Free Watching Willow Watts by Talli Roland Page A

come over to mine for a drink? Say, around one?’ Lordy didn’t open up until late-afternoon, and the pub would be quiet and deserted – the ideal conditions to get a leg over.
    ‘ Love to, but the salon is going to be swamped today. I’ll have to take a rain check.’ The phone rang and the woman turned away. ‘Gotta go.’
    Jay nodded, still smiling despite the irritation curling inside. Playing hard to get, was she? Living in this wasteland, he couldn’t imagine any woman not jumping at the chance to touch his bod.
    He’d try again soon. T his broad would fall under his spell, just like most women did. And once he was raking in the dough, Davinia would succumb to him again, too. He couldn’t wait to show her he was back in the game, then push her right off his playing field.
     
     

CHAPTER SEVEN
     
     
    WILLOW SWIVELLED BACK AND forth on a chair in Paula’s salon as she waited for her friend to finish up. The place was practically empty now except for the bulky form of Matthias Clodington – again! God, those TV correspondents were vain; Matthias just couldn’t seem to stay away from RockIt, despite being practically bald now.
    ‘ So how long will you be in Belcherton?’ Paula was asking as she shaved the sides of his head even closer.
    Matthias shrugged. ‘Not sure, really. It depends on how things go here. Did you know the YouTube video has now reached almost a half a million views? And I heard a rumour Channel Ten wants to do a reality show on you, Willow.’
    ‘ A reality show?’ Willow shook her head. What were they going to film – her standing around, smiling? It would be the world’s most boring television, that was for sure.
    ‘ Anyway, we’ll be running an hour-long special programme tomorrow night on the latest developments here, and after that I might have some down time. Perhaps we could have dinner together, if you’re free?’ Matthias asked, smiling up at Paula.
    Ah, so that was why Matthias was hanging about. Paula seemed to have an inexplicable power over men – all she had to do was crook a finger and throw them a grin, and they came running.
    Paula shook her head . ‘What is it with you out-of-towners? Do you think you can just come in here and ask out the poor country women? I had some bloke hitting on me earlier, too. He was fit, but I like to make my men work hard, you know?’
    ‘ I know,’ Matthias responded with feeling .
    ‘ There, done.’ Paula gave his head a final buzz.
    ‘ Perfect.’ Matthias nodded enthusiastically, even though his hair was so shorn on the sides, his gleaming scalp was visible beneath. Easing out of the chair, he handed over some pound notes and left the salon.
    ‘ Phew, what a day,’ Paula said, wiping away the last traces of black kohl from under her left eye. ‘I’m exhausted. Wanna come back to mine? There’s a Bon Jovi special on Biography.’
    ‘ I’d love to, but I really need to talk to Jay. ’ Willow had meant to head straight to Jay’s base at the pub after greeting the fans at the campsite. Instead, she’d got suckered into helping Mrs Greene and Mrs Lemmon bake endless banana loaves to sell to the hungry hordes – for three quid a slice! Willow protested it was slightly exorbitant, but the two older ladies ignored her. After that, Paula had waved to her from outside the salon, and Willow had ducked in for a quick chat.
    ‘ Oh, I forgot to ask how it went last night!’ Paula stopped sweeping up locks of hair carpeting the salon floor and glanced over.
    ‘ It was good.’ Willow flushed, recalling Jay’s fingers clutching hers.
    ‘ Only good?’ Paula raised an eyebrow. ‘So are you going to sign with him?’
    ‘ Maybe . I just need a few more details. I’m off to talk to him now.’ Part of her still couldn’t believe she was actually thinking about it. This time last week, signing up with a London agent would have seemed about as believable as Mrs Lemmon pole dancing. But the opportunity to help the shop was way