Stranger at the beach house (23 page)

 
“It’s all down to this beautiful creature,” he
purred, winning a simultaneous “
ahhh
” from everyone
except the two lemon suckers. I tucked my face into his shoulder to hide my
blazing cheeks and I could swear that my heart had momentarily stopped beating.

“I
hope this doesn’t mean you’re losing your edge,” challenged Lucas, as Sam
turned and glared at him, raising one eyebrow.

 
“Ready to spar when you are, Lucas,” he said
simply with a sudden menacing twinge to his voice.

 
“Now there’s the Sam we know,” laughed Carla
as the waiters came to remove the starters.

The
main course was a beautiful, slow cooked lamb in red wine jus and it was
melt-in-the-mouth delicious. As the champagne flowed, the volume of
conversations got higher and higher, business chatter mixed with gossip about
mutual friends and acquaintances, theatre shows not to be missed and the best
new places in town. The theme of relationships and matchmaking continued
throughout and I learned that Candice had a long term partner, a documentary
maker named Adam who was currently filming in Malawi. Rupert’s girlfriend lived
in Barbados where he now spent much of his time soaking up the sun and
investing his growing fortune between Sam and Lucas.

 
I tucked into my food, savouring and devouring
each mouthful and clearing my plate, much to the disgust of Sarah who picked at
hers like it might attack. “So how about you, Harry?” quipped Zane. “You’re a
charming, handsome little bugger. Is there anyone special in your life at the
moment?”

 
Harry laughed, firing a warning glance at
Carla who was about to speak. This I wanted to hear. I knew he had really
enjoyed the weekend with Joy but apparently that was not unusual for Harry. He
was known for playing the field and his good looks and upbeat humour meant he
got away with it a lot more than he should. Joy hadn’t said she wanted anything
serious, quite the opposite. With only one long term boyfriend under her belt,
a couple of one night stands since and a handful of penises in her inbox, she
was keen to make up for lost time.

 
”Actually there is,” he smiled, looking at
Zane and then at Sam with a face I could only describe as dreamy. “Well someone
I really like anyway. She’s a friend of Rose,” he smiled shyly.

 
“There’s obviously something special about you
and your friends. Do you have any more?” Lucas roared as Sarah scowled, pushing
her barely touched plate away from her. It would be fair to say this woman
absolutely hated me.

“Plenty,”
I giggled as Sam all but crushed my leg under his strong grip. He really didn’t
like me talking to Lucas.

“We’ll
have to get a bigger table, Sophia,” laughed Robert as I turned, smiling
sweetly at Sam. Either that or they could just get rid of Cheryl and Sarah I
thought to myself uncharitably.

 
“Will you invite her next time Harry? We’d
love to meet her,” said Sophia.

 
Harry shrugged his shoulders. “I don’t know if
she feels the same,” he said, looking hopefully at me.

 
“How could she resist that face?” giggled
Carla, grabbing his chin as the rest of the table looked on laughing.
  

“It’s
back in the drawing room for dessert,” smiled Sophia getting up to leave the
table as we followed.

 
“Thank you so much,” I smiled at her and
Robert. “That was absolutely delicious”.

 
“You may not have said that if I’d cooked it
myself, Darling,” she laughed warmly and I was grateful for her hospitality and
self deprecating humour. She had made me feel welcome and relaxed, and apart
from the two lemon suckers I was actually quite enjoying the night.

“Oh
I’m sure I would. I even like Sam’s cooking” I sniggered as he turned to grab
me playfully.

“Sam, cooking?”
Sarah gasped incredulously as Harry laughed.

 
“Yes, and I’m getting quite good, despite my
terrible teacher,” he laughed, kissing my cheek as he pushed the chairs under
the table. As I turned to look at her I felt a stab of pity as sorrow flickered
across her features. It was the first genuine expression I’d seen from her all
night. She had definitely got the message.

