A Life Sublime by Billy London Page A

of you.”
    It hadn’t felt like generosity at the time, it felt like another duty. Had she known Gina was struggling, she’d have damned Herbert and his children to hell and given it to Gina. She was all but her daughter and it pained her to know that she hadn’t felt able to ask for help. It pained her to think she hadn’t been keeping her promise to her best friend. Benjamin Robinson may not have appreciated Belinda’s ‘input’ but what mattered was Esther had asked her to keep an eye on Gina if anything happened to her, and she hadn’t done it properly. All she could do now was make amends.
    Toeing off her shoes, Belinda yawned and stretched, “It’s done now. Better we divorced rather than he make a fool of me with God knows how many women. I could tell you some stories. At least you have that in your favour.”
    “Actually, Mary Alice was not a faithful wife,” Massimo stated.
    A shudder passed over Belinda despite the still, balmy air. The woman had to have been mad. What had she found lacking in all of that man? The thought of going home to a man like him every night caused a ripple of electricity to spark through her knees. Silliness , she warned herself. Behave yourself .
    “I don’t think she was well.”
    Massimo laughed. “That is a lovely thing to say. Given you were immune to my charms earlier.”
    “What?” she barked.
    “When we were dancing.”
    Massimo’s hand snaked around her own. “Well, it was just … you know… Look, I’m only human.”
    “Did that hurt you?”
    “What?”
    “Admitting you feel as a mere mortal feels.”
    “Oh be quiet,” she snapped in Fanti.
    Massimo grinned further. “I know what that means thanks to my new daughter-in-law. Nicholas finds it rather amusing to say it on a regular basis.”
    “ Ewuradzi Yankopong .” Looking at the lightening horizon she got to her feet. There was no point looking at the time, it had to be nearing five in the morning. She felt the gentle tug of Massimo’s warm hand on her own. “Stay...”
    “Am I a dog?”
    “…where you are,” he finished. “Finish your drink. Being proud of children is exhausting.”
    “I don’t have—”
    “Georgina has treated you like her mother from the moment you arrived. And you were as proud of her as if she were your own. You certainly scolded her as a child.”
    “She’s just like her mother. Esther. She was my best friend and I miss the woman every day.” Massimo kissed her knuckles, which only made her throat tighten further. Goodness, she was far too emotional today. Belinda sank back into her seat, hoping she could compose herself.
    “If she was at all like Georgina, then I deeply sympathise.”
    “You should like her, she’s a wonderful girl. Strange, but wonderful.”
    “Just like my son.” Massimo got up and glanced over the balcony. Music was still drifting in the air. “The party goes on.”
    “They don’t know parties. I used to go to this club when I was nineteen. I’d been in London for a few months and it was disco. I didn’t go home until eight, nine in the morning and I’d still go to work.”
    Massimo pressed his other hand to his chest. “Please tell me you wore hot pants. I beg you.”
    “Massimo Da Canaveze, makaachreo , you are heading for a slap.”
    “That means yes.”
    She got to her feet. He was teasing her again and it was very unfair of him. “I think it’s time to go to sleep. We’ve been out here for a long time.”
    Scooping her shoes into her hand, she headed to her room. She turned, meaning to say a modest goodnight to him and instead, found all six feet two inches of Massimo Da Canaveze hovering over her, as if he intended to do something she’d be praying about for forgiveness until Judgement Day.
     

     
    Massimo took the lily from behind her ear that Gina had tucked there hours ago and allowed the petals to brush over her jaw before throwing it onto the table of the balcony. She had such lovely skin, the barest hint of