Diamonds Forever (Diamond Trilogy 3) - Page 26

‘Sorry,’ said Kayley, letting a suppressed giggle into the awkward silence. ‘You’ve got enough bedrooms that it shouldn’t matter. I’ll sleep in the attic if you want.’

‘That’s Jason’s studio. It’ll have to be one of the first floor rooms. Don’t worry, we’ve got loads. They all need a good remodelling, but they’re liveable, now the damp’s been sorted out.’ She was silent for a moment. ‘Damn Deano,’ she said. ‘Why did he have to do this? Everything was almost going so well.’

‘I know it’s a pain for you,’ said Kayley, ‘but he’s not breaking the law. He’s entitled to visit his home town, isn’t he? If you ignore him long enough, he’ll go away.’

Jenna put a hand on Kayley’s elbow.

‘Yes,’ she said, her smile warmer now. ‘You’re right. Deano can’t stand being ignored. He’ll be craving the LA limelight within a few days. Let’s ride this storm through, shall we? Oh dear. I think your dad’s fallen asleep. I’d better let you go. But there’ll be a taxi at your door first thing tomorrow, so be packed and ready.’

‘Yes, ma’am,’ said Kayley, with a mock salute.

Jenna watched her scamper back to her car, smiling at the way her hood fell off her head to reveal a painfully tight ponytail.

As disguises went, it wasn’t the best. It was how her old friends – and new enemies – all knew her. They weren’t aware of the new, groomed version of the former youth worker.

But now somebody else was. Her ex-husband, the rock star and perfidious idiot, Deano Diamond.

Jenna started up the car, the revving engine letting out the growl she was feeling at the back of her throat.

He could stay the fuck away. And that was that.

‘I baked a cake, see.’ Linda Watson removed a Tupperware lid from a tray.

Jenna tried not to laugh. Great British Bake Off material it was not. It was more like something off the Cake Wrecks website.

Two misshapen, unmatched layers of burnt sponge sandwiched an off-white substance that could have been cream or horseradish sauce. On the top was written in wobbly blue icing ‘Happy Birtday Our Jase’.

‘You missed out the H,’ said Jason. ‘Off of birthday.’

‘Did I? Oh shit,’ said Linda, peering closer. ‘Sorry, love. I didn’t notice. Glass of wine for the chef?’

‘One,’ said Jenna, going to the fridge. ‘Then I’ve made a lovely birthday punch.’

‘Non-alcoholic,’ said Jason, with a meaningful look at his mother.

‘If a mum can’t toast her lad on his thirtieth birthday, what’s the world coming to?’ Linda objected.

‘Come on,’ said Jenna, trying to create a distraction. ‘Let’s bring this gorgeous cake into the dining room. The table’s all laid up. I’ve done a buffet.’

‘Did it yourself, did you?’ asked Linda, walking into the as-yet-undecorated dining room. The table was decorated enough for the whole room, though, dressed in silver and fine linen with all manner of delicious treats spread over the cloth.

‘Well, no. Caterers. I’m not much of a cook, to be honest,’

‘Fancy our Jase having a catered party,’ said Linda. ‘There’s posh.’

She sat down, chugging at her wine glass.

‘Fancy our Jase having a party at all,’ said Jason, not without a trace of bitterness.

‘You know how I was fixed.’ Linda’s voice took on the familiar self-pitying whine.

‘You could have sued for child support,’ said Jason, raising the issue that had kept its ugly head low for the first polite half-hour of the gathering. ‘Off His Nibs Harville.’

Linda put her glass down and looked towards the door, as if seeking escape.

‘I’ve explained all that,’ she mumbled. ‘He would’ve took you off me.’

‘Well, maybe it would have been for the best,’ said Jason.

Tags: Justine Elyot Diamond Trilogy Erotic
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