Page 8 of Bad Star

Chapter Five

Jack pickedher up the following night. Tactfully, he drove the Mercedes instead of the car he had knocked her down with. When Rainn questioned this, he laughed.

“You notice a lot,” he said.

“Probably more than you might think,” said Rainn. “I also notice that this car smells of a perfume that isn’t mine. I imagine you get it valeted regularly, so I suppose Chelsea has been riding with you recently.”

Jack raised an eyebrow. “Someone’s been reading you the newspapers. And not the good ones either.”

“I take it that’s a yes, then.”

Jack drove west through the London evening traffic. “I am single. I like dining in fine restaurants and I like the company of beautiful women. Tonight I am dining with you. Tonight, Rainn, there is no one in the world I would rather be with.”

He glanced at Rainn, who was appeared to be carefully considering his words.

“I’m saying this sincerely,” he pressed. “I want to be completely honest with you. Do you understand?”

Rainn nodded. “I understand,” she said, “and I appreciate it.”

They drove through a tunnel and the lights moved up and over her face and Jack wondered if she sensed any of it or whether it was all endless darkness.

“And tomorrow night, when I’m not with you” asked Rainn, “what will you want to do tomorrow night?”

“Another restaurant,” said Jack.

“Even if our restaurant is good?” asked Rainn.

“Especially if our restaurant is good,” said Jack. “I’d be worried it wouldn’t be as good the next time.”

“I see,” said Rainn. “And do you think of women the same way you think of restaurants?”

“Up to now.”

As they drove home, Rainn waited for Jack to change gear and lightly laid her hand on his.

“Are you alright?” he asked.

“More than alright,” she said. “It was a lovely evening. Thank you.”

“I’m glad you had a good time,” he said. “I enjoyed it too.”

“You won’t be going to that restaurant again.”

“No,” he said, “not for a long time.”

“It was an amazing meal,” said Rainn, turning her head as if she were looking out at the lights of London flicking past them.

“It was good,” agreed Jack. “But it’s always difficult to separate the food from the company. It was a good conversation. I haven’t felt so relaxed in another person’s company for . . .” Jack paused to turn off the main street. “Maybe forever,” he said.

They had pulled into Rainn’s street and Jack stopped outside her house.

“Because I enjoyed your company so much and it was such a fantastic evening,” said Jack, slowly reaching to the back seat, “I thought I’d give you a little token of my . . .”

Rainn reached over and put her finger over his lips.

“If you are going to give me a gift, thanks, but no thanks. There’s only so much perfume or jewellery I can wear.”

“Rainn, it’s only a . . .” Jack began to protest.