Free Love-40 by Anna Cheska Page B

Suzi thought, she didn’t think much of her chances. ‘For our improvements, ’ Erica added.
    â€˜Improvements,’ echoed Deirdre, nodding frantically.
    â€˜Like turning the youth club’s games room into some up-market restaurant, for example?’ Liam threw down accounts and agenda.
    Here we go, thought Suzi. Though Erica had a point about improvements. The clubhouse was shabby – they could usefully spend some money on a paint job and some new furniture. Though she couldn’t bear the thought of new furniture in the conservatory, it was so timeless and such a perfect fit. But the games room was another matter …
    Liam jumped out of his particular rickety chair and Suzi winced. ‘Christ! What’s the matter with you people?’ He tore his hand through his dark curls.
    â€˜Calm down, old chap. Nothing’s been decided yet – unless I missed it in all the excitement, of course.’ Nick Rossi, Suzi noted, was playing Mr Supersmooth tonight. He looked as hunky as always – Suzi could almost see those shoulder muscles rippling under the cool and silky white shirt that had just enough buttons undone to reveal a brown neck and dark blond chest hair, and yet not enough to be obvious  … He was also, she noted, getting to Liam.
    Liam turned on him. ‘Somebody’s got to think about the youth club,’ he snapped. ‘The youth club was here first, don’t forget. The aim of CG’s is meant to be to bring kids into the game and provide a venue for them to let off a bit of steam. Not to take away their social room because some poncy gits want to experience a bit of cordon bleu.’ He fixed Erica with an accusing glare. ‘And we’re apparently willing to sell our principles in order to do it,’ he concluded, sitting down again.
    Erica raised her gavel. Suzi tensed, but instead of attacking Liam for calling her a poncy git, she brought it down on the table in three sharp raps. ‘Let’s discuss this rationally,’ she said, eyeing Liam as if he’d just escaped from an asylum. She sucked in her cheeks, inadvertently making herself look more horsy than ever.
    â€˜Good idea,’ said Margaret Quaife, moving her chair infinitesimally further from Liam’s.
    Suzi sighed. Rational discussion? How long would that take?
    â€˜Over some refreshments perhaps?’ Erica turned to Deirdre, all sweetness and girlie pow wow.
    â€˜Refreshments,’ Deirdre confirmed. She patted a fluffy curl back into place with one plump white hand. ‘Yes, of course, refreshments.’
    Suzi had heard that Deirdre had once won a county medal and sported a killer of a forehand, but this was hard to equate with the Deirdre of today, quite aside from the fact that Erica kept her too busy with tea-making and admin for her ever to have time for tennis. But every committee, Suzi supposed, needed a Deirdre Piston, and at least everyone who took advantage of her good nature also, apparently, loved her to bits. Even now, Diana was patting her hand and calling her a sweetie, and Simon was treating her to one of his curt nods of approval. Committee meetings without refreshments were like cars without wheels.
    Suzi fidgeted in her seat. She hadn’t, actually, ever wanted to be on this committee, but had allowed Liam to persuade her, just as he’d persuaded the rest of the committee to invite her on, with phrases like ‘young blood’ and ‘new ideas’. Suzi didn’t feel that her blood was in the slightest bit young and she hadn’t voiced an idea since she’d been here. But at least, she supposed, she could be on Liam’s team when needed.
    She tried to catch his eye but – surprise, surprise – he was totally preoccupied with Amanda Lake. Liam, seemingly, had an agenda of his own.
    It had not, she thought, been a productive weekend so far. Michael had got a strop on – just because she’d