One Christmas Morning & One Summer's Afternoon
Page 17
No run.
The second ball was slower but equally difficult. Will played a straight bat to it, but there was no chance of a run.
At the third ball, desperate to score, he swung out wildly, coming this close to taking out his own stumps. Miraculously, however, his bat caught the ball at the right angle, and with enough force to send it high into the air towards the crowd. Aware of Brockhurst fielders running wildly for the catch, Will roared at Gabe and both men started to run. They were still sprinting for dear life when Harry Hotham called, ‘Six!’
The crowd were now on their feet. Nine runs to win from three balls. Could they do it?
Gabe was now at the crease, panting like a dog in heat, which didn’t help their chances. Laura Tiverton’s lone voice shouting, ‘Go on, darling!’ could be heard as Santiago sprinted towards Gabe. When he thought back on it later, Gabe was pretty sure he had actually closed his eyes as the ball hurtled towards his wicket. But again he heard the glorious sound of leather on willow as he played a beautiful shot, followed by Will’s voice. ‘Go!’ as they scampered three runs.
With two balls to go, Will once again faced Santiago. There was no time to breathe or think or strategize. The great Argentine was running, part ballet dancer, part sprinter, firing off another fast ball like a shell from a cannon. It was in the wicketkeeper’s hands before Will had so much as glanced at it.
No run.
The crowd began to stir. Fittlescombe supporters made commiserative noises. Clearly this was going to be Brockhurst’s day in the end, but what a close match it had been. Fittlescombe, and Will Nutley in particular, should feel proud.
Santiago prepared to bowl the final ball of the match. Rubbing the ball against his trouser leg, he searched the crowd for Penny Harwich. He’d avoided looking at her up till now, too scared of what he might read in her face.
Penny wanted certainty. Santiago could give her many things, but not that.
He caught her eye and smiled. And, like the sun emerging from the clouds after a dark night of storms, or the snow finally melting after a long cold winter, Penny smiled back.
It was ridiculous, he knew that, but he felt quite delirious with happiness. Practically skipping towards the wicket, he bowled a single, gentle gift of a ball to Will. For a split second confusion registered on Will’s face. He couldn’t quite believe that de la Cruz had let him off so easily. But then he lifted his bat and swung it wide, a beautiful, graceful arc of a shot that sent the ball pirouetting into the blue sky for a perfect six.
Watching from the pavilion, George Blythe and Tim Wright leaped into each other’s arms.
‘That’s it!’ George screamed. ‘He’s done it! He’s bloody done it!’
As crowds of well-wishers surged onto the pitch, Gabe Baxter shook Will’s hand. ‘Well done, mate. Amazing,’ he beamed. ‘Emma’ll be all over you like a rash now, you wait and see.’
Will looked at him blankly, like a man waking up from a long and confusing dream.
‘See?’ Gabe winked. ‘What did I tell you?’
Will looked up. There was Emma, walking towards him, smiling a confident, knowing, proprietorial smile. Will Nutley was the hero of the hour. And he was hers for the taking. Santiago de la Cruz had sloped off somewhere, to lick his wounds no doubt, but every eye, every camera, was now on Will.
‘Darling!’ she said, throwing her arms wide and triggering a frenzy of clicking from the paparazzi cameras. But, just as she was about to reach Will’s side, another young woman in a smart business suit stepped in front of her, blocking her way.
‘Hi, Will. I’m Lisa Dasani from IMG Sports Management. Do you have a moment?’
Will looked at the sports agent. She had red hair, freckles and pale-blue eyes, like a china doll’s, and a curvaceous figure practically begging for release from her formal jacket and skirt. She also had the sort of mischievous, one-of-the-boys smile that put him instantly at his ease.
Then he looked at Emma, as perfectly beautiful as a china doll … and just as hard and cold. She’s come to claim her prize, thought Will. Her consolation prize. Me.
For a moment he felt a flash of anger, not just with Emma, but with himself. If Emma Harwich had used him, Will Nutley had let her do it. What had his father always said, when he was being bullied at school? ‘If you make yourself a doormat, boy, people will walk all over you.’
Will turned back to the pretty sports agent.
‘Hello, Lisa.’ He grinned. ‘Yes, I think I have a moment. Let’s go and get a drink, shall we?’
Emma Harwich stood and watched open-mouthed as Will took the redhead’s arm and walked away.
He didn’t look back.
*****
Penny Harwich had almost reached home by the time Santiago caught up with her.
‘You’re running away!’ he called breathlessly. ‘What’s the hurry? Didn’t you want to see Piers presenting the cup?’
‘Not really,’ Penny sighed. She told him about the little tableau she’d witnessed earlier, between Piers and Emma.
‘Revolting old goat,’ said Santiago.
‘Yes,’ Penny agreed. ‘It seems I don’t have much of a talent when it comes to judging men’s motives.’
‘You’re too hard on yourself,’ said Santiago. ‘You’re not psychic. None of us are. Sometimes you just have to trust your heart, even if it means taking a risk.’
‘And getting burned?’ said Penny.
