“Oh, Lyndsey…” Eva grasped both her hands over the table, forgetting about the dirty plates and glasses that stood between them. “Oh, God no… It was him then?”
“Just as well we got the locks changed.” Miles stared at their joined hands. “Rupert, eh? Creepy bugger, if you don’t mind me saying so. I want you to be careful around him, Lyndsey.”
“He has a thing for Eva, not for me.” She blinked her blue eyes. “I’m so sorry, I completely forgot about it until just now. I’m so glad you’ve got Mr Scott now, he’d bop Ru on the nose if he tried it again!”
Eva shivered. She let go of Lyndsey’s hands and brought her wrap more tightly around her. “He made my bed. He tucked the duvet under the mattress. He smoothed the covers.”
“It’s all right,” Daniel assured her, sliding his arm around her shoulders. “We’ll sort it out with him.”
Eva gazed into his dark eyes. His expression was unreadable. “How?”
“I’ll get a restraining order on him if I have to.” He held her gaze and she thought there was a flicker of something before he said, “I’m not going to hurt him, don’t worry.”
“I didn’t think you would.” Or did she? The little sod who broke windows, he hadn’t pushed Emily Shaw off the cliff, but what would he do to Rupert? No, she couldn’t think like that about him. He had changed. “I hate to say it but…oh God, I’m going to have to pull out of the auction. I’m so sorry, but I can’t… The thought of him makes my skin crawl. And a restraining order— I can’t go back to the gallery, can I?”
“We can sort out the auction,” Daniel told her, but there was the promised exhibition of the children’s work too, not to mention the memories of Lee Carswell and his mum wandering wide-eyed through the gallery thirty years ago. “That’s not about him.”
“I’m sorry, I don’t want to mess everything up.” Eva hated Rupert all the more now, for making her feel guilty. That was just the way a creep like him operated. “Maybe it’s better if I hold my head up high.”
“That’s the spirit!” Miles grinned. “That’s just what I always liked about you, Eva. You never let anyone walk all over you, and this Rupert chap shouldn’t be an exception.”
“And so like him to break into a house like a weird beard and tidy it up,” Lyndsey observed, reaching to take Eva’s hand. “I’ll talk to him at work, don’t fret.”
Eva stared outside. She saw a figure pass along the prom and her heart was in her throat. Surely it wasn’t—no, it wasn’t Rupert. Everything was all right.
“I suppose I’ll have to tell the police that he had access to my keys.” Eva shivered again. “I can’t not say anything.”
“And they’ll come to talk to him and he’ll make my life miserable if he doesn’t find a reason to sack me there and then!” Lyndsey’s mouth turned down at the corners, tears filling her eyes. “We’ve changed the locks, why does it have to be a big fuss?”
“Come on, there, there… It’s okay, Lyndsey.” Miles brought her into his arms, gently kissing her face and stroking her hair. He looked up from his girlfriend to Eva and Daniel. “The police are very busy, Eva. All you need to do is ask Daniel here to have a word, and Rupert won’t be bothering you ever again. Isn’t that right? I know what I’d say to a man who’d been creeping about uninvited in Lyndsey’s house!”
“It’s for the police to deal with,” Daniel told him, earning a strangled sob from Lyndsey. “Let’s not turn vigilante over it.”
“No, just get fired over it!” Lyndsey pushed her plate away. “I’m not hungry now, I don’t want anything!”
“Now, now, come on Lynds, that’s my girl…” Miles cooed over her, demonstrating that he was just the sort of man that a drama queen like Lyndsey needed. “You won’t get fired. None of this is your fault.”
Eva stared in surprise at that remark, picturing her keys on the desk as they fell out of Lyndsey’s handbag in front of Rupert, but she didn’t say anything. Besides, she was still surprised that despite what he had gone through, Daniel was happy for the police to deal with Rupert.
“Promise you won’t tell them, Eva, please?” Lyndsey dabbed her napkin at her eyes and sniffled. “For me? For my job? We’re best friends, aren’t we?”
“Of course we’re best friends!” Eva didn’t comment on anything to do with the police. What a dreadful situation to be caught in, but she didn’t know what else to do.
