Incineration (Heart of Stone) Read Online Free Page A

nonchalance “I baked some cakes for my
new boss and he was just saying thank you” I said, not looking at her, my
little finger between my teeth. She tapped my arm “Out with it Girl” she probed
and I sighed, knowing it was a waste of time trying to hide my feelings from Courtney,
she knew me better than I knew myself “He’s just nice, that’s all” I said
simply. “Nice as in nice or nice as in hot?” she inquired and I decided to be
honest with her “I dunno what it is, but he really gets to me. Like physically.
But I also find him unnerving, he’s very mercurial. One minute he’s checking me
out and flirting and then the next he’s closed off and intimidating”
    Courtney cocked her head at me, a gleam in her eyes “Well
holy hell! You’re finally attracted to a man” she said it as though it was a
miracle “Courtney, It’s not that” I lied but she raised her eyebrows “Don’t lie
Ava. I know you and in the four years we have been friends you have pushed
every man away. You’ve had plenty of male attention but you have never been
attracted to any of them and now this…it’s great you feel like this. I was
actually starting to wonder if you were gay after all” she laughed and I
slapped her arm “Well it doesn’t matter. Nothing will come of it. For one he’s
my boss, Two he’s a player and three, I won’t let anyone in, no matter what”
she wrapped her arm around my shoulder “Ava, you can’t live the rest of your
life around your past. You deserve happiness and you need to grab it while you
feel it. I’m not saying you should jump straight into bed with the guy but just
play it by ear and then face it again if it gets any heavier between you both.
Even if he is a player, maybe that’s what you need, a one night stand, no
emotions involved. Enjoy the way it feels, enjoy the attention and the
flirting. You never know you might actually enjoy it” she grinned and poured us
both a large glass of alcohol and gave me mine.
    She clinked glasses with me “To best friends, who pull each
other through” she saluted. I loved this girl so much, how she coped with
everything “Best friends” I returned “But I’m still flooring Tracey” I said,
indignantly as I took a long drink and ignored her stern look.

CHAPTER 4
     
    I woke the next morning with a hangover from the pits of hell,
not good for my second day at work. After quickly showering and dressing in my brown
skirt and soft pink, cashmere sweater and pulling on my knee-high brown boots I
phoned for a taxi.
    There was no way I was driving, probably still over the
limit. Pulling my long hair in to a loose French plait and trying to hide my
deathly appearance in the mirror I worried what Mason would make of my pale
face and red eyes, I didn’t look very professional and it looked obvious that I
had a hangover.
    All the way to his house, I chewed on my finger in the back
of the taxi, nervous as what to tell him but when I let myself in, he wasn’t
anywhere in sight and I let out a huge breath of relief.
     
    I quickly set about my duties and answered the landline
phone many times, taking messages and informing people that Mason wasn’t
available.
     After I had baked a carrot cake and was sliding it onto the
cooling rack the phone rang again “Hello, Mr Fox’s residence” I answered, the
phone tucked under my chin as I tried to steer the cake in the right direction
and still squinting my eyes against my pounding head “Oh Erm, Hi is Mason
there?” a woman said in a soft tone, her voice was one of those that you knew
would send you to sleep within ten minutes, a relaxing quality to it “No I’m
sorry, he’s not available at the moment. Can I take a message?” I inquired “Is
this Ava?” she asked and I finally gripped the phone properly having navigated
the cake successfully “It is yeah” she was quiet for a moment “Erm well if you
tell him Kerrie rang and to ring me back please?” I smiled at her pleasant
manner