The Rock'n'Roll Romance Box Set (Pam Howes Rock'n'Roll Romance Series) (115 page)

  
‘Is seven in the bar okay?' Livvy replied. 'I’ll book a table for
seven-thirty.’ She gave them both a hug and a kiss on the cheek.

  
Jon grinned at Sheena, holding her gaze as she smiled at him. ‘I’ll see
you
later then,’ he said.

***

Sheena helped Jon to carry the
drinks from the bar and they rejoined Livvy and Sean who were chatting in a
corner of the lounge.

  
‘One for the road, then we should be making tracks,’ Sean said. He
downed his whisky and yawned. ‘I’m not used to being out this late in the week.
Thanks for the meal, Liv, I really enjoyed it.’
  

  
‘It was my pleasure, Sean,’ Livvy said. ‘I’ll see you and Tina on
Thursday afternoon then, if that’s okay.’

  
‘I’ll book a day off work. Tina’s really looking forward to seeing you,
and meeting Sheena, too.’ Sean took Livvy’s hand and squeezed it gently. ‘Good
luck tomorrow with Roy and Harley. You know where me and Tina are if you need
us.’ He kissed both Livvy and Sheena and slapped Jon on the back. ‘C’mon, mate,
we’ll share a cab. Pick the cars up tomorrow.’

  
Jon finished his drink and got to his feet. ‘It’s not often I’m let off
the leash, so I suppose I shouldn’t push my luck. Good luck tomorrow, Liv.’ He
kissed her on the cheek and turned to Sheena. ‘I’ll see you soon,’ he whispered
as he gave her a hug.

  
‘Hope so,’ she whispered back. ‘Let’s go up to my room,’ she said to
Livvy as they left. ‘I think you may be getting recognised. Those two guys at
the bar keep looking across and now Sean and Jon have gone they may come over
and tell you that you look like Livvy Grant. We can have a drink from my mini
bar.’

  
‘Okay. You’re determined to drink that bar dry, aren’t you?’

***

Livvy jumped up and yawned. ‘One
last drink and I think we’ll call it a night.’ She opened two small brandies
and poured them into tumblers. ‘Sorry it’s the wrong glasses, but I’m too tipsy
to care,’ she said, handing one to Sheena who was sprawled on the bed.
 

  
‘I think this will be the one to throw me over the edge, too. Don’t
forget, you have to call Danny before you go to bed.’

  
‘I know.’ Livvy grinned drunkenly. ‘I’ll tell him I love him. It'll keep
him happy for now. I’m dying to see Harley tomorrow. Sean told me she’s lovely.
She’s got long dark hair, looks a lot like Roy,
but has my face shape.’
 

  
‘When did Sean tell you that?’

  
‘When you and Jon were standing at the bar, gazing into one another’s
eyes,’ Livvy said. ‘He also said, “There’ll be trouble there if those two don’t
watch it!” She hiccupped and sat down heavily. ‘You really fancy Jon, don’t
you?’

  
Sheena lowered her gaze and ran her finger around the rim of her glass.
‘Yes.’

  
‘Oh, oh! Don’t do anything about it, Sheena. Jess will go mental. I
remember how jealous she used to be about Nick even
speaking
to me.’

  
‘I’m having lunch with him tomorrow,’ Sheena said quietly.

  
‘When did you arrange that?’

  
‘While we were standing at the bar. He told me to call in the store at
one. I’m not sure I should, really.’
 

  
Livvy nodded. ‘Oh well, it’s up to you. I don’t suppose lunch will do
any harm.’

  
‘True.’ Sheena grinned lopsidedly. ‘I feel so pissed, Liv. We shouldn’t
have mixed our drinks. Too much wine washed down with brandy doesn’t really
work.’

  
Livvy drained her glass. ‘Get into bed. I’m going to my room to call
Danny. I’ll see you in the morning. Sweet dreams, or naughty ones, if you
prefer.’

  
‘Definitely. Especially if they include a naked romp with Jon Mellor!
G’night, Liv, sleep tight.’

  
‘Night, Sheena.’ Livvy closed the door and made her way to the next
room. She stripped off her clothes and flung them vaguely in the direction of
the bedroom chair. She pulled on a towelling robe and flopped down on the bed,
thinking back to her telephone conversation with Roy
that afternoon. It had been strained at first, both talking stiltedly, with Roy
sounding as though he wasn’t alone.

