They Won't Believe You
Paisley Alice Quinn
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Contents
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Untitled
About the Author
1
“Have you not been on a date before, Kylie?”
Kylie felt the colour sweep her cheeks.
“Why do you always blush like that? It was just a question. It’s okay if you haven’t.”
“It’s been a while, that’s all.”
Flora stared at her. “You’re nervous? Oh, that’s so sweet!”
Kylie glowered. She wished she’d never said anything.
“It’s been a while since anyone’s asked me out,” she mumbled.
“Are you serious? A gorgeous girl like you?”
Kylie looked down at her feet. She wasn’t gorgeous. She wasn’t anything. She’d got lucky. It was just a matter of time before Lachlan McGowan realized his mistake.
“Right,” said Flora. “I’m going to help you figure out what you’re going to wear.”
“Hey, I’m not going to wear anything fancy. Just a pair of jeans and a nice top.”
“Oh, come on, we can do better than that!”
Ignoring her protests, Flora barged past her into her flat and surveyed the thick wooden frame that served as Kylie’s wardrobe. She was making a bigger deal of this than it really was. They were just two colleagues going out for dinner. It wasn’t like it was going to change her life.
They didn’t hang out at Kylie’s much; everything always happened downstairs at Flora’s. She was the party girl, the one who mixed the cocktails and matched the music to their mood. Her place looked great too, kitted out with arty prints and bright fluorescent lights strung along the walls. She made the cheap look exotic, and Kylie’s flat, by contrast, was positively spartan.
“The stuff you own wouldn’t fill a suitcase,” Flora marvelled.
“Perhaps that’s the point,” said Craig.
Kylie turned to see him wedged into her doorway, his head too tall for the frame.
“If you’re coming in, come in.”
“Yeah, please do,” Flora agreed. “You’re making the place look untidy.”
Craig stepped forward and settled his bulk on the sofa. He was as tall as a basketball player, not that he played.
“Hey, you’re wearing make up!”
Kylie looked at Flora, panic stricken. “I told you it was too much.”
“It’s not,” Flora said, glaring at Craig. “And for your information, she’s going on a date.”
Craig raised his eyebrows. “Wow, this is huge. Our little Kylie is all grown up!”
“Will you stop it, you two?” Kylie said.
Her nerves were getting worse, not better. She was worried she might be sick.
Flora flicked through her hangers.
“Is this seriously all you’ve got? Where are all your shoes?”
“I’m wearing them.”
“What, that one pair? What about your ankle boots?”
“They fell apart,” she admitted. “I haven’t got around to replacing them.”
Flora spun around the room, surveying the place with critical eyes. Her gaze fell upon the mattress Kylie used as a bed.
“God, Kylie. Haven’t you even got a duvet?”
“I’ve got a sleeping bag.”
“You know you can get a bed for like, twenty-five quid second-hand?”
“This is fine.”
She shook her head. “I don’t know how you live like this. Don’t you ever like, want stuff?”
“What stuff would I want?”
“I don’t know – you don’t even have a computer or a phone.”
“I use the computer at the library. And the phone.”
“But nobody can text you!”
“They can email.”
“What if someone wants to get in touch with you over the weekend?”
“Then it can wait, can’t it?”
Craig didn’t say a word. He was looking up at the ceiling as she and Flora were having this exchange.
“Is that a leak?”
“Just a wee one,” Kylie said.
“Better get onto Andy about that.”
“I already have.”
“Since when does Andy ever get off his backside?” Flora said. “He’s even worse than my last landlord.”
She continued flicking through the hangers, but as Kylie could have told her, she didn’t find anything remotely dressy.
“This is useless. You’ll have to wear something of mine.”
“Flora…”
“Trust me, Kylie. I’m sure I’ve got just the thing.”
They all trooped downstairs to Flora’s, and Craig sat out on the balcony while Kylie tried on dresses.
“I like this one,” Flora said, as Kylie examined herself in the mirror.
“It’s a bit too showy.”
“There’s nothing wrong with showing a bit of cleavage, you know.”
It wasn’t just her cleavage that was showing. She was taller than Flora, so the knee length dress was more of a mini.
She looked at Craig.
“It’s nice. The green one was nice too. They’re all nice.”
Flora rolled her eyes. “Typical male.”
They settled on the green button-down dress with long sleeves. Kylie liked the sleeves, it was good to have something to fiddle with. She wished she had some thick tights. She thought her knees looked a bit knobbly. She folded one leg over the other but it didn’t help. There was that queasy feeling in her stomach again, the same feeling she’d had since she’d accepted the date. She’d wanted to go out with Lachlan for a while but now she wondered if she was making a mistake.
