In the Name of Love (27 page)

‘Of course not, I have so many other people I can talk to about that. Don’t make it into a big deal. It’s not, I swear.’

Felipe could see the anxiety in her eyes. He thought of the relief he had felt at being able to confide in
Paloma;
he would never be able to admit that to Charlie. He checked the time. In another two hours he would have to set off for the airport. They always seemed to be saying goodbye to each other. Their relationship was certainly being tested.

As they came out of the brasserie a bunch of paparazzi blocked their way on the pavement, snapping away at them. They had been lucky and hadn’t had any paps on their case … until now. Charlie managed to raise a smile, but Felipe hated paps with a vengeance. He scowled and lowered his head.

‘Charlie, have you seen Felipe ride yet?’ one of the paps called out.

So far any press coverage about them had focused on her living in the UK and Felipe living in Spain. The riding angle hadn’t come up at all. But it seemed the press knew now.

‘Have you got over your riding accident?’ someone else shouted.

Felipe held on tightly to her hand and shouted back, ‘It is none of your goddamn business. Now leave us alone. We are not asking for this attention.’ And he pushed his way through the photographers to where Charlie’s car was parked. He managed to open the door for her and then the passenger door, with the paps swarming around them.

‘You have the worst press in the world!’ he exclaimed as he slammed the door shut and the paps continued to take photographs of them. ‘They are fucking scum!’

Charlie’s hands were shaking so much she could hardly get the keys into the ignition.

‘Why are they dragging up this story now? What does it matter to anyone except us?’

‘Forget about them, Charlie, they’re worthless. If you give them headspace, then they’ve won.’

But the press incident contaminated the remaining time Charlie had with Felipe. She felt on edge when they returned to the flat, as if she could still hear the yells of the photographers. She cried after they had made love, but hid her tears from him. Their weekend that had begun on such a high was ending on a low.

Chapter 18

CHARLIE HOPED THAT
Kris might be at the flat when she returned from taking Felipe to the airport, but her brother was out. She felt listless and blue, already missing Felipe. She had a horrible feeling of foreboding that she couldn’t shake off, triggered by the nightmare and the intrusion of the paps. She curled up on the sofa and looked through all the photos she had of Felipe, wishing more than anything that he was there beside her.

Kris finally returned about half-past eleven, just as she was thinking of going to bed. He walked into the living room and threw his keys on the coffee table. He flopped down in a leather armchair and propped his feet up on the table, even though Charlie had asked him a million times not to. He had a big grin on his face.

‘Good night?’ she asked. It still felt slightly strange to be living with her brother and sometimes she felt a little bit like his mum, wanting to know that he had eaten properly and not had too much to drink.

‘Great night.
I
went out with this gorgeous girl. She’s classy too, before you say anything.’

‘Is that why you’re not back at her place?’ Kris had a bit of a reputation for getting through women, something Charlie had pulled him up on in the past.

‘Yeah, I don’t want to rush things. I’m taking her out for dinner tomorrow night.’

This was a new development. ‘Who is the lucky lady then?’ Charlie teased him.

Another grin from Kris. ‘You know her actually.’

She stared at him blankly.

‘It’s Darcy. Daft name … but what a beautiful girl.’

Charlie nearly fell off the sofa. The idea of her brother getting it together with Darcy was off the scale crazy! ‘Darcy Stratton-Hensher?’

‘Of course! How many other Darcys do you know?’

‘But Darcy is only into rich men.’ And other people’s boyfriends, thought Charlie, thinking of the way Darcy had pretended that she and Felipe were an item. Since then the two women had just about managed to be civil to each other, but only just.

‘Apparently not. I met her at your office and we hit it off straight away. It’s pretty obvious I’m not some
Made in Chelsea
toff.’

Charlie looked at her brother, at his buzz cut and pierced ear, the tight white tee-shirt that showed off his biceps and bold tattoo of a black rose, and his low-hanging jeans. He looked tough and urban, definitely not as if he had been born with a silver spoon in his mouth.

‘So what do you reckon then, Charlie? I really like her.’

Run away as fast as you can! she wanted to tell her brother, convinced that Darcy would only bring him grief. But he looked so happy, and he deserved to be happy, and she didn’t want to be the one to disillusion him.

She shrugged. ‘Just be careful. It’s your first date since …’ She didn’t want to say prison. ‘You might be feeling more vulnerable than you realise.’

