Page 34

If the outside of the house was impressive, the interior was just as stunning. He felt sure that Tara must have moved some of the most valuable things out of the way before the party started, but Kit could still see that this place was serious, old-school money. There was artwork on the walls that looked original, shelves full of hardback, leatherbound books, furniture that looked like family heirlooms, now sticky with pools of spilled drink and burn marks from carelessly stubbed-out cigarettes.

Kit kept moving through the living room and into the kitchen where, unable to find Tara, he left the champagne and flowers on the table. He glanced outside where people were spilling into the garden, despite the chill, smoking and drinking, even making out on the grass.

Back inside he saw her coming down the stairs. Fliss Courtney. His Fliss. She looked incredible, in a denim mini skirt teamed with a lace-trimmed camisole top, her naturally strawberry blonde hair making her look like a Nordic bombshell. Kit caught his breath as his heart lifted in his chest.

This was bad; he had really fallen for her. Hook, line and sinker. All he wanted was to be with her, to make her happy.

He knew that there must be a soppy grin on his face, his eyes dancing with lust. He flashed back to when they had last seen one another two days ago and made love in his flat. Now he couldn’t get her out of his head, his mind filled with flashes of her body entangled with his, meeting his passion with her own. The chemistry between them was like nothing he had ever experienced. She had hit him like a sledgehammer.

Then her bright blue eyes found his and he thought he would burst, a wave of longing crashing over him at the way her face lit up, breaking into a smile, her gaze softening. It was as though they were the only two people in the crowded hallway. Then a flash of guilt crossed her expression and she looked around nervously. Kit felt himself deflate before a burst of frustration took hold. Dammit, he was done with sneaking around. Tara didn’t hold any claim over him, so it was ridiculous that Fliss felt guilty.

He climbed the stairs towards her, the two of them not breaking eye contact. Kit reached her, desperate to pull her into his arms and kiss her deeply, but he could feel Fliss tense up as he wrapped an arm around her waist, keeping him at arm’s length as she allowed him to peck her on the cheek as though he was nothing more than a friend.

‘Tara’s looking for you,’ she said.

Kit bit back his annoyance. ‘I don’t care. You’re the only one I’m looking for, and you look unbelievable.’ He let his hands roam over her, nuzzling into her neck, and Fliss weakened, unable to resist him. ‘We’ll tell her tonight, OK?’

‘No, it’s her party—’

‘Then she won’t be the least bit interested in you or me,’ he said firmly, cutting off her words as he swept in for a kiss. This time Fliss relented, lips meeting, bodies melting into one another. She tasted of champagne and lip gloss, and Kit couldn’t get enough.

‘Is there anywhere more private we can go? Where’s your room?’ he murmured, as Fliss laughed.

‘Not yet! You’ve only just arrived. Let’s mingle first.’

‘I don’t want to wait. You’re irresistible,’ he told her, stealing another kiss which quickly became more passionate. Kit felt like a teenager again, horny as hell and crazy about this woman. Someone had considerately turned the lights off in the hallway, and it made them careless and carefree, Fliss full of champagne and passion, each absorbed in one another, as if nothing else in the world mattered.

His hands roamed over her body and Fliss moaned softly, sending waves of desire flaming through Kit. He didn’t know where he ended and she began, lost as he was in a delicious tangle of hot breath and soft flesh and—

‘What the …?’

It took Kit a second to remember where he was, to realise that the cry of outrage was directed at him. But he couldn’t fail to miss the tight grip on his arm, yanking him away from Fliss as the light was abruptly switched on, and he blinked in the brightness. Tara was standing there, fury, confusion and betrayal written across her face.

‘What the hell is going on?’ she demanded, her hands planted on her hips.

Kit glanced at Fliss, who looked both mortified and terrified in equal measure. She spoke before he did.

‘Tara, I was going to … We were going to tell you. But we didn’t want to upset you … ’

‘I can’t believe this! This can’t be happening! Her?’ Tara screamed, looking at Fliss as though she was something she had found on the bottom of her shoe. ‘You chose her over me?’

‘Tara, come on, you’re overreacting …’ Kit reached for her, but she shook his hands off, turning her fire on Fliss who looked wracked with guilt.

‘You knew I liked him,’ Tara cried, her expression changing from fury to sadness and confusion. ‘How could you do this to me? You’re supposed to be one of my best friends.’

‘We didn’t mean to, but we couldn’t help it. I never—’

‘Oh please, this is pathetic! You’re both pathetic.’ Tara spat out the words, and Kit could see that part of her was relishing the drama, enjoying the attention she was getting as a small crowd gathered to watch the entertainment.

He instinctively moved his body to protect Fliss from Tara’s vitriol. ‘You need to let it go, OK, Tara? This is not some random fling. This is serious.’

‘What are you talking about?’ Tara sneered, narrowing her eyes, her upper lip curled in disdain.

‘I’m in love with her,’ Kit said simply, putting an arm protectively around Fliss. The message was loud and clear: they were together and nothing was going to divide them. He turned to Fliss, who was no longer looking guilty, and her eyes were locked on his in a look of complete amazement and adoration. ‘I love you, Fliss,’ he told her, knowing that every word was completely true.

Anger and betrayal surged through Tara as she stormed drunkenly away. How dare they do this to her, and at her own party? She had thought Kit wanted her, that he had been holding back out of respect and professionalism, and all the time he had been … With Fliss? Fliss of all people! Tara was the one who had brought sad, lonely, ordinary Fliss into this beautiful world of hers, who had shown her kindness that first day at boarding school when she so clearly didn’t belong, and this was how Fliss repaid her? It was traitorous – treacherous! – disloyalty, pure and simple.

Tara was livid as she pushed through the crowds, wanting everyone to get the hell out of her house right now. But first, she needed a drink. There was a bottle of Cristal on the kitchen table and Tara wrenched it open, raising the bottle to her lips and downing as much as she could before her body protested and she was forced to stop. She wanted to feel nothing, to black out and forget everything.