Page 24 of A Night with Damien Spur

Eternally platonic – with dinner, walks in the park, trips to the theatre and fun in the sun! xx

Understood. I love you no less and can’t wait to see youvery soon. Until then Sophie xxx

There are times when you are the loveliest woman in the world xxx

What do you mean, times? Please elaborate?

Okay! All the time! xx

Dinner chez moi?

Lovely! xx

When?

I’m going to an auction in Chiswick on Thursday?

Perfect. Come at 7.30. S xxx

***

When Anna rang, Sophie was at the hairdressers.

‘It’s all right, Tom, carry on,’ she said. ‘It’s my sister. I’ll ring her later.’

But Anna called again. And again.

Sophie shouldn’t have told her that Nicholas was coming to dinner. She knew that it would aggravate her.

But something in her wanted that.

At the back of her mind, she remembered that when she was six Anna had cut off her pigtail, jealous of her fair hair. Sophie had cried and cried.

Evelyn, their mother, laughed at all the spiteful things Anna did to her little sister. She hadn’t wanted another girl.

Worse was when Sophie was sixteen and Anna stole her first boyfriend, Matthew, and did things with him that Sophie wouldn’t do.

And so it continued until Anna got married. At last she was hitched and Sophie was happily out of harm’s way.

Sophie’s phone rang again. ‘For goodness’ sake, Anna, can’t it wait? My hair’s wet.’ She signalled to Tom to switch on the dryer. ‘Now then, if you’ve anything to tell me, call later.’

But Anna was determined to have her say. ‘Why, Sophie, why? You’re in your prime – you could have anyone.’

‘Please don’t go on,’ Sophie replied.

‘You’re wasting your life. He will never leave his wife.’

***

Thursday 7.15 p.m., Nicholas had arrived early. He had brought her a box of hand-made chocolates, a gift from a client that he’d saved for a special occasion.

He wouldn’t ring the bell just yet. She could be getting dressed. He sat on the doorstep and waited.

Nicholas wasn’t sure what to expect when Sophie opened the door. Nor was he quite sure what to do. He felt guilty. He’d told Kate that he would be late home as he had a second valuation in Kensington. He shouldn’t have lied, but then again what could he have said? That he was visiting a drop-dead gorgeous woman who had filled his head night and day ever since he’d met her?

Sophie had prepared rocket and Parmesan salad followed by lasagne al forno, and for dessert, raspberry panna cotta.

She served him like a geisha. Let him have the pleasure of a woman who adores him, wants to please him, spoil him.

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