Page 97 of Broken Beyond Repair

A hint of perfume hit her senses. She ran the card under her nose, taking her back to that night when they’d kissed, when she’d told Beatrice how good she’d smelt.Oh God.Sydney’s body ached for her. She longed to be in her presence and hear a click of her fingers; that would be enough to keep her going for a week. But then what? She’d just want more of her.

The sound of her mum coming up the stairs startled her from her daydreaming.

“What was it? Anything interesting?”

Sydney passed the book to her mum as she entered the room.

“Bloody hell. Is that you?”

“Do you know any other Sydney MacKenzie?”

She watched as her mum opened the book and read the inscription. It was funny to think how she’d fought for her precious time off to write, only for another book entirely to fall into her lap. A book that she hoped was going to be the making of her.

“I know you said you’d helped her with it, but co-author — wow. Your dad would have been so proud.” Rhona looked at her daughter and gave her a rueful smile.

“Yeah, I know, Mum.”

“That was well worth giving up a bit of travelling time, don’t you think?”

“Every bit.”

Catching another glimpse of Beatrice as her mum closed the book, Sydney blurted out, “I’ve changed my mind. Let’s catch that matinee!”

Beatrice was sensational, just as she had been inNancy. Those smouldering eyes, sideways glances, the way she could slowly look up at you whilst tilting her head away… How did she do that? It was enough for you to rip your own heart out and throw it at her. The thought that she had kissed those lips, tasted her, was like a dream now. Had she imagined the entire summer?

The light, vibrating sensation of her phone rippled through her backside. Extracting it from beneath her, she shielded the brightness with her jacket and opened a text message.

B has set the world alight — for you! Watch this right NOW!!!

Without even knowing what the hell Rosie was talking about, Sydney’s heart was fluttering, dancing in anticipation. What had Beatrice Russell done… for her?

She clambered to her feet. “I’ll be back in a sec, Mum.”

Once in the cinema’s foyer, she clicked the link Rosie had sent. On the screen flashed a video of Beatrice sitting beside a talk show host. Sydney’s whole body groaned as she took the woman, and her fine red dress, in. She was dazzling, just like the first image Rosie had shown her all those months back.

“You spent the summer in England convalescing, I believe,” the talk show host was saying, “and in a heat wave too.”

Beatrice nodded. “Despite the broken leg, I had a fantastic summer at home. There was time to reflect and grow closer with Alex, my teenager.”

Sydney smiled. That was one of the better outcomes of the summer.

“I’m actually heading back to the UK tomorrow for a quiet Christmas,” she added.

“And no doubt deserved. You’ve been keeping busy for someone with a broken leg!” the host joked. “You’ve just released your autobiography,Broken Beyond Repair, just in time for Christmas.” The host held up a copy of her book to the camera.

“I have.”

“Is the title a question or a statement?”

Beatrice grinned slyly. “I’ll leave that for the readers to decide.”

“I hear it’s hit number one on theNew York TimesBest Seller List.”

Fuck. Had it?

Was that what Rosie meant? She’d happily take it, but she’d be lying if she wasn’t disappointed if this was Beatrice’s way ofsetting the world on fire for her. She wasn’t sure she could watch anymore, not without vomiting anyway.

“You have the awards season coming up too. You’ve been nominated for Best Actress, I understand.”