THE DEAL by Marsh, Nicola (electronic reader txt) 📕

I’m afraid of,” Kara muttered, wondering what Sal had in mind. The last time she’d seen that look was at the speed dating dinner. And look where that had got her.

Sal merely grinned in response.

* * *

Matt couldn’t believe he’d agreed to this. His life was slowly but surely heading down the toilet yet he’d allowed Sally to cajole him into attending her awards ceremony. He’d always had a soft spot for her. But why did she have to ask him at a time like this, when he was still licking his wounds?

The image of Kara in Steve Rockwell’s arms was burned into his brain. Whenever he closed his eyes, there she was, tearing at his heart all over again. Dammit. Why couldn’t he get her out of his head? He’d loved and left women before.

Correction, he’d liked and left them before. No woman had ever come close to capturing his love yet Kara had done it with little effort and rendered him a fool in the process. He’d never felt so stupid as he did when he’d followed her down to the foyer yesterday, only to see her in the arms of her ex.

Had she deceived him the whole time? Was she still in love with Steve and had used him? And if so, why?

If he were completely honest with himself, he’d admit that attending the ceremony tonight wasn’t all about doing something for Sal out of the goodness of his heart. He hoped Kara might show up and somehow, they could work things out. Delusional, but he’d come anyway. If anything, tonight might put some closure on the whole episode and he could move on. Somehow, the thought of moving on left a distinct bitter taste in his mouth. However, he swallowed it, pasted a bright smile on his face and stepped from the car.

The sight of her hit him like a freight train at a million miles an hour: fast, brutal and just as damaging. He watched her glide up the front steps of the Opera House, a shimmering vision in midnight shot-silk that draped her lush curves and fell to her ankles. Her hair was swept up in a loose mass of curls, making her seem ten feet tall. She looked like a golden goddess, cutting a path through the crowd.

He’d never wanted her as badly as he did at that moment. He loved her and he wanted to shout it to the world. Instead, he stood there, gaping like a fool.

“Why don’t you go after her?”

A quiet voice spoke, echoing his thoughts and he turned to find Sally smiling at him.

He shook his head. “I can’t.”

“Can’t or won’t?”

“It’s no use. I’ve blown it.” He stared at Kara’s retreating back, wishing it wasn’t true.

“Do you love her?” Sally fixed him with a fierce stare. She reminded him of a protective Rottweiler, without the snarl and the sharp teeth.

“Yeah, I do. Not that it’s done me much good.” The bitterness rose again, almost choking him.

Her expression softened and he wondered momentarily how he could have made such an unflattering comparison a few seconds ago. Kara was lucky to have someone like Sally who cared about her.

“Tell her. It’s the only way.” Sally laid a hand on his back and pushed none too gently.

“What if she doesn’t want to hear it?”

She raised an eyebrow, glaring at him as if he was stupid. “What have you got to lose?”

“Everything,” he mumbled, surprised that it was true. Kara was everything to him. His lifestyle, his job and all its trappings seemed insignificant if he didn’t have her.

“Don’t just stand there. Do something about it.” Once again, she pushed, though this time it was more of a shove.

Sally was right. What did he have to lose, apart from pride?

He bent to kiss her cheek. “Thanks, Sal. I owe you one.”

She blushed. “You’re wasting time kissing an old chook like me. Go!”

He raced after Kara, hoping it wasn’t too late.

* * *

Kara entered the foyer and looked around, unable to spot Sal. Great. She’d hoped to get this ordeal over with as soon as possible and now she’d have to stand around and look interested, when all she felt like doing was running home and hiding beneath the bedcovers. If anyone approached her, she’d snap.

Her nerves were stretched taut from having to pretend all day at work that nothing was wrong. She thought she’d been convincing, until one of the clients had questioned her. She’d nearly lost it then but managed to pull herself together and blame her listlessness on the ’flu. Having to get dressed up in formal gear for tonight hadn’t helped. She didn’t feel like being glamorous, she felt downright miserable. A night at home with movies and chocolate had been the order of the day. Instead, she had to smile and act like she didn’t have a care in the world.

For the hundredth time, she wondered what Sal would do about Matt. Perhaps she’d organised a stand-in? Imagine, two look-a-like Matt Byrnes in the world? Heck, what was she thinking? Bad enough coping with one and she seriously doubted any other man could pull off the worldliness Matt possessed. It wasn’t just his looks, his body or his intelligence. No, it was much more than that...and she’d let him slip right through her fingers. He had that indefinable quality that separated the men from the boys. She wished she could bottle it, she’d make a squillion.

A passing waiter offered her a glass of champagne and she twirled the delicate crystal stem between her fingers, reluctant to take a sip. That’s all she needed. Alcohol