Free Follow a Star by Christine Stovell Page B

pairs that didn’t give you a visible panty line because there was no panty to see and which she only wore when all else failed.
    Bill raised his eyebrows as she snatched back her knickers and glared at him.
    ‘Easy, man,’ said Thunder, hastily withdrawing. ‘The little lady and I were just having a chat. I didn’t realise you two were an item.’
    ‘We’re not!’ May insisted. What the hell did Bill think he was doing? However timely his intervention, she was blowed if she was going to let Bill Blythe play Big Brother with her life.
    ‘We may not be an item, May,’ Bill ground out, his eyes glinting. ‘But we do have some unfinished business.’
    Growing paler by the minute, Thunder turned to May. ‘Now look. If you two have got stuff to sort out I’ll leave you to it.’
    ‘What the hell has it got to do with you anyway?’ she exploded as Thunder beat an unflatteringly swift retreat. ‘Who do you think you are, sneaking up on me like that!’
    ‘Whoa! Steady on now. In twelve hours’ time,’ Bill said, pointing at his watch, ‘we can get on our way again. The wind’s dropped sufficiently, but there’s still a heavy swell out there and we’ll need our wits about us.’
    ‘Are you trying to tell me I’m incompetent?’ May snorted.
    ‘Let’s just say your mind’s not on the job,’ Bill said pleasantly. ‘Well not the job of preparing to go sea, anyway. It was your choice to do the laundry, so I thought I could rely on you to complete the task. If you can’t even get through a pile of washing without getting distracted, how do I know you’ll concentrate when we’re sailing?’
    ‘Shape up or ship out? Is that what you’re saying? Fine. That suits me just fine. I’ll just collect my belongings and then you can find someone else to deliver your bloody boat.’
    ‘Not my bloody boat,’ Bill shouted after her as she marched off in the direction of the harbour. ‘Cecil’s. And she’s no good to him if we lose her at sea.’
    Keep walking, May told herself; it’s not your problem, he’s Bill’s uncle, nothing to do with you. Except for the fact it was her who’d replied to his e-mail, built his hopes up and agreed to deliver his boat … She stopped and waited for Bill to catch up.
    Bill rewarded her with a grateful smile. ‘Look, I’m sorry if I came on too strong, but I’ve just spoken to the hospital …’
    He broke off and swallowed hard. May couldn’t help but touch his arm seeing how he was struggling to contain his emotions.
    ‘What’s happened?’ she asked gently.
    ‘Oh, hopefully nothing too bad,’ he said, ‘but Cecil’s developed a chest infection which is giving slight cause for concern. They can’t operate on him until he recovers.’
    ‘Then we must make sure we get away as soon as we can. I don’t mind if it’s a bit lumpy out there,’ she assured him, ‘so let’s make sure everything’s ready so we can cast off at first light.’
    ‘Thanks,’ he said, surprising her by taking one of her hands in his, ‘and I’m sorry if I spoilt your fun just now, but I think you’ll thank me for it in due course.’
    ‘Let’s just drop the subject, shall we?’ she said shakily. Coming so close to being unmasked by Thunder was unnerving; if he shared his discovery with the world, she’d be hunted down for sure. The sooner they got away, the better, and it would certainly make the rest of the voyage easier if she could maintain the status quo with Bill until they went their separate ways. Better a row about the washing than the battle she had yet to face about her washed-up career. ‘I don’t know about you, but I’m not in the mood for cooking. Let’s find somewhere to eat this evening. And just to show that there are no hard feelings, you can pay.’
    ‘What?’
    She gave him a watery smile. ‘It’s the least you can do, but don’t worry, I’m not expecting dinner at the Ritz. If I was any good as a gold-digger, Bill, I wouldn’t be standing here