A Simple Mistake Read Online Free Page B

‘I’m starving.’
    He laughed. He’d thought there might be a confession lurking, but apparently not. ‘Feel like going for a short walk to the best pizza place in town? We can take it down to the beach if you like.’
    ‘That’d be great. Just give me a minute.’
    Lainey headed off to the bathroom, leaving Nick deep in thought. What a difference twenty-four hours could make. This time yesterday he’d been fulfilling the relatively easy role of being best man at a mate’s wedding. Today, his life had been turned upside down.

Chapter Four
    Lainey examined herself in the mirror, grateful for waterproof mascara. She only ever wore a minimum amount of make-up and what she’d had on had disappeared. All over Nick’s chest. His lovely, broad, comforting chest.
    He’d been so nice, holding her as she’d cried. He hadn’t seemed to have minded, in fact he’d appeared to be as upset as she was, minus the waterworks.
    Coming to terms with what had happened to the letters would take some time. The best part was knowing Nick hadn’t dumped her after all. She’d come very close to telling him her secret but had chickened out at the last minute. She just couldn’t do it yet. Anyway, she was hungry.
    I t was only a ten minute walk down to the cafés and shops overlooking the beach and the park. The uncomfortable heat had gone and lots of people were about. It was the perfect time for a stroll on the beach.
    Angelo’s Pizza and Pasta was only small, but busy. Nick was greeted by a smallish, white-haired man with a big smile, expertly wielding pizza dough.
    ‘Hey! Mr Nick. How are you?’
    ‘I’m good, Angelo, and you?’
    Lainey noticed people give Nick a second glance and whisper to their friends.
    ‘Marco! Mr Nick’s special please.’ A man Lainey took to be one of Angelo’s sons appeared with a pizza box and a plastic bag with two cans of drink in it. ‘Here you go, for you and the beautiful lady.’ Lainey was flashed a grin which she managed to return.
    ‘Thanks, Marco, Angelo. See you around.’ Nick gave them a salute and they made their way outside.
    ‘I rang and ordered while you were in the bathroom,’ he explained when she remarked on the speedy service. ‘I took my chances on what kind of pizza you like.’
    ‘No anchovies?’
    ‘No anchovies. I remembered.’ The warmth of his smile made her catch her breath.
    They followed the sloping path to the park and found a vacant table under one of the shelters facing the beach.
    ‘So,’ said Lainey, as she helped herself to the pizza, ‘is that what usually happens now? You get recognised straightaway like you did in the shop?’
    ‘Pretty much.’
    ‘Does it bother you?’
    ‘Hardly ever. People are mostly good but there are some annoying ones.’
    ‘Do you have trouble with the paparazzi?’
    ‘I’m not exactly Hugh Jackman or Nicole Kidman, Lainey, but they’re around.’
    ‘I’m glad you’re not Nicole, but I could handle Hugh.’
    ‘I’m sure you could.’
    Lainey grinned and took a swig from her can. ‘So would there be any photographers around this evening?’
    ‘Probably not but you never know. Would it worry you if you were photographed with me and it ended up in a magazine?’
    ‘That depends.’
    ‘Depends on what?’
    She ran her finger around the rim of the can. ‘What are we doing, Nick?’
    ‘I presume we’re not talking about eating pizza on the beach.’
    ‘No.’ She looked up and held his gaze and her heart skipped a beat.
    ‘Shall we go for a walk?’
    ‘Yes, please.’ She gathered up their rubbish and put it in the nearest bin, glad for something to do. ‘The ocean looks beautiful at this time of night, doesn’t it?’
    ‘It does, but before we go and enjoy it, there’s an important rule you need to know and I know how much you teachers like to abide by the rules.’
    Lainey paused at the short flight of steps to the beach. ‘And what might that be?’
    ‘It’s not written anywhere but it states