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“What the—? Oh, fuck.”
It’s too late. We stand side by side as, one by one, all four men clock us. I’m sure I’m standing on my legs but I can’t feel them. Clark is rooted to the spot. He’s in jeans, shirt and a blazer, looking tired but sexy as hell. He pulls Teddy’s shoulder and says something to him.
He wants to leave.
I snap out of my trance when Rachel tugs my arm. “No point now, he’s seen you.” She hops back onto the stool she left, and I step backwards onto mine.
“Please tell me this wasn’t a set-up.”
“After everything that’s happened, Dayna, you don’t even have to ask me that. Teddy won’t let him come over either, not unless you tell him to. So let’s just have another, okay? You’re going to bump into him from time to time.”
Teddy must tell Clark something similar because the four men give us a wide berth and find a table at the back of the VIP area.
I glance over my shoulder as they take a seat. Clark isn’t looking at me, and as ridiculous as I know it is, that disappoints me.
“Hey, look at me. Let’s get another drink,” Rachel says.
I nod and fake a smile. “Yep. Hendrick’s.” Screw one or two.
Mid-drink, I have to make a toilet trip. I end up bouncing from one foot to the other as I wait in a queue for one of three cubicles, unsure why I let it get to this desperate stage.
Finally, six million hours later and business taken care of, I head back to Rachel. I can see the back of Spencer’s head leaning towards her. Clearly the concept of a one-night-stand in Verbier wasn’t as definite as Rachel made out.
I can’t stop my eyes flicking to Clark as I make my way across the bar. He’s talking to Jay, oblivious to me. As I shuffle my way through the crowd, I feel a tug on my hand.
“Dayna Cross, right?”
A guy with designer-styled, side-swept dark hair and a square jaw stands in front of me.
“Ah, yes. And you are?”
“Tom Cranston. From St. Mary’s? We used to play tennis together. Well, in the same group.”
I search my memory but still can’t place him. “I’m so sorry, I must seem rude but I can’t — Oh wait, you were most improved player for three weeks running in summer camp.”
He laughs. “Never best player, always most improved.”
“Gosh, it’s nice to see you. Do you live in London?”
I don’t catch his response and tell him so. He leans into my ear, tugging my arms so I fall slightly off balance in my heels and have to steady myself with my hand on his chest.
“I live with my girlfriend in North Finchley. Can I buy you a drink?”
“Oh, no, I’ve had enough, thank you.”
“You always were sensible,” he says, into my ear. I notice Clark out of his seat, his body tense, his eyes trained on me.
Jay puts his hand on Clark’s arm, and I watch him slowly retreat. I’d really like to go home, but I glance over to see Rachel and Spencer in full flirtation mode.
“You know what, I will take a drink, Tom.”
We chat at the bar for five minutes with a drink, then I make my way back to Rachel and Spencer. I really have had enough to drink and enough time out of my burrow.
I have no idea whether Spencer knows what’s going on with Clark and me. I don’t know whether he’s aware that his father is a murderous bastard.
I don’t speak first.
“Hey, Dayna, how are you?”
