Sins by Penny Jordan Page B

smallshrug of his shoulders and an easy smile, Rose saw the anger tightening his mouth.
    ‘Sorry about that,’ he apologised to her again. ‘He’s got a big mouth and, like they say, empty vessels make the most noise.’
    Rose inclined her head and looked away. She wished she could move away as well, but that was impossible with the room packed so tightly with people.
    ‘Over a hundred years my family have lived in London, and yet I still get identified as an outsider because of the way I look.’ He was smiling–apparently more resigned than resentful–revealing strong white teeth and a dimple in the middle of his chin.
    Her surprise that he should continue the conversation had Rose looking back at him before she could stop herself.
    ‘What about you? Have your family been here long?’
    ‘That depends which side of my family you’re asking about. My mother never made it here from the slums of Hong Kong, whilst my father’s family have lived here for many generations.’
    ‘That must be hard for you.’
    ‘What must? Looking like my mother when I’m living in my father’s country?’
    ‘Living here, but feeling like you aren’t accepted,’ he corrected her gently.
    Rose stiffened, but either he hadn’t seen how much she disliked the direction the conversation was taking or he didn’t care, because he continued, ‘The trouble is that when you’re like us you’re an outsider wherever you go. I worked on a kibbutz in Israel after I finished mynational service. There were Jewish kids there from all over the world, we were made welcome, but we weren’t at home. The thing is that people like you and me, we aren’t the past because we don’t fit in, but our children will be the future. One day we and they will be the past, just like the Romans are, and the Vikings and all those others who came here as outsiders. What’s your name? Mine’s Josh, by the way. Joshua.’
    ‘Rose–Rose Pickford.’
    He nodded, then demanded, ‘So what do you do, Rose Pickford, when you aren’t out partying?’
    ‘I’m training to be an interior designer.’
    To her surprise he gave an exultant whoop of approval. ‘You know what? I think that you and me were destined to meet, because what I need right now more than anything else is an interior designer.’
    Rose eyed him suspiciously. ‘I really must go and find my friends,’ she told him coolly, but as she made to edge past him, someone pushed by her, and would have sent her slamming into the wall if Josh hadn’t reacted quickly and scooped her towards himself so that it was his forearm that connected with the wall and not her back.
    She could feel his exhaled breath against her forehead.
    ‘Are you OK?’
    This close up she could smell the scent of his skin, sort of citrussy, causing her to clench her stomach muscles. Her gaze was almost on a level with his Adam’s apple and her heart jerked. Rose struggled against a backwash of unfamiliar emotions.
    ‘Yes, thanks, I’m fine.’ Her response was unsteady. It was impossible for her even to think about trying tostand independently of him, the room was so packed. He was towering over her, his shoulders broad, the prominent hook of his nose casting a shadow over the olive-toned flesh of his face, his hair thick and as dark as her own, although a very different texture with its natural wave flopped over his forehead and curled over the collar of his shirt. He was undeniably handsome and Rose suspected probably very sexy, but there was also a kindness about him that, like his natural ebullience, disarmed her and somehow drew her to him.
    He was bending his head towards her ear. ‘Want to guess what I do?’
    Rose wanted to shake her head, but without waiting for her response he told her, ‘I’m a hairdresser.’
    Now he had surprised her.
    ‘That’s why I need an interior designer,’ Josh continued. ‘I’m setting meself up in business and I’ve got this salon, see, but it needs tarting up a bit, and I reckon