Free Happy Days by Graham Hurley

she said.
    ‘About what?’
    ‘Us.’ She gave his hand a little squeeze, turning her head sideways to bring him into view. ‘What if you came to live with me?’
    ‘Here?’
    ‘Yes, pet.’
    ‘You mean …’ Winter frowned ‘… full time?’
    ‘Yes. Does that sound so terrible? Someone to look after you? All those little needs of yours?’
    She struggled onto one elbow and slipped her sunglasses to the end of her nose. For a woman in her late forties, she still had a wonderful body. Winter had given up pretending not to look at her breasts.
    ‘I’d bore you shitless,’ he said. ‘Give it a month and you’d chuck me out.’
    ‘Never. You’re good for me. You make me laugh.’
    ‘Yeah? And what else?’
    Winter had known Misty Gallagher far too long to take anything at face value. However disarming the smile, she always had another agenda, and one of the reasons they’d been good together was the fact that she knew she could never bullshit him.
    Misty admitted times were getting tough.
    ‘How?’
    ‘Money-wise.’ She waved a manicured hand towards the house. ‘Baz has always been good about paying the bills but lately he’s started making excuses. It’s getting tricky, pet. I’m not sure what a girl’s supposed to do.’
    ‘You think he wants you out? You think I’m wrong about that?’
    ‘No. I think you’re right. I think he’s skint. If he could help me out I’m sure he would. To be honest, it’s a bit of an embarrassment.’
    She explained about a recent bathroom refurb. She’d got aguy in to rip out the old bathroom suite and install a power shower and a new Jacuzzi. He’d done a brilliant job and she was really pleased, but she was looking at a bill for nearly 5K and hadn’t got a clue how to pay it.
    ‘Baz?’
    ‘He says he can’t. He knows the bloke well. Suggests I bung him a couple of freebies.’
    ‘And?’
    ‘You don’t want to know.’
    ‘Try me.’
    ‘The guy’s an animal. We did it once. Never again.’
    ‘Charge him five grand.’
    ‘That’s exactly what I did.’
    ‘And?’
    ‘He just laughed.’ She reached for her drink and pulled a face. ‘He wants it regularly, preferably Wednesday evenings. That’s the night his wife goes to Pilates. The problem with builders is they never know when to stop. Believe me, pet, there wouldn’t be anything left by Thursday.’
    Winter smiled. He didn’t know whether to believe this little tale, but something told him it was probably true. Misty’s appetite for sex had been the real come-on for Bazza. In the world of Pompey gossip nothing spoke louder than having Misty Gallagher as your regular shag.
    ‘So I’d be the muscle, right? Keeping your creditors in line?’
    ‘Absolutely. And you’d have squatter’s rights.’
    ‘But I’ve got those already, Mist.’
    ‘Yeah, but more often.’
    ‘You’d wear me out.’
    ‘That’s what I told the builder, but he never listened. An hour and a half? Do you think that’s reasonable? No chatty little breaks? Nothing to drink? Not a word between us? It was weird, pet. God knows what he’s like at home.’
    ‘He’s probably a puppy. Or maybe his missus has gone off it.’
    ‘That’s what I said. That was the other bit. He went totally mental. Told me I couldn’t hold a candle to the way she did it. Just wasn’t in the same league.’
    ‘So why bother with you?’
    ‘Thanks, pet.’
    ‘That’s not what I meant.’
    ‘I know.’ She shot him a smile. ‘Next time I bollock you for not trying, just say “Builder.” Five minutes? Tops? Then off to sleep? Bring it on, pet. Move in whenever you like.’
    Winter laughed, knowing she was probably serious. Since Bazza had abandoned territorial rights Mist had definitely wanted something closer and more permanent, but Winter found this prospect a bit of a let-down after the scary excitement of nailing Bazza’s mistress when his boss was busy elsewhere. He could rely on Misty for a lot of things, including the best sex