Page 89 of A Night with Damien Spur

‘Sophie… your husband’s lover…’

Nicholas plucked at the air, trying to retrieve the phone, while Sophie, dodging this way and that, dashed behind the rhododendron bush.

‘Still there, Kate?’ she said. ‘…Ah, good… This will only take a minute…’

‘Don’t.’ Nicholas grasped her arm.

‘Don’t you dare touch me.’ Sophie bit his wrist and gave him a swift kick between the legs. She stared at her lover bent over double, holding his groin. He wanted to say something, but all that came out was a gasp. How could she have ever been drawn to such a pathetic man-boy?

She was ready for her parting shot.

‘Hi, Kate,’ she said. ‘…No… you can speak to him in a minute… I just wanted to say that he’s never going to leave you. He’s a loyal hound. So even if you’ve screwed it up with Greta, he’ll still be coming back to you…’

Sophie threw the phone at Nicholas.

‘Go back to your wife, two kids and your dogs. You’re a lucky man. All I have are your broken promises.’

‘Look, I’m sorry. I know I’m a two-faced bastard but I just can’t abandon a woman who I’ve been with for twenty years. She’s in a terrible state.’ Nicholas had already put the phone to his ear. ‘Kate, are you there?… Yes… I’m coming home. No, don’t worry, I’ll speak to Greta… Yes, I’ll try to make it better.’

He was a con artist and she had been caught. Sophie elbowed him out of the way and marched back to the other guests.

Eight faces looked up at her.

‘Apologies for the fuss, everyone.’ She kept her smiley mask in place and sat on the spare chair next to Damien. ‘Nicholas has a domestic drama.’

‘So then, after all that lovey-dovey stuff, no happy ending?’ he said.

‘Please, Damien, I really don’t want to talk about it now. It’s a party, not a wake.’

‘Okay, we can compare notes later.’ There was a tiny little bit of him that was pleased.

‘How about a toast?’ Damien announced to the table and raised his glass. ‘To Justin and Anna, may your lives be full of love and happiness forever and a day.’

‘To Justin and Anna,’ the others chorused.

Damien glanced at Elizabeth. She caught his gaze and gave him a warm smile.

Damien was thrilled. He had a ringing sensation in his ears, which blotted out all sound, save for his rapid heartbeat, banging against his chest.

Don’t play the sop,the Voice whispered.

Damien relaxed his face and, lifting his left eyebrow in a devil-may-care sort of way, let his mouth slip into his roguish smile.

Not bad. But try not to look so grateful, said the Voice.Remember you’re an alpha male,not some silly lovesick boy.

Nicholas slunk past. ‘Have to leave, an emergency.’ He muttered his apology to Justin and Anna and with a meek goodbye to the other guests he left.

The Voice was tired.Well, what are you waiting for? Take the lead, claim her. Women like that need a bit of welly.

‘Elizabeth,andiamo!’ he said.

She laughed. ‘Where?’

‘To my house.’

‘Do you have a spare toothbrush?’

‘Oh yes, always a plentiful supply for house guests.’

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