‘Nah! Everything’s cool. I’m meeting that director tomorrow; things are definitely looking up. And Felipe’s a good bloke. He gets my stamp of approval.’

There was a pause.
Please don’t let Kris expect her to say that Darcy got hers – the words would choke her!

‘He really liked you too.’

‘And it’s great news about his place in the Olympics.’

‘It’s the best.’

‘And do you think you might be able to watch him?’

God! Not Kris as well. ‘’Course. I have to be there for him.’

He seemed to register that Charlie looked pale and tired. ‘Are you okay?’

It had always been her way to tough things out, and so now she didn’t let on how upset she had been by the paps. ‘Yeah, I’m fine. We got papped when we were out this afternoon and it wasn’t very nice.’ She didn’t mention the questions about riding or how terrifying she found the very idea of watching Felipe compete in the Olympics.

‘One of the drawbacks of being famous,’ Kris commented, taking her at her word that she was okay. He stood up. ‘And you don’t have to worry about me,
sis,
I’m a big boy.’ He stretched his arms up over his head and yawned. ‘I’m off to bed. I want to be fresh for the meeting tomorrow. And for my night out.’ He winked at Charlie and sauntered out of the room, whistling.

He seemed so cheerful and confident that of course Charlie was pleased for him. But Darcy! Oh, God, anyone but her! She wished she could ask Zoe’s advice but it was too late to call now. It would have to wait until tomorrow.
Families …

She left the flat before Kris got up the following morning, and had to go straight to a planning meeting that lasted until lunch-time so she didn’t see Darcy in the office. But later she saw her in the canteen, flirting with Simon, one of the other presenters. So much for her liking Kris. Charlie hoped to get a sandwich and slip out without Darcy noticing her, but unfortunately the PA spotted her and made a point of sauntering over.

‘Hi, Charlie, did Kris tell you about meeting me?’

Cue annoying pouty smirk.

Charlie could only manage a non-committal, ‘Yeah.’

That wasn’t enough for Darcy who ploughed on with, ‘I can’t believe that you two are twins, you look so different.’

‘D’you look like your sisters then?’ Charlie imagined a gang of tall, slim blondes with sulky expressions, designer clothes, and a shed load of disposable income.

‘I guess I do look a bit like Bunny and Perdita.’

Charlie might have guessed her sisters would have equally pretentious names.

‘So did you hear about Kris’s meeting with the director?’ the girl asked.

‘Not yet.’

Darcy looked even more pleased with herself. ‘He just texted me and said it went brilliantly. The director wants to cast him in a new detective series. They start filming next week. Isn’t that awesome! I can’t wait to see him tonight and celebrate.’

While Charlie was thrilled for her brother, she couldn’t help feeling slightly put out that he hadn’t texted her first. ‘That is fantastic news,’ she said quickly. Then she held up her tuna and sweetcorn sandwich as if it was a wand to banish the evil Darcy. ‘Well, anyway, I’ve got to have a quick lunch and get back to work.’ She couldn’t bring herself to say ‘enjoy your date with Kris’. It was just too freaking weird! And she couldn’t believe that her brother had chosen to tell Darcy his big news over her, though when she checked her phone she saw that he had texted her. He must have sent it during the meeting so maybe he did text her before Darcy. She would try and be grown up about it. Though that didn’t stop her from telling Aidan. She knew that he would understand how unsettling she would find Darcy getting up close and personal with her brother.

‘No way!’ he exclaimed. ‘Darcy only goes for rich men. Are you sure?’ They had gone outside to avoid being overheard.

‘Believe me, I wish it wasn’t true. But what can I do?’

‘Absolutely nothing, I’m afraid, sweet pea. But chin
up,
I’m sure it won’t last. Your brother will soon realise what a nightmare Arsey Darcy is.’

Charlie could only hope that Aidan was right.

That night she had arranged to go to the cinema with Zoe to see the latest Ryan Gosling film. Charlie didn’t usually find blond men attractive, but she was prepared to make an exception for the total hotness that was Ryan … While they waited for the film to start, they chatted and shared a bag of popcorn and inevitably Charlie confided in Zoe about Kris’s date. ‘I keep wondering if I should tell him what a total bitch she is. It’s like watching a cute puppy going off with a big bad wolf. Nothing good is going to come of it.’

