“Not that I mind really,” said Poppy. “I can't think of anything worse than having a nine to five office job these days.”
Caro laughed in agreement as Alik signalled that the band were ready to start. About halfway through their set, the power went off, leaving them strumming ineffectively on electric guitars, with Dev's drums still at full volume.
“It's okay, we've got a generator!' called the bar manager, scurrying off with a torch to investigate the problem.
After a few minutes, some emergency lighting came on, bathing the bar in a subdued, hazy light. The crowd started murmuring about what a let down it had been and how could a band like this play a couple of songs and then leave them in the lurch. Hearing the potential disquiet, Alik went to the band's van and found his acoustic guitar, returning as quickly as he could.
“Now I know it's not what you were expecting, but I can't do justice to the usual Blood Stone stuff without them being fully plugged in, so let me play something else. This is a work in progress, called ‘The Girl From The Blue.’”
Caro stopped mid-conversation. She recognised the music and certain lyrics also seemed familiar. With a jolt, she recognised it as the song Alik had sung the night they met in Mallorca. Something he said he'd been working on at the time. And as he played on, she heard changes he'd made, adding references to her.
“I'm sorry, Poppy, can I just listen to this for a minute?” she said, turning her full attention to the stage.
“Nate said this was about you,” Poppy said, softly. “Apparently he won't sing it in front of the whole band, just Nate. And no-one else knows what it's about; they just think it's Alik playing around with stuff.”
The softer edges to the song certainly didn't fit in with the rest of Blood Stone Riot's repertoire, but somehow, that evening, it seemed appropriate. Caro closed her eyes, remembering his touch. Jesus, being around him was hard.
All too soon, the song was over.
“Thank you,” he said, as a round of applause rang out. He passed the guitar over to Nate. “Time for a few covers, mate?”
Nate started playing the chords to 'Vermillion Pt. 2' and seconds later, Alik's voice kicked in, several tones lower than usual. Caro found it unusually hypnotic, again almost spellbound by the effect he had on her.
“That was some performance. And quite romantic,” said Poppy, breaking Caro's reverie. Poppy handed her a large glass of wine that she downed about half of in one mouthful.
“I'm just hoping Edie won't get the reference.”
“Hoping I won't get what reference?”
Edie appeared beside them. “I somehow managed to miss most of Alik's acoustic performance as I got cornered in the ladies by some girl asking me whether she could sell her jewellery in The Magpie.” Edie shuddered. “As if I'd give space to cheap tat like that.”
Caro breathed an imperceptible sigh of relief. She hadn’t heard the song.
“Much nicer song than the usual stuff the band play though,” Edie said. “horrible racket really. Although I'd never actually say that to Alik. I don't really like seeing him perform.”
“How can you say that?” asked Caro. “He's an amazing performer. Has such an effect on his audience, a real connection.” She couldn't explain any more without giving herself away, but hearing Edie talk like that about him made her blood boil.
“What would you know about connections? You’ve seen him play twice.”
Caro pulled herself together and decided to take the professional approach. “Blood Stone Riot are a great band, and with the right promotion and backing they’ll go a long way. You'll need to get used to following Alik all over the country, maybe even all over the world, and seeing him make that connection with hundreds of audiences.”
Edie wrinkled her nose. “Mmm, I don't think I'm the same type of groupie as you. As if I'd hang around waiting for him to finish a set. I'd expect him to be waiting for me.”
“But Edie,” Poppy said, “if it's the man you love, you'd do that. Look at me and Nate, we're happy and I've been to hundreds of gigs to see him play.”
“Well, if that's the life you want, then your expectations can't be that high, can they?” Edie said. “Why don't you just concentrate on your little ideas and leave me to mine?” She melted into the crowd, leaving Caro and Poppy open-mouthed behind her.
Poppy turned to Caro. “This is getting complicated, hon, what are you going to do?”
Caro stood firm. “They're together. There's nothing I can do.”
“But you want to, right?”
Caro thought for a moment. “Yes, I want to.”
Chapter Fourteen
The invite Edie extended to Caro for a weekend at her West Country retreat came totally out of the blue. After all, Edie had made it patently clear that she and Alik were solid and there was nothing that could come between them. And God help anyone or anything that did.
Recently purchased, and beautifully renovated by the Spencer-Newman family, Gramercy Lodge was an historic Tudor Gothic-style house with glorious views over the Westbourne Deane creek and the wooded hills that ran over the adjoining villages. Westbourne Deane was nestled in the South Devon countryside, and was popular for those living a city lifestyle, with second homes in the country. With eight bedrooms, all en suite, a grand dining room and a ground floor ballroom-esque space with a massive, back-lit inglenook fireplace, the house was the perfect quiet weekend haven.
It was also an amazing party house.
“I think she's trying to make an effort,” said Olivia, as the two of them travelled down to the south west by train. It was late on the Friday night, and both of them had been working. They were sitting in First Class, surrounded by magazines, several mini bottles of wine, and the remnants of some M&S sushi. “After all, you weren't exactly on great terms the last time you were together.”
“Yeah, I can see that, but what are we going to talk about this whole weekend? Shoes?” Caro sipped her wine slowly, trying to eke it out until the trolley came round again.
