Garden of Desire by Laura Martin

Author:Laura Martin
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2011-06-10T00:00:00+00:00

The spaghetti bolognese was acceptable; Robyn had tried her best and it wasn’t a disaster. What more could she hope for? I could hope that they’ll leave before dessert, she thought bitterly, as Melissa’s affected laugh rang in her ear for the fourth time. Any more of her little digs at me and her sickening smiles of lust at Luke and I shall vomit. It’s quite pathetic, Robyn thought, demeaning, the way she hangs on to his every word, flirts so outrageously with him. He’s not taking any more notice of her than he is of me. We might as well both be invisible, she told herself with irritation, conveniently forgetting Luke’s earlier attempts to draw her into the conversation.

She listened for the first time in ages, pouring herself another glass of wine, knowing she was drinking a little too much, but doing it out of a desire to annoy Luke. The conversation had shifted; now they were talking business.

‘You clinched the deal with Philip, then?’ Paul was saying. ‘That was good going, Luke. Filming can start on schedule, thank God! For a while there I thought we were going to be up the creek without a paddle.’

Robyn took a sip and wished she had been listening from the beginning. Filming? Wasn’t that what he’d said?

Melissa dabbed daintily at her mouth. ‘How’s casting going, Luke? Have you got who you want?’

Luke nodded. ‘Yes,’ he replied, ‘I confirmed yesterday evening. ‘We’re going to start shooting at the end of the month.’

‘Films?’ Robyn demanded, slapping down her wine glass on to the table. ‘You’re in the film business?’

The three of them turned and looked at her. Her voice, she realised, had been a little strident. Luke answered for them all. ‘Yes, that’s right,’ he said. ‘Are you interested in film-making, Robyn?’

Robyn felt the blood dram from her face, she could hear the sudden hammering of her heart. ‘I... I didn’t realise,’ she mumbled. ‘Why didn’t you tell me?’

Luke shrugged nonchalantly. ‘I don’t know; the subject never came up, I suppose. Does it matter, then?’ he challenged.

‘No. No, of course not.’ Robyn stared down at her plate, managed a mouthful of bolognese. She had been wrong before—it tasted awful.

‘We all make our living from the film industry in one area or another,’ he continued. ‘Paul and I have a production company—I direct as well—and Melissa here is an actress——’

‘Oh, surely you’ve heard of Luke!’ Melissa cut in. ‘You must have! He’s such a respected figure in the film industry!’ She rattled off the names of films he had apparently directed, looking overtly scornful at Robyn’s ignorance.

Robyn shook her head. ‘I don’t go to the cinema very often,’ she murmured. ‘I haven’t the time.’

‘Are you OK?’ Luke’s eyes were scanning her face. ‘You look a little pale suddenly. Don’t you feel well?’

Robyn twisted her gaze away. ‘No. Yes! I mean I’m all right! Don’t fuss. I’m fine,’ she snapped.

There was a moment’s pause; they were digesting her rudeness, she could see that. Paul shifted uncomfortably in his seat.

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