Page 83 of For Love or Money
‘Philippe will be there too,’ Jane said. ‘He’s staying with them for the week.’
‘Oh God,really?’ Philippe – that idiot, Peter thought disgustedly. He’d always had the hots for Jane. And suddenly there it was – jealousy. He smiled, welcoming it back like an old friend even as it churned bitterly in his gut. It felt good. It felt like old times. He was almost grateful to Philippe.
‘I don’t know what you’ve got against Philippe,’ Jane said, but her smug smile told him she knew damn well.
‘Randy bugger! I don’t know if I can stand an evening with him oiling his way around like he’s God’s gift. Maybe we should skip it. We can have Jonathan and Sophie over after he’s gone.’
Jane fixed him with a weary look. ‘Suit yourself,’ she said, ‘but I’m going.’
She picked up her book and opened it, reclining back in her chair.
‘Yes, I suppose I’ll go too,’ Peter said. ‘Be rude not to.’
27
‘You were right!’ Lesley said to Al as they removed their life vests. ‘That was brilliant!’
He grinned at her, revealing his even white teeth, water dripping from his face and hair, and she couldn’t help thinking how handsome he was. If she fancied him at all, she’d be seriously lusting after him right now. Just as well she didn’t, because she’d be seriously tempted to throw down right here, and sex on the beach really wasn’t her thing.
‘Glad you enjoyed it.’
Jet skiing had possibly been the best fun she’d ever had with her clothes on. She looked behind them at Stella and Rafe coming out of the water. They looked so perfect together. Stella was shaking out her long, blonde hair, laughing up into Rafe’s face. She’d been so happy and exhilarated out on the water, laughing as they ripped through the waves, her long hair flying out behind her as she clung onto Rafe. She and Lesley had shouted and whooped over the roar of the engines as they zipped past each other. It was the first time Lesley had seen Stella cut loose like that. There was something so buttoned-up and contained about her usually. But out there, she’d looked carefree and excited, and ... young, Lesley thought with a little pang of pity. It was like she was acting her age for once, and the change in her was remarkable.
‘Hungry?’ Al asked, breaking into her thoughts as they walked up the beach.
‘Starving!’ All that sea air and salt water had given her an appetite.
When they had dried off and pulled on some clothes, they joined the others at the beach bar. Michael, Joy and Peter were already sitting at a long table set for ten, bottles of Perrier and rosé open in the centre. Jane was standing by the bar, talking on her phone as they passed.
Rafe and Stella followed them shortly after.
‘Did you have fun, darling?’ Peter asked Stella as she took a seat beside him.
‘Yes, it was brilliant,’ she said, darting a shy smile at Rafe.
Was Lesley imagining it, or was Rafe looking at Stella the way he used to look at Elizabeth Bennet when he was being Mr Darcy? His eyes had that soft, mushy look.
‘Where’s Scott?’ Peter asked.
Rafe shrugged. ‘Who knows?’
‘Last we saw of him he was zipping off over the horizon with his new boyfriend,’ Lesley said.
‘Ah!’ Peter nodded. ‘He’ll probably be married before us,’ he said to Stella. ‘I hope you won’t mind being gazumped.’
‘You won’t believe who that was,’ Jane said, returning to her seat and tossing her mobile onto the table.
‘Don’t tell me,’ Peter said. ‘Philippe?’ He pronounced the name with an exaggerated French accent, imbuing it with such venom, Lesley almost laughed out loud.
Jane rolled her eyes at him. ‘No. It was Conor O’Neill. He offered me a part.’
‘Good Lord!’ Michael said.
Lesley and Al exchanged brief meaningful looks.
‘How odd!’ Peter reared back in surprise. ‘He knows you gave up acting ages ago.’
‘Yes, but ... he asked me if I’d consider doing this as a favour to him. He practically begged me, in fact.’ Lesley could tell she was flattered. Good old Conor, she thought.