“So you won’t tell them,” Lyndsey pressed. “The locks are changed, you’ve got Daniel now and Rupert isn’t exactly Jack the Ripper. Please, Eva? Do this one tiny thing for me?”
“Yes, I know, we’ve changed the locks, everything’s great.” But Eva would still tell the police. What if Rupert went after someone else, and what—what the hell would have happened if he’d let himself into her home when she had been in there by herself?
“Please,” she whispered. “Why’re you being so selfish?”
“That’s not fair—” Daniel began, but he was silenced when Lyndsey’s entire face crumpled with misery and she pressed it to Miles’ shoulder, sobbing.
Eva could hear the chatter from nearby tables quieten, and cutlery stilled on plates. Art world bad boy makes local arts administrator cry. Was that what the newspaper would say?
“I wonder if perhaps it might be time to”—Miles looked up at Daniel and Eva, miming his two fingers walking over the tablecloth— “call it a night?”
“I haven’t had my pudding,” Lyndsey whispered sorrowfully. “If I’m losing my job tomorrow, I want my pudding.”
“Do you want to know what the police will do?” Daniel asked, his voice hard. “Nothing. They’ll do nothing because Rupert went to the right school, plays golf at the right club and has the right handshake. At worst, they’ll laugh it off as high spirits, but more likely they’ll promise to make a note of it then go back to the crossword. Have your pudding and for Christ’s sake, stop roaring.”
Miles’ mouth dropped open. “Now look here, you might be a big-shot artist, but I won’t have my…my girlfriend talked to like that.”
Eva threw her napkin down onto her plate. Was the evening going to end with her boyfriend and her ex battling their way up and down the seafront? “Can we all just finish our dinner, please, before the fisticuffs erupt? This was supposed to be a date, not a—not whatever this has turned into.”
“I want that raspberry cheesecake.” Lyndsey pointed across the restaurant to another diner’s plate, her equilibrium restored as quickly as a child coming out of a tantrum. “Mr Scott’s a much-needed voice of sense, isn’t he? Fisticuffs, as if either of these boys is the violent sort!”
Eva folded up her napkin. “I’m going to pass on dessert. Daniel and I—” She glanced at him. “I’m rather tired, actually.”
“Let’s go to the shake shop and get fat,” Lyndsey urged Miles, pinching his cheek. “Still BFFs, Eva? Mum’s coming down soon, she’ll be heartbroken if we’re scrapping over keys!”
“Of course we’re still friends!” Eva left her seat to give Lyndsey a hug. Her strong floral perfume reminded Eva of a lazy summer’s day, and she smiled. How exhausting it must be to be Lyndsey. “Everything’s okay. You couldn’t have known what would happen.”
“I’ll get dinner, since you scored the reservation.” Daniel held out his hand to Miles, who received a jab from Lyndsey’s elbow. “Nice to meet you, Miles.”
Miles shook. “And you too, Daniel. Jolly decent of you, by the way, getting the bill. If you’re sure. My treat next time?”
“A fair deal,” Daniel agreed, gesturing for the bill. Somehow, by the time they were back on the street and Lyndsey and Miles had departed in search of their sugar fix, the crisis was averted. There were hugs and more handshakes and everyone parted in what seemed like good spirits.
“We’re not far from The Mallard, are we? Shall we walk? It’s a warm evening.” Eva slipped her arm through Daniel’s and sighed. “That really did not go how I’d planned.”
“The lobster
was amazing though,” he observed. “And I’m sure the hotel can do something tasty for pudding for Salome and her escort.”
Eva chuckled filthily. “Something creamy that I can lick from your nipples, I hope!”
“The receptionist can probably get anything you could wish for.” Daniel slid his sunglasses up into his hair. “And tomorrow, because tonight isn’t for serious, I need to know how you ended up with such a crazy best friend.”
“Entertaining, isn’t she?” Eva snorted. At least he was asking her about Lyndsey, rather than Miles. Discussing an ex on a saucy stay over didn’t seem like a good idea. “She’s a sweetheart, really. Tends towards the dramatic, but… Don’t worry, all shall be revealed.”
