‘Gosh, Lorenzo—’ her voice shook ‘—you have lipstick stains all over your face and all over your shirt.’ Her bitter laugh turned into a sob halfway through. ‘How are you going to hide your dirty little secret now?’
The fury that flashed made her run.
‘Sophy!’
How she got the door open she never knew. But she ran through the crowded bar, desperate for an escape.
Jay materialised in front of her, eyes wide. ‘Sophy?’
Yeah, her little paint job meant she had more than a make-up malfunction now, she probably looked like a reject from clown school with the slut red lipstick smudged all over her chin. ‘Walk me to a cab, would you?’ She had no idea where Rosanna was but would get Jay to pass the message on later.
‘Of course.’ He moved instantly.
‘I’ll do that.’ Lorenzo was on the other side of her.
‘No, you won’t.’ She pushed past him.
‘Are you okay?’ Jay muttered, putting his arm around her, glaring over her head at Lorenzo, who silently stalked next to them.
‘Never better. Will you tell Rosanna I’ve gone home?’
‘Sure.’
They got outside. Jay kept a protective arm looped around her shoulders as he stepped to the kerb and waved his spare arm at the taxi rank not far down the road. The first one peeled off and came towards them. Jay stayed with her, holding the door—blocking it from Lorenzo while she got in.
‘Sophy.’ Deadly quiet but she heard him anyway.
Just before she slammed the door she answered. ‘Not now, Lorenzo. I’m too angry, and you’re too drunk.’
ELEVEN
Sophyhadn’t been homefifteen minutes when the thudding on her door started.
She opened the door and glared at him. ‘I said not now.’
‘I’m not drunk.’
‘Oh, please.’ She looked at the way he was breathing, at the flush in his cheeks. ‘Did you run here?’
He shrugged.
‘You shouldn’t run in those shoes. It’ll be bad for your feet.’
‘Says the woman wearing stupidly high heels.’
She whirled away and walked down the hall. ‘What is it you want, Lorenzo?’
She heard him close the door and walk after her. ‘I just wanted you to know it’s not you. It’s me.’
She stopped and turned back to stare at him. ‘You’ve got to be kidding me.’ She laughed. ‘That’s the line you’re giving me?’
‘I was jealous as hell watching you dance with him. Even though I knew there was nothing in it, I was wild. I can’t even blame the booze. I’m sorry.’
‘Youcould have danced with me.’
He shook his head. ‘You’re too good for me.’
‘Oh.’ She clasped her hand to her chest. ‘Another great line. Whatever will be next? Let me guess, “I just don’t do relationships, darling,”’ she said, dropping her voice a ridiculous octave. ‘“I was born to be alone.” Am I on the right path?’