  
He’d told her about Harley and how she hadn’t been too well lately, but
that he was sure it was nothing to worry about. He and Sammy were taking her to
the doctor’s in the morning for the results of routine blood tests. They’d
chatted about their respective musical careers then he’d finished the
conversation with, “I’ve really missed you, Livvy,” leaving her reeling and
assuming that he
must
have been alone, because he would never have dared
to say that if Sammy had been in the room with him.

  
Livvy sighed now, picked up the bedside phone and dialled her home
number. Mrs Grayson answered and told her Daniel was in New
York. She gave her a contact number.

  
Livvy recognised the number as a hotel he often stayed in when visiting
the city. She dialled and asked for Daniel’s room. After what seemed an age she
was about to hang up when a breathless female voice answered. In the background
she heard Daniel saying, “
I told you not
to answer the damn phone
!” Her stomach lurched and the room spun as he
said, “
Hello, hello, who is this please
?”

  
‘Your wife, you cheating bastard!’ She threw down the phone, burst into
tears and ran next door.

  
Sheena was just drifting off to sleep. ‘Livvy, what’s wrong?’

  
Between sobs Livvy told her.

  
Through the open door Sheena could hear Livvy’s cell phone ringing. She
jumped out of bed, and ran to answer it. ‘Danny, what the hell is going on?
Livvy said you were with another woman. What are you playing at?’ Sheena
listened to Daniel’s excuses. “
It’s a one
off. She’s just a business acquaintance.”

  
‘Well then, you should be ashamed of yourself,’ she shouted. ‘How could
you? Livvy’s right, you
are
a bastard.’ She ended the call and ran back
to her own room. Livvy was still sobbing and Sheena held her until the sobs
subsided.

  
‘I wonder how many times
that’s
happened?’ Livvy sniffed. ‘I bet
he’s always at it. I mean, how would I know? I suppose he tells them his wife’s
frigid and doesn’t understand him.’

  
‘And maybe he’s
never
done it before,’ Sheena said.

  
‘You reckon? I always thought Danny was the ultimate in faithful
husbands. He’s probably screwed half the women who work for him.’

  
‘What are you going to do?’

  
‘What
can
I do? I’m not going home for another two weeks. If he
wants to sort it out, he can get on a bloody plane and fly to Glasgow.’
Livvy wiped her eyes. ‘I need to get some sleep. I don’t want Roy
to see me for the first time in years looking a mess.
Thanks for being here, Sheena. Goodnight.’
 

  
‘I’m always here for you, Liv, you know that. Goodnight.’

  
Livvy crept back to her room, head reeling with Daniel’s betrayal, when
all she really wanted to do was think of her meeting tomorrow with Harley and
Roy.

***

 
Jon drove down the private lane in his dad’s
Mercedes sports car. He pulled onto the main road, thoughts whirling through
his head. He’d had a lousy night’s sleep, disturbed by the totally unexpected
feelings he’d developed for Livvy’s friend Sheena. From the minute he’d clapped
eyes on her he’d felt the electricity between them and from the looks she’d
given him last night, he was pretty certain she’d felt it too. He should cancel
lunch. What was the point?
More
to
the point, why hadn’t he told Jess? After all, there was nothing to hide.
 

  
She was Livvy’s mate and he was just being friendly, taking her for
lunch and showing her a bit of the city. Yeah, he thought, like
that
would wash with Jess. He loved Jess
and the boys with all his heart, but over the last twenty-four hours, no matter
how hard he tried, his thoughts were constantly returning to that cheeky grin
and twinkling blue eyes.
  

  
As he’d tossed and turned next to Jess he’d imagined taking Sheena to
bed. The thrill of slowly undressing her, exploring her and making wild and
passionate love to her. The sort of times he
and Jess had enjoyed at the beginning, until the twins had put in their
untimely appearance and love-making had to be slotted in around a hectic
timetable of feeding, nappy changing and sleepless nights. As the boys got
older, and Jess was conscious of the fact that they were light sleepers and
woke at the least little sound, their once active sex life had dwindled.
   

