Page 54 of Sun, Sea and Spotted Squid

Sune got him a glass of wine from the bar. He had to force himself not to drain it in one. That would not be a good impression.

“I will find your colleagues and introduce you.”

Astrid would probably be in a corner holding court to some dazed fools. He needed a moment to gather himself. It would give her far too much pleasure in knocking him off balance.

“Sune, I’ll catch you up. I need to get some air first.”

She nodded understandingly. “Come when you’re ready.”

He made his way outside and walked over to a wall. He stared out at his new home. Disappointment and rage swirled through him. Would the millstone of Valencia ever leave him?

He took a swig of his wine. Thankfully the adrenaline started to subside. So what if Astrid didn’t like him being there? He’d battled with her before and he would do so again.

Another slug of Dutch courage and he’d be ready. Then he nearly dropped the glass altogether when a familiar man’s voice behind him rang out.

“Hello, Sam.”

TWENTY

“What the fuck are you doing here?”

Sam hadn’t seen him since he’d fallen asleep that night in Valencia and now they were on the other side of the world. And Wolfgang was just standing there. The hopeful smile falling from his face.

“I thought you would be pleased.”

The nerve of the man was lighting every fire in Sam’s being. Thankfully they were completely alone. The party seemed to be getting into full swing inside. Sam wanted the safety of people while he got his head together.

“Is Claudia going to appear now to make it complete?”

Wolfgang moved closer. “Sam, please. We need to talk.”

Sam drained his glass of wine. “You can talk by dialling numbers into a telephone. It’s really clever. Or you can get your point across by writing a letter, emailing or sending a fucking pigeon. Why do you have to be here? Now?”

It pissed Sam off that Wolfie scrubbed up so well in his pinstriped shirt and jeans. The fabric clinging to all the places he’d enjoyed exploring weeks before.

Focus on the outrage. For fuck’s sake.

“I applied,” he said, his head down.

“Great. That’s wonderful, isn’t it?”

He walked past him toward the door but Wolfgang took his arm. “You must listen to me. Please.”

Sam yanked his arm free. “I don’t need to do anything of the sort.” He left him and stalked into the cafeteria. Sune immediately waved to him and he joined her. Grateful for her relative safety.

“Did you see your friend?”

Sam glanced frantically around for another glass of wine. “Yes, I did.”

“He was so excited, you know,” the girl next to him said. “He told us all such lovely things about your time in Valencia. You saved his life, for goodness’ sake.”

Sune raised her eyebrows. “We have a lifesaver in our midst? Welcome, Mr Davis. You seem like a remarkable man.”

Seeing the solitary figure of Wolfgang still on the terrace, Sam certainly didn’t feel it.

The party continued into the night with Sam and Wolfie circling each other. Wolfgang obviously wanted to talk some more. Tough. Sam had no intention of being put on the spot like that.

Don’t let a man ruin your chances.