Page 66 of Never Too Late
‘Oui. So terribly French, eh? Except they are both American.’
‘Ooh la la.’
‘Quite!’
‘Now I get why Tomas gave him such a cold look. I’m surprised he’s here though, bearing in mind he cheated on you?’
‘I was angry at the time but I wasn’t in love with him. I was more upset for Tomas. She was never going to be the love of his life and I think she knew that.’ At this, she threw me a glance. I looked away. ‘He’s never hidden that from the women he’s met. That he’s not looking for The One. But he did like her. However, his fury was purely directed at Frank and the fact he’d cheated on me. In the end, I had to practically lock him in his room to avoid having to pay for removal of blood from the hotel carpet.’
‘And I guess you already had to pay for all the things you threw.’
‘Ah,non. The room was booked in Frank’s name so…’ She shrugged one elegant shoulder and winked.
‘Karma.’
‘Exactement,’ she agreed.
‘But I’m still not entirely clear as to why Frank is here tonight.’ I caught sight of him returning. ‘Oh, Lord, he’s coming back.’
‘Much to his and Tomas’s chagrin, Frank collects French artists as investments and also loves Tomas’s style. Art is about the only thing they ever agreed on. Also,’ she whispered as he approached, ‘he is very, very rich!’
‘Gabrielle.’ He handed me my drink as Gabby offered the two-kiss greeting. ‘How lovely to see you.’
‘And you, Frank. We were just talking about you, actually.’
Frank looked from her to me then back again. ‘Yeah, I bet you were.’
The rift between Gabby and Frank seemed, as she had said, to be healed. Unlike that between the two men. As the three of us continued chatting, Tomas and Sasha, having finished the private tour, now approached. Frank still being here was clearly not what Tomas had hoped for. His dark brows drew together, forehead creasing as the blue gaze flicked between Frank and Gabrielle.
‘Ah! Sasha.’ Gabby turned, her arm naturally sliding around Sash’s waist. ‘And what did you think?’ She threw a look at her brother. ‘And be honest. You know these artists and their egos. It doesn’t do them good for everyone to pander to them.’
‘Actually, I thought they were all… incredible.’ The body language between them wasn’t quite as rigid as it had been earlier but I knew my daughter too well to imagine that a few beautiful paintings would be enough to sway her that quickly. Gabby, on the other hand, she had connected with from their first moment of meeting, just as I had hoped she would. ‘The final one was especially interesting, I thought,’ Sash spoke again, sending a penetrating look my way.
‘Oh?’ Frank asked. ‘Which one is that?’
‘The pretty young woman in the yellow sundress,’ Sasha told him.
Frank was scanning the sleek brochure. ‘Is that what it’s called?’
‘Have you even seen it?’ Tomas asked, his clean-shaven jaw radiating with tension.
‘Not yet. I got caught up chatting to two beautiful women. As much as I love your work,Tomas, much to both our disdain, I’m afraid it can’t beat good conversation with interesting people.’
Tomas picked a glass from a timely passing server, rolling his eyes as he did so. ‘Anyone else? Sasha?’
‘That would be lovely, thank you.’
Tomas handed her the glass, nodding politely in acknowledgement.
‘Oh, is this it?’ Frank looked up from the brochure. ‘Summer’s Bliss.’
‘That’s it,’ Sasha replied when it was clear Tomas wasn’t going to and Gabby was doing a good job of avoiding the question entirely.
‘You recommend that one then?’ he asked, looking at Sasha.
‘For what?’
‘My collection. An investment.’
