Dove Read online

  As if sensing me, she lifted her head and her eyes locked onto mine. A small crease broke across her brow as her hard grey eyes, for a second, softened. The tightness in my lungs was back as I stared at her. She was so beautiful. For years the image I had remembered her by was the last day I saw her, when her heartbroken cries had burnt their way into my soul, and her red rimmed eyes had forever haunted my mind. Now it was like someone had opened the window and a gust of air had brought new, longed-for, happier visions of her.

  “What’s wrong?” Her voice was quiet but full of concern.

  I blinked, somewhat astounded by her ability to read me. If I had learned anything about being an actor, it was to train your expressions to never give anything away. Showing your emotions was like signing your own death warrant. The media were experts in deciphering facial and body language, and you never gave anything away about yourself unless you wanted to be eaten alive by the press. Yet Dove appeared to see the real me. Just like when we were kids.

  But we weren’t kids any longer. Suddenly I resented her, hated that she stood there without a care in the world, judging me and judging my fucked up life. I couldn’t help but think that if she had never walked away then I would never have married Jen. I would never have been humiliated in front of millions of people. Life was so easy for her – lay back and open your legs, take the cash, and allow the whole world to fuck you instead of fuck you up.

  My mouth dried as I stared at her, my heart beating furiously the more agitated I became. Hating myself as I raked my eyes over her, I took a step closer to her. Her body braced itself for my fury but she stared me out. “I feel like a good – hard - angry - fuck, Dove. That’s what’s wrong.”

  She did nothing but remain silent and gaze at me.

  Grabbing her chin in my fingers, my hold on her as sharp as my words, I yanked her ear to my mouth. “I paid you enough, so be the good whore that you are and get in that bathroom, slide down your knickers and bend over for me, huh?”

  As soon as the words left my mouth my heart sank and I dropped my hold on her, the pain that covered her face sliding into me like a knife in the gut. I couldn’t figure why I was being so cruel to her, yet I couldn’t seem to stop myself.

  She licked her lips, her eyes dulling as they left my face, and she stared over my shoulder. It was as though she had slipped a mask over her face and stepped into a different body. Her shoulders pulled back and her back slid straight as a void seeped into her eyes. Detachment and numbness manifested in everything about her. “Would you like to fuck me in the ladies or the gents, Mr O’Kane?”

  My gut twisted, nausea burning a hole in my belly as my words hurt me as much as they did her. Closing my eyes when realisation of what a bastard I was being sank in, I reached out and hesitantly took her hand. “I’m sorry, Dove. I didn’t mean that.”

  Her eyes slowly moved to me, and for the briefest moment I swore I saw a damp agony staring back at me, but she blinked and dry expressionless eyes held mine. She didn’t give me a retort or any words but slowly, she nodded.

  “It’s been a bad week. I just need to get high,” I mumbled, trying to excuse the bastard that came out in force every time I opened my stupid mouth near her.

  Nodding again, she slipped her hand into her bag and pulled out a small make-up bag. She unzipped it, delved inside, and pulled out a small foil wrap. “On the house,” she mumbled before she manoeuvred around me and left me staring at her glorious backside.

  WALKING BACK INTO the room, I allowed the breath I’d been holding back to slowly vacate my lungs. I couldn’t understand why I was allowing each of Flick’s insults to hurt me when I dealt with much worse on a daily basis. But this was Flick. We had been friends and allies for many years. That was a long time ago, and I had to remember we had both changed. I needed to keep in mind that the years may not have been kind to Flick either.

  “Dove!”

  I smiled when Marcy Peters rushed over to me, closely followed by her husband, David.

  “Marcy.” I gave her a sincere hug. “How lovely to see you both here.”

  “And you, my dear girl,” she said as David placed a gentle kiss to my cheek, his eyes twinkling as usual. “Are you with a client?”

  I lifted a brow, playfully chastising her with narrow eyes. “Now you know I can’t tell you that, Marcy.”

  She giggled and slapped my arm lightly. “Oh, come on. You know I love all the celeb gossip.”

