Page 13 of Meet Me at Sunset

‘Lucas, chéri , this is very generous of you, but you really didn’t have to,’ Camille said, as she climbed into his red Porsche Boxster which had pulled up outside the front of the hotel.

‘I don’t mind,’ he shrugged, as the car roared off, stones skittering from beneath its tyres.

‘But you get so little free time as it is. I don’t want you spending your rare days off ferrying your mother around. I could just as easily have got the hotel to call me a car.’

‘True, but I rarely get to see you too, so let’s make the most of it whilst you’re here.’

‘Oh, that’s so sweet. And you’re sure there’s no ulterior motive?’ Camille teased. ‘No one you want to see at the house?’

‘No,’ Lucas said gruffly, but Camille knew him too well and detected a slight pink flush on his face. She was pleased.

Today she had another meeting with Catherine Zeta-Jones, and Lucas had offered to drive her up to the estate at S’Estaca.

Camille suspected he wanted to see Stephanie again and hoped that was the case – she’d certainly love to be shot of that pushy and trashy model, Elle.

The cheek of the girl yesterday, turning up and claiming to be ‘just passing’, then pitching to be the face of Camille Andre.

And all in front of Isobel too. What an embarrassment.

Outside the car window, the Mallorcan scenery flashed by, as Camille’s thoughts drifted.

It wasn’t far to Catherine’s villa, just a few miles along a winding coastal road.

The land here was bleached by the sun in shades of terracotta and ochre, with pine and olive trees providing welcome greenery, and straggly yellow wildflowers offering a burst of colour.

The mountains stretched away inland, whilst the glorious Mediterranean sparkled on the other side, lapping against the rocky shoreline.

It was another idyllic day on the island.

‘So, what’s happening with Nicolas?’ Lucas’s voice interrupted Camille’s reflective mood.

She sighed softly, her gaze fixed straight ahead at the stunning scenery. ‘Like I said, nothing for you to worry about.’

‘But I am worried about it. If you and Nicolas have fallen out, then it must be serious. I’ve never known the two of you to argue – you always bring him round to your point of view,’ Lucas laughed lightly.

‘You know I think he’s a great guy. Since losing Papa, he’s the closest thing I have to a father. ’

Camille exhaled shakily, tears pricking at her eyelids. Lucas’s words cut deep, bringing up feelings of guilt and confusion that she’d tried to bury. She didn’t want to have this conversation with Lucas, but nor did she want to hide the truth from him. ‘He asked me to marry him—’

‘That’s amazing news!’ Lucas exclaimed, before Camille had the chance to finish her sentence. ‘Congratulations! I’m so happy for the two of you.’

‘I said no.’

Lucas seemed confounded by this. ‘ What? But why?’

‘It’s complicated, Lucas.’

‘No, it isn’t. He adores you, and takes such good care of you. I know you love him too. He makes you happy – you light up around him. And it’d be good for you to be with someone – I’d be more relaxed, knowing you weren’t on your own.’

‘This is my decision to make, not yours.’ Camille’s tone was sharp, almost snappish. She never spoke to Lucas that way, and he looked at her in shock, the hurt clearly visible on his handsome face.

‘Is everything OK, Maman ?’ he asked gently. ‘You haven’t been yourself recently.’

Camille flapped her hands in her lap. ‘I know, I know. I’m sorry. It’s just the stress of the show and … everything. I have a lot to think about, that’s all.’

‘I understand,’ Lucas said carefully. ‘It’s just, I love Nicolas. He’s been in my life since I was born. I don’t want to lose him, the way I lost Papa.’

‘I know, chéri . I’m sorry. I will think about it all and try to resolve matters with Nicolas. But I don’t want to talk about it now. Please, Lucas, leave it alone, for my sake.’

He sighed, ‘All right – for now.’

‘Thank you. Now tell me what’s happening with you, and with the restaurant. The meal was beautiful the other night. Your cooking is better than ever, and my guests were so impressed.’

‘I’m glad. It was a great night. We were full to capacity, and there was such a buzz in the air.’

‘You’ll have your Michelin star in no time,’ Camille beamed.

‘Perhaps …’ Lucas forced a smile.

‘What is it?’

Now it was Lucas’s turn to be evasive, his hands tightening on the steering wheel. ‘I don’t know exactly. There are a few things that are niggling at me, that don’t feel right …’

‘Like what?’

Lucas hesitated. ‘There was an incident the other day. Paulo hadn’t paid one of our suppliers – Diego, the seafood guy.’

‘Diego? But you’ve known him for years. Your father and I used to buy from him directly. He always had the freshest sea bass on the island.’

‘He still does.’

