Free Between The Sheets by Colette Caddle Page B

Gus crouched down to take a closer look at the injury. The wound wasn't deep but the skin had been dragged back where her foot had got caught under the door. He looked up into the girl's face. 'I am really terribly sorry.'
    'I wish you'd stop apologizing,' she said faintly, trying to smile. 'It was an accident.'
    'I'm Gus, Gus Johnson.'
    'Yes, I know. I'm Terry Andrews, I work for the Daily Journal.'
    He winced slightly. Trust him to injure a member of the press. 'Are you here to cover the show?'
    She nodded. 'Yes, although I don't know how I'm going to do it now. I'm supposed to get at least four interviews and I've got nothing yet. My photographer said to stand near the door, that I was sure to nab someone.'
    Gus grinned. 'Well, I suppose he got that right.'
    The waitress reappeared with a damp towel, some antiseptic cream and a large plaster.
    'Thank you.' Gus nodded at the girl,, then gently dabbed the cut before applying the cream and carefully sticking on the plaster. 'How's that?'
    'Fine, thank you, Dr Johnson.' Terry smiled as she slipped her sandal back on and went to stand up. 'Ouch!' She grimaced in pain as she put weight on her foot.
    He lowered her back into the chair. 'I think you'd better stay here for a while.'
    'But I have a job to do,' she wailed. 'My boss will kill me if I go back with nothing.'
    Gus thought for a moment. She seemed genuinely upset; much too nice to be employed by a rag like the Daily Journal. 'Tell you what, why don't I arrange for a few people to come out to you to be interviewed and then we'll get you into a taxi home?'
    She brightened. 'Could you do that?'
    'It's my show,' he reminded her with a wink.
    Terry laughed. 'Great.'
    'So who would you like to interview?'
    Immediately Terry rattled off four names and, with a sly smile, added his on the end.
    He grimaced. 'I suppose I can hardly refuse.'
    'I'll be gentle,' she promised with a delighted grin.
    'I'm sure,' he said drily, before nodding towards the waitress still hovering in the background. 'Would you like a cup of tea or coffee, or maybe something stronger?'
    'Coffee would be great, thanks.'
    Gus gave the order and asked the waitress to add it to his bill. 'Right, I'll go and see who I can find. The second half will be starting in a few minutes, so you might have to wait until the show is over.'
    Terry settled back in her chair. 'No problem, I'm used to hanging around. It comes with the job.'
    After having a word with the producer of the show, Gus made his way back to his table, stopping off to murmur in the ears of some of the people Terry wanted to interview.
    'Where on earth have you been?' Ashling hissed, when he eventually returned to his seat. 'Tom's hopping mad.'
    Gus leaned forward to look at his furious partner and winked. 'Talking to the press.'
    Ashling's eyes widened. 'You're kidding.'
    'No, but you don't have to worry. Everything's under control.' Gus settled down to watch the show, his mind still on Terry Andrews. Who'd have thought he would ever look forward to a press interview?
    The Daily Journal photographer crossed the reception to Terry's side, a broad grin on his face. 'Well, you're some player, I'll give you that.'
    'What do you mean?' Terry frowned.
    'Gus Johnson.' He tapped his camera. 'I got the whole thing. I can see the caption now. AUTHOR'S HUBBY FINDS NEW HEROINE . Nice work.'
    'You can't use any of those shots,' she warned him. 'He's off now arranging interviews for me and he's even agreed to talk to me himself.'
    Stan's eyes widened. 'About his marriage break-down?'
    Terry smiled. 'Well, I hadn't planned on discussing the weather.'
     

Chapter Eight
    'Oh, Ian, I just can't believe it!'
    The PR man had phoned Sylvie first thing and when Iris told him the PA wouldn't be in until lunchtime, he'd begged the housekeeper to get in touch with Sylvie and ask her to call him ASAP. After a brief conversation, Sylvie had charged down to the nearest newsagent and now sat with the Daily Journal spread out in