Danny flushed, as Saffron dug Brooke in the ribs.
‘My what?’
‘On your boots,’ Brooke said sweetly. ‘Weren’t you, Whitney?’
‘Saffron,’ said her friend through gritted teeth. ‘Hi, Danny. I don’t think we’ve ever really spoken to each other before. I work in reception with Brooke.’
‘Oh, right. Yeah, I think I’ve seen you around,’ he said, giving her a polite smile. He turned to Brooke. ‘Are you okay? Having a good time?’
‘It’s all right,’ Brooke said. ‘That bozo George Michael has been getting on our nerves, making lewd suggestions, but other than that…’
‘Which one’s he?’ Danny asked, scanning the room.
‘Lee Hardwick.’
Danny nodded. ‘Oh, him! I know who you mean. Total dickhead. Well known for it upstairs. Do you want me to have a word with him?’
Brooke smiled. ‘No, it’s okay thanks. We can handle him.’
‘Thinks he’s God’s gift to women,’ Saffron purred, ‘when anyone can see the good Lord has bestowed far more precious gifts on womankind than the likes of him.’
Brooke’s lips tightened as she saw Saffron distinctly batting her eyelashes at Danny. Good grief! The woman was shameless. It was gratifying to see that Danny no more responded to her flirting than he ever had to Brooke’s.
In fact, his only response was to take out his mobile phone and check it, leaving Saffron looking distinctly unimpressed.
‘Has she sent you a text?’ Brooke asked.
Danny sighed. ‘No. I sent her one about forty minutes ago asking if she was okay, but she hasn’t replied.’
‘Who are you talking about?’ Saffron queried.
‘His wife,’ Brooke said pointedly. ‘She couldn’t come tonight as she’s not very well.’
‘Oh. Shame.’
‘It is,’ Danny agreed. ‘I’d ring her, but I don’t want to disturb her if she’s asleep. She did say she was going to get an early night, so I suppose I should stop worrying and leave her in peace. It’s hard, though. I miss her.’
Saffron looked positively disgusted at this revelation.
‘Yeah, well, I’ve just spotted Bryan Adams over there – or is it Bruce Springsteen? Anyway, in the absence of anyone better I think I’ll pootle over and say hello.’ She rolled her eyes at Brooke. ‘Catch you later.’
Danny didn’t even notice her leave. He was still looking at his mobile phone, a frown on his face. ‘What do you think?’
‘About what?’
‘About whether I should ring Kirsty!’ he said impatiently.
Brooke tutted and took the phone from his hand. ‘For goodness’ sake, Danny. She’s got an upset stomach not typhoid fever. Go and get me a drink if you want something to do.’
He nodded sheepishly. ‘I guess you’re right. What do you want?’
‘At this point I’m past caring. Surprise me.’
‘Fair enough.’ He turned and headed across the room towards the bar, and Brooke sighed and gave the mobile phone a disdainful look, wondering if she dared chuck it out of the window and pretend she’d put it down somewhere and lost it. Knowing Danny, though, he’d order the music to be stopped and demand a thorough search until it was found. He couldn’t be cut off from his precious Kirsty for a whole night, after all.
Evidently seeing her on her own, Lee Hardwick shimmied his way over to her. He looked wide-eyed and excited.
‘What’s a beautiful girl like you doing here all by yourself?’ he asked.
