A Promise Between Friends (17 page)

‘You finally made it,’ Debbie said, appearing with Rog at her side. She looked up at Nick and her blue eyes sparkled. After introductions were made Ruby was surprised to see that
Nick soon fell into conversation with Rog.

‘So, you don’t mind about age?’ Debbie asked out of earshot of the men. ‘He must be a lot older than you.’

‘Doesn’t matter to me.’

‘You have got it bad, kid.’

‘Rog seems to get on with him.’

‘My Rog gets on with everyone.’

Ruby listened to Debbie talking about her wedding plans. How the gown Rog had bought from Steadman’s had set her fiancé back a fortune. Her parents were paying for the reception to
be held at Paradise Row, she boasted. And she wanted a honeymoon in Switzerland, no less. Ruby knew there was only one thing on Debbie’s mind. To be Mrs Roger Stacey.

‘Ladies, may I interrupt?’ Stuart said, joining them. ‘You both look gorgeous.’ He gazed admiringly at Ruby’s rose-pink silk-satin blouse, discreetly buttoned under
a string of pearls that Nick had recently given her. Ruby knew Debbie was staring at the pearls too, wondering if they were real.

Just then, Marianne and Bruno joined them, together with some of Stuart’s aspiring actor friends. As the laughter and conversation grew louder, Ruby decided she had better not drink too
many cocktails. She wanted to have a clear head when she left with Nick.

Ten minutes later she slipped, unnoticed, to the kitchen. Just as before, the tiny space was crammed with wine bottles, glasses and food. She exchanged her cocktail glass for a tumbler and was
about to fill it with water when a hand touched her shoulder.

‘Hello.’

She looked up to see a tall man smiling down at her. ‘Oh, it’s you,’ she blurted, the heat rushing to her cheeks as she recognized Johnnie Dyer. He was even more handsome up
close.

‘I see we both have the same idea.’ He nodded to her abandoned cocktail glass. Placing his beside hers, he grinned, showing very white, even teeth under his dark skin.
‘Larry’s cocktails are innocent enough, until the next day.’

Ruby laughed. ‘I drank too many last time.’

He stared at her. ‘You were at the last party. Yes, I saw you as Margot and I arrived.’

Ruby was flattered he’d remembered. ‘Margot? Is that your—’

‘Yes, yes,’ he nodded, ‘but she’s not here tonight. So as you can see, the retinue has disappeared.’ He smiled, his dark eyes, so large and fringed with long black
lashes, sparkled with amusement. ‘I’m Johnnie Dyer.’

‘And I’m Ruby Payne.’ She decided not to say she knew already. ‘Would you like some water too?’

‘Thanks.’

Ruby filled two tumblers. ‘How do you know Larry and Stuart?’

‘Through Margot. She’s very popular.’ He quirked an eyebrow.

Ruby wanted to ask if Johnnie was one of the bohemians that Larry had talked about. But before she could, he said, ‘So what do you do?’

‘I worked for Larry.’ She smiled. ‘It was Stuart who taught me how to shampoo and cut poodles.’

Johnnie laughed. ‘Did you enjoy shampooing poodles?’

Ruby smiled. ‘It helped me through a bad time.’

‘Oh dear. I didn’t mean to pry.’

Ruby felt obliged to add, ‘It was after my brother died. He was only twenty-one.’

He frowned. ‘I’m very sorry.’

‘I still find it difficult to talk about.’

‘Of course.’

She looked into his large, dark eyes. ‘Have you lost someone too?’

He nodded. ‘Yes, it’s devastating.’

She wanted to ask who, but decided she didn’t know him well enough. Instead, she said softly, ‘I still miss Pete so much.’

‘Did you say Pete?’

‘Yes, why?’

‘Oh, no reason.’

Suddenly Debbie appeared, empty glass in hand. ‘I need a refill,’ she giggled, looking up at Johnnie. ‘Oh, pardon me, I hope I’m not interrupting.’

Johnnie smiled politely, looking uncomfortable as Debbie tried to keep her balance, leaning heavily against him.

Ruby said, a little embarrassed, ‘Johnnie, this is Debbie. We worked together at the poodle parlour.’

‘Delighted.’ Johnnie offered his hand.

‘Are you another actor?’ Debbie asked, grasping it for much too long.

‘No. Not at all.’

‘I remember now. I saw you at Larry’s last party.’ Debbie narrowed her eyes. ‘You were with that older woman, weren’t you? Lady something-or-other?’