 
Everyone else was in high spirits, laughing
and chatting and even Cheryl’s icy exterior had thawed slightly as she joked
with Candice and Carla. “It’s really quite incredible, Rose,” a low voice
whispered in my ear as I helped myself to one of the delicious bite sized
desserts and another glass of bubbly from the circulating waiter, almost
choking as I spun around quickly to see who it was. Lucas.

 
“What is?” I garbled, trying to swallow the
last of the smooth chocolate. “The effect you’ve had on Sam. Really, Rose, I’ve
never seen him like this,” he smiled, wiping a smear of chocolate from the side
of my mouth. I hoped Sam hadn’t seen that, but glancing around I couldn’t spot
him anywhere. I took a step backwards.

 
“I take it that you know about his reputation
though. I’d hate to see you get hurt, Rose, you’re far too sweet for that,” he
said gently as he studied my face for a reaction. I shook my head, eyes wide.

 
Did I really want to hear this? Probably not,
but I knew so little about the man who had turned my life upside down that I
was desperate for every bit of information I could gather. I just stared at the
handsome face in front of me. “I trust him,” was all I could mutter.

“That’s
good, Rose,” he replied, touching my arm softly. “But just be careful. Speak to
Sarah, Cheryl or Sophia. He’s used to getting what he wants and then he gets
bored and moves on to the next thing,” he said as I swallowed hard.

Sophia?
My head was spinning. I hadn’t seen that one coming and I didn’t understand.
“Why are you telling me this Lucas, you’re supposed to be his friend?” I
snapped quickly.

 
“I am, Rose, we all are. But we are friends in
spite of how he’s treated us and not because of it. He can’t help it. It’s just
the way he is. He is definitely different this time and I’m sure that’s down to
you, but it’s just a friendly warning,” he smiled, walking off to join Alex and
Morgan as I stood there stunned, my head pounding.

‘Friends?’
What were these people on? I was sure as hell my
friends wouldn’t go around warning my boyfriend that I was bad news and would
stamp all over his heart at some point, and I certainly hadn’t fucked them all.
Sophia as well?
Jesus. Was I blind or just stupid? I
looked over at her, glancing to the floor as she looked back. She had been
nothing but kind to me. The others had been obvious, but not her. Harry came
over, followed quickly by Carla, concern eclipsing the smile on his face as he
saw the confusion on mine.

“Please
tell me you haven’t fucked him as well,” I stared at Carla as Harry laughed.

“It’s
not funny, Harry” I spat. I was trying to process it, trying to rationalise it,
trying to be cool with it. The reality was
,
I was
anything but.

 
“I’m sorry, Babe, it’s just that
you’re
more Carla’s type than Sam,” he
grinned as Carla shrugged, smiling.

 
“What’s happened, Rose?” Harry asked and the
concern in his voice was palpable as he looked around the room for Sam,
frowning when he realised he couldn’t see him either.

 
“Lucas just told me what an all round heart
breaking bastard he is, Harry, how he’ll get bored of me and move on and how
he’s shagged just about everything that moves,” I snapped a little too loudly.
I needed to get a grip and calm myself down.

 
“Ignore him,” smiled Carla gently. “I told you
he’s the enemy. He’s seen how happy Sam is and he’s jealous. Really, Rose, none
of us have ever seen him like this. Everyone’s probably a bit spooked,” she
smiled gently. I didn’t know what to believe.

 
“I just don’t understand why he’s brought me
here,” I said, turning to Harry as he touched my arm in a reassuring gesture
that calmed me down a little and I was grateful for his presence.

“He’s
brought you because these are his friends, Rose. He trusts them. The whole
thing might be a bit fucked up, but that’s just how it is. As for the sex
stuff, that is all ancient history,” he said quietly. I needed to find Sam, but
as I scoured the room there was still no sign of him and my heart sank. Sarah
wasn’t here either.