‘Well, I’m sure it was a mistake.’

‘I hope so. But there’ve been a few odd things recently. Paulo’s been spending a lot of time in Palma, especially at night – he’s rarely around for the evening service. Not that he needs to be – that’s not his job. But it just feels like … like he’s keeping secrets from me.’

Camille stiffened. She knew the importance of trusting your gut, and talk of secrets always put her on edge. ‘It’s not acceptable, Lucas. He’s your business partner, and he needs to be open with you. You must speak to him.’

‘I will, Maman .’ But Lucas looked uncomfortable, and Camille knew that he instinctively shied away from confrontation.

She was about to press him further when he turned down a slip road and they pulled up at the discreet entrance to S’Estaca.

Lucas spoke into the intercom and the gates slid open.

Camille forced herself back into professional mode, knowing that her focus needed to be on the meeting with Catherine.

Her conversation with Lucas would have to wait until later.

‘Camille! Thank you so much for coming. And Lucas – I wasn’t expecting to see you too, but I’m thrilled you’re here,’ Catherine Zeta-Jones purred as she welcomed them into her home. ‘Michael and I had such a wonderful time at Il Paradiso. The food was exquisite.’

‘You’re too kind. It was an honour to have you there. But I’m not staying today, I’m just dropping off my mother.’

‘Oh, that’s a shame. I was planning a delicious lunch by the pool, and I’d love for you to join us. It won’t be as good as your food, of course, but it might be nice to eat something someone else has prepared for once …’

‘Well, I …’ Lucas could feel himself weakening.

‘We’ll eat in half an hour or so, so not long to wait.

You’re welcome to make yourself at home in the meantime, and I’m sure Stephanie’s around here somewhere.

Steph?’ Catherine called out, and her voice echoed around the expansive villa.

‘Besides, you can’t make your poor mother take a taxi back,’ she teased, as Lucas laughed.

‘How could I be so unchivalrous? Of course, I’ll stay. Thank you for the invitation.’

‘Perfect,’ Catherine beamed. ‘Now, Camille, I’ve pulled out some dresses upstairs where I love the shape on me, to give you an idea of silhouette.’

‘Wonderful. I’ve brought some fabric samples, and some initial sketches,’ Camille replied, patting her trusty attaché case.

‘I can’t wait to see them, I’m sure we’re going to create something divine.

Ah, Stephanie,’ Catherine smiled, as she appeared in the doorway, wearing a denim mini skirt and a cropped vest, her long hair hanging loose.

Lucas tried to ignore the way his heart rate accelerated when he saw her, the way his mouth felt dry as though he didn’t know what to say.

‘Did you call?’ Stephanie asked Catherine.

‘I did. Could you be a sweetheart and entertain Lucas for me until lunch, whilst Camille and I talk gowns upstairs?’

‘Sure.’ Stephanie turned to him with a grin, her dazzling blue eyes dancing with mischief.

Lucas couldn’t help but grin back, thinking how stunning she looked when she smiled; how – even dressed casually and with no make-up – she was one of the most beautiful women he’d ever seen, with her luminous pale skin and tumbling copper hair.

Catherine and Camille headed for the stone staircase, leaving Lucas and Stephanie alone.

‘I hope you weren’t busy,’ he said, berating himself for saying something so banal.

‘Nothing that can’t wait. I was learning lines,’ Stephanie explained, indicating the thick script in her hands.

‘Don’t let me stop you. I can help, if you like?’ Lucas offered.

‘OK,’ Stephanie agreed. ‘Let’s go sit outside on the terrace. It’s beautiful there.’

Lucas followed her, unable to tear his eyes from her toned, slender legs as she walked, the way her mini skirt barely covered the high, rounded curve of her bottom.

He found himself wondering what had happened between her and Paulo on their date – whether she had been attracted to him, and if she had let him take her in his arms and kiss her—

‘Isn’t it gorgeous?’

‘Hmm?’ Pulled back to the present, Lucas realized that Stephanie had sat down on one of the wide wicker sofas topped with thick cream cushions, and was indicating the view.

They were on a small, terracotta-tiled terrace, with a pergola overhead, interlocking vines and lush purple clematis hanging down and perfectly framing the vista of the Mediterranean, as the cliff fell away sharply below them.

‘It’s spectacular,’ Lucas said, his hazel eyes never leaving her face.

He sat down on the other end of the sofa. Stephanie placed her script down on the table but didn’t open it.

‘So how did your date with Paulo go?’ he asked, unable to restrain himself any longer.

‘We had fun,’ Stephanie replied, and Lucas felt his heart sink.

‘He’s a bit of a playboy, I’m not sure I want to get too close to him,’ she continued, as jealousy and relief surged through Lucas.

