Page 87 of For Love or Money
That didn’t put her mind at ease, and as they all piled into the car, she was half tempted to make a bolt for it and say she’d changed her mind and would stay at the villa after all. She already felt like she and Peter were starting to drift apart, and she didn’t like the idea of him spending the day with Jane. It was different to when they were in LA. With his family around him, he didn’t rely on her as much as he had then, and she felt they were losing the closeness they’d had when it was just the two of them. Maybe it had been a mistake not to start sharing a bed with him when they came here, but he had given her her own room on the first day, automatically continuing their arrangement at home. The longer they went without having sex, the more of a big deal it felt, and she worried that it didn’t seem to bother Peter.
It was ironic really. Sex was supposed to be the whole point of a man Peter’s age taking up with someone as young as her. They looked like a walking cliché, a tired old joke to which everyone knew the punchline. The public would be amazed to know the truth about their chaste relationship. But perhaps it had never been about sex for Peter, and all he wanted was companionship, someone to look after him in his old age. Or maybe he didn’t want her in that way because of what he knew about her ...
‘Don’t worry about Dad,’ Rafe said, glancing across at her. ‘Believe me, he wouldn’t hesitate to ask you to stay if he was the least bit concerned he’d be bored or lonely. He’s not the self-sacrificing type.’
If he was trying to put her mind at ease, it wasn’t working. She wasn’t worried Peter would miss her. She was afraid he wouldn’t miss her at all.
* * *
Lesley foundit an unusual experience walking around Villefranche with Scott and Rafe. They attracted attention wherever they went, little ripples of awareness following in their wake. She felt eyes on them all the time, but the Bradshaws seemed not to notice the hushed whispers in the harbour-side restaurant where they’d had lunch, or the furtive nods and sidelong glances cast their way by passing strangers as they explored the charming old town.
She was getting used to it herself, so she didn’t pay much attention when a man coming towards them in the opposite direction seemed to be staring. She and Stella were walking in front, Al and his cousins trailing a little behind.
‘Joanna!’ She’d been so engrossed in their chat that she hadn’t noticed the man had stopped right in front of them. It took her a moment to realise that he was looking at Stella. ‘I don’t believe it!’ he continued. ‘I haven’t seen you in years.’ He was speaking rapidly in an Essex accent, beaming at Stella like a long-lost friend. He had spiky black hair with dramatic white-blonde streaks and small beady eyes in his deeply tanned face. His short, compact body was squeezed into skin-tight jeans and a cropped T-shirt that showed off every muscle of his well-defined torso.
Stella seemed frozen, blinking at him dazedly. ‘I’m sorry,’ she said stiffly. ‘I don’t—’
‘You don’t remember me?’ He looked surprised but a little pleased. ‘You probably don’t recognise me because I’ve lost a ton of weight. It’s Adam,’ he said, placing a hand on his chest. ‘From Sassoon, remember? Used to be a giant tubster?’
‘Sorry,’ Stella cut in. ‘You have me mistaken for someone else.’
Adam looked taken aback. ‘No!’ He frowned. ‘You’re having me on, right?’
‘No, sorry.’
‘But you did work at Vidal Sassoon?’ Adam was looking a little uncertain now.
‘No, not me.’
Lesley felt Stella’s eyes slide to her momentarily.
‘Oh! Right,’ Adam said, glancing at Lesley. ‘Sorry, my mistake. I thought you were someone I used to know.’
‘I must have a doppelgänger,’ Stella said.
‘Well, sorry to have bothered you,’ Adam said, his eyes widening as the others caught up with them.
‘No problem,’ Stella said.
Lesley turned to watch as Adam hurried away, her heart racing with excitement. There was something fishy about the exchange between him and Stella just now. She wasn’t convinced that it was a case of mistaken identity at all. Had Adam known Stella before, under a different name? There was something odd about the way they’d looked at each other before he’d clammed up and backed off. She couldn’t let this possible lead slip away. She had to find a way to talk to him! She and Al exchanged significant looks.
‘Who was that?’ Rafe asked.
‘Just someone who thought he knew me,’ Stella said, but her voice sounded a little shaky, and she seemed rattled.
‘Is there something you haven’t told us?’ Scott said playfully.
‘What?’ Stella frowned.
‘Do you have an evil twin lurking somewhere in the background?’
‘No.’ She gave a stiff laugh. ‘I guess I just have one of those faces.’
But she didn’t, Lesley thought. Stella was striking and distinctive looking; she didn’t have one of those faces at all.
She was pleased when Al took her hand and gave it a squeeze, glad there was someone who could acknowledge and share in her excitement. As they all walked on, she racked her brain, trying to think of an excuse for running after Adam before he got away. Then she had a flash of inspiration.
‘Oh shit, my phone!’ she gasped, opening her bag and rummaging through it. ‘I must have left it at the restaurant.’ She looked at Al in distress.