  I nodded but gave her a playful scowl.

  “Leave her alone, Marcy,” David grumbled. The pair that often booked me for a fun evening were the oddest couple on my clientele list. Marcy was the happiest woman alive, her constant smiles and giggles contagious, but her husband was always grumpy and complaining, yet I knew he had an extroverted side.

  “Are you here for the auction, Dove?” David asked with a soft smile. He was a lovely man, and the gentlest of all my regulars.

  “Well, I am, but I’m not sure what the charity is.”

  “Oh, that does mean you’re here with a booking.” Marcy grinned with excitement. Her eyes narrowed as she scanned the room for my potential client, and I smirked when David rolled his eyes and shook his head, exasperated with his wife’s unremitting need for information.

  “Well, you’re just about to find out.” David gestured to the raised podium at the head of the room, then giving my cheek another kiss, he dragged his wife across the room to a table.

  I turned to the stage and stared as Flick smiled out to the room from where he stood behind the microphone. Although the room was well lit I could see him struggling to focus on people. I wondered how much coke he’d snorted, but he shook himself off and smiled wider.

  “Good evening, ladies and gents. I can’t thank you enough for joining me tonight. I know you all have extra busy schedules and the fact that you have taken time out of them to kindly share a part of your wealth with me tonight makes my heart swell.”

  I stood, full of bewilderment as Flick carried on.

  “You all know that this charity covers a subject which is very personal to me, and the fact that you give so generously every year leaves me in awe each and every time. Last year your efforts raised a total of three quarters of a million for K.I.N. The amount the children benefitted from that is invaluable, so thank you so much.”

  A round of applause and whistles burst around the room. I wanted to pull out my phone and do a Google search for K.I.N but I was too staggered to move.

  “Now,” Flick continued with a smile. “I know you’re all eager for the auction to start but we need to fill your bellies first. So if you would like to take your seats at your designated tables, I have been informed dinner will be served momentarily.”

  Everyone clapped again as they sauntered around the room to find their tables. Flick stepped down the few steps and walked towards me, weaving easily through the throng of hungry diners as though he knew exactly where I was without having to search for me.

  He gave me a genuine smile and I swallowed against the constriction in my throat at the sheer beauty of it. Flick has always been good-looking, but when he smiled, the whole world seemed to pause and bathe in his magnificence. However this smile was all for me, and I had noticed that when he smiled at others, it was never the same smile that shone at me.

  Without saying a word he held out his elbow. For a long moment I just gawped at his arm, but shaking myself off, I returned his smile and slipped my arm through his.

  “What’s K.I.N?” I asked quietly. I felt so bad-mannered that I was unaware he was a sponsor for a charity I had never heard of.

  He smiled and acknowledged various people as he guided me to our table, nodding politely and greeting everyone pleasantly, and as he pulled out my chair courteously, he leaned into my ear. “K.I.N. stands for Kids in Need,” Flick told me as he pushed my chair in. “It’s a foundation that helps children get out from the horrors of living with abusive parents.”

  My whole body locked tight. My heart bumped m
anically in my chest as I swallowed the sudden lump that appeared in my throat. My mouth opened and closed many times as I attempted to say something, but nothing would be enough for the overwhelming feeling inside me.

  Flick watched me closely, regarding my reaction. My mouth was so dry that I reached out for the glass of water set in front of me and took a sip, hoping to push the shock back down my throat.

  I looked at him, batting the tears from my eyes before I asked a question I had wanted to ask him since I first laid eyes on him again. “Please tell me you got out of there after I left.”

  Something resembling pain flashed in his eyes but he nodded, and without really answering my question, he turned and smiled at a couple who joined our table.

  “Flick,” Trevor Bentley said with a huge smile as he took the seat next to Flick. His eyes moved to me and a large smile covered his face. “Miss Bliss, how lovely that you join us this year.”

  I sensed Flick stiffen to my right. I had warned him that most people would recognise me but it was obvious Flick hadn’t taken much notice of my warning.

