Between the Vines Read Online Free

glanced at her watch again.
    â€œYou keep looking at that watch.” Cass studied Taylor closely. “Do you have somewhere else to be?”
    â€œNo…well, not really.”
    â€œYou do.” Cass pounced on her. “You little minx. Where and when did you hook up?”
    â€œI didn’t hook up with anyone. I’m not looking for a fella – remember?”
    â€œYeah, right!” Cass pulled on her arm. “Who is he? Come on, Tales, spit it out.”
    Taylor pursed her lips. Why had she even contemplated the idea of meeting Edward at the pub? She should have just climbed into her PJs and had an early night like the others.
    â€œIs it the guy from that last place we stopped at?” Rosie’s eyes widened. “Wriggler Creek or whatever it was called. I saw you chatting to the guy behind the bar for a while.”
    â€œThe gorgeous hunk!” Cass screamed.
    â€œShhh!” Taylor and Rosie hissed in unison.
    They all glanced at Mandy who turned over to her other side, let out a low groan and continued sleeping.
    â€œI like your style,” Cass said in a softer voice.
    â€œI vowed not to rush into anything.”
    â€œMeeting a guy for a drink isn’t rushing into anything.” Cass’s hands were on her hips. “Unless you’re planning to jump into bed with him, and then it’s just good fortune. Anyway, since when did you make that decision?”
    â€œSince Larry.”
    â€œLarry the Loser!” Cass snorted and Rosie gave a giggle.
    Taylor glared at one then the other of her so-called friends.
    â€œWhat?” Cass opened her eyes wide trying to give an impression of innocence. “He was not your type. We all knew it wouldn’t last.”
    â€œFoster was rather nice,” Rosie said.
    â€œThe one before Larry? Are you kidding me?” Cass gave up the pretence. “He still lived with his mother and took her to the movies every Sunday night after she’d cooked his roast dinner.”
    â€œHe always gave me the idea he was working and I believed him.” Taylor had really liked Foster but his mother had been the third person in the relationship. Taylor had found it stifling.
    â€œGullible.” Cass shook her head.
    â€œWe’ve all had our share of mistakes,” Rosie said. “Thankfully those days are over for me but you should get back out there, Taylor.”
    â€œShe’s right,” Cass said. “No need to be man-shy just ’cause you’ve dated a few duds.”
    â€œI vowed to have a break from men after Larry.” Taylor was feeling a bit miffed at her friends for ganging up on her but it was true she’d had her share of ‘duds’ as Cass called them. Her last relationship, with Larry, had ended in a mess when she’d discovered he hadn’t actually left his supposed ex-wife.
    â€œThat was at least six months ago,” Cass said.
    â€œGo and meet someone new,” Rosie said. “You’re only here for a weekend. Country boys might be a whole lot different.”
    â€œCome on, girlfriend. Let’s make the most of the babysitter.” Cass tugged at her arm. “Put some colour on those luscious lips and let’s check out the pub. Who knows, the hunk might have a brother.”
    Taylor was about to say he did and thought better of it. What did she know about the other bloke in the picture on the wall beside Edward? He could live in the city, or another country for that matter. She hurried into the little bathroom and dragged a brush through her shoulder-length hair. No matter how often she did it, the fine blonde strands flew every which way. She tugged at the wisps that fell across her face from her part. Still, Edward had already seen her after a day of driving, anything she did now could only be an improvement. She chose a hot pink lipstick, painted her lips, did a final turn in front of the mirror and hurried out after Cass.
    Edward smiled