Spanish Escape: The Playboy of Puerto Banús / A Game of Vows / For the Sake of Their Son. Carol Marinelli

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       CHAPTER SEVEN

      ‘ESTELLE…’

      Gordon was lovely when she told him what had happened. Well, not all of it. She didn’t tell him about her conversation with Raúl, just that he had been trying to avoid a woman and had kissed her…

      It was a terribly awkward conversation, but Gordon was writing her a cheque, so as not to embarrass her in front of his driver, and Estelle simply couldn’t accept it and had to tell him why.

      ‘Frank and I have three free passes.’

      Estelle blinked as Gordon smiled and held out the cheque.

      ‘We have three people each who, should something happen, wouldn’t be construed as cheating with.’ He gave her a smile. ‘It’s just a game, of course, and it’s mainly movie stars, but Raúl could very easily make it to my list. No one can resist him when he sets his sights on them—especially someone as darling and innocent as you.’

      ‘I feel awful.’

      ‘Don’t.’ Gordon closed her hand around the cheque. ‘My being in competition with Raúl Sanchez Fuente could only do wonders for my reputation, if word were ever to get out. It might even be the reason for our breaking up and me realising just how much I care for Virginia.’

      ‘I’m sorry.’

      ‘Don’t be,’ Gordon said, and gave her a kiss on the cheek. ‘Just be careful.’

      ‘I’ll never see him again,’ Estelle said. ‘He doesn’t know anything about me.’

      ‘Mere details to a man like Raúl—and he takes care of them easily.’

      Estelle felt the hairs on her arms stand up as she remembered that she had given him her name.

      ‘Just do your hair and put on a ton of make-up and we’ll head down for breakfast,’ Gordon told her. ‘If anyone says anything about last night just laugh and shrug it off.’

      It was a relief to hide her blushes behind thick make-up. Estelle put on a skirt that was too short and some high wedges, and tied her hair in a high ponytail and then teased it with a comb and sprayed it.

      ‘I feel like a clown,’ she said to Gordon as she checked her reflection in the mirror.

      ‘Well, you make me smile.’

      Raúl had gone, and all Estelle had to endure were some daggers being thrown in her direction by Araminta as they ate a full Scottish breakfast. She was relieved not to see him, yet there was a curious disappointment at his absence which Estelle chose not to examine.

      Finally they were on their way, but it was late afternoon before Gordon dropped her at her home.

      ‘Think about what I said,’ Gordon reminded Estelle as she climbed out.

      ‘I think I’ve had my excitement for the year,’ Estelle admitted as she farewelled him.

      She let herself step into familiar surrounds and released a breath before calling out to Ginny that she was home.

      ‘How are you feeling?’ Estelle asked as she walked into the lounge.

      ‘Awful!’

      Ginny certainly looked it.

      ‘I’m going to go home for a couple of days. My dad’s coming to pick me up—I need Mum, soup and sympathy.’

      ‘Sounds good.’

      ‘How was it?

      ‘It was fine,’ Estelle said, really not in the mood to tell Ginny all that had happened.

      Ginny would no doubt find out from Gordon, given how much the two of them discussed. Estelle was still irritated that Ginny told Gordon about her virginity but, seeing how sick Ginny was, Estelle chose to save that for later.

      ‘Gordon was lovely.’

      ‘I told you there was nothing to worry about.’

      ‘I’m exhausted,’ Estelle admitted. ‘You didn’t tell me about Gordon’s sleep apnoea. I got the fright of my life when I walked in and he was strapped to a machine.’

      Ginny laughed. ‘I honestly forgot. Your brother’s been calling you. A few times, actually.’

      The phone rang then, and Estelle’s heart lurched in hope when she saw that it was her brother. ‘Maybe he’s got that job.’

      He hadn’t.

      ‘I found out on Friday,’ Andrew said. ‘I just couldn’t face telling you.’

      ‘Something will come up.’

      ‘I’m not qualified for anything.’

      Estelle could hear the hopelessness in his voice.

      ‘I don’t know what to do, Estelle. I’ve asked Amanda’s parents if they can help—’

      His voice broke then. Estelle knew the hell that would have paid with his pride.

      ‘They can’t.’

      She could feel his mounting despair.

      ‘Something will come up,’ Estelle said, but she was finding it harder and harder to sound convincing. ‘You’ve just got to keep applying for work.’

      ‘I know.’ He blew out a long breath in an effort to compose himself. ‘Anyway, enough about me,’ Andrew said, ‘Ginny said you were in Scotland. How come?’

      ‘I was at a wedding.’

      ‘Whose?’

      ‘I’ll tell you all about it tomorrow.’

      ‘Tomorrow?’

      ‘I want to speak to you about something.’ As a car tooted outside, Ginny stood. ‘Andrew, I’ve got to go,’ Estelle said. ‘I’ll СКАЧАТЬ