Read Poppyland for Free Online Page B

tension.
    â€˜Your hair smells good,’ he says, and it is like an electric shock when he touches it and it falls from behind my ear across my cheek.
    Completely thrown, I gasp, ‘Yes, of course anyone can go in.’
    He looks at me and across at the gallery. ‘Why do you think that?’
    We are standing in one another’s body heat. Or rather I am in his, as my body heat is around zero. No coat. I shiver. ‘Because this is the private view.’
    â€˜Is it? How do you know?’
    â€˜How do I know? Umm. I was at it.’
    I just can’t say they are my pictures. It is too much of an exposure for this delicately balanced game; it will change everything. Really I am just scared. He touches my elbow and my nerves thrill as if he has run a feather along the inside of my arm and down the length of my body. I look back at him and both of us can’t help smiling.
    He takes my hand. ‘Did you come with someone? They will be wondering where you are,’ he says, then frowns. ‘And why are you out here by yourself with no coat? Why did you leave the private view?’ He laughs and squeezes my hand. ‘And while we’re at it, what did you say your name is?’
    I laugh. ‘Shall we start again? My name is Grace, Ican’t believe you forgot that already, and I’m doing the same as you are out here, I’m standing around looking at the lights. You’re right, it was a mistake to come out with no coat, and now I wish I had one.’ My red dress glows like an ember but gives off no heat.
    His voice is low and gentle. ‘I’m sorry, I was looking at you and I forgot to listen to your name, I mean your surname, because I know you’re called Grace.’ A car hisses past on the damp road, and the quiet between us is as intense as any words. ‘And I was just thinking what a coincidence it is that we met here, tonight. It’s auspicious.’
    â€˜Is it? Why?’
    He takes his coat off and holds it out on his finger. ‘Well, for a start, you might be cold?’ he asks hopefully. ‘And if you are, I can give you this.’
    I bite my lip, suddenly shy. ‘Why do you think it’s a coincidence? Isn’t it just a random meeting?’
    He shakes his head. ‘No, I don’t think so.’ He shakes the coat, making me laugh.
    â€˜You look like a bullfighter. I’m fine, really,’ I say.
    â€˜Oh really?’ He swirls the coat around my shoulders and his warmth settles all over me. The coat smells of wax and oil and inside it I feel soft and safe.
    â€˜That’s nice,’ I whisper. My protective shell has dropped off. A random selection of soft, shell-less items float into my head, including an open oyster, a jellyfish, and an un-formed egg, its shell collapsed like the overused ping pong ball I found in the hen house at my Aunt Sophie’s house when I was six. But these images only veil my true intent; I’m looking at Ryder’smouth and wanting more than anything on earth for him to kiss me.
    I put my hand over my mouth to wipe away desire and hide the huge smile breaking from within me, as I stand cocooned in the coat as though in an embrace. Ryder wanders away along the sea front. His hair is dark in the night light, and he is incongruous in the winter street with no coat on. He doesn’t seem to mind; he looks completely at home on the harbour. He is turning away, but he stops and is back next to me in a moment. ‘Being chivalrous is the best excuse not to go back to the boat yet. I’m with a big ship, you see. We’re leaving tonight.’
    â€˜How can you be with a ship? Are you a sailor?’ Confused, I rattle through my thoughts aloud. ‘Oh, and this is an encounter out of one of those old musicals.
Singing in the Rain
, maybe?’
    He frowns. ‘Yes. No. I’d prefer
On the Waterfront
.’
    â€˜Oh yes. That fits.’
    Ryder lights a cigarette and