Page 91 of For Love or Money
‘Maybe it’s even simpler than that. I mean, if she’s spent a fortune on plastic surgery, she might just want a completely fresh start as the new improved Stella.’
She stood and picked up her laptop. ‘Anyway, at least I have a bit more to go on. I’m going to look up Vidal Sassoon, see if I can find anything there. It’s probably too much to hope for that there’ll be any link to Joanna at this stage, but you never know.’
‘Knock yourself out, Nancy Drew!’ Al said as he got up and headed for the bathroom.
29
Stella sprang out of bed early the following morning after a restless night. She still felt unsettled after the encounter with Adam yesterday, but she tried to put it out of her mind as she pulled on her walking boots. She was glad to be going hiking today. Physical exertion was just what she needed to burn up some of the nervous energy that had left her feeling jittery. She swam every day here, of course, and went on long walks with Peter, but she was used to more vigorous exercise, and she was starting to feel lethargic from so much lazing around in the sun.
In the kitchen, she made herself a bowl of muesli, fruit and yoghurt, and went to join the others on the terrace. They were all seated around the table with coffee and a big plate of pastries and bread. They were leaving early to get the hardest part of the walk done before the real heat of the day set in, and Scott was bleary-eyed and half asleep, curled over a bowl of milky coffee and blinking in the early morning sunshine. Rafe, by contrast, looked fresh and wide-awake, in a lime-green T-shirt that brought out the colour of his eyes. He really was a breathtakingly beautiful man. No wonder all his co-stars fell for him.
She sat down beside Lesley.
‘Coffee?’ Lesley asked her.
‘Yes, please,’ Stella nodded, side-eyeing the plate of pastries as Lesley poured her a mug.
‘Have one,’ Scott said, pushing the plate towards her.
She shook her head. ‘I’ll just have this, thanks,’ she said, nodding at her bowl.
‘Go on,’ Scott urged with a grin. ‘Step away from the muesli. We won’t tell Dad.’
Stella smiled, tempted. ‘Well ...’
‘I’ll eat that for you, if it’d make you feel better,’ Scott said, holding out a hand for her bowl.
‘When in France,’ Lesley said beside her, handing her a small plate.
‘Okay, deal.’ Stella handed Scott her bowl and took a pain au chocolat from the plate. ‘Just this once.’ She tore it in two, smiling guiltily as she smudged her fingers with buttery grease, and crumbs of pastry flaked onto her plate. She popped a piece into her mouth, savouring the luxury of it. Sighing, she closed her eyes as melting chocolate and soft pastry mingled on her tongue. It was heaven.
She opened her eyes to find Rafe watching her, his gaze dark and intense. Their eyes locked and held for a moment before Stella looked away, staring down at her coffee.
‘You should eat chocolate more often,’ Rafe murmured. ‘It suits you.’
Her breath hitched as she looked up to find his eyes still on her. The air between them seemed to crackle with electricity, and she felt hot and flustered. Surely Rafe wasn’t actually flirting with her – right in front of everyone? She was engaged to his father, for God’s sake. She must be imagining it.
Nevertheless, maybe she shouldn’t have agreed to go hiking with them today. She’d been disconcerted yesterday when Peter said it was something the young people did, not sure where she stood, which group she belonged to. Now she wondered had she done the wrong thing, aligning herself with the younger generation, thus putting more distance between herself and Peter. She should have opted to stay with him, and establish her place by his side as his partner. But it was too late to back out now.
‘Put away your Mr Darcy look and leave Stella alone,’ Scott said, rolling his eyes at his brother. ‘You’re putting me off my breakfast.’
Stella was grateful to him for making a joke of it and breaking the tension.
‘Don’t mind him,’ Scott said to her. ‘He can’t help himself. Doesn’t even know he’s doing it half the time.’
‘I don’t know what you’re talking about,’ Rafe said stiffly. But he looked cross and uncomfortable, and Stella could swear he was blushing.
The intense panty-dropping look was gone in an instant, and Stella was relieved. It was just Rafe being Rafe, she told herself. Scott was right, flirting was simply a reflex with him. He was Peter’s son, after all; it was in his genes. It didn’t mean anything, but, try as she might, she couldn’t shake off that look in his eyes, or the way it had made her feel.
‘Is your new boyfriend coming with us?’ Lesley asked Scott.
‘No, unfortunately, he has to work. Those jet skis won’t sell themselves.’ He polished off the bowl of muesli and pushed it away.
Stella was relieved. At least it wouldn’t be all couples. She didn’t want to end up paired off with Rafe.
‘Come on and we’ll pack up the car,’ Rafe said to Scott as he stood. Al followed them, leaving Stella alone with Lesley.
‘Maybe I should stay here with Peter after all,’ she said, once they were alone.
