Read Written in the Scars (The Estate Series Book 4) for Free Online Page A

family.’
    What do you mean?’
    ‘I could tell by your text message that you were disappointed that we couldn’t meet.’
    ‘Could you?’ Donna giggled.
    He laughed. ‘You won’t get rid of me that easily.’
    Donna liked the sound of that. She checked her watch to see it was nearly half past eleven. ‘You certainly left it late to ring me,’ she said, trying to stifle a yawn.
    ‘On the contrary, I think it shows how much you’ve been on my mind.’
    ‘Oh, please. You’ve only just met me.’
    ‘I know. I can’t explain it either.’
    Despite being exhausted, the sound of Owen’s voice soothed her. She felt her skin flush at how his words made her feel.
    ‘How are you?’ she asked.
    ‘I’m busy.’
    Donna smiled. ‘I take it you’re at home now?’
    ‘Yes.’
    ‘Which is?’
    ‘Not far from you.’
    ‘You mean on the Mitchell Estate?’
    ‘Yes, in Percival Crescent.’
    Percival Crescent was at the top of the estate and one of the better streets. Donna remembered a boy she’d had a crush on at school living there. At the time he’d gone out with her best friend, Shaunna, and had broken her heart.
    ‘That’s not far from me,’ she said. ‘Have you lived there long?’
    ‘Do you always ask so many questions?’
    ‘I usually have someone answering back, so I guess I’m used to trying to get in the last word.’ She yawned again.
    ‘I should go.’
    ‘I’m sorry.’
    ‘Don’t be. When will I be able to see you?’
    ‘Soon, I hope.’
    They said goodnight, and Donna disconnected the phone. She grinned. How lovely that Owen was thinking of her, despite the time of the call. Her mind flipped back to Saturday night, recalling how his short-sleeved shirt had given her a glimpse of his tanned, muscly arms, how well he fitted his tailored trousers, how she had to look up to catch his smile. Later, the fingers of his large hands had interlocked with her smaller ones. His eyes had smiled as he’d laughed along with her – at what, she couldn’t recall. But she clearly remembered them sitting close together on a settee in the club, Owen throwing back his head as he laughed at something she had said.
    She really couldn’t believe her luck when she had met him. There had been fifteen women in total at the hen party. They’d gone around town for a few drinks but then as the night wore on, someone had suggested a club. That was when Donna had really felt her age. All the young women with their toned legs and firm breasts, dressed to kill in mini-skirts and high heels.
    But, feeling quite tipsy by then, she’d got on the dance floor with the rest of the women. She’d been there for a few songs when one of the men behind her had lost his balance after flinging himself around. He fell backwards into them, catching her across the side of the neck with his hand. Her natural instinct had been to turn around and Owen, who had been with the group, had apologised for his friend. He’d led her away from the dance floor, offering to buy her a drink to compensate. They’d stayed together for the rest of the evening.
    Her phone beeped and a text message came in.
    I can’t sleep thinking of you.
    She sighed wistfully as she stared at the screen. When he’d asked to see her again, Donna hadn’t really hesitated, despite what she had told Sarah earlier. She just hadn’t wanted to tell anyone that she had arranged to meet Owen again in case he stood her up. Even now, two days after meeting him for the first time, it seemed wrong that someone as good-looking as him would be after someone like her. Seven years wasn’t too much of an age gap – not an age gap at all if she swapped their ages around. But still, Donna knew he could do a lot better than her.
    She thought back to the men she’d dated. Okay, there had been a few before Joe had come along but none that had been long lasting except her marriage – and that had turned out to be a disaster, except for the kids.
    She and Joe had grown apart