Page 30 of His Last Gamble

As they neared the beach, it became apparent that the arrival of the luxury yacht hadn’t gone unnoticed. On the beach, first Jo-Jo, then Phil, then the rest of the models became clearly visible.

And her heart sank.

They all came forward, chattering like excited magpies, as Payne expertly beached the craft, while Charmaine was clambering out almost before it had stopped.

‘Wow, what a boat,’ Dee-Dee said, shading her eyes as she looked towards theQueen of Diamonds. ‘Is it yours?’

‘Of course it’s his,’ Jo-Jo said, then sighed wistfully. ‘No chance of doing a shoot on board, I suppose,’ he asked cheekily.

‘No chance at all,’ Payne grinned back.

Charmaine suddenly became aware of a pair of eyes boring into her back, and turned to see Jinx glaring at her. She was topless, and had obviously been deepening her tan in preparation for the afternoon’s shoot. She looked stunning. And nobody was noticing her. No wonder she looked ready to spit fire.

Charmaine looked hastily away, and caught Jo-Jo’s eye. ‘I’m not late for the shoot am I?’ she asked guiltily.

‘No, no, that’s fine,’ her friend said, looking from her to the yacht, then to Payne and back to her. Then his eyes scanned her casual clothes knowingly, and he smiled.

Charmaine flushed, realising at once that Jo-Jo must have seen her leave yesterday in this outfit and had, correctly if erroneously, assumed that they’d spent the night together. And so had Jinx, if the waves of fulminating pique and anger coming off her were anything to go by.

‘In fact, Phil has found two locations, and we’re shooting Coral and Jinx there this afternoon, but the rest of you somewhere else tomorrow morning. Very early, to get the sunrise. So you can have the rest of the day off.’

‘Yes, darling, and if you take my advice, you’ll spend it sleeping,’ Jinx said, and added spitefully, ‘Someone really should have told you that it’s just so unprofessional to come in looking like you haven’t slept a wink. Even when you haven’t.’

Even Dee-Dee shot Jinx a surprised look at that. Jo-Jo stiffened but before he could reprimand her, Payne reached out for Charmaine’s hand, not surprised to find it as cold as ice.

‘Seeing as you have the rest of the day off,’ he said loudly, ‘why don’t you come back onto the boat. A queen deserves the presence of another queen, don’t you think?’

The name of the boat was plainly visible out in the bay, and Charmaine felt her heart melt at his surprising and very public defence of her.

‘All right,’ she said, knowing she was a fool to let Jinx’s bile force her into even closer proximity to Payne, but she wouldn’t have been human if she hadn’t felt a thrill of triumph at the sick look that crossed the red-headed model’s face.

Payne was telling everyone, in effect, that she was his girl, and so watch out. It was heady stuff, and she had to keep reminding herself that it wasn’t true. He was just being kind, knowing how much Jinx’s cruel words could wound her.

As she hurried back to the hotel, changed her underwear, and then stood indecisively in front of the mirror, Charmaine was aware that she was feeling something she’d never really felt before.

What was it exactly? Thrilled. Charmed. Yes, all of that. And why not — a man like Payne had chosen her over someone like Jinx. He wanted her. Wanted to spend time with her.

And she . . .

Her hand, hovering over a white silk dress with a floating hemline and pretty cross-strapped neckline, hesitated.

Yes, exactly what was she doing?

Hadn’t she just decided that she no longer planned to get her revenge on Payne? And hadn’t last night shown her she was playing way out of her league?

So what was she doing now?

She didn’t know. She was out of control. Her hands had taken the dress from the hanger and were pulling it over her head before she knew what she was about.

It was as if her body knew what it was doing, even if her mind and soul didn’t.

She added a pale pink lipstick to her mouth and slipped on a pair of flat but delicate white sandals. She brushed out her hair vigorously, then forced herself to meet her own reflection in the mirror.

Had she gone mad? It seemed the only explanation.

But as she met the bright, intense sparkle in her blue eyes, she realised something else. She might well be mad, but she also felt alive.

Truly, zestfully, wonderfully alive.

And Payne Lacey was the reason why.

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