by Melissa Hill
And he hadn’t yet said a thing about her outfit.
“Well? What do you think?” she asked finally.
“What?” Dan was miles away. “What do I think of what?”
“My dress. You haven’t even mentioned it.” She turned sulkily back to the mirror and continued to apply her make-up.
“Nice.” Dan was noncommittal.
She spun around. “Dan, what is wrong with you lately? For the past few weeks you’ve been going around in some kind of daze! This dress is John Rocha and it cost me an absolute fortune. What do you mean by just ‘nice’?”
Dan stood up and ran a hand through his hair. “Jesus, Chloe, just because I don’t fall to worship at your feet every time you ask me how you look, doesn’t mean you look bad! You look fine. What more do you want?”
“‘Fine’,” Chloe repeated, putting a hand on her hip. “I look ‘fine’, do I?”
“Yes,” Dan said through gritted teeth.
“Well, I don’t think I look ‘fine’, Dan. As it happens, I think I look a lot better than just ‘fine’. But you wouldn’t give a damn if I went out tonight wearing a pair of your pyjamas, would you? You wouldn’t even notice!” Stung by his attitude, she turned her back to him. Dan always commented on her appearance whenever they were getting ready to go out somewhere. He loved it when she dressed up and she loved the way his compliments made her feel so sexy and, nine times out of ten, they both ended up horny and indulged in some pretty good sex before going out at all. But lately, Dan seemed to have lost interest – in sex and more worryingly, in her.
“Chloe, please don’t start.” Dan slumped back down on the bed and began to knead his forehead.
“Don’t start what?” Chloe approached the bed. “Seriously, Dan, what the hell is wrong with you? You’re away with the fairies these days. I can hardly get a word out of you.” When he didn’t answer she continued, “Can’t you tell me what’s bothering you? Is it work?” It had better be something like that, she thought. It had better not be something else.
Like an affair.
But where would Dan get the time to have an affair? And why? Chloe turned back to study her expression in the mirror. She was still looking good as ever, wasn’t she? She hadn’t put on any weight, and her breasts were small, but full and definitely still in their rightful place – unlike some others she could mention.
At the last dress fitting, she had been shocked, but more than a teeny bit gratified to discover that Lynne’s boobs had very definitely headed south with little hope of returning. And that spare tyre – oh dear! Lynne had better shift it by the time the wedding came around, otherwise she could end up ruining Chloe’s wedding photographs.
Her skin was fresh and clear, and she had even upped her sunbed sessions lately in order to ensure she had a radiant glow for the photographs. She was always up for sex, admittedly a lot more than Dan was these days, so it couldn’t be that. Dan’s sex drive had dwindled a bit, but maybe that was because he was that much older than her.
Chloe grimaced. Nah, he wouldn’t cheat on her, would he?
“So?” she turned her attention back to her fiancé. “Is it work?”
Dan gave a low groan. “Chloe, please, I’m just in bad form. You know well that I don’t particularly want to go to this bloody party, and yet you expect me to be jumping up and down like a child on a promise of a trip to McDonald’s!”
She shrugged. “I don’t know why you’re so against it. I thought you got on well with Mick. I know Louise can be a bit of a pain but –”
“It’s not that – I’m just really not in the mood. Work is manic and . . .”
Good, it was definitely work then. Relieved that it was something simple, Chloe turned her attention back to the mirror, and began to tease her straight blonde hair into face-framing flicks. She had seen that very look on Cameron Diaz in a magazine the other day, and was certain that it would look great on her. Cameron always looked so stylish. In fact, Chloe thought, standing back to take another look at her profile, she didn’t look too unlike the actress herself in this get-up. She wondered if anyone else would notice the resemblance.
Oh, stuff Dan, she thought, dismissing her worries. Just because he was in one of his moods didn’t mean that she couldn’t enjoy herself tonight. So work was mental but wasn’t it mental for everyone these days? Not to worry, he’d soon get over it.
Studying her reflection once more and exhilarated by what she saw, Chloe relaxed and began looking forward to the dinner party.
