Read No Nice Girl for Free Online

through his arm as the music ended and they started back to their table.
    â€œI’m not quite sure how much of Anice I can take, Terry, so don’t be startled if I take you up on that,” she told him.
    â€œI’ll be startled into a seventh heaven if you do. I hope Anice stays forever and develops horns and cloven hoofs, if that’s what it takes to send you flying into my arms,” said Terry frankly.
    â€œYou’re much too nice to be accepted as a counterirritant,” Phyllis told him, and smiled intimately up at him, as he drew out her chair for her at the table.
    Anice looked swiftly from one to the other and her mouth thinned ever so little. But almost immediately she began to chatter in her pretty, childish way that Terry found diverting but that would, he was shrewd enough to realize, become unbearably boring in time.
    Shortly after twelve, Phyllis stated firmly that as a business gal she must have some sleep and that Anice and Terry might continue the fun if they liked. Anice looked eagerly at Terry, but he shook his head.
    â€œI’m a working man myself, kid. I have to have a few hours’ sleep so I can look all bright-eyed and alert on the job,” he told her, and patted her hand as though she had been a child. “But we’ll do this again soon.”
    With that Anice was forced to be content. A little later Terry said goodnight to them both in the apartment lobby, and his eyes told Phyllis how reluctant he was to leave her like that. In fact, the look in his eyes was so eloquent that Anice was thoughtfully silent on the way upstairs, and when the two girls were in Phyllis’ bedroom getting ready for bed, she asked frankly, “Cousin Phyllis, do you mind if I ask you a very impertinent question?”
    â€œNot if you don’t mind my not answering it, if it’s too impertinent,” Phyllis answered lightly, though her eyes were wary.
    â€œWell, I was wondering if you are in love with Terry?” said Anice quietly.
    â€œCertainly not!” Phyllis flashed, and was instantly ashamed of her vehemence.
    â€œI wondered if maybe he was your lover,” said Anice so gently that it was a full second before Phyllis realized what she had said. And before she could flash an indignant answer, Phyllis knew by the burning of her face that the color had risen to her cheeks.
    â€œI quite agree with you that that is a very impertinent question, Anice, and one I refuse to answer,” said Phyllis swiftly.
    Anice’s smile was a little like that of a cream-fed cat.
    â€œYou have answered it, Cousin Phyllis,” she said coolly, and added quickly, “Oh, I’m not blaming you. I think he’s terribly cute and he must be a lot of fun—as a lover.”
    â€œI’m surprised a ‘nice’ girl like you, Anice, could have such a thought,” said Phyllis, and made no effort to keep her resentment and her annoyance from her tone.
    Anice’s eyes were wide and limpid.
    â€œOh, I didn’t mean I’d ever accept a lover myself , Cousin Phyllis—the very thought sickens me!” she said swiftly, almost but not quite innocently. “It’s just that…well, after all, I know there are women who…who—well, need a man now and then.”
    Phyllis’ eyes blazed.
    â€œAnd you think I am one of them?” she asked through her teeth.
    Anice’s eyes were wide with innocence.
    â€œI wouldn’t know, Cousin Phyllis,” she answered gently. “How could I? After all, I don’t know you verywell. We’re cousins and all that, but we haven’t seen very much of each other.”
    â€œNo, that’s right, but it begins to look as though we may very soon, don’t you think?” said Phyllis, and indicated the bedroom, with its neatly divided closet and dressing-table space.
    â€œOh, but it’s only until I can find an apartment,” said Anice, flushing, her head held high.