completely. How could she be? When they had Ethan. A link that would always be there, forever. And he was thankful for that. But now all he wanted for India was for her to be happy. He just wanted her to be happy. ‘Yeah. Maybe you’re right. Things do tend to make a lot more sense when you’re in your own back yard.’
She leant over and kissed him quickly on the cheek, a kiss that reminded him so much of the days when she’d seen him as nothing more than some kind of father-figure; the days when he’d let that dangerous obsession grow into something it should never have become. ‘I’d better go find Charley. I said I’d join her for a drink outside. See you later, Michael.’
He watched her walk away from him, her head slightly down, her shoulders tense. As usual she had more than a few things on her mind, and he couldn’t help wondering, if she just stopped thinking about everything so much would she not be a whole lot happier? But it wasn’t his job to sort that out anymore. She’d find her own way, eventually. He just hoped it wouldn’t take too long because she deserved to be happy. She deserved that.
‘Is she alright?’ Kenny asked, joining Michael at the bar, leaning back against it and folding his arms, watching India until she disappeared outside onto the terrace to join the al fresco party.
‘She’s fine,’ Michael replied, looking at Kenny through slightly narrowed eyes. ‘Why wouldn’t she be?’
Kenny shrugged. ‘She’s been talking to you, hasn’t she?’
Michael ignored that comment and finished his drink, standing up, shoving his hands in his pockets. ‘I’ll see you later, Kenny.’
Kenny watched him walk away, over to Layla who looked spectacular tonight, there was no denying that. Could she have been his if he’d just tried that little bit harder? Jesus, that was the story of his life, wasn’t it? Should have tried harder. India, Layla, Casey – all amazing women that could all have been his, if he’d just tried that little bit harder. But Kenny had reached a point where he was sick of trying. It just wasn’t him. He didn’t have the energy anymore; he was just no good at it. He was destined to be Hollywood’s most eligible bachelor for the rest of his life and he was just going to have to get used to that.
Suddenly, his attention was caught by a tall, dark haired woman walking past the bar. She was dressed to kill in a figure-hugging silver dress and matching heels, her cat-like eyes catching his as she sashayed past. Kenny smiled. Maybe there were some perks to be had as Hollywood’s most eligible bachelor. And he’d be one crazy son-of-a-bitch to ignore that.
***
‘You’re tense,’ Martha said, gently massaging Reece’s shoulders as they sat at a table out on the terrace, making the most of the warm night air as all around them music blasted out from speakers that seemed as though they were hidden in the bark of palm trees or concealed underneath the patio. And given that this was Las Vegas that could, quite possibly, be the case.
‘I’m just keen to get back to Malibu,’ Reece replied, letting Martha’s expert fingers work their magic on his aching shoulders. Even through the material of his shirt he could feel her hands easing the tension he had, indeed, been feeling. Because he just wanted to get away from Vegas now. He wanted to get back home, back to normality. Whatever that was.
‘We’ll be there before you know it,’ Martha smiled, reaching round to plant a quick kiss on his mouth before giving his shoulders a giant squeeze that caused Reece to both shout and laugh out loud as she managed to almost punch out a knot of anxiety. But it made him instantly feel better. It was like a weight had, literally, been lifted off his shoulders.
‘Y’know, you could make money doing that,’ Reece smiled as Martha sat down opposite him, taking a sip of her vodka and lime juice.
‘I think I’ll keep my services strictly private, if you don’t mind,’ she smiled back, gently rubbing her leg against his as the music changed to a slower, more soulful Usher track, taking over from the heavier Gavin DeGraw song that had previously been playing.
‘Well, maybe that’s for the best,’ Reece said, still smiling. ‘After all, I’m not too good at sharing.’
‘There we go. A nice, relaxed Reece Brogan. That’s what I like