Free WILL TIME WAIT: Boxed set of 3 bestselling 'ticking clock' thrillers by H Elliston Page A

prices were the lowest. 
    After
checking the safety chain was in place, I wrapped my fingers around the handle,
pushed it down and inched the door open. 

CHAPTER 8
     
    A slice of a
trouser leg stepped into view through the gap of the front door.  The
stiletto remained wielded above my head.  Paul stood on the pavement, bleary-eyed
and wet, holding his navy jacket as a makeshift umbrella in a wide triangle
above him.  He peered at me through the gap. 
    I
felt stupid, but that relieved I could have grabbed hold and kissed him. 
“Crikey, Paul, it’s you.”  I unhooked the chain and opened the door.
    “Chelsea...
you okay?”  He eyed my shoe.  “What’s that for?”
    I
chucked the stiletto behind me, which landed on the laminate floor with a
thump.  “Nothing.  Having a clear out.  Come in.  Did you
enjoy your stag party?  I see you still have both eyebrows intact.” 
    “Yes. 
A top night.”  He stepped inside out of the rain and draped his jacket
over his arm.  “Well, I can’t remember much towards the end.”
    I
laughed.  “Sore head?”
     “Listen.” 
Paul’s narrowing blue eyes homed in on me.  “I want a private word
away from Laura.”
    Curiosity
piqued, I motioned for Paul to follow me through to the kitchen. 
“Sure.  About what?”  I flicked the kettle on, then grabbed two mugs
and the coffee jar from the cupboard above.
    “It’s
about Mark.”
    “Your
best man?” I said, digging a spoon into the jar.  “Thirsty?”
    Both
his face and posture were unnerving in their stiffness.  What’s bugging
him?
    “No,
thanks,” Paul said.  “I’ll get to the point.  It may be my hangover
talking, but, you don’t think I’ve got anything to worry about, do you? 
It’s just, well, Mark seems to go all weird when I mention Laura’s name,
lately.  And he stares at her.  A lot.  And winks.  I’m
starting to think—”
    “What?”
I giggled, spilling coffee granules on the worktop.  “That they’re having
an affair?”
    “Well...
yes.”
    My
voice rose to a squeak.  “Are you serious?”
    Paul
nodded.  “Laura’s not been herself, lately.  You must have noticed,
too.  She’s been... distracted, irritated.  I can’t quite put my
finger on it.  I’m worried about her.  All I know is, the pair of
them have been acting strange for a while.  It got me thinking.”
    “Trust
me.”  I thought it best not to laugh again.  “You’ve got nothing to
worry about on that score.  Yes, I agree Mark’s got a thing for
Laura, but it’s harmless.  As for Laura, she doesn’t even look at
other men.  She’s just upset about her parents not being able to see her
wedding.”
    “I
know.  I wish I could wave a wand and bring them back.  It’s an awful
thing to say, but I hoped you’d think it was something like that.”  He
clamped a hand on the edge of the worktop and stared into my eyes.
    “Mind
you,” he said.  “I expect you’d cover up for her.  Best friends ‘n’
all.”
    Digging
my teeth into my bottom lip, I continued studying Paul.  “Why are you
asking me this if you think I’ll cover for her?”  I paused,
confused.  “Anyway, you’ve got nothing to worry about.  I swear on my
life.  If anyone else likes her, then they’ve left it too late.  She
said as much this morn...”  I stopped myself, didn’t want to mention the red
roses from her secret admirer.  Could they have been from Mark? 
“She’s marrying you.  She loves you.  So, chill out, will you?”
    Paul’s
expression began to brighten.  The stress in his eyes dissolved. 
“Sorry.  It was unfair of me to put you on the spot.”
    “Yes. 
It was.”
    “I
had to be sure.”  A small laugh escaped him.  “It does sound
ridiculous now I think about it.  I mean, we are getting married at the
weekend.”
    I
blew out a relieved breath and touched his arm.  “Exactly.  Laura
wouldn’t do anything to jeopardise that.  Though, you can’t really