“I’m getting a stomach ache. Do you think I should cancel?”
Flora shook her head.
“Your nerves are getting the better of you. If you’ll step over to the Balcony Bar, I can give you something for that.”
“Okay.”
Kylie climbed up onto the barstool beside Craig and took in the view. The immediate surroundings were ordinary enough; residential streets lined with boxy bungalows and three-story buildings like this one. Out front was a neat tapestry of lawns and concrete. Cars and caravans filled the driveways, whilst more cars and buses drove up and down, none of them in any particular hurry. Beyond all of that lay the most spectacular view of the mountains and a tantalizing hint of the sea and sand. The smell of salt water lingered in the air, with subtle shades of sandalwood and candy floss, sweet
enough that you could almost taste it on your tongue.
Flora mixed up a jugful of tropical pink cocktail and handed them each a glass, adding a little cocktail umbrella to each.
“Do you think I should?” Kylie asked.
“Just have the one, to take the edge off. You don’t want to be squiffy for your date.”
The butterflies in her stomach subsided as she sipped the drink and she was able to laugh and joke with Craig as Flora put the bottles back in the cabinet.
“So, this boy you’re going out with. Where did you meet him?” Craig asked.
“At work. And he’s not a boy, he’s a man.”
Craig narrowed his eyes. “Is he your boss?”
“No, he’s just a colleague.”
“Is he more senior?”
She laughed. “Everyone is more senior. You know I shelve books for a living?”
“You’re young yet. Everyone has to start somewhere.”
“You don’t. Not if you finish your dissertation.”
“Aye, but I’m not just starting out, am I? I’ve been around the block a few times.”
Kylie laughed at the serious expression on his face but he didn’t laugh with her. She ignored him and drained the last of her drink, twirling the umbrella around with her fingers once she’d finished.
While she had been talking to Craig, she had noticed Flora slipping something into her bag. She peered inside to see what it was.
“Flora!”
Her face burned bright red.
“Better to be safe than sorry.”
“I don’t need these,” she said, handing them back. “And I certainly don’t need three!”
“You never know.” Flora gave her a wink.
“Is that him?” Craig asked.
Kylie looked out at the street, where Lachlan was climbing out of his dark blue BMW. He looked dead classy in an Oxford shirt and slacks, but still every bit the librarian in his thick, black glasses.
“That’s him.”
“He’s yummy,” Flora said. “Reminds me of Ewan McGregor.”
“Oh, come on, he’s ancient!”
“To you, maybe.”
Slyly, she slipped the condoms back into Kylie’s bag and Kylie pretended not to notice.
When Lachlan rang the bell, Flora was the one who answered. Craig hovered behind her, the two of them gawping at him as he stood in the doorway, bunch of pansies in hand. Kylie pushed her way through.
“Thank you, these are lovely,” she said, taking the flowers.
“Let me put those in water for you,” Flora said. She peered at Lachlan. “And you must be the delicious Lachlan?”
“And who are you?” Lachlan asked, looking from her to Craig.
“These are my nosey neighbours,” Kylie said.
“Oh, dear god, I feel like I’m about to be interrogated!”
“You are,” Craig assured him.
“Stop it!” Kylie said. “We’re just going out for dinner. Can you both stop acting like you’re my parents?”
“What time will you have her back?” Craig said, his face deadly serious.
Lachlan looked at Kylie and shrugged. “I don’t know, midnight?”
Craig tapped his watch. “Make it eleven.”
“Will you stop it?” Kylie laughed. She looked at Lachlan. “I think we’d better go now before these two start taking photos.”
“Take my phone,” Flora urged.
Kylie was about to argue but the look Flora gave her was too stern to be ignored.
“Alright then. I’ll have it back to you in the morning.”
Craig watched as Kylie went off on her date, his body suddenly heavy. He had been living in the flat above hers for almost a year now, and in that time he had not seen Kylie go out with anyone, so this whole thing had taken him by surprise.
He had fallen for Kylie the first time he saw her, with her huge green eyes and skin so pale she looked ethereal. She was all woman, but she had a child-like quality that delighted him. He wanted to run his hands up and down her thighs and bury his head in her breasts. But Kylie was only eighteen and he at twenty-nine was a good deal older. So he had decided to take his time and get to know her. He hadn’t wanted to rush her. He’d thought good things came to those who wait. But now she was out with another man and he realised he’d waited too long.
