Between The Sheets Read Online Free Page A

Sylvie urged, as doubt clouded Dana's face. 'Just imagine Gus's reaction if he saw a photograph in the paper of you looking gorgeous and happy; that would show him.'
    Dana smiled. 'Okay, then. You will come with me, won't you, Sylvie?'
    'Try stopping me,' her PA said eagerly.
    'Thanks. Let's do dinner first; I'm going to need a couple of drinks going to face reporters.'
    'Make sure it's only a couple,' Ian warned.
    Dana's eyes narrowed. 'I'm not stupid. I'm going upstairs for a bath, Sylvie. No calls.'
    'Walter really needs to talk to you,' the girl called after her, 'and Gretta was on again.'
    Dana, already halfway out of the door, didn't stop. 'They'll just have to wait. I can't deal with them right now.'
    Ian rushed out into the hall after her. 'I need to talk to you about some engagements I have lined up over the next few weeks.'
    'What?' Dana stopped.
    'Walter said I should get started without you,' he apologized.
    She shook her head, her eyes sad. 'I'm sorry, not now.' And she hurried upstairs, leaving him to stare after her.
    Still, at least he'd convinced her to go out tonight, that was something. Now he'd have to make sure that she was photographed. He stuck his head back into the office. 'Nice to meet you, Sylvie.'
    'And you.' Sylvie smiled happily.
    'Make sure you go to Lobo, okay?'
    'We'll be there,' she promised, already wondering if there was an outfit in her wardrobe that would help land her a millionaire rock star or property developer.
    Dana shut the bedroom door and leaned her head against it with a weary sigh. She'd rather stick pins in her eyes than go out tonight but she couldn't stay in her room forever and she did like the idea of showing Gus that she wasn't a crumbling heap without him — except, of course, that she was. She walked over to the mirror and stared at her reflection. She barely recognized the dejected, mournful character that stared back at her. This wouldn't do. It wouldn't get her man back. Tonight she would go out and she would smile and look happy if it killed her. And tomorrow she would get back to work.
    Striding purposefully into her wardrobe, Dana began to flick through the rails looking for something that would tell the world she was doing just fine without Gus Johnson. Tears rolled down her cheeks as she looked at dresses that reminded her of happier times. Tonight, she realized, was going to involve the performance of a lifetime.
    'This is a great place, isn't it?' Sylvie said, looking around her, wide-eyed.
    'The food is good too, you should try some.' Dana looked pointedly at Sylvie's smoked-chicken salad that she had been pushing around her plate for the last ten minutes.
    'I had a big lunch.'
    Dana sighed. 'Sylvie, I know you want a man, but you really don't have to starve yourself to get him.'
    Sylvie reddened. 'I just don't have a big appetite. I never have.'
    Dana was about to pursue the matter but she didn't really have the energy. Anyway, there was no point in trying to talk sense to Sylvie, she never listened.
    An intelligent and pretty girl, Sylvie's only real flaw was that she was intent on finding a rich husband and seemed to think being incredibly skinny was the only way to reach her goal. Dana, who had never run after a man in her life, couldn't begin to understand it. She had dated lots of guys before Gus came along, men from all walks of life, but always on her terms. She'd had to be more discerning, of course, when she became rich as there were a lot of fortune-hunters around. She watched as Sylvie scanned the room with a calculating eye. Sadly, her PA might well be one of them.
    Dana snuck a look at her watch. She was finding this evening hard going. Keeping a radiant smile on her face at all times was exhausting. A few acquaintances had already stopped by their table, some of them asking after Gus. 'Aren't I allowed to have a girls' night out?' she'd trilled and changed the subject.
    She forced a last piece of the delicious monkfish into her mouth and put