Page 28 of Mayfair Madame

Embarrassed, I gazed around the bar. We were the only ones sitting at the table. Where had everyone else gone?

“I think your friends have deserted us.”

“They’re just over there. They never stray far. We’re a family. We may be crazy and be from all walks of life, but we’re a family all the same.”

“I’ve never had that. Other than my mum and sister, I don’t have anyone else. I sound like a proper, sad person.”

“No, you don’t. Maybe a little lonely? But now you have me and them.” She nodded to her friends sitting across the bar.

“Tell me how you became a madame? I’m curious.”

“It’s a very long story and one I will happily tell you, but not tonight. Tonight we celebrate.”

She picked up her glass from the table, downed it in one, and shuddered.

“Oscar! We need more drinks. Come on, Ellie. You have some catching up to do.”

Her friends rejoined us, and Naomi and Oscar went back to the bar.

“She really does like you, Ellie. I’ve never seen her like this over anyone. Just don’t break her heart. She doesn’t give it freely.”

I turned to face Melinda. “I would never do that.”

She was more likely to break mine, and a pang of something akin to dread filled me. Would I survive it? Naomi was everything Kate wasn’t. I was captivated by her charm, her sensuality, her looks. The way she moved, sinuous and seductive, like a panther.

For a moment, I imagined her naked, beckoning me to her, taking me to her bed. How would it feel to be kissed by her? To have her hands move over my body.

Urgh, my body. I could never show her that. What would she think of the stretch marks and the fat that refused to shift, no matter how much I tried?

Melinda joined Naomi at the bar. I watched them together as they laughed, carelessly touching each other. They would make far more sense together. I was dull in comparison.

She deserved someone like Melinda. I should go. I didn’t belong here with the beautiful people. This wasn’t my place.

I stood. I could sneak out and no one would notice, not until it was too late, anyway. The urge to run overrode any compulsion I had to stay.

But when I looked at Naomi, my heart rate kicked up a notch. My mouth went dry, and tingles spread through me.

She’s out of your league.

Kate’s voice sounded in my head, and as much as I hated to disagree with the bitch, I couldn’t. Naomiwasway out of my league. I took a last look over my shoulder and headed to the door.

“Where do you think you’re going?” The tall, blond Oscar barred my exit.

“Home. I shouldn’t have come. I don’t belong here. I’m not like you.”

“Oh, nobody’s like me, honey. But that matters how? Sad fucking world if we’re all the same. Do you know how long it took me to convince her to call you? Now, you just turn your pretty little ass around and sit back down on that stool. There’s a drink on the table for you.”

I opened my mouth to protest, but he placed a finger on my lips.

“I’ll hear no more. Go. Sit. Have fun. Make her happy. God knows, she deserves some happiness.”

He turned me around and gently pushed me back into the room, straight into Naomi.

“Were you leaving?” She pressed her hand to her chest.

“What? No, I was looking for the bathroom. Oscar directed me the right way.”

“I was going to say. The night’s still young, and we haven’t even started dancing yet. Come on. I love this song.”