The Unconventional Angel Read Online Free Page A

short for those who rejoice,
    But for those who love, time is eternity.
    All of a sudden, some fireworks lit up the night sky behind the dome of the cathedral.
    ‘I adore fireworks.’ Evie laughed happily. ‘How magical is this. Who wrote that poem, by the way?’
    ‘It was a guy called Henry van Dyke, a nineteenth-century American author, educator, and clergyman.’
    ‘You’re far too clever to be a tramp.’
    ‘Another unfounded generalisation, Evie with an E. Now what was it that the dandy Oscar Wilde said? One has a right to judge a man by the effect he has over his friends . But I won’t bore you with more of my quotations.’
    ‘You’ve haven’t bored me once. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for bringing me here. It’s been truly amazing and I feel honoured that I could get upset in front of you.’
    ‘See, you don’t need money to do things that make you feel good.’
    ‘No, tonight does prove that, but please let me get you dinner to say thank you?’
    ‘Evie, if you were to use one word to describe to me how tonight’s experiences have made you feel – the singing, the surroundings, the candle, your release of tears – what would it be?’
    Without hesitation, Evie replied very softly, ‘Peaceful. Yes – peaceful, that’s how I feel.’ She smiled at him. ‘So, dinner?’
    Yves shook his head, placed a piece of white card in her hand, closed her fingers around it and was gone.
    The small, business-sized card had the most beautiful water-colour painting of a dove on one side, and on the other in perfect handwriting were the words: Meet me at the bottom of The Shard tomorrow night, half an hour before sunset .

Chapter Five
    ‘He obviously wants to shag you.’ Bea put a glass of white wine down in front of her friend and sat back in a leather sofa in their favourite Chelsea bar.
    ‘Oh Bea, not everyone thinks at such a base level as you,’ Evie said, then looked around the place. ‘Quiet in here today, isn’t it?’
    ‘Yes, I guess everyone’s saving themselves for New Year’s Eve.’
    ‘I hate this mid-Christmas lull time. It’s so quiet at home without Darren too. But weirdly, I don’t miss him , just the company, I suppose. I was usually in the bedroom whilst he watched sport in the lounge anyway.’
    ‘I know you said definitely no before, but maybe it is a good idea to get somebody to share with you. You need to get someone to split the rent or you’ll have to get out anyway.’
    ‘Yes, I know – but I don’t even want to think about it now. I’m all right up until the end of January, then I’ll be homeless too.’
    ‘Well, that’s all right, you can snuggle down underneath the arches with your new mate. Where does he sleep anyway?’
    ‘We haven’t talked about it.’
    ‘Really? I’d be interested to know. God, I bet his cock smells rank.’
    ‘Bea! Being friends with you is like being friends with a man, you are so bloody coarse. And anyway, he doesn’t seem to smell that bad actually. I think he must be staying at a hostel where he can wash and store the stuff he has got. I will ask him just for you later.’
    ‘Later? You’re seeing him again!’
    ‘Um, yeah.’
    ‘You haven’t really told me much about last night either, just you went to St Paul’s Cathedral, saw a choir, lit a candle and he disappeared again.’
    It had been such a special experience that Evie felt she wanted to keep it to herself. Bea belittling it would take some of the magic away. And it had been really special. In fact, she was really looking forward to seeing Yves later. She felt drawn to him in a way she couldn’t explain.
    ‘I’m starving but I’m going to wait to eat until I get home, I can’t spunk any more of the rent money on food, can I?’
    ‘I’ll treat you, Evie – it’s fine, darling. You know my City bonuses are disgustingly massive.’
    ‘Well, as long as you’re sure. And you know as soon as I get a job I’ll repay the favour.’
    ‘Evie, you are one