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‘You have no family?’

‘Yes, I do, but it’s complicated.’ Her eyes dropped, and Lucas sensed a vulnerability in her.

‘Maybe you can tell me about it—’

‘There you are,’ Catherine exclaimed. The two of them jumped apart. ‘Well, don’t you both look cosy?’ she said with a dangerous smile. ‘Tell me, Lucas, has Stephanie been looking after you?’

‘Yes, she’s … she’s been doing a wonderful job.’ His eyes met Stephanie’s, and a look of understanding and longing passed between them. Lucas realized his pulse was racing, his heart pounding.

‘Excellent,’ Catherine declared. ‘Now, let’s all go and have lunch.’

Chapter 10

‘Lucas.’

Lucas was prepping for the evening service, lost in his own world as chopped piles of lush purple aubergines and velvety mushrooms grew on the work surface in front of him. His mind had drifted to thoughts of Stephanie, and everything she’d told him that afternoon, the secrets they’d shared with one another, not to mention how incredible she’d looked in that bikini …

‘Lucas!’

‘Elle,’ Lucas exclaimed in surprise, guilt flickering across his face as he turned and saw her. He went to kiss her, but she tossed her head to the side, offering him her cheek instead. ‘Chérie, what’s wrong?’ he asked, but Elle wouldn’t meet his gaze, resolutely avoiding his eyes as she pushed her glossy lips into a pout.

‘What is it?’ Lucas persisted, beginning to feel frustrated. He was busy with his work and didn’t have time for Elle’s theatrics today. A sudden pang of worry struck him that she’d somehow discovered that he’d spent time with Stephanie that afternoon, but he quickly dismissed the thought as ridiculous. He hadn’t done anything wrong, had he?

Finally, Elle turned her baby blue eyes on him, huge and shining wet with tears.

‘I saw your mother yesterday, at the hotel. She was so mean to me, and she said …’ Elle took a shaky breath, as though fighting back the tears. ‘She told me I couldn’t model for Camille Andre.’

She collapsed into Lucas’s arms, and he had to restrain himself from rolling his eyes.

‘Darling, I know you’re disappointed, but Maman has always said that you’re not the right look for the brand. It’s nothing personal, it’s just …’ Lucas trailed off, struggling to find the right words. He knew if he said the wrong thing, she could fly off the handle. ‘Look,’ he continued, pressing little butterfly kisses on her nose, her cheeks, her lips. ‘You’re beautiful, stunning, everything a man could want. But that’s not the Camille Andre look – it’s more elegant, and chic.’

‘I can do elegant,’ Elle screeched, pulling away from Lucas as he inwardly grimaced. ‘Are you saying I’m not chic?’ she demanded, striking a dramatic pose against the stainless-steel backdrop of the walk-in fridge.

Lucas stared at his girlfriend. She looked like every man’s fantasy, with her tumbling blonde hair, enormous kohl-lined eyes and strawberry lips. Not to mention the endless tanned legs emerging from a white, crocheted mini dress, and the full breasts pushing against the criss-cross lace fastening. She looked like Brigitte Bardot in her heyday – but he knew his mother wanted to conjure the image of Audrey Hepburn for her brand.

He’d fallen hard for Elle at first, her fiery temperament and sulky sensuality had driven him crazy with lust. But now her demands and petulance just drove him crazy full stop. She was immature and selfish, and he’d come to realize he wasn’t in love with her. But the last few years since the accident had held him in a kind of suspended animation, avoiding big decisions and change. Now he felt like he was finally waking up and wasn’t entirely sure he was happy with the way his life looked, and he was as much to blame as Elle for that.

‘You’re incredible,’ he assured Elle, hoping she wouldn’t notice that he’d avoided the question.

‘It’s not fair,’ she sulked, stamping her foot in her wedge heels. ‘I want that job!’

Lucas’s eyebrows shot up to his hairline, and – sensing that she’d gone too far – Elle tottered back across to him and wrapped her body around his. ‘It’s just a big disappointment for me. A contract like this could catapult me into the big league. I don’t want to be doing catalogue shoots for Wonderbra for the rest of my career,’ she said bitterly, naming the high-street brand.

At that moment, Paulo strolled into the kitchen. ‘You’ve got a modelling job with Wonderbra?’ he asked sarcastically. ‘Congratulations, Elle. Your career’s really on the up.’

‘Shut up, Paulo,’ she shot back, her eyes flashing with venom, as Paulo laughed and helped himself to a handful of the fresh red peppers Lucas had been slicing. Elle ignored him, turning back to Lucas. ‘Why do you always take your mother’s side?’ she complained.

‘I don’t,’ Lucas assured her. ‘But it’s her business. I can’t interfere.’

‘She interferes in yours all the time,’ Elle retorted, as Paulo let out a snort of laughter that inexplicably irritated Lucas. He took his anger out on Elle.

‘It’s not my fault that my mother doesn’t think you’re good enough,’ Lucas snapped. ‘She’s been running her company for thirty years. You’ve been a model for two minutes and your biggest job was a print commercial for dandruff shampoo. Why the hell would she want to hire you?’

Elle’s mouth fell open in shock. Tears – genuine this time – sprang into her eyes, hurt written plainly on her beautiful face. Then she slapped him hard across the cheek and stormed out of the restaurant.

Lucas exhaled slowly, feeling the sting on his face, aware that his cheek must be glowing red. He knew he’d been an arsehole, that he should run after Elle and apologize, but he’d reached the limits of his patience. He’d meant what he said – he wasn’t responsible for his mother’s choices, and he didn’t appreciate being forced to choose a side.

‘You deserved that.’