Page 72 of For Love or Money
He looked up at them as they came outside.
‘Enjoying that?’ Lesley asked him.
‘Bloody hell!’ he said, shaking his head and grinning broadly. ‘If I’d known straight sex could be like this, I might never have given it up.’
‘Don’t believe everything you read,’ Lesley said with a sniff. ‘Most women would still prefer a little spontaneity over a twenty-page contract. When it comes to sex, contracts aren’t the things you want to be lengthy.’
‘So you don’t find this stuff a turn-on, then?’
‘I always felt the humour would have gone off me by the time he’d got all his equipment set up.’
Scott laughed. ‘Yeah, there’s a lot to be said for a good old-fashioned shag.’
Holidayingwith the Bradshaws wasn’t going to do her liver any favours, Lesley thought, as they drank pastis on the terrace before dinner. It was cool and refreshing, but she was starting to feel quite light-headed, and she was grateful when the meal appeared. They sat at a long wooden table laden with food and wine.
‘Here’s to the holiday!’ Peter said when they were all seated, raising his glass of Perrier. ‘It’s great to be here with you all again this year,’ he added with feeling.
‘We’re very glad you were able to make it,’ Joy said softly, the glint of a tear in her eye as she bumped her glass against his. ‘So what are everyone’s plans?’ she asked.
‘Well, I’m going to spend some quality time with the manuscript of a rather marvellous book I’m reading,’ Peter said, smiling at Jane.
‘Oh, your new one?’ Joy asked Jane, who nodded.
‘Lesley hasn’t been to Nice before,’ Al said, ‘so I want to show her around.’
‘You’ll love it,’ Stella said to Lesley. ‘It’s my first time here too.’
‘Then you should definitely visit Eze,’ Rafe said, ‘and Villefranche.’
‘And Menton,’ Scott put in.
‘We have to spend some time at the beach, of course,’ Jane said. ‘We thought we might all go to Cannes for the day, maybe the day after tomorrow, when you’re settled in a bit.’
‘That all sounds great!’ Lesley said.
‘I was wondering if you’d come shopping with me one day,’ Stella said quietly to Lesley.
‘I’d love to,’ Lesley said eagerly. It would be a perfect opportunity to spend some girly bonding time with Stella.
‘Great!’ Stella smiled happily.
‘So have you two set a date for the wedding yet?’ Scott asked, looking between Stella and Peter.
Suddenly everyone around the table seemed to be on high alert.
‘Yes.’ Peter took Stella’s hand.
‘As long as it’s not a major stumbling block for anyone, we’re thinking of September twenty-first,’ Stella said.
‘So if that’s a problem for any of you,’ Peter said, ‘speak now or forever hold your peace. Otherwise, consider this your notice to save the date.’
There were subdued mumbles of acknowledgement, but everyone seemed a bit taken aback, as if the wedding hadn’t been a reality until now. No one said it, but Lesley was sure they were all thinking it was happening very soon.
‘That’s not long for organising a wedding,’ Joy said to Stella.
‘I know. But we’re keeping it small, so it shouldn’t be too difficult to arrange.’
‘It doesn’t give me much time to scare up a date,’ Scott said. ‘I’d better hit the beach first thing tomorrow and find someone to bring.’
