Firestarter Read Online Free Page A

suggested.
    'You'll have to decide before then and let them know if you're not going to renew the lease.'
    She was aware of that but determined not to be pushed into a decision she wasn't ready for.
    'I'll give you an answer by the new year, OK? Please don't ask again until then.'
    'New year! But that's months away.' He must have seen her expression because he raised his hands in surrender. 'All right. If you make up your mind before then just say and I'll book the decorators, but I promise not to ask again before that.'
    Alice considered fetching the pink ribbon from her flowers and saying as they both liked the colour so much they should have the walls all done to match, but decided it might be sending the wrong signals. If they started looking at paint colour charts she'd find herself swept along with his plans. That happened all too often as it was.
    'By the way,' he said, 'I'm not working late Friday night after all, so I've booked us a table at Luigi's.'
    Alice took a deep breath. Luigi's served the absolute best Florentine pizza, lushest creamiest tiramisu and the bubbliest prosecco in the prettiest crystal glasses... 'Sorry, I can't.'
    'I thought it was your favourite restaurant.'
    'It is and I'd love to go another time, but I've promised to go to Mum and Dad's. Dad is putting up a new shed and Kate and I are supervising.'
    'In the dark?'
    'Dad'll put the security light on. It's really bright.'
    'Oh. OK. You'll still have to eat. We can go afterwards.'
    'Afterwards we'll be getting fish and chips from the van which comes round. You know we always do that after one of Dad's projects.'
    'Oh.' He should do, they'd had fish and chips waiting for him when he got out the shower the time he'd helped repair the fence. How he'd ended up in the pond on that occasion and therefore needed a shower was a mystery. Even Kate, who'd been very nearby, said she didn't have a clue. He'd not been available during any of her dad's projects since, but she'd told him about them.
    'You can come with me if you like. I'm sure it'd help to have someone tall on top of the ladder.' That wasn't fair and she knew it. DIY was most definitely not his kind of thing, especially when it happened out of doors.
    'Right, OK.'
    'Tony, you don't have to. Kate's rounded up a few of the chaps she works with, so I'm sure they'll be enough people to get it done.'
    'No really, I'd like to help and I haven't seen your parents lately.'
    Tony borrowed a pair of old jeans from Alice's dad, so as not to get his chinos dirty. He wore gloves to avoid splinters, protective goggles to stop roofing tacks injuring his eyes, and kept a good distance from Kate for no specified reason. Although he looked a bit daft, he did a good job of reading the instructions so tasks weren't attempted until all the right parts and equipment were to hand and were done in the correct order so no time was wasted.
    He didn't actually manhandle any pieces of the shed, but he did pick up a claw hammer at one point. That's because one of Kate's friends asked him to pass it up.
    'Sure. Er, a claw hammer...?'
    'In the bucket by your feet. The thing with the orange handle.'
    Tony also double-checked the measurements before Alice's dad cut the roofing felt. Both figures matched, but he didn't take offence.
    'It's good to be sure about things,' he said. 'Better than rushing in without thinking things through.'
    'That seems to be a family trait,' Tony said. Then after an awkward pause added, 'And an admirable one too.'
    Alice guessed he was referring to her indecision about moving in with him, but he kept his promise of not asking again and didn't mention it, at least not outright. He must have been tempted though when her dad thanked him for his help and offered to return the favour, 'If you ever have anything wanting doing at your place.'
    Instead he waited until her mum asked if everyone wanted fish for supper, or if Tony would rather have a sausage in batter.
    'To be honest, I've got a real fancy for