Page 79 of Crying in the Rain
“The place is looking great,” Kris said.
“Yeah. Andy’s been hard at it since we got back from Wales.”
“He’s staying here at the moment, isn’t he?” Shaunna asked.
“That’s right. Andshe’sgonna be here tonight, so, er…”
Shaunna gave Dan a nod of reassurance. “Don’t worry. I’m on it.”
“Thanks.” Dan hugged her and kissed her cheek. “Nice perfume,” he complimented.
“Nice aftershave,” Shaunna replied with a flirtatious smile.
Dan gave her a cheeky wink in return. “Right. The bar’s in there.” He indicated the room on his left. “And the buffet’s in there.” He pointed over to his right. “I’d best see if I can find my fiancée. Glad you could make it.”
Kris gave him a disbelieving look.
“Well, I know you’ve been busy with work and…things…”
“As if we were going to miss this!”
“Yeah, all right. I’ll catch you in a bit.”
With that, Dan headed off into the crowd, which had grown in size while they’d been chatting, forcing them to slowly edge forward to accommodate more guests arriving. Someone turned the music up, and all of a sudden it felt like a real party. Shaunna shifted from one foot to the other, leaning on Ade. He glanced down at her feet and up again, offering a sympathetic smile.
“I knew I should’ve warn flat shoes,” she grumbled.
“The price of glamour, eh?”
“Hmm.” She lifted one foot off the floor and rubbed her instep, losing her balance and staggering against Kris. “Ouch. Sorry.”
“Why don’t you two go find somewhere out of the way, and I’ll get the drinks?” he suggested.
“Good thinking.”
“OK. Red wine and…G and T, Ade?”
“Perfect,” Ade confirmed.
Kris headed off to the bar, and Shaunna and Ade made a beeline for a free spot near the back of the atrium. It was lucky it was a big room; it would have been unbearably warm otherwise, with this much body heat. Shaunna leaned her back against the cool marble wall and bent a knee so she could rest one foot on it.
“Why don’t you just take them off?” Ade said.
“Because Adele will be wearing six-inch heels, and I’ll look like a frumpy shortarse.”
Ade laughed. “No way could you ever be frumpy. You’re always so gorgeous.”
Shaunna smiled. “Thank you. You’re pretty fabulous yourself, but you’ll see what I mean. Adele is stunning, and the dress she bought for tonight is out of this world. It’s pale lemon in colour, and the bodice has no back whatsoever. I’d love to be able to wear stuff like that.”
“Why can’t you?”
“Boobs. Adele’s are fake, and I swear they defy gravity. Maybe they’re helium implants.” Shaunna switched feet, leaning on Ade for support. “See over there?” She subtly pointed. “That’s Jess.”
“OK?” Ade sensed there was a bit of gossip coming his way. Shaunna cupped her hand around his ear. “She ditched us all for a fling with an ex-boyfriend, who then ripped her off. The woman she’s with is her personal assistant, as none of us want anything to do with her.”
“Yet she still turned up this evening?”
“Yep. I think Andy asked Dan and Adele to invite her.”