* * *
Dan looked in the direction of Chloe’s preening, but stared right through her. He’d have to ring Laura.
It was his own fault, anyway. He should have at least tried to contact Nicola. But what would he say? Maybe Nicola wouldn’t give a stuff about his new fiancée and his new life. And who could blame her? Hadn’t she told him in no uncertain terms a long time ago that she wanted him out of her life – completely? So why would it matter now whether or not he told her himself?
Then a thought occurred to him. Maybe Laura didn’t even read the invites? Maybe she just glanced at them, realised that they weren’t hers and brought them straight back to the shop. That Debbie one told him that they had been returned that same day. So, maybe he was worrying for nothing. And if Laura had read the invites, maybe she didn’t recognise his name? Maybe the name meant nothing to her. But Dan knew that if Laura read the name, Daniel Ignatius Hunt, that, of course, she would recognise it. Hadn’t Nicola made great fun of it during their wedding vows that time, making sure that the minister pronounced if fully and clearly, knowing that it would mortify Dan? Everyone at that wedding had known how much he hated that name, especially when he refused to repeat it back to the minister, saying simply ‘I, Daniel Hunt, take thee Nicola Peters.’ They had all laughed at that.
Dan exhaled deeply. That had been a good day. Definitely one of the very best of his life. So relaxed, so easy-going, exactly the way it should be. There was no great pomp, no great ceremony, just Nicola and him, pledging their vows in front of a few close friends.
Not like this up-and-coming charade, whereby at Chloe’s insistence he would have to wear that ridiculous top and tails get-up, all trussed up like a circus performer. Why did some women go all mental over those kinds of things? It was all a load of bollocks as far as Dan was concerned. All about performance, and exhibition, and ‘look at me’. He loved Chloe, but there were times when her obsession with impressing people got to him big-time.
These days he couldn’t really give a shit about what anyone thought of him, because worrying about such things had before been his undoing.
But still, Dan thought, studying the pattern on the duvet cover, now he couldn’t help but worry about what Nicola might think of his marrying someone else – after everything.
Chapter 12
TANGERINE PRALINE, CERISE au Kirsh, Gianduji or Irish Mist Truffle – which to choose? The luscious selection of handmade chocolates, the scent of which wafted heavily throughout the air, was almost sinful.
Laura eventually made her choice, and along with cup of steaming hot chocolate, she nabbed an empty table in Butler’s Chocolate Café. She took a sip of her beverage, and shivered deliciously as the decadent, mouth-watering aroma filled her nostrils.
Pure indulgence.
Laura sat back comfortably in her seat. Nicola, who was on a diet, would murder Helen for choosing this café as a meeting-place. The three had arranged to meet up for pre-wedding shopping in Grafton St, but the girls were so far running late. As Laura’s bridesmaid, Nicola didn’t need anything other than shoes, but Helen needed a hat, dress, bag, shoes – the works. Laura had also asked Helen to be her bridesmaid, but Helen had immediately refused, offering Kerry instead as flowergirl. She obviously had her own reasons for the refusal, and Laura didn’t mind all that much, but it would have been nice to have her two best friends with her on the day. Laura also had her younger sister, but she and Cathy had little in common, and had never been pa
rticularly close.
So today they were shopping for Helen, and if she needed something there was no stopping her until she got it – and inevitably, a whole lot more. Boy, could Helen Jackson shop! Laura had always enjoyed shopping with her; she always made it seem so exciting, and was able to hunt out these fantastic little boutiques that only a select few knew existed. And of course, she had such great taste.
Laura stared out of the window at the busy street.
“Hey, what are you dreaming about?”
She looked up to see Helen, Kerry and a smiling Nicola approach their table. Nicola had a bundle of magazines under her left arm.
“Page 22,” she said with a grin, tossing a copy of Mode magazine on the table, “and now I know what they mean about the camera adding ten pounds. I look like a whale in that one.” She gave Helen a sideways glance. “And arranging to meet in a place like this isn’t going to help. Oh, is that a Tangerine Praline – thanks.” Nicola winked and popped one of Laura’s chocolates into her mouth.