Johnnie nodded and Ruby cringed as Debbie, who was very tipsy, began to pour herself another drink.

‘I like your friends,’ Nick said as they drove away from the party in the early hours.

‘Even Rog?’ Ruby asked in surprise. ‘He’s crazy about insurance.’

‘Yes, but knowledgeable.’

Ruby glanced at Nick’s profile. He was so easy to get along with and always found something interesting in people. She sank back on the comfortable leather seat of the Buick.
‘It’s been such a lovely evening I don’t want to go home,’ she sighed restlessly.

‘We could park near the Embankment. Take a stroll.’

‘If you like.’ A faint light was creeping up in the night sky, Ruby noticed. In a couple of hours it would be dawn. For all the luxury of Dower Street, her room was losing its
appeal. She didn’t often go downstairs now. Not since Jesse Marlon. Though Anna hadn’t asked her to escort a client again, Ruby knew it wouldn’t be long before she did. One of the
newer models, a pretty young brunette called Cindy, had been given the evening-wear assignment at Steadman’s. Ruby had been sent to an underwear shop in Maida Vale instead. The clumsy, boned
corsets for the older women customers to view were uncomfortable to wear. The other shop had been near Covent Garden. The modern, mass-produced clothes were all cheap quality, and with no assistant
to help her dress.

The noise of the Buick’s windscreen wipers brought her back to the present. ‘Is it raining?’

‘We could always go back to the flat for a nightcap.’

She smiled, meeting his eyes. ‘I’d like that.’

He nodded, changing gear as he headed the car in the opposite direction.

Nick made coffee and served it in the lounge. He sat down on the settee and watched Ruby as she moved around the flat, swaying her hips to the strains of Frankie Laine’s
‘Answer Me’ coming from the record player.

He wondered if, at last, he was beginning to enjoy the diversion she had provided these past few months. Had he been on his own too long? Was he ready to settle down?

Perhaps. He enjoyed indulging her, trawling the shops for vases, pictures, rugs. Additions he wouldn’t have bothered with before. But Ruby had good taste, and she intrigued him.

She was young, lovely, affectionate, bright. And she could be brighter, he’d realized. He could make something of her, and the only obstacle so far was Anna.

He reached into his pocket for a Gauloise, felt the familiar shape of the packet, and lit up. His eyes slid back to Ruby’s petite, womanly figure. Her blonde hair lay across her shoulders
in the latest style that many women, he noticed, tried and failed to carry off. She was wearing a soft blouse and the string of Hatton Garden pearls he’d given her. An impulsive investment,
but why not?

His thoughts turned to Anna. Her tall, statuesque body and shrewd green eyes. Eyes that might tear a man apart and put him back together again, if the fancy so took her.

Ruby came to sit by his side. Evening in Paris. He liked the perfume. It suited her.

He offered her a cigarette and she shook her head as he knew she would.

‘I’ve been thinking,’ she said as she slipped off her shoes and tucked her feet under her.

He raised a quizzical eyebrow.

She leaned her head on his shoulder. ‘Anna told me to meet a rich American who would take me to dinner. Only it wasn’t dinner he had in mind. Instead he wanted me to go to his room.
Of course, I left.’

‘What did Anna have to say to this?’

‘She was angry and said she could have lost money if Paula hadn’t been available to replace me.’

He drew her closer. ‘You did the right thing. In this life, you don’t have to do anything you don’t want to.’

‘That’s easy for you to say,’ she replied with a frown. ‘But men seem to treat women very badly sometimes.’

‘Yes,’ he agreed, trailing a finger across her cheek. ‘But I’m not one of them. And very rightly, you turned him down.’

‘But Anna said I was at fault,’ she continued to complain. ‘Even suggesting I should have somehow persuaded him to take me to dinner. Then afterwards given him an innocent
kiss. That way, he couldn’t have telephoned her to complain he’d been let down.’

‘Darling, you are involved with a very astute business-woman,’ he answered with a wry smile. ‘Your first mistake was believing Anna was your friend, when in reality she has one
thing only on her mind. Her agency and making big bucks.’

‘Why didn’t you warn me?’ Ruby complained, wondering why he hadn’t.

He crushed out the Gauloise cigarette. ‘Would you have listened? I think not. I realized I had to let you find out for yourself. It’s true in this life, experience is the best
teacher.’ He kissed her mouth, running his fingers through her hair. ‘Anna intrigued you. She played her cards very well. You wouldn’t have heard a word against her. But
I’ve known her for a long time. And she has earned her reputation as a hard woman.’

‘You sound as if you know her well.’

