n, dressing up toget

not so much seeking an excuse but simply stating the truth. "An

k about it, I've gota little black number that would look fantastic on you. It's a

ch was why they'd never swapped or borrowed. But what she wore tonig

. Still, Favour's career in the public service carried minimal stress and steady promotion, given areasonable level of p

needs, different natures,

t it short, too, its thick waves cleverly cut and styled to ripple attractively to just below her ears. Having inherite

tached to jasmine. Her hair was a very deep r

r appointments. Currently it fell to below her shoulder-blades.

t black, giving them a dark look. The only feature she'd inherited from their father was height.

h other but fami

se fa

iked to see F

ar so if Leonard's friend is a total disaster I

our's pretty face. "Yes.

and resigned herself to sharing an evening wi

------

ing this. Going o

fully at Favour's feet. He'd been called Luther after Martin Luther King

people

eded a dog in her life. It was surely a better means of meeting men than Favour's current plot.

dog. Now that was a much better solut

__

they were dining in style tonight. Favour and jasmine were to meet them at the restaurant at eight, which probably meant anything up to an hour later.

surf that stirred the sense of primitive elements at play. This was a highly civilised beach; calm water, smooth sand, edged by lawns, a large resort hotel and

facing towards theHaven, a sheltered little bay where yachts rode at anchor. The main street traffic was heavy and slow

g a celebratory bottle of Dom Perignon from the back seat of his beloved BMW. Had to be a Mazda MX-5, Collins decided, and was surprised to see two w

d crowed, nodding to the car Collins w

er seat had to be Favour. "Is it her car?" he ask

alls it Jasmin

nst w

ed. "Being a w

You mean I'm about to be faced wi

. "More a femme fatale. Just watch your

ce, Collin

thest point away from the entrance to the restaurant. Ensuring it would

, darling, he thought

he back of the car and was locked in at the front. The blonde emerged first, waving excitedly at Leonard. She looked very cute,