Free The Ballroom on Magnolia Street by Sharon Owens Page B

the flesh,’ said Kevin proudly. ‘What do you think of the new threads?’
    ‘Unbelievable,’ said Kate.
    ‘Thanks,’ he said. He was delighted with himself. ‘A drink?’
    ‘Ah, ah, coffee? Maybe another coffee?’ Shirley stammered. She was more than a little overwhelmed by Kevin’s outfit. Even though she was wearing an antique, knee-length dress covered with black sequins, along with red tights and black suede ankle boots. And four bracelets she had made herself, from plaster of Paris and plastic gemstones.
    ‘We’d like vodka, please. No ice. We’ll split a cola.’ Kate smiled up at Kevin, and elbowed Shirley in the side. ‘We’ll get a seat near the dance floor, while you’re away.’
    ‘Sure,’ he said. ‘I’ll be right back.’
    He hurried to the bar with a great sense of purpose. This was a superb development in his relationship with the lovely Kate, and worth the terrible teasing his brothers had given him for the new hairdo. But he had been friendly with Kate for a couple of years now, to no effect, so he had decided to up the ante slightly. And he had asked a very stylish shop assistant in London to give him some fashion advice. And the assistant had sold him a pink suit and told him to get his hair done. All the girls love a poser. Those were his exact words.
    While he was waiting for the barman to assemble the drinks on a little tray, Kevin pulled a couple of strands of his gelled hair down over his eyes. Girls seemed to go for that kind of thing, he’d noticed. The ‘pretty boy’ look, it was called. Well, if it helped him to get a woman, he’d be as pretty as he could. Meanwhile, Kate and Shirley made themselves comfortable at a new table. Kate was hoping Alex might notice them and feel jealous. But not so jealous that he might land over and hit Kevin. She hoped Kevin could handle himself in a fight. She supposed he must be stronger than he looked, what with all the mechanic-type things he did all day in the garage.
    ‘Well, you’ve landed on your feet, you jammy thing!’ said Shirley. ‘He’s mad keen on you, and you never even made an effort to be nice to him. What’s your secret, Kate?’
    ‘I’m gorgeous.’
    ‘And modest with it.’
    ‘No, it’s because I’m gorgeous. Men are very basic creatures, I told you that before.’
    ‘You’d better not be thinking of using him to get Alex’s attention. Are you? Kate?’
    ‘As if I would.’ But she had the decency to blush.
    ‘He’s coming back. Be nice to him, won’t you? He’s okay,’ Shirley whispered as Kevin sat down at the table, and set the drinks gently before the girls.
    He had treated them to a cola apiece, and the vodkas were doubles. He’d even asked the barman to give him pretty glasses and slices of lemon. He smiled broadly at both girls before lifting a pint of ice-cold lager to his lips. They all smiled at each other. This was very cosy indeed. And to think the lads at the bar said no woman would be seen dead with him in a pink suit. In fact, they’d put money on it. And here he was, with two women, no less. Both of them stunning. What a result! Those pop-star guys on the television knew what they were doing, all right.
    Shirley saw Alex and Jim watching them intently. The two bouncers stared from their place along the back wall, intrigued that Kate was being romanced by another man.
    Kate was worried. She knew that if Kevin so much as brushed past another male on the dance floor, Alex would have him out of the door in a heartbeat; accused of disorderly behaviour. The bouncers in Hogan’s had a lot of power. She decided not to dance with Kevin, if he offered. No need to upset Alex unnecessarily. She’d have to talk to the new improved Kevin, instead. And make it look as if they were just friends, sharing a friendly drink.
    ‘So, tell me, Kevin, do you think we are all still influenced by the moon?’ Kate asked. She was beginning to feel giddy. Maybe it was because she feared another meaningful