‘Perhaps.’ Santiago had moved closer, so close that Penny could smell the heady mixture of sweat and aftershave coming off his body, and see the perfect curve of his pectoral muscles beneath his white cricket shirt. He really is preposterously handsome, she thought. Next thing she knew, his hands were around her waist.
‘And what do you think my motives are?’ he whispered, pulling her to him.
Penny’s throat went dry. She’d never felt this way with Piers Renton-Chambers, nor even with Paul. ‘I wouldn’t like to say,’ she croaked.
‘I’ll show you, then, shall I?’ said Santiago. ‘No more guessing games.’
The kiss went on for a long, long time. Minutes. By the time Penny finally came up for air, the sun had almost completely set, bathing the Downs in a mesmerizing, burned-orange glow.
‘Emma’s not going to like it,’ said Penny, as they walked on together, Santiago’s fingers entwined with hers. Nothing had been said, but they both knew where they were going.
‘Too bad,’ said Santiago robustly. ‘You’re going to like it. Trust me on that. I’m going to make you very, very happy.’
‘I do trust you,’ said Penny.
And, in that perfect, blissful moment, she realized that it was true.
Copyright
Published by HarperCollinsPublishers Ltd
77–85 Fulham Palace Road
Hammersmith, London W6 8JB
www.harpercollins.co.uk
First published in Great Britain by HarperCollinsPublishers 2013
Copyright © Tilly Bagshawe 2013
Cover images © Keith Wright/Getty Images (woman); Shutterstock.com (background)
Cover layout design © HarperCollinsPublishers Ltd 2013
Tilly Bagshawe asserts the moral right to be identified as the author of this work.
A catalogue copy of this book is available from the British Library.
This novel is entirely a work of fiction. The names, characters and incidents portrayed in it are the work of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or localities is entirely coincidental.
All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. By payment of the required fees, you have been granted the non-exclusive, non-transferable right to access and read the text of this e-book on screen. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, down-loaded, decompiled, reverse engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known o
r hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of HarperCollins.
Ebook Edition © June 2013 ISBN: 9780007472550
Version: 2013-11-27
Look out for Tilly’s next novel, out spring 2014!
The Inheritance
Welcome to Swell Valley
Tati Flint-Hamilton has got it all: beauty, wealth and more designer dresses than there are hours in the day. Wherever she goes – London, Dubai, the Maldives, St. Tropez – everyone turns to stare because they know who she is: the It Girl around town.
It’s the place to be this season
Since she found the spotlight, Tati hasn’t had much time for sleepy Swell Valley, and when her doting but disapproving father suddenly dies, Tati’s gilded cage is turned upside down – her beloved family estate Furlings has been ripped away and a new lord of the manor has walked all over her life.
And the scandal is in a class of its own
Tati will do anything to get Furlings back from the ruthless and unscrupulous Brett Cranley. Brett and Tati both have something that the other wants – something neither of them are prepared to give up – and so the fireworks begin … There can only be one winner – so who is going up in flames?
Click here to pre-order now!
About the Author
Tilly Bagshawe is the internationally bestselling author of ten novels. A teenage single mother at seventeen, Tilly won a place at Cambridge University and took her baby daughter with her. She went on to enjoy a successful career in The City before becoming a writer. As a journalist, Tilly contributed regularly to the Sunday Times, Daily Mail and Evening Standard before following in the footsteps of her sister Louise and turning her hand to novels.
Tilly’s first book, Adored, was a smash hit on both sides of the Atlantic and she hasn’t looked back since. She is married and has two young sons as well as Tilly’s daughter Sefi, who is now 18. The family divide their time between their home in Los Angeles and their beach house on Nantucket Island.
Also By Tilly Bagshawe
Adored
Showdown
Do Not Disturb
Flawless
Scandalous
Fame
Temptation
Friends and Rivals
Coming Soon
The Inheritance
Tilly Bagshawe and Sidney Sheldon
Sidney Sheldon’s Mistress of the Game
Sidney Sheldon’s After the Darkness
Sidney of Sheldon’s Angel of Dark
Copyright
Published by HarperCollinsPublishers Ltd
77–85 Fulham Palace Road,
Hammersmith, London W6 8JB
www.harpercollins.co.uk
One Christmas Morning First published in Great Britain by Harper 2012
One Summer’s Afternoon First published in Great Britain by Harper 2013
Copyright © Tilly Bagshawe 2012, 2013
Cover layout design © HarperCollinsPublishers Ltd 2013
Cover images One Christmas Morning © Simon Wilkinson/Getty Images (woman); Shutterstock.com (illustrations)
Cover images One Summer’s Afternoon © Keith Wright/Getty Images (woman); Shutterstock.com (background)
Tilly Bagshawe asserts the moral right to be identified as the author of this work.
A catalogue copy of this book is available from the British Library.
This novel is entirely a work of fiction. The names, characters and incidents portrayed in it are the work of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or localities is entirely coincidental.
All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. By payment of the required fees, you have been granted the non-exclusive, non-transferable right to access and read the text of this e-book on screen. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, down-loaded, decompiled, reverse engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of HarperCollins.
Source ISBN: 9780007472543, 9780007472550
Ebook Edition © December 2013 ISBN: 9780007564279
Version: 2013-11-27
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