“I'm fine thanks,” he said, sitting back on the heels of his plaster-splattered boots. “Nearly done here for today.” Bea was unable to stop staring at his tanned face as he contemplated some thought. “I was wondering if you’d like to come for dinner on my boat some time?”
Taken aback by the unexpected question, Bea raised her eyebrows in surprise. “Yes,” she said, before giving it any thought. “I'd like that.” Then remembering what Shani had said about him seeing Leilani, shook her head. “No, better not.”
“Why?” He stood up and watched her, his intense gaze and closeness making her not sure whether she wanted to kiss him or cry.
“Because you have a girlfriend and I’m not going to be anyone’s second choice.”
“You really can’t find it in you to trust me, can you?” he said, turning his back on her and bending down to continue with his work. “I hope it’s not too late when you do finally realise that I’m not the guy you seem so desperate to think I am.”
FIFTEEN
January - Icy Breezes
Bea was walking Flea down on Grève de Lecq beach with Paul and Shani. They wanted to stay occupied and keep her mind from dwelling on her situation with Harry. Her phone rang.
“I’m useless with this thing,” Bea said struggling to retrieve it from her jeans pocket bulging with change, old carrier bags and kitchen paper. “Hi, Mel, how are you?” she asked, noticing the number on the screen.
“Fine, but I can hardly hear you; it’s a really crappy line.” She sounded put out that Bea wasn’t going to be having the usual lengthy chat with her.
“It must be the wind. I’m on the beach.”
“Huh, rather you than me. Anyway, I phoned to ask if you remembered to buy the tickets for us to have a table at the Christmas charity ball this weekend?”
“Charity ball?” Bea turned her back to the wind in a vain attempt at muffling the noise.
“Yes, for Burns Night, the one with the black-and-white only dress code.”
“Oh yes,” Bea remembered thinking she had better get on and buy something to wear for it. “The tickets arrived in the post while I was away.”
“Great, I don’t suppose you’ve managed to find the time to shop for your outfit yet?”
“You presumed right.” She pulled the collar on her jacket up higher to shield the phone from some of the wind. “Flea, get away from the sea.”
“Ok, then we must arrange to go shopping to get ourselves sorted,” continued Mel. “And Shani, she needs to find something a little less, um, obvious.”
“Mel, don’t be rude,” Bea said, wondering why her sister felt the need to put people down like she did.
“What was that all about?” Paul asked, pacing along beside her, his pedometer firmly attached to the waistband of his jeans.
“Only Mel,” she puffed, doing her best to keep up with him. “About Burns Night, we bought tickets remember?”
Shani and Paul looked at each other vacantly for a moment. “Never mind the ball, we still can’t forgive you for lying to us about spending Christmas with your parents,” she said. “Mel told us you hadn’t gone, so you must have spent the day on your own. I was horrified to think of you with only Flea for company.”
Bea wasn’t surprised to discover that Mel had told them, she never could keep out of other people’s business. She wrinkled her nose. “I know, I’m sorry about keeping it from you, but I quite enjoyed not having to bother sitting around a dining table and anyway Flea is great company, he doesn’t argue back or give me a hard time about anything,” she said smiling at them both in an effort to soften her words.
Shani shook her head. “You’re impossible, but we love you anyway.”
“I forgive you, sort of. Right, about the ball.” Paul waved Bea on, encouraging her to keep up the pace. She stuck her tongue out at him. “You could look a little more excited.”
Shani groaned. “I don’t have anything to wear.”
“Which is why I gave in to Mel when she insisted we go shopping tomorrow afternoon. We’ll find you something incredible,” Bea said, stopping and bending over to catch her breath, her hands resting on her knees.
“Sounds okay, but I’ll decide what I wear, not your sister.” Shani drew to a halt with her and crossed her arms over her stomach.
“Stop chatting you two, we’re supposed to be jogging and getting you fit.”
“Stop nagging, Paul.” Bea pulled a face at him. “The only thing you get from jogging is a saggy face.” She turned to Shani. “I can’t really afford to buy something for this ball, but I haven’t much choice. I wish I hadn’t agreed to go now. I hate buying something new, especially as I’ll probably only wear it once or maybe even twice.”