  
At the traffic lights Jon was startled by an angry tooting as the
impatient driver behind pointed out that the lights had changed to green. He
glanced in his rear view mirror at the chubby red face glaring at him and stuck
two fingers up. ‘Fuck you!’ he muttered as he put his foot down and sped away.

***

‘You okay, Jon?’ Sean asked
looking at Jon’s troubled face. He passed him a cigarette and a light.

  
Jon puffed a cloud of smoke in the air and coughed. ‘I asked Sheena for
lunch today. I’m having second thoughts. Do you think I should cancel?’
   

  
‘Definitely, you eejit! Roy
took Livvy out for lunch. Look what happened there.’

  
‘Ah, but
I’ve
had a
vasectomy,’ Jon said with a wry smile.

  
‘Forget it, Jon. Call her. The hotel number’s on the pad by the
phone.’
 

  
Jon thought for a moment then dialled The Midland and asked for Sheena’s
room. The receptionist told him that Mrs Cotton and Mrs McVey had just taken a
taxi to the Trafford Centre.

  
‘I need to contact them urgently,’ Jon said. ‘Do you have a mobile
number?’

  
He rooted in his pocket for a pen and scribbled down the number. He
dialled and was met with a recorded message
asking him to call back later.

  
‘Shit!’ He slammed down the phone as Liam sauntered up the stairs,
reeking of cheap cologne and cigarette smoke.

  
‘Jesus, Liam. You smell about as inviting as a tart’s boudoir,’ Sean
said. ‘
And
you’re late - again.’

  
‘Sorry,’ Liam shrugged. ‘Bus didn’t turn up ’til after nine. What’s a
boo-dwar?’ he called as he went into the staffroom.

  
‘Oh - never mind.’ Sean shook his head. ‘Brew up and be quick about it.’
He turned to Jon. ‘No reply?’

  
‘They’ve gone to The Trafford Centre. The mobile’s turned off. I
couldn’t even leave a message. I’ll have to
take her out now. I can hardly cancel when she arrives.’

***

‘Hi, Sheena.’ Jon smiled as she
puffed up the stairs to the record department.

  
Sheena grinned nervously. ‘I hope I’m not too early. We’ve been shopping
at that new centre. Livvy’s gone back to the hotel for a lie down before she
meets Roy and Harley.’

  
‘Your timing’s fine. Shall we go then? If Dad pops in for his car keys,
tell him I had to go out, please.’ He raised a warning eyebrow at Sean.

  
‘Sure I will. Your secret’s safe with me. Off you go and have a nice
lunch.’

  
‘Thanks,’ Jon called as he and Sheena ran downstairs and out onto the
street. ‘Do you fancy pub grub or a restaurant?’
 

  
‘A pub will be fine,’ she replied.

  
‘Here we are then,’ Jon said and steered her into the nearby Swan with
Two Necks. ‘The food’s great in here and the alcoves are private. Go and bag
that one.’ He pointed towards the back of the pub. ‘What would you like to
drink?’

  
‘Pint of Stella please.’
 

  
‘Ah, a girl after my own heart. I’ll bring the menus.’

***

From her seat in the alcove Sheena
observed Jon, taking in his tall, slim frame, thick dark curls and smart
business suit. He turned to smile, his green eyes twinkling and she smiled
back.

  
He carried over the drinks and menus and sat down beside her. He took a
long swig of lager and sighed blissfully. ‘Oh, that’s good.’

  
She pushed a ten pound note towards him. ‘Put that in your pocket.’

  
‘No, this is my treat.’ He pushed it back and brushed her hand. The
contact shocked her like she’d accidentally touched a live wire and she gasped.

  
‘You okay?’ he frowned.
   

  
She nodded and gulped a mouthful of lager. She coughed and spluttered as
it went down the wrong way. Jon took the glass from her and banged her between
the shoulder blades. She could feel her nose running and her eyes watering.
God, how embarrassing. Jon handed her a tissue and she wiped her eyes and blew
her nose.

  
She took a deep breath and looked at him. He was trying so hard not to
laugh and she started to giggle. ‘I feel such an idiot.’

  
He smiled and raised an amused eyebrow. He held a menu out. ‘Well, that
certainly broke the ice. Better choose something to eat, before anything else
happens. I’m going to have the chilli and rice, it’s always good. I can
recommend the chicken curry, too.’