The Opal Desert Read Online Free Page A

‘Take pity on a man of forty-five and take him out dancing or clubbing or whatever it is you do to enjoy life, so that my daughters don’t think I’m so boring.’
    â€˜I’m sure they don’t think that at all,’ said Kerrie quickly. ‘I don’t think you’re boring.’
    â€˜Okay then, next time it’s your turn. Come out with me again, but take me to your favourite place . . . a club, a bar? Unless you would be embarrassed to be seen out with me?’
    â€˜Of course not,’ laughed Kerrie, ‘but you mightn’t enjoy it. Wild lights, loud music, crowded dance floor, overpriced cocktails. People passing around joints and stuff.’ She rattled off a description of what she imagined he thought she enjoyed, the sort of evening her friends tried to persuade her to share, but which in all honesty didn’t really appeal to her. Shouting all evening over loud music in order to be heard really wasn’t her scene, but she tried to think of the places the other students talked about. She didn’t think that he really wanted to do this but was rather chuffed that he wanted to spend more time with her on her terms.
    â€˜It sounds familiar, though it’s been a few years. Ah, Positano. I’ll tell you about it sometime. Shall we go?’
    Kerrie gathered up her bag and pushed back her chair.
    â€˜I meant that, about the dancing, the wild night out,’ he said, rising from his seat.
    â€˜If you really want to,’ she said. ‘I hope your daughters will be impressed.’
    â€˜I’m not doing it for them,’ he said, contradicting himself. ‘I’m going to do it for me. You pick the place. Thursday night okay with you?’
    To their surprise, by the end of Thursday evening they both agreed that they’d had a brilliant time. Kerrie had asked her friends the best place to go dancing and their suggestion had been perfect. She felt strange going into a trendy club with a man old enough to be her father, even if a very young one. Initially dancing with Milton had been awkward, but as the floor space became more limited they had been forced to stay in one spot, wildly gyrating or clinging together, bodies sensuously rubbing together in time with Madonna’s ‘Vogue’.
    In the heady atmosphere, combined with the music and the swift downing of drinks, Kerrie’s inhibitions slipped, and she didn’t care what anyone else thought about her date. Later, as they pushed their way through to the back bar, she noticed a sexy waitress flirting with Milton, who didn’t seem to mind at all. Then, when he struck up a conversation with two girls drinking beside them at the bar, she felt a rush of jealousy. He was amusing and attractive to women, that was clear. Not that those girls would realise that he was famous. However, when a roving photographer spotted Milton and took a photo of him with his arm draped around Kerrie, one of the two girls later asked her, ‘Who’s your boyfriend then? Someone famous?’
    â€˜Just my favourite uncle,’ Kerrie said airily, as the girls hooted at her in disbelief.
    To Kerrie’s disappointment when Milton took her home he kissed her ardently then pushed her gently away.
    â€˜Too much wine. Get some sleep. I’ll call you soon.’
    â€˜Do you feel lighter?’ she asked, nuzzling him. ‘You’re fun. Half the girls there had the hots for you.’
    â€˜Lucky for me I had you. G’night, Kerrie-cups,’ he said as she walked into her house.
    Two days later Kerrie found that she was the subject of some interest in class when the photograph of her and Milton appeared in the paper. Her friends teased her.
    â€˜Are you taking private classes?’
    â€˜Or modelling for the master, perhaps?’
    She merely smiled and kept her head down. It was Sam who suggested that she should be careful. ‘Watch yourself, Kerrie. Remember, you aren’t