‘Oh, for Godsake!’ Zoe declared, grabbing a handful of popcorn. ‘Kris is a grown-up, he can definitely look after himself. And, no, you can’t say anything negative about Darcy. It will just backfire on you and Kris will think that you’re the bitch.’ She shared Aidan’s view that the relationship would be short-lived.

‘I’m sure Kris hasn’t got enough money for madam’s expensive tastes,’ Charlie agreed dryly.

‘Meow!’ Zoe commented, adding, ‘Have some more popcorn, it might sweeten you up.’

When Charlie returned home around eleven there was no sign of Kris. He must still be out with Darcy. Or maybe he had gone back to her place. Charlie didn’t want to think about what that meant … She called Felipe and told him about Darcy, expecting him to side with her, but he agreed with Zoe that she shouldn’t say anything and added that maybe Darcy had changed. As if …

Just after midnight, when Charlie had fallen asleep, she was woken up by the front door opening and the unmistakable sound of Darcy’s drawling voice. Shit! Her brother had brought her back here. Darcy was the last person Charlie wanted in her home. She could just imagine the snotty cow looking at her small flat and possessions and turning her nose up. Why hadn’t they gone back to her place? Not wanting to overhear anything, Charlie reached for her iPod and listened to music on her headphones, hoping that the sultry voice of Lana del Rey would calm her down. It didn’t. She was so wound up that she found it impossible to relax or go to sleep. Why did her brother have to get involved with Arsey Darcy? If it had been any other woman Charlie would have been pleased for him.

In the morning she woke up in a foul mood as she hadn’t had enough sleep. Her temper didn’t improve when she walked into the kitchen after her shower to find Darcy perched on the kitchen table,
her
kitchen table, wearing a tee-shirt of Kris’s and most likely nothing else. She was swinging her long tanned legs and giggling, while Kris made tea and toast. How like Darcy to be waited on and not lift a finger …

‘Morning,’ Darcy said, smirking. ‘I hope we didn’t keep you awake last night.’ Another smirk.

Eeow! Charlie suffered a major sense of humour by-pass at the thought of this stuck-up bitch having her wicked way with her brother. ‘Nope.’ She was abrupt and offhand as she grabbed a yoghurt from the fridge and an apple from the fruit bowl.

‘Okay?’ Kris asked. He, at least, was not smirking. ‘I know it’s probably a bit weird for you as you work with Darcy. We agreed that we’ll try and go to her place next time.’

Next time?
Charlie had hoped it would all be over very quickly. ‘Sure, whatever. I’ve got to run. Oh, I meant to say, it’s brilliant news about the acting job. D’you have any more details?’

Kris smiled. ‘I’m going to be playing a new TV detective and I’ve got you to thank for it. How about we go out and celebrate tonight? My treat.’

Charlie felt some of the bad mood lift. A night out with her brother sounded great. ‘Where d’you want to go?’

‘We thought about the Sanderson, d’you know it?’ Darcy put in, adding, ‘How about we meet up about half-seven?’

We
! They’d only spent one night together, how could they be a
we
? And, no, Charlie didn’t want to go out with Arsey Darcy. But if she said no she would seem like the most miserable old bag in the world. And the way that Darcy had asked her about the Sanderson! Of course she knew where it was. Patronising, stuck-up cow!

‘Yeah, I know it.’

‘Why don’t you see if Zoe and Nathan can come too?’ Kris suggested. Maybe he had already picked up on the negative vibe between her and Darcy and was thinking safety in numbers.

‘Yep, good idea. See you then.’

*

Darcy waited until Charlie had left before commenting, ‘I don’t think your sister likes me very much.’

Kris put his arms around her waist and kissed her neck. ‘How could she not like you? You’re gorgeous. She probably just felt awkward because of work.’ He kissed her on the lips. ‘What time do you have to be in today?’

‘Why?’ Darcy asked coyly, knowing full well why.

‘I thought we might have time to go back to bed.’

‘What’s wrong with right here?’ Darcy asked, thinking it might add to the thrill to have sex on Charlie’s kitchen table. But Kris shook his head. Scooping her up in his arms, he carried her into the bedroom.

Darcy was late for work. But it was worth it. Kris was a fantastic lover. He had such stamina and was
soooo
good at turning her on. It made her realise what she had been missing out on with Drew all this time.