Free The Unexpected Consequences of Love by Jill Mansell Page B

get her?”
    What, and miss all the fun? thought Sophie. Not a chance. She hopped out of the Audi and said, “No way. I’m coming in with you.”
    The hotel bar was what kept the Melnor in business. Well, that and the drugs Melvyn and Noreen sold to their customers. The younger ones hanging around outside the entrance were enveloped in a cloud of pungent cannabis smoke. Inside, the bar held more customers knocking back pints. The linoleum floor was sticky with spilled drinks, the lighting came from overhead fluorescent tubes and the nicotine-stained walls were bare. Leaning against this side of the bar were people in various stages of inebriation, Melvyn and Noreen among them. Behind it, Tula was working at the speed of light, pouring fresh pints and clearing away empty glasses while simultaneously avoiding the attentions of the leering bald man attempting to get a good look down her top and defusing an argument between several huge, terrifying-looking drunks.
    Alongside Sophie, Josh murmured, “Jesus.”
    â€œNoreen, who are them two?” A scrawny woman had spotted them, and gave the landlady a nudge. “Undercover cops?”
    Eyes swiveled in their direction. Among this clientele, Sophie realized they looked as ludicrously out of place as a couple royals—William and Kate, maybe—popping in for a swift half-pint.
    Then Tula glanced up from her work and did a cartoon double take at the sight of Josh.

Chapter 11
    â€œAre you lost?” Noreen demanded abruptly. “Where are you looking for?”
    â€œIt’s okay,” Josh announced. “We’ve just come to give Tula a lift home.”
    Tula’s eyes widened in disbelief.
    â€œShe ent finished yet. Fill this ’un up, girl.” Melvyn thrust his glass under Tula’s nose.
    â€œListen.” Josh moved toward the bar. “I’m really sorry about before.”
    Tula flushed and said cautiously, “Okay.”
    Noreen, swaying on her bar stool, was still eyeing him with suspicion. “Who is ’e? Is ’e the law?”
    Having handed Melvyn his pint, Tula said to Noreen, “No, he’s not the law. It’s gone eleven o’clock. Okay if I finish now?”
    Noreen heaved a sigh of annoyance, because this meant she had to get off her stool and take over behind the bar. Clearly still bothered by Josh, the only man in the place wearing leather shoes rather than shabby sneakers, she said, “Go on then.”
    Outside, they intercepted the bunch of hoodies just before they had a chance to set off the Audi’s alarm system. Sophie climbed into the backseat, indicating that Tula should sit in the front alongside Josh.
    â€œOkay,” said Tula once they’d exited the parking lot. “This is all kinds of weird. What’s going on?”
    â€œWe took on a barman.” Josh got straight to the point. “He’s let us down. We’d like to offer you the job.”
    There was a moment of silence. From the backseat, Sophie reached forward and tapped Tula on the shoulder. When Tula glanced around, she shot her a broad you-win grin.
    Catching Sophie’s eye in the rearview mirror, Josh said levelly, “I saw that.”
    â€œRight,” said Tula. “So let’s get this straight. All of a sudden I’m good enough after all? Or are you just completely desperate?”
    â€œYour friend here tells me you’re a hard worker. Maybe I overreacted before.”
    â€œSo you’re desperate,” Tula prompted.
    â€œNot completely. But Dot’s keen for you to join us.” He paused. “And I am too.”
    â€œDo me a favor,” said Tula. “Could you just say sorry again?”
    Another pause. “Sorry.”
    â€œReally sorry?”
    â€œDon’t push your luck.” Josh’s mouth twitched. “I’m offering you a better job than the one you’ve got now. And accommodation too.”
    â€œMaybe I like