Page 65 of Never Too Late
‘Not at all. It’s refreshing for someone to actually say what they mean rather than talking in riddles. Between you and me,’ he leant in conspiratorially, ‘these kind of things are usually pretty stuffy.’
‘That’s because,’ I said, gesturing with my glass again, ‘I’m not usually at them.’ Oh God, Iwasflirting. Note to self, do not drink on an empty stomach. Or, actually, maybe do!
‘You know, ma’am. I think you might just be right. Can I get you another drink?’
Inner Sensible Me was frowning.No. I definitely need to find food before any more bubbles.
‘That would be lovely.’Oops!Inner Me gave a disapproving huff and stomped off.
‘Be right back.’
‘Great.’
Frank moved confidently through the crowd to the small bar that had been set up in the corner and I turned away so as not to make it obvious I had been watching him go. Nice bum. Good shoulders…
‘Kitty?’ Gabby returned to my side, her eyes shining with mischief as she followed my line of sight. ‘I see you’ve met Frank.’
‘I have. Or is it Francis?’
She rolled her eyes. ‘Ooh la la. I didn’t realise he’d already spoken toTomas.’ She pronounced her brother’s name in the same way Frank had.
‘Oh, yes. That was fun. I sent him off with Sash to give her a tour before they started giving each other wedgies.’
‘Good plan.’
‘So, he says you were friends.’
She did the head-tilt thing. ‘Somewhat more than that. But he fucked it up so now we are not so friendly.’
‘Yes. He said something about being stupid.’
‘Ha! Yes, perhaps he has learned his lesson. Men, as we know, can be highly intelligent yet incredibly stupid at the same time.’
I gave a small huff of agreement. ‘So what’s the discord between them then?’
‘They never hit it off from the start. Tomas didn’t think Frank was right for me. Said he didn’t trust him.’ She shrugged. ‘Most of the time, it didn’t matter as they didn’t see each other much, although I’d have liked them to be friends, of course. But then, on one of those occasions, a friend of Frank’s took a shine to my brother and they started dating. I think he actually really liked her, although trying to get him to admit it, as always, was like getting blood out of a stone. You probably already noticed that change, eh?’
I nodded.
‘He always used to be so open until… well.’ She waved her hand. We both knew. ‘Tomas and I had a meeting with a gallery in New York. Rich people don’t always seem to have much of a schedule so they both came with us. Actually, we flew over in Frank’s private jet.’ She widened her eyes in amusement.
‘Ooh, fancy!’
‘I know,’ she said, laughing. ‘Tomas was dying to protest and fly commercial but I told him I’d never speak to him again if he did.’
‘Wow. You really liked this chap then?’
‘It was more that I’d never been on a private jet and I was desperate to!’ She giggled. ‘Anyway, we got there, and the next day, Tomas and I went off to the meeting. It didn’t really go well. The commission they wanted was absolutely extortionate and not what we’d initially discussed so it all felt like a huge waste of time.’
‘Except for the private jet.’
‘Except for the private jet,’ Gabby repeated with a grin. ‘So we headed back to the hotel early. Tomas’s room was a few doors up from mine so he heard the screams and came running back.’
‘Screams?’ I touched her arm, all levity gone.
‘Oh, no, it wasn’t me. It was Tomas’s girlfriend screaming. First at the sight of me walking in on her in bed with my boyfriend. And then as she was trying to avoid the many, many things I was throwing their way.’
‘Wow. So your boyfriend slept with your brother’s girlfriend?’
