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smiled. ‘I wish he had – I’d be delighted to think you’d met someone to be in a compromising situation with!’
    Kerry smiled mischievously. ‘Well, one of the waiters was rather cute –’
    Smiling, Laura unwrapped the pile of printed photos and spread them out on the coffee table. With their glasses now full, Kerry leaned forwards, clinking glasses before they began. Within minutes, both women were laughing and happily reminiscing over the events of Laura’s special day.
    In the restaurant the following evening, Jeff was at his most charming. ‘I’m the luckiest man in the world, being here with two beautiful women!’ he purred. ‘And I’m happily married to this gorgeous creature beside me –’
    As he leaned across to kiss Laura, his insincere flattery was not lost on Kerry. But she could see that Laura was lapping up the attention, her cheeks pink with pleasure.
    As the headwaiter approached their table to take their order, Jeff beckoned him to come close and spoke softly in his ear. ‘I presume I don’t need to remind you about my allergy –’
    The little man smiled obsequiously. ‘Of course, Monsieur Jones. As a regular, esteemed customer, you can be assured we will always take the very best care of you.’
    Jeff nodded, looking pleased. He seemed to be enjoying the familiarity with which the waiter addressed him, and the idea of having a top restaurant knowing who he was. He looked over at Kerry, happy that she’d witnessed the exchange.
    Having selected their main courses, all three sat back and sipped their wine. The restaurant was full, with tables in a semi-circle around a small dance floor. Behind the dance floor, on a small dais, a trio of musicians played a mixture of jazz and blues. The lighting was subdued and romantic, changing colour with the tempo of the music. A few couples were already on the dance floor.
    By now, Jeff had removed his jacket and hung it on the backof his chair, clearly intending to take to the floor. As the combo began to play a slow set, he looked at Laura, a question in his eyes, and as one, they stood up. ‘Do you mind if we leave you?’ Laura asked, looking guilty at Kerry.
    ‘Of course not – you go ahead,’ she replied cheerfully. ‘I’ve got two left feet anyway – I’d rather sit here and watch you two make idiots of yourselves!’
    As Jeff and Laura stepped out onto the small dance floor, Jeff leaned down and pressed his cheek to his wife’s. As Kerry watched, she wondered about their future. As far as she was concerned, Jeff was a loose canon, and the sooner Laura got rid of him, the better. But despite her misgivings, she had to concede that they made a very attractive couple, both willowy and blond and clearly besotted with each other.
    After a while, the slow numbers ended and the tempo of the music increased, and Jeff and Laura returned hand in hand to the table. At that precise moment, the waiter arrived bearing their main courses. With a flourish, he placed their chosen dishes in front of them. Laura and Kerry had both ordered a chicken dish, but Jeff’s steak looked a great deal bigger and more appetising.
    ‘Ooh, yours looks nicer than ours – can I steal one of your chips?’ Kerry asked Jeff, as his plate was placed in front of him. Nodding, he allowed her to lean across and take the biggest chip on the plate. As Kerry munched, she closed her eyes in sheer delight. ‘Hmm, this is gorgeous! Jeff, I think you made the wisest choice this evening!’
    Jeff seemed flattered that Kerry approved of his choice of main course. She also suspected that he wouldn’t have been quite so eager to let her take a chip from his plate if Laura hadn’t been present to witness his generous gesture.
    As the women began eating, Jeff topped up their wine glasses and re-filled his own. Then he began to tackle his enormoussteak, and both women paused politely, waiting to hear his opinion of it. As he chewed the first piece, he nodded to them