Page 80 of Crying in the Rain

“He’s Dan’s brother?”

“That’s right. He and Jess were…together-ish. Friends with benefits.”

“Right.” Ade was trying to commit all the details to memory. “And is Andy here tonight?”

“He will be. He organised it.”

“Wow! Great job!”

“Yeah,” Shaunna agreed absently, glancing around the room. A woman waved at her, and she waved back. “That’s Ellie,” she said. “The one who got married last month.”

“The group honeymoon.” Ade grinned impishly.

Shaunna laughed. “It wasn’t anything like that…mostly.” She cleared her throat and continued her surveillance.

Ade leaned forward and peered into her face. “Ooh! You are most definitely giving me the low-down on that!”

Shaunna smiled edgily, and Ade instantly let it go. However well they were getting along and however curious he was, he wouldn’t pry. He turned to see if Kris was on his way back, hoping it would get them both out of a tight spot, and instead came face-to-face with an attractive, blonde-haired woman. From the description Shaunna had given earlier, thishadto be Adele.

“Hiya,” she said brightly. She gave Shaunna a big hug.

“Hiya, hun. You look beautiful!”

“Thank you.” Adele stepped back and pirouetted, her full skirt swirling around her and showing off her matching high-heeled sandals—an easy six inches. “So do you,” she said. “And your hair smells gorgeous.” Adele lifted a few locks of Shaunna’s hair and sniffed. Shaunna rolled her eyes, feigning boredom.

“This is Ade,” she said, gesturing to him. “And this is Adele.”

“Hi,” Adele said. She and Ade shared a quick hug and cheek kiss, and then Adele was off again. “See you later.”

Shaunna watched her totter away and switched feet. “Well, that was short and sweet. She obviously doesn’t have any juicy news to share this evening.”

“Or she didn’t want share in front of me,” Ade suggested. “She’s only just met me, after all.”

“That wouldn’t usually stop her.”

“Does she know about me and Kris?”

Before Shaunna had the chance to answer, they were joined by another woman—Ellie, Ade thought, and thank goodness she wasn’t as dressed to the nines as Adele, although her floor-length smoky-grey evening dress was lovely and flowed around her like mercury as she, too, gave Shaunna a hug and kiss.

“Hey. Wow! I love that dress,” Ellie said.

“Thanks. I love yours too.”

“Is it new?”

“Yep. I bought it a few weeks ago forsomeone’swedding, but then they sent out the order that no-one was to wear blue.”

“Ah.” Ellie grinned guiltily. “Sorry about that.”

“Not to worry. I got to buy another dress. And shoes.” Shaunna glanced down at her feet and frowned. “Maybe that wasn’t such a good thing.” She looked up again, nodding at the glass of orange juice in Ellie’s hand. “On call?”

“Yep. Only till midnight, though.”

Shaunna explained for Ade’s benefit, “Ellie’s a GP.”

“Oh, right,” he said, nodding and trying not to let his bewilderment show. It was far too much to take in.

“Well, I’d best go congratulate the happy couple,” Ellie said. “Lovely to meet you, Ade.”

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