Page 65 of For Love or Money
‘It doesn’t,’ Al said flatly.
‘Even if it was Valentine’s Day?’
‘Was it with Louis?’
‘No.’
‘Then definitely not. Is he coming out to Nice later?’
Scott shook his head. ‘No. I think we’re finished.’
‘Oh. Sorry. I liked Louis.’
‘So did I.’ Scott looked morose for a moment, but quickly brightened up again. ‘Ah well, plenty more totty in the Mediterranean Sea. I’ll just pick someone up on the beach.’
Lesley couldn’t help thinking he didn’t look very happy about it, despite his cheerful tone.
‘Talking of romance, have you met my new stepmum-to-be?’ Scott asked Al. ‘Is she a total nightmare? Bitch on wheels? Come on, dish.’
‘She seems nice enough, at least on the surface. Dad got an investigator to do a bit of checking into her background, but he hasn’t turned up anything.’
‘Nothing dodgy?’
‘Nothing at all. Which is suspicious in itself.’
‘Well, if all else fails, I could always step up.’
‘And by “step up”, you mean ...?’
Scott just grinned in response, and stuffed a chunk of muffin in his mouth.
Al raised his eyebrows. ‘Your father’s fiancée? You’d try and seduce her?’
‘Jesus!’ Scott rolled his eyes. ‘We’re not in a costume drama. But yeah, basically.’ He shrugged. ‘I’m single now. I could hook up with her – take one for the team.’
‘That wouldn’t exactly be great for family relations,’ Al said.
‘What makes you so sure you could do that anyway?’ Lesley asked him.
‘Lesley!’ He reared back in mock horror, clutching his heart dramatically. ‘You’ve been in my company now for—’ he checked his watch ‘—almost half an hour. I’m wounded that you can still ask me that.’
Lesley rolled her eyes.
‘I’m irresistible to women. Can’t you tell?’ Then suddenly his grin vanished and he shot her an intense intimate look that went straight to her groin.
‘Don’t you smoulder at me,’ she said crossly, feeling herself flush. Damn him!
‘Worked, though, didn’t it?’ He grinned happily.
‘Feck off! Anyway, aren’t you supposed to be gay?’ she huffed, feeling flustered.
‘I go wherever the wind takes me. I’m not averse to dipping my toe in female waters occasionally.’
Al gave him a sceptical look.
‘Okay, not my toe,’ he said.
‘Right.’
