‘OK, OK. The worst thing is, I expect everyone at Hartmouth police station now know that I am Polly Malone. One of the cops was so starstruck, I thought he was going to kiss me when I left. It was so embarrassing. I can’t imagine that they will all keep it quiet either. So, not only will I be the talk of the town re being accused of trying to kill Lowen Kellow, but my cover is getting nearer to being blown every day.’
Sabrina finished her plate, drained her beer bottle, then let out a massive burp. ‘Oops, pardon! Compliments to the chef with that one.’
‘If your trolls could see you now.’
‘My trolls can fuck off and go choke on their mindless drivel.’
‘Dickens! Go wash your potty mouth out!’
They both laughed.
‘Please ask Frank how much I owe him for the lawyer.’
‘It’s alright, don’t worry about that now. Another beer?’
Sabrina nodded. They sat on the sofa, both with their feet on the wooden coffee table. Charlie’s prediction of the weather improving had been totally wrong for the rain was still lashing against the balcony doors.
‘What was that all about this morning, you half-dressed jumping up and down on the balcony.’
‘I was pretending to be Kate Winslet in Titanic.’
‘Just a normal Friday morning, then.’
Sabrina grimaced. ‘Shit, I forgot it’s Friday, I missed a whole market day. Those pesky police officers should reimburse me.’
Conor put his arm on her leg. ‘You’ll be so much busier nearer Christmas, I expect, so I shouldn’t worry. That’s if you’re still here, that is.’
Sabrina turned to face him. She bit her lip as she took in his handsome rugged features. ‘You are certainly making it harder for me to leave.’ Her throat tightened. Here again, this man had proved with his actions that he cared. He’d helped her through this terrible day, warning her the police were waiting, sorting lawyers via his uncle, cooked her dinner for her return. He was one big action of love. A strong man with values and morals. And the fact he was a bit edgy with his Brady moniker made him all the more sexy. So why couldn’t she just succumb and be with him?
‘Anyway, thank you so much for dinner– and for giving a shit.’ Sabrina smiled.
‘The girl doth get serious on me.’
Sabrina smirked. ‘Not for long.’ Conor shook his head as she went into dramatic mode. ‘I want to forget all about today. We now need to talk more about me, in factallabout me, and why I so wanted to be cast as Rose in Titanic, even though I would have been far too young, of course.’
‘Of course.’ Conor grinned.
‘So, this morning, I deleted my Instagram, which may not seem anything to a man who doesn’t have any form of social media, but for me it was massive. And I was celebrating.’
They clinked bottles. ‘Well done, Jillian Swift on the freeing of shackles both in the real and virtual sense.’
There was a sudden flash of lightning followed by a huge clap of thunder that felt like it was shaking the whole of the apartment block. A couple of beers ahead of Sabrina, Conor got up and swung the balcony doors open. ‘Come on Rose, I’ll be your Jack as long as you promise to budge up on the makeshift raft, if ever our ship sinks, that is.’
Sabrina gave a disbelieving laugh. ‘No, it’s too nasty out there.’
‘Come on. You know you want to.’ He grabbed her by the hand.
‘Conor! It’s freezing!’
Conor Brady held a laughing Sabrina Swift tightly around the waist in the pouring rain, her arms outstretched facing the ocean.
‘You make me feel like I’m home,’ The Irishman shouted to the sky.
‘I can’t hear you,’ Sabrina shouted back.
Conor Brady threw his head back to the elements and squeezed her even tighter.
Chapter Thirty-Five