“Slowly, I hope, once we get to the hotel.” He darted a kiss to Eva’s cheek. “That dress is a work of art.”
“Slowly? You tempter.” Eva slid her hand down his back and rested it on his toned bottom. She let her wrap fall in a less demure fashion. After all, she was Salome, heading to a hotel room with her escort.
“What exactly did you tell the taxi people?” Daniel’s voice was tinged with humour. “He was giving me a very funny look in the mirror.”
She swung her handbag back and forth, a skip in her step and a giggle in her voice. “I pretended that I run an agency called Brighton Belles, and told them to please collect Mr Scott for an appointment with one of my clients. It’s not my fault if they assumed I run an escort agency!”
“Do you know what he said when he dropped me off?” They paused on the hotel’s steps and Daniel slipped his arms around her. “Wish I had your job, mate!”
“Oh, that’s brilliant!” Eva tipped back her head and laughed. “You weren’t too embarrassed, were you? Possibly as embarrassed as I was when you sent the taxi for me?”
“I gave him your number and told him to ring for an interview.”
“You sod!” Eva pretended to swipe at him, then kissed him slowly on the lips. “Your client awaits, Mr Scott…”
“The room’s booked under your name, Salome Catesby,” Daniel informed her. “And I aim to send my client home very happy.”
“I should think so too.” Her arm linked with Daniel’s, Eva strutted through the door of the hotel up to the reception desk. “Salome Catesby,” she said in a breathy whisper.
“Ms Catesby, you’re in the beautiful room four.” It was a different receptionist this time, but no less polished and smiling. She too turned away from the computer to the large diary and she too had that same smooth demeanour in the face of her visitors. “The champagne is on ice. Can I get you anything else?”
“A dessert. Maybe a rather tart raspberry mousse?” Eva glanced at Daniel as she licked her lips. “And cream. Lots of whipped cream.”
“Of course. I’ll show you to the room.” She took the key from a drawer and raised one appreciative eyebrow when Daniel reached out and plucked it from her fingers.
“No need,” he told her. “I know the way.”
They headed along the plush corridor to the hush of the bedrooms. Although not much of a hush, as the distinct sound of a spank came through the door of room two, followed by a groan. Eva chuckled, even as she found the sounds of other couples at play arousing. There was no doubt that Daniel felt it too, as he caught her by the waist and kissed her fiercely, pushing her back to the wall. His erection pressed to her through their clothes, the heat in his lips coursing through her blood in turn.
What sounded like another spank landed on the guest in room two, and this time they moaned. It echoed the need in Eva’s veins, and she gasped into their kiss, fumbling with Daniel’s belt. Were they allowed to do this in the semi-public space of the corridor? They surely wouldn’t be the first. “Oh, I want you…”
“Here?” He gasped, massaging her bottom.
“Yes…” Eva sighed. “Can we?”
“So long as we make it fast,” he purred. “And hard.”
Eva slid her hand into his back pocket and found the foil packets that he kept there in readiness. She drew one out, tore the packet open with her teeth and nudged down his zip to put it on him. No underwear, of course, and that delicious erection of his was easily freed. Eva raised one leg, crossing behind Daniel’s waist, and the silky length of her satin skirt rose up to reveal herself to him. He lifted her easily, the sounds of a stranger’s pleasure echoing their own as their bodies joined.
“Brighton Belles?” Daniel whispered, arching his eyebrow.
“What else?” Secure in Daniel’s arms, Eva lifted her other leg and crossed them around him. Thrusting against him, she whispered, “Salome Catesby, proprietor and procurer.”
“I hope I’m your star attraction?” He dipped his head, nuzzling Eva’s throat.
“Oh God, yes!” Eva’s words escaped her on a sigh. “You’re the man they all clamour for, but I keep you all to myself.”
“I’ll never want anyone but you.” He gasped, thrusting harder. “I love you.”
“I love you too!” Eva sighed her lover’s name. She threw one arm up above her head, almost knocking a picture off the wall behind her as the occupant of room two moaned again. Daniel was silent apart from his gasps then, devoted to bringing them both to the peak of their pleasure. As the unseen man groaned behind the wall, it seemed like this was a secret they would all share, each caught in their desire.
