Chapter 4

He realised he was staring gormlessly, just staring into bottomless, deep brown eyes, and swallowed. “Er,” he said.

“You talk his ear off already, Emma?” Jude asked genially, and gave Anton another one of those crazy smiles. Anton’s heartbeat stuttered. Oh shit. Oh-shit-oh-shit-oh-shit.

He sat down, to hide the sudden attack of the jitters, and let Emma’s denial wash over him.

“Word of advice, Anton?” Jude said, leaning forward. He was sitting cross-legged, his knees almost able to touch the floor despite the position, and Anton’s brain unhelpfully informed him that it meant Jude could probably get his legs behind his own head. Anton swallowed very hard. “Ignore about…ninety percent of what comes out of Emma’s mouth and you’ll be fine.”

“Hey!” Emma protested, swatting at him. Jude laughed, fending her off. “You’re such an arse.”

“You love me anyway.”

“That’s what you think,” she retorted. “So, Anton, where’re you from?”