'Bit fancy this place, isn't it?' says Baz. 'Give me a proper boozer any day. I hate all these poncey gla.s.ses.'

'How's it going buddy?' says Leo, suddenly sounding tired.

'Not bad.' Baz nods at Leo's beer bottle. 'I'm glad someone else is having a beer. I can't stand all this fizzy pink stuff.'

'Can I help you with something?' Leo asks. 'You were talking to Sigourney. So ... is she causing trouble again?'

'That Sigourney,' Baz says, leaning in close. 'She was one of yours, wasn't she?'

'She was,' says Leo. 'A long time ago.'

'How long?'

'Years.'

'She says you still like her.'

Leo laughs. 'I'm living with Sophia's friend Jen. I think it's fair to say I've moved on.'

'Sigourney is a beautiful girl,' says Baz, pulling up a chair and sitting on it sideways. 'I'd understand if you still had eyes for her.'

'She doesn't change,' says Leo, shaking his head. 'Always stirring up trouble.'

'So do you still like her or what?'

'Listen. Baz. I'm living with the best girl I ever met. Sigourney cheated on me and broke my heart oh like a decade ago. She's old news. What's she been saying?'

'Just like I said. That you still like her.' Baz scratches the back of his neck. 'I was ... checking. You don't s.h.i.t on your mate's patch do you?'

'There's no patch to s.h.i.t on. If you want to be with Sigourney, go right ahead, Baz. With my blessing. But listen unless she's done a hundred per cent personality change in the last few years I'd handle her with care. She's what you call a live wire.'

Baz grins. 'That's what I'm counting on.'

Sigourney is still throwing us the occasional glance. Her expression has changed from fierce to puppy-dog sad.

Baz slaps Leo on the back. 'So you're okay if I ...?'

'I'm okay.'

'Rock and roll.'

Baz strolls back to Sigourney and lifts her onto his lap.

Sigourney looks happy with the attention. But every so often she shoots Leo a sad glance.

I catch Leo watching her again.

'Are you really sure there isn't unfinished business between you two?' I ask.

'What?' Leo tears his eyes away. 'With Sigourney? No. h.e.l.l no. It's just ...' Leo shakes his head. 'It's been so long. Yet she's still s.c.r.e.w.i.n.g with my mind. After all these years.'

'Leo? Is there something you want to talk about?'

Leo tips back the last of his beer and slams the bottle on the table.

'Nope. Absolutely nothing at all. At least, nothing to do with Sigourney. I'm offski. See you tomorrow.'

'Uh ... okay,' I say. 'Say hi to Jen for me.'

'Yeah,' says Leo distractedly, slinging his denim jacket around his shoulders. 'See you all,' he calls out, waving as he retreats into the crowd.

Ruby is just a seat away, and she slides into Leo's empty red-velvet chair.

'Hey. Your drink looks divine. What's in it?'

'Um ... I'm not sure really,' I say, taking a sip. 'I think maybe chocolate ice cream?'

'No booze?'

'Not for me.'

Ruby raises her gla.s.s of water and chimes it against my drink. 'Glad someone else is being sensible. I don't know how these guys do it drinking alcohol and then filming and acting the next day. It ruins your skin.'

'There's makeup for that,' I say.

Ruby laughs. 'Hey is Leo okay? He seemed to leave a bit quick.'

'I'm not sure,' I admit. 'He did seem a little mixed up. Maybe because of Sigourney.'

'They were big news, those two,' says Ruby. 'I mean, I love my gossip magazines and ... Sigourney Seymour and Leo Falkirk they were everywhere once upon a time. The dreamy Hollywood couple. Hot surfer actor and beautiful supermodel. Are you okay?'

'I'm fine.' I force on a smile. 'Just thinking about something. That's all.'

'Your hot new husband?'

'Actually yes. In a way ...'

Ruby frowns. 'But not in a good way? Hun, are you sure you're okay?'

'Really. I'm fine. I just ... something you said about gossip magazines.'

'What.'

'Did you know that Marc and Sigourney had ... um ... a thing?'

'They did?' Ruby's eyes widen. 'I had no idea. Wowsers! Are you okay with her being in the movie? I mean ... you two just got married didn't you?'

I nod. 'I can't be jealous though. I've already given Marc a hard enough time about jealousy.'

'Ah yes. The intense Marc Blackwell. He always struck me as the sort of man who'd make it his business to scare off other guys.'

'But you really didn't know Marc and Sigourney had a thing a few years ago?'

'No idea. Why?'

'Just what you said. About the gossip magazines ...'

'You're wondering why it wasn't in the newspapers?'

I nod. 'I mean they're both so famous.'

'Maybe nothing much happened between them,' says Ruby.

'That's what Marc said. But ...'

'Or maybe Sigourney wasn't so much of a star when she was together with Marc.'

'I think she was.'

'You know what?' Ruby stirs her water with a colourful straw. 'You can think too much about that sort of thing. You know ex-girlfriends. Probably best to just forget about it. The past is the past.'

I laugh. 'Funny. That's exactly what Leo said. Wait. What's the time?'

'Five past ten. Why?'

'I promised I'd meet Marc at ten.'

'What's five minutes? Men love it when you make them wait.'

'Maybe,' I say. 'But most likely Marc will be pacing around outside, worrying that I've been kidnapped.'

38.

As I predicted, Marc is strolling up and down by his Aston Martin, hands in his pockets.

When he sees me his frown deepens.

'Ten seconds more and I would have gone in there to find you.'

'I know. And I love you for it. Take me home Mr Blackwell.'

'I missed you.' Marc pulls me against his body and wraps his wool coat around me. 'Your carriage awaits.'

'Do you know something?' I tell Marc, as he carries me upstairs to the bedroom. 'I don't feel tired.'

'You might not feel tired, but you still need to rest.'

'Can't you show me the surprise? That chair thing in the guest room?'

'Not tonight.'

'When?'

'Someone's impatient.'

'Can you at least show me how it works?'

'You really do delight in raising my blood pressure, don't you Mrs Blackwell? If I show you how it works I'm pretty sure I won't be able to stop myself f.u.c.king you. And as I already explained, you need to rest.'

'I really don't feel tired.'

'No arguments. You are going straight to sleep. You have to be up at six tomorrow.'

'Six isn't so early.'

'Enough Sophia. You're going to bed.'

Marc carries me into the bedroom and places me gently on the bed, unzipping me from my dress and carefully taking off my shoes.

When I'm in my underwear, he puts the duvet over me and I hear him undressing. Then he slides into bed beside me and puts a strong arm around my ribs.

I gently push him off and sit up.

'What are you doing?' Marc asks.

'I need the toilet,' I explain, hurrying towards the bedroom door.

'Then use the ensuite.'

'I'll use the one in the guest bedroom. I don't want you listening,' I say, heading out of the bedroom.

'That's the first time you've said that,' Marc observes.

'Well we've only just got married,' I say. 'So everything is a first from now on.'

I head out into the corridor and towards the guest bedroom, glancing back over my shoulder to see if Marc is following me.

He isn't.

There's no harm in having a look at my surprise, is there?