Page 55 of One Bed

‘The fire dancers?’ Cass smiled. ‘Yes, and the fireworks crew are ready to roll at midnight. I’ve got everything under control, Bea.’

‘And I’m so grateful,’ Bea muttered, tossing back half of her champagne.

Cass pulled her out of the mêlée and behind the bar. Telling her to stay put, she walked away and returned a minute later with two shot glasses, one of which she handed to Bea.

‘Tequila?’ she asked, sniffing the contents.

‘Tequila,’ Cass confirmed. ‘Cheers.’

Bea pulled a face as the liquor slid over her tongue and down her throat. Actually, it was better than the gut rot she remembered from her university days. It was quite palatable. And warming.

Cass nodded to where Golly was being dipped by Jack, whose cheeks were red with exertion, his waistcoat button straining.

‘Oh, God, he’d better not drop her,’ Bea said, hand on her throat.

‘I bet if he did, Golly would knee him in the balls,’ Cass retorted. Jack placed Golly on her feet and Bea smiled at her sparkling eyes and the way Jack gently straightened her tiara. It was different from the one she’d worn earlier in the week, rubies instead of sapphires, and, like the other one, Bea hadn’t seen it before. Had Golly commissioned it for the occasion? Highly possible.

‘She feels young again, and people and entertaining invigorates her,’ Cass said. ‘She loves this, the adulation and the attention. She’s amazing. I want to be just like her when I grow up.’

Bea grinned. ‘Join the club.’

Cass smiled at her. ‘Can I make an observation, sweetie?’

Bea nodded.

‘I’ve noticed that you spend a lot of time looking around, seeing how you can make things better, how you can make people more comfortable, happier.’

Bea’s mouth dropped open. ‘You noticed that?’

‘Since it’s whatIdo for a living, yeah. Take the night off, Bea, I’ve got this. Switch off for a little bit.’ Cass squeezed her hand. ‘Go out there, and dance with that gorgeous man who can’t keep his eyes off you. Sneak away for some hot sex and get a little tipsy. Make this night one of the best of your life.’

Bea considered her suggestion. It was a stunning night, she was wearing a short, gold cocktail dress that almost made Gib swallow his tongue earlier and a pair of pretty but horribly uncomfortable thin-heeled shoes. Gib was out there somewhere, looking for her, at her, someone who’d help her have a fabulous night.

Bea leaned forward and gave Cass a quick hug. ‘I am so glad you’re here, Cass. You and Nadia.’

Cass flashed her a smile and held up her finger as she listened to someone on her earpiece. Cass lifted her microphone to her mouth. ‘I’ll be with you in five,’

Seeing Cass’s slight frown, Bea’s panic metre revved straight into the red zone. ‘What’s wrong? What’s happened? Oh God, Golly’s done something over the top, hasn’t she?’

Cass laughed. ‘That was my wife, who has a five-minute break and wanted to know if I was up for a quick snog.’

Bea’s heart returned to normal. ‘Oh. Right, good. Yes, go! Go snog your wife.’

‘I will, thank you.’ Cass grinned, and was starting to walk away when she suddenly turned back ‘But maybe you should know that Gollyhascoloured outside the lines,’ she said with a wince.

Bea knew it! Shebloodyknew it! ‘What has she done?’ she asked, wondering if she really wanted to know.

‘Do you know that there are mobile S&M dungeons, complete with leather-dressed doms who’ll ease you into that world if you’re keen to explore it? Golly thought it would be fun?—’

Cass’s words sank in, and Bea blanched. Where the hell had they set up a mobile dungeon? Could she make them leave? What the hell was Golly thinking? How much did hiring them cost? Was supplying BDSM services in Greece illegal?

Oh, God, she could feel a panic attack coming on.

Cass doubled over, laughing. ‘I’mjoking, Bea! God, yourface!’

Bea forced her heart back down her throat and growled at Cass. ‘That’s not even remotely funny! You don’t understand that she’s capable of doing something just like that!’

‘Then her hiring a psychic isn’t such a bad thing, is it?’ Cass asked, laughing. ‘Said psychic is in the morning room at the villa, and I’m to start spreading the word that she’ll do a reading for any guest who wants one. Golly’s already had one and is raving about her!’

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