“Alik?”
“Ha, ha, very funny.”
“What's going on with you two anyway?”
Caro shrugged. “Nothing. I'm with Jonny.”
“He’s a good distraction, but doesn’t that complicate how you really feel about Alik?” Olivia hit the nail on the head.
Caro didn’t have the chance to answer as the train manager announced that Westbourne was the next station. The two of them frantically gathered their belongings together.
They got off the train and headed towards the taxi rank, to be met by a driver bearing a card with Olivia's name on it.
“Trust Edie to send a car,” said Olivia. “Totally her style.”
Caro rolled her eyes. She wondered how much of a real friendship Olivia and Edie shared. Or was Edie was just being nice to Olivia as 'one of the staff?'
They drove down the snaking lanes. The small market town of Westbourne disappeared as rolling hills and fields came into view, and they headed towards the estuary side town of Westbourne Deane.
The car swung into a particularly steep and winding driveway, weaving around to Gramercy Lodge.
“It looks like something you'd find in a horror film from the seventies,” said Olivia, as they got out of the car.
Caro didn’t say anything, concerned about the horrors that might await her inside.
“I thought I heard a car.” Edie appeared at the front door, dressed casually in a Juicy Couture playsuit and Ugg boots. Her blonde hair was piled up in a glossy bun, and she held cocktail glass in one hand. “I'll have your bags taken up to your room while we go and get drinks with the others.”
She led the way into a lavish drawing room, dominated by the impressive fireplace, where three other almost identical blondes were sitting sipping lurid coloured drinks.
“Caro, this is Minty, Mischa and Karine; friends of mine from London,” said Edie, though she didn’t point out who was who. “They’ve been helping out with ideas for the shop.”
“Hi, Caro,” the girls said, in unison. “Lovely to meet you.”
Edie poured two more of the brightly-coloured cocktails and gestured for them to sit down. “We're having dinner here this evening, then we're booked into The Maybeech Spa for a day of pampering tomorrow before the boys arrive, and dinner at Gallacher's tomorrow evening. We can just chill out here on Sunday until Caro and Olivia head back.”
Caro had to restrain herself from downing her drink in one as she heard the plans for the weekend. She certainly didn't object to a bit of pampering and relaxation, but she preferred to do it on her own terms, and the thought of spending an entire day trapped inside a spa with women she barely knew didn't exactly fill her with joy.
“Ooo, you didn't say the boys were coming,” said one of the girls. “Who did you invite?”
“Patrick, Jamie, Simon, Tommo...” Edie reeled off a list of names before pausing and looking directly at Caro. “And Alik.”
Caro turned to Olivia and hissed under her breath. “Did you know Alik would be coming?”
Olivia shook her head. “Edie just said it was a girls' weekend. You know; spa, pampering, dinner, that sort of thing. She didn't mention anything else.”
The ridiculously sweet drink burned a path down Caro's throat as she drained her glass. “Sounds great, Edie, thanks for inviting me.”
Chapter Fifteen
Edie wriggled her freshly-painted toes as she settled down on the lounger beside the pool. The Maybeech Spa was on the outskirts of Westbourne Deane and catered mostly for ladies who lunched and those who were extremely well off. Edie thought she had already seen a couple of Russian oligarch's wives in the mud spa and there was always a supermodel or actress or two in residence, pretending to need time off for exhaustion or some other such ailment. She had often been there with Minty, Mischa, and Karine. She had suspected that Olivia would enjoy it, and hoped against hope that Caro would loathe it. She didn't see it fitting in with the rock chick lifestyle that Caro seemed to live. Slipping off her robe, she adjusted the tie of her tiny Melissa Odabash halter neck striped bikini and briefly checked the back of her thighs for any trace of cellulite. Thankfully, still none.
It was Minty who joined her first. She was slightly overweight and there was definite evidence of cellulite. She sank onto the lounger next to Edie in a simple, but flattering, black one-piece.
“What treatment are you having next? I've just had a Champagne and Strawberry Float Away. They use this really yummy-smelling body scrub and then there's a dry floatation thingy. I feel quite light headed.”
Edie stifled a smile; that was Minty's usual state of mind. “I've just had my nails done, so nothing that might ruin them. I'll probably go for a facial and a scalp massage or something. And get my hair done for tonight.” She glanced around to see if there was anyone else from their group around. “How are the others getting on?”
“I think Mischa and Karine are playing tennis, but I haven't seen Olivia and Caro. I keep forgetting that Olivia works for you, she's so lovely.”
Edie tended to forget that too. In the time they had been working together, Olivia had become more of a friend than anything, particularly supporting her with The Magpie, and not just the PR work. This weekend had been partly to thank her for doing that. But also to see if there was anything going on with Caro and Alik. Alik had texted her an hour or so ago to say that he was on his way down and the boys had been instructed to keep him occupied until she returned. She had already had her skin buffed to shiny perfection, everything had been waxed, she had a suitcase full of Agent Provocateur lingerie, quarter-cup bras and crotchless panties, and she had a number of things in mind to remind him of why he was with her. Just thinking about what she wanted to do was making her hot. She waved to one of the pool attendants and asked him to bring her a glass of freshly-squeezed mango juice. Minty opted for the same. Edie knew she would have preferred a hot chocolate, but was keeping up appearances in her company.