  “Mr Bentley,” I returned with a smile when his partner took a seat to his right. “It’s an honour to be here.”

  Jerry, who I had met at Flick’s apartment, took the chair next to Trevor’s partner, Stephen, as a stunning woman sat to Jerry’s right. Jerry introduced her to me as his wife, Marjorie, when someone took the seat beside me.

  Everyone on the table stiffened and all eyes turned to Flick. Before he could react, I quickly slid my hand under the table and placed it on his thigh, giving him a slight squeeze.

  Cody Roberts was an arsehole, plain and simple. I knew him and I had found it difficult to see Flick and Cody as friends. Cody was a pretentious fuck who thought he was above everyone around him. I also knew what he had done with Flick’s wife. It was hard not to; Flick’s private life had been splattered on the front page of every newspaper, TV screen, and magazine in the previous few days.

  “I think it might be a good idea if you move,” Jerry told Cody through clenched teeth, his wary eyes glancing at Flick and back to Cody.

  I could feel Flick vibrating under my touch, his need to get up and kill his ex-best friend at the forefront of every instinct taking over his body.

  “Don’t rise to it. He’s goading you,” I whispered as I leaned further into Flick. I was so close I could feel his warm breath tickle my hair, and every nerve ending in my body became hyper-alert.

  “Ahh,” Cody slurred, evidently drunk. “I came for a piece of Miss Bliss. After all, that’s what she’s there for. I knew it wouldn’t take Flick long to hook up with a whore.”

  Flick lurched forwards, his face red with rage, but I shot up and quickly put my hand on his chest, silently in awe of how hard he was. Jerry and Trevor held onto each of his arms to stop him from attacking the knobhead. Turning to Cody, I smiled sweetly.

  “Unfortunately, Mr Roberts, I’m afraid that’s not possible.” He scoffed at me, his leer full of disgust as I carried on. “For one, you could never afford me and for two, I’m not really into feminine men. I like my fucks to be hard and rough.” I took great delight in watching his face drop and anger slide over every one of his ugly features. Then I went in for the kill. “Hence why I’m with Flick tonight.”

  Marjorie snickered loudly and lowered her head to the table. All amused eyes – apart from Flick who was still spitting hatred – turned to Cody, their expressions mocking him.

  Expecting it, I moved in time to grab Cody’s wrist as his fist came hurtling towards my face. Then, pulling my other arm back, I floored him in one punch.

  The room fell silent as Cody flew backwards, his arse hitting the floor with a heavy thud. Every eye in the room left Cody and Flick and slowly moved to me. I was too angry to bother with what everyone was thinking.

  “Get the hell out before I decide to really hurt you,” I hissed when two security guards rushed over.

  “Not her!” Jerry barked at one when he took hold of my arm and started to direct me out of the building.

  “You’ll pay for that, bitch!” Cody spat as the guards pulled him away.

  “Wow.” Marjorie grinned at me as I retook my seat at the table and the noise around the room began again with hushed whispers.

  I blushed and gave her a small smile. “I’m sorry. I seem to lower the tone every time. Please excuse my behaviour.”

  Flick was still silent beside me and I turned to him, grimacing at his expression. His eyes were wide and accusing. “I’m sorry.”

  I didn’t know what else to say. I was his guest for the evening and I’d embarrassed him. But he blinked at me and shook his head. “Where the hell did you learn to punch like that?”

  Lowering my eyes and leaning towards him when a waitress placed the first course of the meal before me, I said quietly, “It’s an essential in my job, I’m afraid. There’s some nasty freaks out there.”

  His face blanched, his skin paling with my honesty. “Why do you do it, Dove? I can’t… Why risk your life and allow people to hurt you?”

  I shrugged, releasing a long breath through my nose as I stabbed at a scallop. “It doesn’t hurt after so long. Life isn’t easy, Flick. You of all people should know that, and sometimes it’s easier to do what you do best.”

  He didn’t answer me as he started to eat. Throughout the meal he was quiet and contemplative and I could see his jaw tightening with every passing minute. I had no doubt that he was imagining my life, but he would only hurt himself with the unknown.