He knew it was ridiculous – he was in a relationship with Elle, and Paulo was his best friend, but since he’d met Stephanie two nights ago, he hadn’t been able to stop thinking about her.

‘Sorry,’ she added. ‘I know he’s your friend and everything, but—’

‘No, don’t apologize, it’s fine. I don’t mind,’ Lucas insisted, offering up a silent prayer of gratitude that Stephanie was proving invulnerable to Paulo’s charms.

‘Thank you, by the way,’ Stephanie continued, after a pause. ‘For the picnic food …’

‘Oh, yeah,’ Lucas shrugged. ‘I just wanted you to have something nice. To make up for the terrible date,’ he finished with a grin.

‘I didn’t say it was terrible,’ Stephanie laughed, throwing a cushion at him, which Lucas expertly caught.

‘But the food was the best thing about it, right?’ Lucas pressed cheekily.

‘It was amazing! I’m a terrible cook.’

‘I don’t believe you.’

‘It’s true! I can barely boil an egg.’

‘Then I’ll teach you. How to boil an egg, and a bit more.’

‘More?’ Stephanie asked, raising an eyebrow as she shifted in her seat. Her skirt slid up her legs, and Lucas had to avert his eyes from the acres of shapely, tanned thigh just inches from him.

‘I’ll teach you everything I know,’ he said, his eyes twinkling.

‘Everything? Now there’s an offer that’s hard to refuse.’

The air between them was crackling with electricity. Lucas found himself staring at her soft, pale pink lips, wondering what it would be like to kiss her, and suddenly he felt a sharp memory pierce his thoughts.

His father revving the engine, in the seat of the car as it sped through the mountains, his lips shaping words …

‘If he wants to play that game …’

What did it mean? He closed his eyes tightly to try and capture more, but then suddenly the memory was gone, slipping away, leaving him grappling for it in his mind, frustrated and confused by what it all meant.

‘Are you OK?’ Stephanie put her hand on his arm; he found her steady warmth reassuring.

‘I just had another memory … a sudden flash of something.’

‘Yes, I remember you saying something the other night in the restaurant?’ Stephanie began. ‘Before Paulo came in. You started mentioning the flashbacks, from the accident.’

‘Yeah.’ Lucas swallowed, his mind pulled from the delights of Stephanie’s lips back to that terrible night four years ago.

He thought again of the flashbacks he had been getting, out of the blue, which seemed to rise up unbidden.

The sensations hit him again: the darkness, the ear-splitting screech of metal, the screaming.

Then the silence. ‘I could never remember anything about it, but recently … There are moments. My father’s voice …

he’s telling me to slow down,’ Lucas said, closing his eyes and wincing as he recalled the memory.

‘I can feel my fingers, gripping onto something, trying to hold on … The sensation of being out of control …’

He felt someone touch him and flinched. Opening his eyes, Lucas saw Stephanie staring at him in concern. She was sitting forwards, her hands gripping his.

‘Are you OK?’ she asked again, worriedly, her calm eyes searching his face.

Embarrassed, he pulled his hands away, sitting back. ‘I’m fine. I probably just need to … I had therapy after the accident, but I haven’t been for a couple of years now. Maybe I should start again.’

‘You’re brave to have worked hard to move on,’ Stephanie insisted, as Lucas shook his head.

‘I’m really not. But what can I do? It’s life. You have to carry on.’

Stephanie nodded, taking in his words.

‘You seem like you understand,’ Lucas said. A gentle breeze blew in from the sea, ruffling his floppy dark hair, carrying with it the tang of saltwater. ‘As though something had happened to you …’

‘Perhaps I do understand. The circumstances aren’t the same, but …’ Stephanie swallowed. ‘I know what it’s like to feel the past weighing on you.’

Lucas could sense her hesitance.

‘You had a bad thing happen to you too?’

‘Oh, no, not like that … but I … I didn’t have the easiest time when I was a kid. I know what it’s like to have to do things yourself.’

‘You have no family?’

‘Yes, I do, but it’s complicated.’ Her eyes dropped, and Lucas sensed a vulnerability in her.

‘Maybe you can tell me about it—’

‘There you are,’ Catherine exclaimed. The two of them jumped apart. ‘Well, don’t you both look cosy?’ she said with a dangerous smile. ‘Tell me, Lucas, has Stephanie been looking after you?’

‘Yes, she’s … she’s been doing a wonderful job.’ His eyes met Stephanie’s, and a look of understanding and longing passed between them. Lucas realized his pulse was racing, his heart pounding.

‘Excellent,’ Catherine declared. ‘Now, let’s all go and have lunch.’