Eva’s pleasure rushed at her and through her, and she grabbed Daniel, holding him tight, her climax leaving her sighing and breathless. His head dropped to her shoulder as he caught his breath, soft groans still in his throat.
“To our room?” Eva stroked the nape of his bowed neck as she brought her feet back down to the floor. She heard the sound of him tidying his clothes, the scrape of the belt buckle and zipper before he scooped her up into his arms.
“Before the cheesecake gets there,” Daniel told her with a wink.
Off they went along the corridor, the cries of whoever was in room two diminishing behind them. When they reached their room, Daniel turned the key in the door and threw it open with a flourish before carrying her over the threshold as though this was their wedding night. A thrill of anticipation went through Eva as the door closed behind them. The room was just as plush as the one they had shared before, the huge bed inviting. And tonight, they would stay here together, not make their separate ways home.
Chapter Sixteen
Eva lay across the bed, a sheet draped over her in an accidentally artistic way. She blew across the surface of her tea. “Despite all that pleading from Lyndsey yesterday evening, I’ll have to, won’t I?”
“Have to?” Daniel took a bite of his breakfast croissant and offered it to her. “What do you mean?”
Eva sat the antique cup back in its saucer. “Go to the police. Seeing as I reported it to them, someone being in my house. If Rupert had access to my keys, then I really should tell them, shouldn’t I?”
“You do understand why I can’t deal with it like our friend Miles thinks I should, don’t you?” He kissed her shoulder. “It’s not because I don’t care.”
Eva caressed his cheek. “Because you have a record? Miles is talking a load of nonsense. He wouldn’t say boo to a goose, let alone have words with someone like Rupert. I bet he’s scared of him.” Eva started to laugh. “I bet he’s scared of Lyndsey too!”
“It’s not the record, but I’m on probation forever. I go to his office, we speak calmly, nobody loses their temper, we say goodbye.” He leaned into her touch, closing his eyes a little. “But if Rupert decides to tell the police that I hit him or threatened him or anything like that, I could go back to prison. They don’t play about with an order like mine, they come down hard.”
Eva blinked, trying to stop herself from crying. Not because he wouldn’t—couldn’t—protect her, but because his life had been so straitened by something he hadn’t even done. “It’s not fair, is it? For you. That someone like Rupert can carry on like he does, his word counting for more than anyone else’s. And I bet if he wen
t to court for trespass, he’d have some expensive barrister saying it was my fault for the tepid snog we had. I was clearly asking for some creepy sod to come into my house and move my shit about.”
“You don’t really believe this would go to court?” Daniel gave a dry laugh. “Someone might have had a key and might have let themselves into your house and made your bed. He wouldn’t even need a barrister—it’d never make court, you must know that.”
“If he keeps doing it, though, it would have to.” Eva sighed. “But he’s not going to get the chance. I’m not going to let him. You might think it’s only a little thing, but I was so scared.”
“I don’t think it’s a little thing, but without some proof they won’t do anything.” He blinked, his expression darkening. “Do you really think I don’t understand how frightened you were? I spent the first ten years waiting for someone to realise who I really was—I know what it’s like to be terrified of who’s in the shadows.”
Eva kissed his cheek. “Ten years? That’s a long time to always be looking over your shoulder.”
“Even now, all these years later, I still wonder sometimes when someone looks at me a little too long.” Daniel took a deep breath. “I don’t not care about what happened in your house, but we both know the coppers aren’t going to do much.”
“I know. And nothing’s really happened since. Maybe he’s given up?” But did men like Rupert ever give up? Eva told herself that he would, otherwise she’d fret over it and it would do no one any good. She held Daniel’s hand. “If it makes any difference, I had no idea who you were, or used to be, until I thought of Mr Carswell, and…well, you know.”
“And I only used that name to book our room here. It was a stupid risk, but you know why I did it.” His head moved to rest against Eva’s shoulder. “One happy night.”
“The first of many.” Eva turned her face to brush her lips against him. “I love you, whatever your name is.”
“Not Salome, that’s for sure!”
The Colour of Mermaids Page 22