“Hi, Auntie Law-law!” Kerry grinned up at Laura, her wide brown eyes twinkling with fun. Her blonde curls were tied back in a high ponytail, and she looked the epitome of cute, dressed as she was in pink dungarees and a tiny denim jacket. Laura grinned back. Kerry was becoming so like Helen it was unbelievable.
Laura studied her friend enviously. How did Helen manage to look so amazing all the time? Today, she had tied her blonde hair in a casual knot, and wore a caramel belted leather jacket, knee-length denim skirt and highly fashionable, but, Laura thought, dangerously high-heeled tan and caramel suede boots. Laura wouldn’t be able to walk ten yards in those boots, and she definitely wouldn’t get very far before people started pointing and laughing at her short legs, and tree-trunk thighs. But on Helen’s slender frame and long legs, the outfit was stunning. Laura felt as she always did in Helen’s presence: dowdy and inconsequential.
Kerry held her arms out, and Laura lifted her up onto her lap. “Hi, darling! Were you and Mummy shopping today?”
Kerry nodded, looking happily at her mother.
“And what did you buy?”
The child paused and took a deep breath. “B-b-b-b . . .” Kerry screwed up her face, and Laura’s heart went out to her. “Baawbeee!” she finished delightedly.
“A new Barbie,” Helen clarified, sardonically, “to go with the other two hundred she has at home.”
Laura looked at her and wondered, not for the first time, why Helen was so impatient with the child. When Kerry eventually got her words out right, she looked immediately to her mother for approval – approval that was never very forthcoming.
Helen removed her jacket and went to order coffee, while Laura and Nicola pored over the long-awaited Motiv8 feature.
“Well, what do you think?” Nicola asked with a broad grin, leaving no one in any doubts about her own opinion on the article.
“I think it’s fantastic,” Laura said. “You look wonderful in the photograph and this will be terrific publicity for the centre.”
Nicola gleefully rubbed both hands together. “I know. It worked out a lot better than I expected and luckily they didn’t use any full-length photos of me. I told you what that Fidelma one said to me, didn’t I?”
Laura nodded. She knew that some people could just be thoughtless but others could be downright ignorant. Nicola was fantastic at her job and no one had any right to make her feel bad about herself.
“I hate that photograph of me in the office, but the one of reception looks great, doesn’t it?”
Laura smiled. For all her talk about the feature being more hassle than it was worth, she could see that Nicola was really pleased with the way the article had turned out, and rightly so. Things were going very well for her now – so much so that despite the initial shock of finding out about Dan’s new marriage, Nicola had apparently taken the news in her stride. She was obviously long past letting Dan’s actions get to her, Laura thought, and rightly so.
“I’m just so glad it’s over and done with,” Nicola said, referring to the article. “I have to admit, I was a bit apprehensive about the whole thing, but I think it’s worked out quite well. At least now, I can concentrate on getting the client numbers up, and that should certainly help.”
“Absolutely!” Helen appeared, laden down with a tray, and looking tired and harassed-looking. “As soon as they read this, people will be clambering for membership. You and Ken will be fighting them off. Speaking of which, how is the gorgeous Mr Harris these days?”
Nicola beamed. “Great, he was asking about the two of you, actually – and Neil of course. We’ll have to organise a night out together soon.”
Laura smiled. Ken was such a dote and so perfect for Nicola. It was funny, she thought, remembering – for ages before he and Nicola got together, Helen had had her eye on him. But apparently Ken had no interest, despite Nicola’s attempts to set them up. Laura thought it was a terrible thing to be thinking, but she felt mildly gratified that not every man fell under Helen’s spell.
“So where will we go first today?” she asked.
“Stephen’s Green Shopping Centre?” Helen suggested, looking at Nicola.
She made a face. “Nah, too many escalators.”
“True,” Helen agreed. “OK then, I suppose we’ll just hop in and out of the shops on Grafton St. Laura, tell us, what do you have to get?”
“Nothing really,” she answered. “I just thought I’d tag along with you two, and maybe check out some of the competition in the accessories stores.”
