Page 71 of Never Too Late
‘Mmhmm.’
‘OK. That is a VIP.’
Tomas’s gaze remained steady. ‘I beg to differ.’
‘He wantedSummer’s Blisstoo, by the way,’ Gabby put in. ‘Sorry to interrupt,’ she added, looking anything but sorry.
‘What did you tell him?’ her brother asked.
‘I said I wasn’t sure if it had already been sold.’ Her voice had dropped. ‘I know you didn’t want Frank to have it but?—’
Tomas shook his head. ‘It’s not for sale,’ he reiterated.
Gabby stared at him for a moment, before giving a quick nod. ‘OK. I’ll find the curator and ask her to place a notice.’ She flashed me a smile then turned on her five-inch spiked heel and strutted across to where the chic woman who’d approached Timothée earlier was standing looking – well, chic.
‘You really should go and mingle.’
Tomas was still holding my hand and although I knew I shouldn’t, I couldn’t help but revel in the feel of it once more. It had always felt so right. Warm, even on the coldest of days, and as though it was made for mine as his large hand wrapped around my far smaller one. The perfect fit. It had felt right and, as unfashionable as it was to say now, safe. But then, once again, perhaps it was merely the champagne talking, and acting, for both of us.
‘I hate mingling.’
‘Even so.’
‘Even so. I hate mingling and would much rather stay here and talk to you.’
He was close now and I looked up, fell once more into those midnight-blue eyes. What I fully intended to reply with was,It’s probably best I leave you to chat with the other guests, but what actually came out was: ‘OK.’
‘Let’s go and get some food.’
27
‘Where do you think you’re going?’
We both stopped dead, like naughty children caught in the act.
Gabby was mock-glaring at us, one dark, perfect, laminated (if I wasn’t mistaken) brow raised in question. I definitely needed to ask her where she got them done.
‘Where do you get your brows done?’
Not now, you chump!
‘What?’
‘Your eyebrows are the stuff of dreams. This,’ I rolled my eyes up as though to look at my own brows, ‘is the first time I’ve had my brows done in yonks! And that was at Sasha’s insistence. Mostly, I just ping out the odd grey or rampant – or grey and rampant – ones when I spot them in the mirror along with those super-long hairs that seem to sprout on your face literally overnight. Although I bet you don’t get those. I’m not sure they’d dare!’
By this point, both Gabby and Tomas were staring at me.
‘Sorry. I had the thought and it…’ I made a rolling sort of gesture with my hand, ‘all sort of tumbled out. I only meant to make a mental note to ask you where you go but I’m not sure there’s much space up there at the moment.’
They were still staring at me.
‘Sorry,’ I said again. And then I burped. If Sasha were here, she’d have filed familial divorce papers by now.
‘Sorry. Again,’ I mumbled, my hand in front of my mouth.
Still silence. Then Gabby snorted. Proper snorted, her eyes crinkling with laughter and filling with joyful tears.
‘I knew she was still in there somewhere!’ she cried, her words full of delight. ‘I told you!’ she said as she pulled me into the tightest hug I’d ever had in my life. I was pretty sure I turned blue for a few seconds before she stood me back. ‘Welcome back! I’m so happy to see you again!’