“Me too,” nodded Shani, stretching her calf muscles.
Paul shook his head slowly and smiled at his miserable friends. “For pity’s sake, what’s the harm in going a little wild? Anyone would think you were your aunt’s age the way you act sometimes. I know you have a lot of responsibility resting on your bony shoulders, little Bea, but you have to lighten up and think ‘bollocks to the rest of the world’ and have some fun.”
“I think I’ve had my quota of wild for the foreseeable future,” Shani grimaced.
“Well, I haven’t,” he shouted, making Flea look up and run towards Bea. She took the opportunity of the dog’s bewilderment to attach his lead to his red collar.
“I agree with Paul. I think we should treat ourselves. We haven’t done so for ages and it’s for a worthy cause.”
“Weren’t we lucky finding this closing down sale,” she whispered, nodding at Shani’s reflection in the mirror when she came out of the changing room wearing an empire-styled dress, in white, with a tiny black satin ribbon running under her breasts. “Your boobs seem bigger than they did before.”
“Rubbish,” laughed Shani. “I think it’s just the style of the dress.”
“I adore my dress.” Mel twisted and turned, looking at her reflection from every angle in the one-shouldered creation she’d tried on. “I’ll have to make sure Grant hires a tuxedo soon, otherwise he won’t get around to doing it.”
Bea picked out a sleeveless, chiffon–covered, beaded dress from the few she’d narrowed down her choice to and carried it into the changing room. The weight of the dress helped the feel of luxury. Pulling back the velvet curtain from her changing room, she crossed over to the mirror. “I feel really glamorous in this one,” Bea said, wishing Luke was to be her partner for the night rather than Tom. She held her hair up at the back of her head. “I think perhaps I’ll make a booking to have something a little Hollywood done to my hair for the evening, too.”
“I know we’ve all got to watch our cash flow now, but I think it’ll be fun to treat ourselves for once. We may as well make the most of this.”
“It’s perfect practice for my wedding day.”
Shani groaned. “Why does everything always have to come back to your wedding, Mel?”
Mel ignored her. “I’m especially looking forward to the auction; I can’t wait to see exactly what’s in the Lots.”
****
“This is going to be fun,” Bea said, determined to ignore the pain she was already experiencing thanks to her exquisite, black four-inch stilettos, which pinched the front of her feet tortuously, but they’d been the only ones in the charity shop that would go with her dress. She hoped they’d loosen up a bit as the evening wore on.
“Tom, you look trés James Bond,” Paul said, looking him up and down in his dinner jacket. “Grant, you’ve scrubbed up well, too. I’m so impressed. I can see Mel’s influence here, so don’t even try to deny it.”
Bea laughed as Paul, immaculately groomed, his blue eyes sparkling, bowed theatrically. “As you may notice, I’ve splashed out on a new black silk cummerbund and bow tie as well as a spray tan.”
They stared in silence when Guy strode into the room. “Wow,” said Mel, eyes as wide as a bush baby’s.
“Thank you
,” Paul said, smiling with self-satisfaction.
“Not you. Him,” she said, pointing at Guy. “I’m sorry, but you’re wasted as a chef, Guy.” Mel shook her head as she stared at the six-foot, dark-haired vision in front of her. “You should be gracing billboards across America, not be encased in a stuffy kitchen somewhere.”
“Very Ralph Lauren, don’t you think?” Paul linked his arms with one of Guy’s and smiled up at him.
“Time to get into the taxi,” Tom shouted, taking Bea’s hand in his. “You look very beautiful tonight.”
Bea sat down in the seven-seater taxi and smiled at him. She tried not to think about Luke, wondering if he’d be at the ball, too and had to force herself to laugh at the jokes as the car took them to the nearby manor at St Open. As soon as the car stopped, Tom helped each of the women out and Bea looked across at Shani’s cousin Paige and her fiancé Jeremy outside the huge white marquee especially erected in the grounds of the walled garden for the evening.