Caro and Olivia walked through from the changing room and into the pool area. Minty waved at them, pulling up a couple of loungers so they could join her and Edie. Both of them looked fresh-faced and glowing from recent treatments, and Edie tried to contain her jealousy as Caro discarded her robe to reveal a sky blue Heidi Klein bikini that flattered her curvier figure.
“This place is amazing,” said Olivia. “I can't believe I had so many knots in my neck that needed working out!”
Edie laughed. “I guess I've just been working you too hard. Good thing the launch is over now, although I'll still need your support as the orders start coming in.”
“Of course, I had no intention of looking for anything else. You and Alik are definitely keeping me busy enough,” said Olivia.
The main reason Edie had hired Olivia was to get The Magpie out into the marketplace, but there was also the follow-up activity that came with a growing brand. With the Blood Stone Riot work starting to grow, Edie suspected that Olivia would start to be pulled in many directions. She had heard from Alik that Parker Roberts was becoming more and more demanding by the day.
“You'll only move on when I'm ready,” said Edie, lightly.
“Hang on a minute, Edie,” Caro said. “What gives you the right to talk to Olivia like that?”
“While she’s working for me, I’d rather she didn’t work for anyone else. And if I found out she was, then I could easily put the word out and have her blacklisted in the industry.”
Caro sucked in her breath. “I thought you said she was your friend? If that's your idea of friendship…”
“I can fight my own battles, Caro,” said Olivia.
Edie examined her freshly-painted nails. “No doubt as supportive a friend as she will be to you in making sure The Indigo Lounge is successful.”
Caro laughed. “I'm not paying her to do that. Olivia hasn't been involved in the PR for us at all; I've been able to manage that myself.”
“And clearly you have the support of Jonny Tyler,” Edie said.
“You know nothing of my relationship with Jonny. I suggest you concentrate on your own affairs instead.”
Edie's head snapped up. “What do you mean by that? What have you heard about Alik?”
Caro didn't respond.
Minty put a hand on Edie's arm. “Don't worry, Edie, she's probably just jealous.”
Olivia gathered her things together. “I think I'm going to head back to the house now. I need a break before dinner.”
Edie offered to go with her but Olivia refused.
As Olivia walked out of the pool area, Edie raised her glass towards Caro.
Chapter Sixteen
Edie’s family had been coming to Gallacher's since before Edie had been born, and the staff were always very accommodating and attentive. Despite it being an extremely busy Saturday night in early season, the group had a prime table in the upstairs restaurant and two waiting staff allocated to them alone.
Gallacher's was the kind of family-run establishment that had been at the core of Westbourne Deane life for as long as most residents cared to remember. Established in the late fifties by Bernie and Joan Gallacher, it served dishes containing good quality, locally-sourced produce at affordable prices. Almost fifty years later, not much had changed, except perhaps the decor.
Caro found herself seated between Tommo and Minty, with Olivia and Jamie opposite. Edie was holding court at the head of the table, Alik at her side. It was all Caro could do to stop staring at him. He looked as delightfully out of place as she did. He wore a plain dark grey t-shirt that was cut just low enough to glimpse the tattoos on his chest, whereas the other men wore polos and shirts from Jack Wills or Henri Lloyd and crisp shorts or chinos. In contrast to the other men, who were drinking pints of dark ale and playing drinking games, he nursed a glass of whisky.
Edie had ordered a selection of starters for everyone, showcasing some of the restaurant's specialities including whitebait, warm brie with a whole head of roasted garlic and homemade chutney
, as well as scallops with chorizo and a pea puree. Beer was replaced by wine. The plates were passed around so everyone could take a sample. Caro locked eyes with Alik, but immediately looked away, regret washing over her.
It would have comforted her if she had known he felt the same way.
* * *
After the starter plates had been cleared, Alik excused himself from the table and headed downstairs to escape outside for a cigarette. He was already bored of Edie and Karine’s shallow shopping talk. He wished that any of the band were there with him to distract him. Or even to have more of a conversation with Caro.
The fact that Caro appeared deep in discussion with Tommo instead was starting to irritate him. The beginning of jealousy, tinged with guilt.
He leaned against the doorway of the gift shop next to Gallacher’s and lit a cigarette, sheltering from the light drizzle that had just started to fall.
It didn't come as a total surprise when Caro joined him a few minutes later. She took the cigarette from between his fingers and drew deeply on it. Their eyes met, but neither of them spoke as they shared it, taking turns to pass it between them, lingering slightly longer than was necessary as their fingers lightly brushed against each other.
It was Alik who finished the cigarette, dropping the end on the floor and snuffing it out with the heel of his boot. “You and Tommo seem to be getting on well,” he said. “What do you think Jonny would say about that?”
“As everyone keeps reminding me, Jonny's reputation doesn't lend itself to monogamy, so I doubt he'd mind too much,” she said.
Cocktails, Rock Tales & Betrayals Page 7