He felt like his heart was in a vice and when Lachlan had arrived at the door, he had wanted to punch him. He couldn’t stand the jumped-up librarian, with his smart clothes and elegant manners. He didn’t seem right for Kylie at all, but she had seemed to like him, Flora too. They didn’t see him as he did: a poser who needed putting in his place.
As soon as the door closed behind them, Craig had punched the wall with frustration. Flora had shot him a look then and offered him another drink.
“No thanks,” he’d said, moving his weight from one foot to the other. He had watched as Kylie got into Lachlan’s car and he had only just stopped himself from running after her and carrying her kicking and screaming back to the safety of the flat. But he couldn’t behave like a caveman. If Kylie chose to date this man, then he would have to accept it. It didn’t mean he had to like it.
2
“They’re still watching us, aren’t they?” Lachlan said, as they stepped out into the cool night air.
“I’m afraid so.”
He held the car door open for her.
“It’s nice that you have such good friends.”
Kylie shrugged. “I suppose.”
The car had a lemony smell like it had recently been cleaned. She settled into her seat and Lachlan waited for her to fasten her seatbelt before he started the car.
“I’m really glad you could come tonight, Kylie.”
“Thanks for inviting me.”
He brushed her hand with his. “You’re being too polite. I’m still waiting to meet the real Kylie. Is she going to come out to play?”
She bit her lip. “You’ll just have to wait and see.”
“Have you been here before?” he asked when they arrived at the restaurant.
Kylie gawped at the doorman standing outside. “I don’t think I’ve even been to this part of town before,” she admitted.
He laughed. “Well, I hope you like it.”
He took her hand and led her up the steps. The doorman blocked their path, his beady eyes assessing their suitability to be allowed entry. Kylie squirmed under his scrutiny. Men like him could see right through her. Kylie Fairbairn didn’t belong in fancy places like this but that didn’t matter because tonight she was with Lachlan. She forced herself to meet the doorman’s gaze and he smiled politely.
“Have a nice night,” he said as he waved them inside.
The restaurant was even more magnificent than Kylie had imagined. Someone was playing soothing music on the piano, and silver cutlery glittered on snow-white tablecloths. The waiter practically wrestled her out of her coat and ferried it away to the cloakroom. Perhaps he was worried that the cheap fabric would shed all over their fine marble floor.
Another waiter brought the menus and Kylie stared at hers, unable to decipher it. Not only was it printed in a swirly font but it appeared to be in French. She pretended to peruse it for a few minutes, but she couldn’t make head or tail of it.
“What do you fancy?” Lachlan asked.
“I don’t know. Why don’t you order for me? I’ll eat anything just as long as it’s not frogs legs or snails.”
“Keep your voice down! They’ll hear you!”
“I thought I was keeping my voice down,” she said, but just at that moment, the piano stopped and the only voice in the whole room was hers.
He looked amused. His hand slid under the table and for a moment, she thought he was going to squeeze her knee but then he diverted his attention to the candle, which he prodded with one finger.
“Not much of a flame in this thing. I’ll see if the waiter can bring us a light.”
Lachlan raised a hand and like li
ghting, the waiter appeared. Once he had lit the candle, Lachlan rattled off their order without so much as a glance at the menu. The fancy French dishes were as familiar to him as fish and chips.
“Smells good,” Kylie said, as they waited for the food. She leaned closer. “Is it true they put garlic in everything?”
“Do you mind if they do?”
“Not at all. I love a bit of garlic.”
The waiter brought the entree; rich, creamy chicken liver pâté with home baked bread. Kylie took a bite.
“This tastes like heaven,” she said with a sigh.
Lachlan looked pleased. “So, tell me about yourself, Kylie. I take it from your accent you’re local?”
“Aye, Edinburgh born and bred.”
He waited for her to elaborate but she merely spread more pâté on her bread and took a big bite.
“I’m from Glasgow myself,” he said. “Came to Edinburgh for university and never went back.”
“And now you work at the library,” she finished for him.
“Not quite where I imagined myself but you know, it’s better than a kick in the teeth.”
She nodded. Her life wasn’t exactly what she had envisioned either.
The main course was beef, served with potatoes and vegetables. The portion was large but Kylie was equal to it. The waiter topped up her wine and she sipped it slowly. She didn’t want to be one of those girls she saw out on the town, tripping down the steps in their high heels, needing to be carried back home.
She wondered if Lachlan came to this place often, if this was his standard restaurant for wooing girls. You never could quite tell what a person was like on the inside. He had that bookish vibe working for him but there was a slickness too, a deliberate manner that led her to believe that he knew what he was doing. Not that experience was a bad thing.
They Won't Believe You (Scottish Dark Romance Book 1) Page 1