Making
my way down the hallway where Sam had all but dragged me earlier, I opened the
door to the moonlit room but it was empty. I heard the sobbing from the kitchen
and froze outside the doorway as Sam started to speak. “It’s different this
time. I’ve never brought anyone here before because I’ve never felt like this.
She is in my life and I wanted her to meet my friends, the people I know and
trust. I thought
we
were friends, but
the way you treated her at dinner was unacceptable,” he said as I listened
quietly, hovering just outside the entrance. “We are,” said the soft sobbing
voice. “Then you can’t do this anymore or we won’t be, Sarah. I mean it,” he
said firmly and I felt like an intruder. I couldn’t eavesdrop on their intimate
conversation any longer, I had heard enough.

 
I needed some air. I ventured through the
patio doors of an adjacent lounge and noticed a heated area where Morgan,
Richard and Rupert were sat on beautiful garden furniture smoking huge Cuban
cigars. I was craving solitude but they had seen me now and I had no choice but
to join them. “Cigar?” smiled Rupert as I forced a smile back.

 
“Sure, why not? I’ve never tried one, so I
suppose it’s one to strike off the bucket list,” I said as they laughed while I
struggled to light it. “Jesus,” I coughed, blinking against the assault of the
smoke on my eyes and the stinging in my throat.

 
“It’s best not to inhale too deeply, Rose,
you’ll knock yourself out,” smiled Richard as I nodded, trying again and taking
his advice. I did slightly better.

“You’ve
caused quite the stir tonight,” said Morgan.

“Why?”
I asked, taking a smaller puff.

 
“We were just saying how much Sam has changed.
We haven’t seen him for a while, he seems to have gone to ground and emerged a
different man, Rose,” he smiled. Despite my unhappy response to the little
revelation that Lucas had made, I was still craving information and this was my
chance.

 
“How do you mean?” I quizzed as they all gazed
at me.

 
“Well let’s put it this way, I’ve never seen
Sam kiss a woman in public, not even his mother,” laughed Rupert.

 
“He’s a lot less serious and a lot more
relaxed,” Richard chipped in.

 
“He couldn’t keep his hands off you, Rose” grinned
Morgan, “and that’s the complete opposite of the cool, aloof bugger that we
know and love,” he finished as they exchanged knowing glances, looking over to
the open patio doors as I heard the footsteps approaching.

“Speak
of the devil,” said Richard as Sam strode over, his eyes worried and searching
my face.

 
“What are you doing out here, Rose?” he gazed
at me, frowning.

 
“What does it look like? I’m having my first
cigar,” I giggled as he sat down, pulling me into his lap and holding me
tightly as the others raised their eyebrows and smiled at me.

“Give
me that,” he said, taking the cigar from my mouth and putting it in his own.
“Do you like it?
he
asked.

 
“Not really,” I laughed, tucking my head
underneath his chin. “Good, I’ll finish it then, Sweetheart,” he said, wrapping
his hand around my waist.

We
stayed outside as the others gradually made their way back into the party.
Cuddled on his lap I felt reassured by the heat and strength of his body. There
was no doubt that despite my confusion and concerns that this was exactly where
I wanted to be. “I knew you were there,” he said eventually, “outside the
doorway. I felt you, Baby. I thought you might come in shouting the odds and
you had every right after what I did earlier, but I’m glad you didn’t. I needed
to speak to Sarah. Her behaviour towards you at the table was unacceptable and
that’s why I didn’t respond when you needed my help. I was fucking raging when
they brought up Bowman and I needed to calm down.”

 
I snuggled in until there was no space left
between us. “It’s OK, Sam, but you should have told me about Sophia, Cheryl and
Sarah. I wouldn’t have come if I’d known and you should have given me that
choice. I don’t want to hear your friends telling me that you’ll get bored of
me and break my heart because that’s just the way you are,” I said quietly.

He
tipped my face up to meet his gaze, his eyes dark and his expression sad. “Who
told you that?” he asked as I paused, looking down as he cupped my face,
kissing me softly.