‘Well enough. As they say, all’s fair in love and war. And the war was very fiercely fought between us.’

Ruby snuggled against him. ‘But what shall I do if she asks me to be an escort again?’

‘Only you can decide that.’

‘I want to be a model, not an escort. But my contract says I have to do both.’

‘It’s called business.’

‘Yes, I know that. But even so, I don’t like it.’

He took her face in his hands and whispered, ‘You’re young, beautiful and determined. But often what we want we can’t have. Unless we sacrifice something for it.’

‘So, do you think I should?’

‘What?’

‘Do what Anna wants me to do.’

He laughed softly, looking into her eyes. ‘Ruby, you don’t need my advice. And as I said before, you probably wouldn’t take it if I offered it. Now, can we forget Anna and
enjoy this moment?’ He drew her against him and decided that tonight he was going to make love to her.

‘You’re even more beautiful naked,’ he told her as they lay in bed.

Ruby shivered when he touched her. She wanted to make love but was afraid after what Paula had told her.

‘What is it?’ he asked softly. ‘What’s wrong?’

‘I don’t want a baby,’ she blurted.

‘Neither do I,’ he said, kissing her parted lips. ‘Just trust me and I’ll make sure you’re safe.’

She began to give in to the sensations he aroused in her. His fingers gently teased her, driving away the concerns as her body arched and shuddered; a fire burned inside her belly. She knew
there was no other man on earth for her. This was what she wanted.

‘You’re something else,’ Nick whispered. ‘Relax, my darling, I won’t come inside you.’

Ruby barely heard. But she knew at the height of her passion she would be safe. And after, as they lay exhausted, he drew her against him.

‘You see, there was nothing to worry about,’ he whispered, kissing the top of her head.

Ruby had no way to express her feelings. Nick had kept his word and she had been made love to in the most perfect way possible without having to consider the advice that Paula had given her.

‘Hi,’ Nick greeted her, casually strolling into the bedroom, a wide smile on his face. He was carrying a tray and wearing a deep blue bathrobe. It was the first
time she had ever seen him unshaven. ‘Did you sleep well?’

She sat up in bed, pulling the sheet over her. ‘You should know the answer to that.’

Sinking down beside her, he said, ‘Breakfast, but I’m afraid to say it’s just coffee and toast. I had no idea a special guest was coming to stay.’

‘Last time I stayed overnight you gave me soup to drink and cream for my grazed knees,’ she said, sipping the coffee. ‘I was feeling very sorry for myself after
Charles.’

He chuckled. ‘You did look like some waif or stray.’

‘I felt very silly.’

He took a slice of toast and fed her. ‘Eat up, pretty silly, open those cupid bow lips.’

She was so happy. Nick was so caring and considerate. Suddenly she was curious about his past. ‘Have you ever been married?’

He smiled wryly and reached over to pour the tea. ‘Once, a long, long time ago.’

‘What happened?’

‘What always happens. People fall out of love.’

‘I don’t ever want that to happen to me.’

He smiled ruefully. ‘Is that why you’ve chosen an older man to make love to you?’

‘I’ve never thought about age.’

‘I’m thirty-five and was sixteen when you were born.’ He finished the toast and licked his lips. ‘So what do you say to that?’

‘Only that I don’t care.’ She only knew that today everything had changed. Was she in love? She could be. But did she know what love was? Could it be this feeling she had for
Nick?

‘And who are the men in your life?’ he asked, arching an eyebrow. ‘What competition have I got? Could it be that young Romeo I first saw you with at Fortuno’s?’

Ruby blushed. ‘Bernie’s just a friend.’

‘Are you sure?’

‘Of course I am!’

‘I would prefer to know where we stood. If we’re going to be a couple, that is.’

Ruby felt a shiver go over her. He wanted them to be together! He wasn’t disappointed in her. Last night was important to him too.

‘You’re the only man in my life,’ she assured him, leaning across to kiss his waiting lips. ‘I haven’t any secrets. You know everything about me.’

He grinned, taking the tray. Then he slipped off his robe and climbed back into bed. ‘I was going to suggest we went for lunch at the Jester. But now, for some reason, I’ve gone off
the idea.’

Ruby held her breath as he pulled her down beside him. She loved his strong hands on her, making her feel safe and protected. She would never get used to the way his body felt; strong and
muscular. But unlike other men in her life, he didn’t use his sex or strength to coax or intimidate her. She was fascinated, aware that as an older man he was experienced. Could she satisfy
him as he had satisfied her?