“This is amazing,” Bea gasped, trying to take in every detail, as light dripped from the grand crystal chandeliers overhead and circular tables, covered with their crisp white linen tablecloths, showed off rose and lily of the valley displays in the middle of each one.
“Stunning,” Shani said, taking a glass of apple juice from the waitress. Bea caught her eye and when Shani smiled, she pushed away the nagging doubt in her mind and picked up a glass of chilled champagne.
“Not drinking tonight?” Mel asked, raising an eyebrow as a pipe band welcomed the guests in to the event. Shani ignored her. “It is pretty incredible,” Mel said, barely able to contain her excitement. She pulled her chiffon wrap over her shoulders and took a glass of buck’s fizz.
“I’ve never been to a ball before,” Paige admitted breathlessly, taking a glass of champagne from the nearest tray. “I’m relieved they’ve got heaters in here, it’s freezing outside.”
Paul threaded one arm through Shani’s and the other through Guy’s and led them further into the room.
Tom took Bea’s hand and squeezed it gently, leaning down towards her. “Did I tell you how beautiful you look this evening?” he whispered.
She kissed him on the cheek. “Only about twenty times. But hey, carry on if you feel you must.”
He studied the table plan and pointed over to one in the middle of the room, near the dance floor, where the auction was to take place later. “This is perfect,” he said. “We won’t miss anything sitting here.”
The Master of Ceremonies welcomed the guests, announced the arrival of the Seigneur. Bea wondered what it must be like to own this beautiful place and know that Charles II has hidden here when he escaped centuries before. Once he and his wife were seated, the rest of them took their places.
“Did you know that Charles II gave this Seigneur’s ancestor the land where New Jersey now stands as a thank you for letting him come and stay here?”
Bea did recall her father telling her the story. “Yes, it’s why they named it New Jersey. I told some Japanese clients that a couple of years ago and I’m sure they didn’t believe me.”
“It does sound a little far-fetched,” Paul said. “I can see why they’d find it a bit unlikely.”
Bea couldn’t help noticing Shani’s quiet mood, but didn’t want to draw attention to it, especially with Mel there.
“These savory tartlets are orgasmic,” Mel declared, rather louder than Bea suspected Grant would have liked. She lifted her napkin, so he couldn’t see her giggling. “How can anyone make stinky goats cheese and red onions taste so heavenly?”
A grey-haired couple on a nearby table turned to glare at Mel reproachfully. Grant pulled a face, but Mel simply winked at them. “Try it,” she said to the woman. “You won’t regret it.”
“Mel, that’s enough.” Bea gave her sister her fiercest glare, which was difficult when she couldn’t get her mouth to stop smiling.
“I hope Paul’s happy,” Shani whispered to Bea as they watched Guy and Paul walk across the dance floor to study the Lots. “He deserves to be.”
“I agree. He’s been a good friend to both of us,” Bea said, picking up her glass of wine, her words tailing off as she spotted Luke talking to two older men at the far end of the room.
“Fuck me,” Shani sighed. “He scrubs up well.”
“His beard’s gone,” Bea said, barely able to think straight at the transformation in front of her. She was just about managing to force her attention away from him when he seemed to sense her and gazed directly back at her. She smiled before looking away, but couldn’t help glancing back at him, only to find him still watching her. He raised his glass to her and smiled before turning back to continue his conversation.
“He could make a fortune on the telly,” Shani said, having another look at Luke. “And I’d love to know why you keep finding reasons not to go after him, Bea, because I can’t think of one.”
Bea wished she couldn’t, either. She took a gulp of her drink to steady her pounding heart. Who knew that face had been hidden under all that facial foliage?
“Everything all right?” Tom asked, returning to the table from the Gents and looking round the room to see what had diverted her attention. “Everyone seems very quiet at this table. It’s time to get the party started, you lot.”
She struggled to retain her composure and cleared her throat. “Yes, sure,” Bea replied, her voice high and shrill. “I can’t get over what an incredible place this is.”
“I’m taking this as a practice for my wedding,” Mel said, glancing around the room. “It’s given me a few ideas about décor and I’ve been picturing where I’d seat my guests. Which tables to put everyone and all that.”