  Eventually, when everyone had finished, Flick stood up. “I have to go do the auction.” I nodded, giving him a smile. “Don’t move.” He was stern, his eyes fixed on me with a blaze. “And keep your fists under the table!”

  “Okay.”

  He nodded and then strolled over to the podium once again. The gathering in the room all applauded when Flick once again became someone I didn’t know, and smiled falsely out to everyone. “Right.” He rubbed his hands together. “Let’s get this show on the road and secure those kids lots of money.”

  My heart murmured at the only authentic words he gave his guests. It was obvious this charity meant a great deal to him – which of course it would.

  “First lot,” Flick started, “is a day in the recording studio and then dinner with none other than Room 103.” A round of squeals echoed around the room. Room 103 was a world renowned rock band and I was amazed at their generosity. Bids started being called out around the room and I smiled when it was evident how much everyone loved Flick.

  The lots after were just as huge; signed stuff from the England football team, a chance to be an extra in a Hollywood blockbuster, and a photo shoot with Trudy Edwards, the hottest actress doing the rounds at the moment. There was even a helicopter ride and lunch with non-other than Drake and Reid, two massive TV personalities who seemed to appear in everything on the small screen. Each lot went for thousands of pounds. The atmosphere in the room was electric and I enjoyed every second of it.

  Then came the last lot, and my whole body surged to attention even more.

  “And now the one you’ve all been waiting for.” Flick grinned with a mischievous glint in his striking green eyes. “Me as your slave for twenty-four hours.”

  The whole place erupted in a mass of squeals, applause, and whoops.

  “Of course, I reserve the right to keep my underwear on,” he added with a wink.

  Immediately a woman sitting at the other side of the room from me bounced up and shouted, “Ten thousand.”

  Gasps rung around and Flick smirked. “Thank you. I knew I could count on you, Sarah.”

  All of Sarah’s friends nudged her when she blushed wildly. It was obvious she had a crush on Flick. I didn’t like the sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach when I imagined Flick being her slave for the day.

  Another woman shot up with her hand thrust high in the air. “Twenty thousand.”

  Flick grinned at the new bidder. “I’m honoured you f
eel I’m worth that much, Wendy.”

  The bids rebounded back and forth between the two women until the offer came up to eighty thousand. Both women looked a little uncomfortable with the amount and the room had a deathly silence as the most extravagant offer of the night became a little surreal.

  “Bid is with Sarah at eighty thousand.” Flick glanced between both Sarah and Wendy. “Are we done?”

  Wendy chewed rapidly on her bottom lip but you could see in her eyes just how much she wanted to win. My stomach was in knots. I wasn’t sure exactly what ‘Flick as your slave’ included but I could imagine what each woman wanted. Of course, it had nothing to do with me what Flick did, but as my throat dried further, I started to get more nervous.

  “Eighty five thousand,” Wendy squeaked out.

  All heads turned to Sarah in expectation. The sweet Sarah who had blushed at the start of the bidding had become a viper. Her eyes spat hatred at Wendy and the tense pull of her lips told me this woman meant business. “Ninety.” The cruel smirk she gave Wendy made me want to poke her eyes out. Her gleeful eyes turned back to Flick and I swallowed when the tip of her tongue ran across her lips hungrily. Flick, of course, just chuckled and turned back to Wendy.

  Wendy looked in pain, her throat bobbing up and down nervously. I could see her calculating the sum in her head, trying to search through her brain to see if her bank balance would stretch enough. I was silently egging her on. There was something about Sarah I didn’t like.

  As if reading my mind, Marjorie leaned towards me. “Sarah and Flick used to have a thing years ago, then he met Jennifer and dumped her puny ass.”

  I nodded and gave Marjorie an appreciative smile when she filled me in. However this information did nothing to help the feeling in my gut. I couldn’t understand why I was so interested in what Flick did. After tonight I wouldn’t see him again so it should have been none of my concern.