than impressive suggestions, Alice cupped her chin in her hands.

‘Will you help keep his secret, Niamh? I don’t want him to leave.’

Niamh tipped her head on one side. ‘Something you want to tell me, McBride?’

‘Nothing,’ Alice said, at the exact same moment as the Airstream door flew back and Robinson stood there buck naked. To his credit he didn’t turn a hair, even when Niamh’s hand flew to her mouth to hold in her shocked laugh and Alice’s hands flew to her face to cover it completely.

‘Ladies,’ he said, then tipped his invisible Stetson and closed the door again.

‘No coffee, huh?’ Niamh said.

Alice peeped through her fingers and shook her head. ‘Nor milk.’

‘But lots of hot sex with a naked cowboy?’ Niamh’s eyes could not have sparkled brighter if she’d had them surgically removed and replaced with diamonds.

‘You can’t tell a soul, Niamh,’ Alice said. ‘Promise me?’

‘Alice, relax, you know I won’t. I’m just so bloody happy that you’re getting some action! And with Robinson bloody Duff!’ Niamh somehow managed to squeal, whisper and swoon all in one go. ‘In your face, Felicity Shaw!’

‘Niamh …’

‘I know, I know,’ Niamh said, rolling her eyes. ‘I shouldn’t think it or say it, but I’m doing it on your behalf because you’re too nice to say it yourself.’

‘I’m not. It’s just … it’s complicated.’

‘Well don’t let it be.’ Niamh leaned forward, no longer laughing. ‘Alice, this is just what you need, don’t make it more complicated than it needs to be. Just take it for what it is and enjoy it, okay?’

Alice nodded. ‘I want to.’

Niamh started to laugh and covered her pink cheeks with her palms. ‘You know I can’t un-see what I just saw, right? It’s in there for ever.’ She tapped the side of her head and grinned as she stood up.

Alice couldn’t help but laugh with her. ‘Just make sure it stays in there. If it makes it out onto canvas we are no longer friends, understand?’

She accepted Niamh’s outstretched hand to haul her out of the deckchair.

‘Only because you’re my best friend. But you should know that my fingers are actually hurting from the effort of not painting something so mighty fine.’

‘Go. Go back to your ancient farmer willies.’ Alice gave Niamh a little nudge.

Niamh nudged her right back and threw a ball from her pocket to get Pluto moving in the right direction. ‘Thanks. Go back to your magnificent cowboy willy.’

‘Some girls get all the luck,’ Alice laughed softly, watching Niamh leave and then sliding back inside the Airstream and locking the door.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

‘Shall I be chair?’ Stewie said loudly, leaning towards Alice across the table in the back room of The Siren. It was just after three in the afternoon as Dessy made his way to the table with a tray of drinks, stopping halfway across the room to straighten his sparkly Stetson out of his eyes.

---