Free Between The Sheets by Colette Caddle Page A

across the table the girl bit her lip in concentration, then sat back to appraise her handiwork. 'There, you're gorgeous!'
    'So are you,' Gus murmured, smiling into her eyes.
    Carla's smile faltered and she looked away. 'Drink your coffee.'
    'If I drink any more of this stuff I'll throw up.'
    'How about some water?' she suggested.
    'How about we get out of here and go for a real drink?'
    'If we do that Tom will kill you, and fire me,' she said lightly. 'Now come on, let's go.' She pulled him to his feet and led him out into reception. 'I know you're not in the mood, Gus, but a couple of hours and you're out of here.'
    He sighed. 'Okay, okay, I'll do it for you,' and stopping, he turned, smiled and bent his head to kiss her lightly on the lips. 'Thanks, Carla.'
    Blushing, she took his hand and led him into the function room.
    'Is he okay?' Ashling murmured to her husband once the lights had gone down.
    'He's had a few too many but he should be able to hold it together. Just keep the wine bottle away from him.'
    Ashling nodded slightly, turning as Gus slipped into the seat on her other side.
    'Don't have a go at me,' he warned. 'I'm not going to make a show of you.'
    She smiled. 'I didn't think you were.'
    'Sorry.'
    'That's okay.' She reached out a hand to squeeze his, then turned her attention back to the show.
    Gus looked up at the models strutting their stuff in front of him and let his mind wander. He was glad of the darkness, and the fact that he didn't have to make mind-numbingly boring conversation with the wife of his latest client. Since he'd left Dana, he'd found it harder and harder to put on a show for people he didn't care about. He was able to do his job easily enough. Once he started drawing he got completely lost in his work and managed to forget his troubles. Dana was the same. There were times when he had watched her tapping away on her laptop, completely oblivious to his presence. How much had she used her work to blot out the real world, he wondered. How much did she use her writing as an excuse not to communicate? How much did he really know her at all?
    Gus reached for his glass and, realizing it was empty, looked around for a bottle. Ashling passed him the water jug instead. Smiling, he obediently poured himself a glass. She and Tom were being great about all this, he admitted to himself. He might be still able to draw, but Tom was shouldering the lion's share of their responsibilities at the moment.
    Gus had always been the one to chat up the clients and convince them that they should be more daring and adventurous in their designs. Now, though, he kept his contact with them to the bare minimum. Tom, who had always been happy to take a back seat, had been forced to step in.
    It couldn't continue, of course. Tom would be taking a few weeks off as soon as the baby was born and Gus would have to step up to the plate.
    The lights came up again as the presenter announced a break. Immediately Gus was on his feet, drawing a questioning look from his partner. 'I'm just going to the loo, okay?' he murmured as he passed Tom's chair.
    'Just make sure you don't go via the bar,' Tom warned.
    Gus wove his way between the tables, nodding and smiling as he went. As he pushed open the door, he felt some resistance, and pushed harder.
    'Ow!'
    Stumbling into the corridor, Gus almost fell over a girl lying in a heap on the floor. 'Oh my God, I'm so sorry! Did I hurt you?'
    'Yes, you did,' she mumbled, easing her sandal off to reveal a bloody toe.
    'I am so sorry,' he said again. 'Here, let me help you. Sit down over here and I'll go and see if I can find you a bandage.'
    'There's no need,' the girl said, but her eyes were scrunched up in pain and a tear was sliding down her cheek.
    'Stop arguing,' Gus told her and was turning to leave when a waitress approached him.
    'Can I help you, sir?'
    'Yes, please. Do you have a first-aid kit? This lady has cut her foot.'
    'Of course, I'll go and get it.'
    The waitress disappeared and