“Good idea.” Helen took the milk jug out of Kerry’s reach. “While you’re at it, maybe you could pitch your stuff to some of the craft shops, or the gift stores.”
Laura’s heart raced. She didn’t think she was ready for that just yet.
“Are you feeling nervous about the wedding?” Nicola asked, obviously sensing Laura’s reticence. “It’s only two months now till D-Day.”
“Stop it! It’s still ages away yet! And no, I’m not feeling the tiniest bit nervous. I love Neil and I can’t wait to marry him.”
Nicola smiled. “Good for you.”
“I’ve always thought that whole ‘Big Day’ palaver was a bit silly,” Helen said airily. “If you don’t know by now, you never will. Kerry, will you please stop messing with that!” She snatched the milk jug out of Kerry’s grasp.
“I thought I knew,” Nicola said softly, “but I was wrong, wasn’t I?”
Helen exchanged nervous looks with Laura. “I’m so sorry,” she said quickly, wiping Kerry’s wet hands with a tissue. “I didn’t mean that . . . I just didn’t think.”
“You made the right decision in the end, Nicola – don’t forget that,” Laura added, seeing Nicola’s troubled expression, and wondering if she might have been wrong in her earlier assessment of her friend’s reaction to the news of Dan’s new marriage.
“Did I?” she replied, with a watery smile. “I can’t help wondering that maybe we should have paid more attention to our wedding vows. I seem to remember promising ‘for better or for worse’.”
“Nicola . . .”
“I know, I know. It was a long time ago.” She smiled but her eyes told a different story. “Sorry, Laura, I hope I’m not putting you off marriage altogether.”
“Of course, not.” Laura patted her hand. “We know how hard it was for you and Dan back then.”
“For Dan!” Helen exclaimed, outraged. “How bloody hard was it for that bastard?” It was common knowledge that Helen had always thought there was nothing wrong with Dan Hunt that couldn’t be fixed with a large brick to the head.
“Forget it,” Nicola said, lightly. “It’s all over and done with now.”
She smiled, but Laura noticed her face tighten. She had definitely been wrong – the situation with Dan had affected Nicola a lot more than she had let on. There was no point in trying to discuss this when Helen was around, so Laura sat back in her chair and made a mental note to get her friend on her own, sooner rat
her than later.
“So how are the plans for LCD going?” Helen asked brightly, using her acronym for Laura’s business. “Did that computer guy work out?”
Laura nodded. Despite her initial misgivings about Laura’s plans, Helen had been terrific in helping her source a reliable CAD software developer. While pencil drawings would suffice for the moment, Laura eventually hoped to use 3D computer technology for her more ambitious designs.
“So, all systems go for the big launch, then?”
“Well, there’s no launch as such. I’ll be open for business next week, and everything is pretty much in place.” She beamed. “My parents are coming over tonight to see my workshop.”
“That’s great. I must come over and have a look myself. Jesus, Kerry! Can you not sit still for one second?” Helen snapped, as Kerry got out of her seat, and went towards Nicola.
“Helen, relax. She’s fine,” Nicola soothed, stroking Kerry’s silky blonde curls.
“She’s not fine! She’s far from bloody fine! Kerry, I’m warning you – sit down!” Helen’s last sentence was uttered with such emphasis that people at the surrounding tables turned to see what the ruckus was about.
Helen stood up, and wrenched Kerry away from Nicola. “Look, I’m not dragging her around with us today. We’ll have no pleasure. You two do what you have to do, and I’ll organise to come out on my own some other time.”
“Helen, don’t be silly. She’s no trouble.” Laura was astonished. “She’s just excited to see us, that’s all.”
“There’s no point, Laura.” Helen’s mouth was set in a firm line. “She’ll cause us nothing but grief for the day.”
“I’m s-s-s-solly, Mummy.” Kerry’s bottom lip began to stick out, and she looked genuinely contrite. “I w-w-w-wanna go w-w-w-with you and –”
“Forget it, missy! After the way you’ve been carrying on you’re going nowhere but home. I told you to be good, I told you that we had a lot to do today for Auntie Laura’s wedding, and that you had to be a good girl, but did you listen? No!”