Bea desperately wanted to sneak another look at Luke, but forced herself not to. What was wrong with her, she wondered, annoyed at her own stupidity. Luke was not her type, even if he was the most stunning guy she’d ever seen, and of course there was his girlfriend, too.
The small band that Bea had hardly noticed upped the beat of their quiet background music and began to play a little louder as the Master of Ceremonies announced the first dance. Tom took Bea by the hand. “Come on, let’s show them how it’s done.”
She laughed. “As long as you’re not expecting me to be any good at this waltzy sort of dancing,” she said, as he led her to the dance floor.
“Rubbish,” he argued, placing one hand lightly on her waist. “It’s nothing to worry about. Anyhow, as the man it’s up to me to lead you, and if you are unable dance to this, then I’m not doing it correctly. Relax and enjoy the dance.”
She did as she was told. “Hello,” said a baritone voice that haunted Bea’s dreams. Tom tensed and looked over her shoulder at Luke.
“Good evening, Luke, Leilani.” Tom smiled stiffly, continuing to dance and not faltering a single step, unlike Bea. As they passed by, Leilani narrowed her heavily made-up eyes at Bea, but Bea smiled at them both, still counting the steps in her head.
“I didn’t know they were here,” Tom said quietly.
“Me neither,” she fibbed, wondering if she’d misread Tom’s accusatory tone, and why she was lying to him? They danced to several more songs, but didn’t pass Luke and Leilani again. Bea supposed they must have returned to their table.
As soon as Tom and she were seated again, and he was busily replying to a text on his mobile, she subtly motioned to Shani that she was going to the Ladies. Shani followed. “Shit, he looks hot,” Shani gasped. “You could burn your fingers on that man.”
“I know,” Bea agreed quietly, trying to get used to Luke’s new, improved appearance.
“I thought he was probably just friends with Leilani, but she looks very possessive of him, don’t you think? Like a lioness protecting her… well, not her young exactly, but you know what I mean.”
Bea laughed. “I do, although I wish he hadn’t asked me to dinner when he was at my house the other day. I don’t want to think of him as being two-faced, like Simon.”
&nbs
p; “Now that is depressing.” Shani reapplied her matt-red lipstick. “Then again, after what happened between you both that night, maybe you could be right. Don’t worry about it now. You’re here to enjoy yourself. Make the most of this brilliant party.”
Bea nodded, wiping below her eyes with her fingers where her eyeliner had smudged slightly in the heat of the marquee. “I’d better actually go to the loo, I suppose.” He had a girlfriend she reasoned silently for the umpteenth time as she washed her hands. She needed to get a grip.
She sat back in her seat and watched Paul, who was looking happier than she had seen him in years. Someone coughed quietly next to her ear. Bea turned and came face to face with Luke, crouching down next to her in between her and Tom’s chair.
“Hi, I was wondering if you’d dance with me,” he said, his arm resting on the back of Bea’s chair. He looked across at Tom. “You wouldn’t mind your beautiful partner having just one dance with an old friend, would you?” he asked.
“Not at all,” Bea said without waiting for Tom’s reply. Luke grabbed hold of Bea’s hand and led her onto the dance floor.
She could sense Tom’s eyes boring into the back of her and at the same time noticed Luke’s gaze on her. “Thank you,” he said. “You’re looking incredibly beautiful tonight, although I have to admit I miss seeing those bunny slippers.”
“Stop it,” she said, trying not to laugh. “What are you playing at?” Bea asked, aware he was holding her so firmly in the arch of her back against him that the entire length of his body was pressing alarmingly next to her own, sending disobedient delicious feelings coursing through her.
“Can’t a friend ask his pal to dance?” he whispered in her ear, holding her tighter to him.
Bea swallowed. She could feel the hardness of his chest against her breasts. Her mouth was almost completely dry. “Of course, you can,” she replied breathlessly.
“I didn’t think you were seeing each other anymore,” he said, the heat of his hand firm against her back.
The Jersey Scene series box set Page 17
