A Date with Fate by Cathy Cole Page A

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    â€œDon’t make that scary face at me, Ali,” said Caitlin. “I know you’re expecting us. Be a darling and let us in before the wind blows us off the cliff.”
    A broad smile lit the scary man’s face. “In you come, Caitlin my love. You and your friend look frozen stiff.”
    Walking through the lighthouse door, Eve had a confused impression of warm, flickering light. A log fire glowed in the centre of the rounded room, smoke issuing up a long central chimney. A low, comfortable hum of conversation assailed her, together with the most delicious smell of herbs and coffee.
    A few people looked up as she and Caitlin entered. Eve felt the shock of sudden recognition at the sight of two well-known local footballers relaxing by the fire with an expensive-looking chess set laid out between them.
    â€œI hope you’re letting Leo win, Carlos darling,” said Caitlin, dropping two kisses on the bigger, more famous footballer’s stubbly cheeks. “You know how bad-tempered he gets about losing.”
    â€œYou tell him, Caitlin,” grunted Leo Mullins, tugging a little irritably on his goatee as he stared at the board. “He won’t listen to me.”
    â€œIt does him good,” said Carlos, draping a friendly arm around Caitlin’s slim waist. “Who’s your friend?”
    â€œEve,” said Caitlin, beckoning Eve over, “I want you to meet the cleverest men in football, Carlos Andrade and Leo Mullins. They also throw the best parties, although that’s mainly down to me.”
    Eve was struggling to stay cool. Not much surprised her, but this . . . was unexpected.
    â€œPleased to meet you,” she managed, holding out her hand.
    â€œSo English,” said Carlos giving her two loud cheek kisses. “We are more friendly in Portugal. Are you in the party business too?”
    Eve shook her head, feeling a little overwhelmed at being so close to someone so famous. She was so glad she’d changed her clothes. “Caitlin’s helping me organize one.”
    â€œWhatever the girl says, do it,” said Leo. “She’s a party genius.” He knocked over his king with a sigh. “You win Carlos, you old goat.”
    â€œDinner is on you, Leo,” Carlos crowed, and Leo grumbled and laughed and pulled a shiny black credit card from his back pocket to pay for dinner.
    Eve recognized at least two other people in the room with the fireplace – a film actor and a guy who presented property shows on TV. She felt Caitlin’s warm hand in hers, pulling her on through the room. “Carlos and Leo are both darlings,” she said, giggling. “And they pay very well, as you can imagine.”
    â€œWhat is this place?” Eve said. “Why have I never been here before?”
    She prided herself on knowing all the best places in Heartside Bay. She wasn’t the queen of the teen social scene for nothing. But this was like no place she’d ever seen.
    â€œIt doesn’t have a name,” said Caitlin cheerfully. “It doesn’t need one. Members-only, of course. Terribly exclusive. And you have to be recommended by three members and approved by the entire membership. You have to be eighteen to join. That’s probably why you haven’t heard of it yet. Dad got me in. Fun, isn’t it?”
    A large room that appeared to be made half of glass was the next surprise. Eve felt a little dizzy at the sight of the sea crashing away almost beneath her feet. The light was astonishing, pale and full of the sea, washing through the vast salt-speckled windows and over the elegant guests. There was more of the same low hum of conversation in here, people chatting over delicate slices of cake and tall frothy glasses of coffee, the occasional sound of loud laughter ringing overhead.
    They took a small twisting flight of stairs painted bright red and hung with signed photographs of all the rich and famous club