Why Does it Taste so Sweet? Read Online Free

,” said the woman. “I am Justine. I get you breakfast, yes? The boys, they are in the studio. Mr Sandler asked me to look out for you, no?”
    She let Justine make strong black coffee for her and she went out to the terrace with that and a croissant.
    Let them work. She could get used to this. Such a beautiful place, and such a laid back pace of life. She liked the way Justine spoke of ‘Mr Sandler’ in the same breath as ‘the boys’. So relaxed.
    She checked her phone, but there were no messages, then she realized she didn’t even care. Let the world carry on without her for a while.

3
    “I have to go back,” she said.
    Early afternoon and he’d finally emerged from the studio. He looked pale and there were dark shadows under his eyes. How early had he slipped away to start working? As soon as he saw her, the spark was back and he came across, meeting her as she stood, holding her, kissing her.
    “Hey,” he said. “God that’s so damned good.”
    But she had to go back.
    “Why? Why the rush?”
    She laughed. “Remember you didn’t consult me about all this?” she said. “Remember how you just whisked me away from Kayleigh’s wedding and said we were flying to France?”
    “Details, details,” he said.
    “Well I have to be back at work tomorrow. Douglas Hamilton gave me a few days off to get sorted out, but it’s Monday tomorrow, time to get back.”
    For a moment he had the air of a surly child, then he shrugged and grinned and he said, “You could commute.”
    And if she’d wanted to, she knew he would have arranged it. A flight and a car from here would probably be quicker than a lot of people’s daily journeys to work in London, after all.
    She shook her head. “Nutter,” she said. “In the nicest possible way.”
    “We won’t be much longer here,” said Ray. “Rake’s done wonders. It’s really coming together. It’s so good to be working with him again. So good to see him clean like this.”
    Clean. She knew about Rake’s track record with drink and drugs. That was supposed to be one of the things that had torn the Angry Cans apart: Rake and Ray getting wasted and starting to fight.
    “That’s really good,” she said. “It’s lovely to see the two of you like this.” There was such a buzz between the two of them. On the one hand she should probably feel offended that Ray was so focused on the album, but on the other... how often do you get to see what was probably going to be a landmark work of art being put together like this? And to know that she was in some small way a part of it, an inspiration, as he kept telling her?
    “I’ll get Justine to sort out a car and flight,” he said. The people around Ray tended to work like that: just as Mo wasn’t merely a minder, Justine was clearly more than someone who made breakfast for guests. People who worked for Ray were trusted. “Have you thought about where you’re going to stay?”
    “It’s fine,” she said. “I’ve got it all worked out.”
    Sitting there alone in the sun that morning, she’d texted Marcia:
    Coming home today. That okay? xx
    About twenty minutes later, a reply had come through:
    All cool hun. Got yr key? xx
    “You going to be okay?”
    “I’m going to be okay.”
    “I’ll tell Justine to make arrangements.”
    “Thank you.”
    “It won’t be for long.”
    “I know.”
    This was like one of those lovers’ telephone conversations where neither wants to be the first to hang up.
    “I’ll tell–”
    “–Justine. Thank you.”
    He kissed her, his touch delicate, a brief pressing of lips. “I really do love you.”
    And suddenly her voice was gone. All she could do was settle into his arms, and wonder how she’d ever ended up here, with him, like this.
    §
    Marcia’s place was spotless, as ever. Soft music was playing, a jug of coffee was on, its nutty, roast aroma permeating the apartment. It was a bit like somewhere in the process of being sold, the owner consciously following all the