of her ideas to paper she needed little encouragement to test them out on Sylvia; so, giving in to the change of subject, she began outlining some of her initial concepts, whilst, for the moment at least, keeping her curiosity in check. Besides, it could be that she was reading too much into Sylvia's last two remarks, for on the face of it they really didn't add up to much. Nevertheless Penny's 42
instincts were telling her that there was something about David's involvement in this new magazine that, for some reason, wasn't being shared with her.
43
Chapter 3
A week later Penny was gazing down at the vast, snowy peaks of the Alps, which were glistening like great mounds of Lalique glass in the dazzling midday sun.
The flight into Nice at any time of year was spectacular, but on a day such as this when there wasn't a cloud in sight and the rugged mountains were cloaked so beautifully in their gleaming white winter coats it was impossible not to be moved by the sheer magnificence of it all. In fact, it was making her think of Declan, for the last time she had taken this flight he had been with her and though on that occasion there had been no snow the compelling beauty of the Alps, much to the amusement and delight of the other passengers, had moved him to
song.
He'd called her several times during the ten days or so since she'd left him, but there was nothing he could say to change her mind and make her go back.
His bisexuality just wasn't something she could live with - in fact, it had killed her feelings for him as effectively as if he had taken an eraser to a pencil sketch. Of course the imprint was still there and it was true to say that she was feeling pretty lost without him. But she knew that would pass and the negative results of her blood test meant that she must now put it all behind her and move
on.
As the plane began its descent, circling down over the 44
still, turquoise-blue sea and hugging the coastline into Nice, she was watching the passing land and seascapes and trying to make herself believe that this was soon going to be her home. It didn't seem real, but she wasn't sure whether that was because a very strong part of her still didn't want it to be, or because the shimmering light on the deserted sandy beaches and majestic stuccofronted buildings lent the place a strangely ephemeral feel.
Her schedule had been frantic right up until the moment she'd left. She, Yolanda and Sylvia had done so much research into the Cote d'Azur and had tossed around so many ideas that, though still in the theory stage, Penny had found herself becoming almost childishly excited by the sheer enormity of the challenge. Now, as the plane skimmed over the sun-spangled sea and glided smoothly on to the runway at Nice airport, she was far more nervous than excited at the prospect of having to begin putting at least some of her ideas into practice. How the hell did she know what anyone wanted down here when she'd only ever visited the place twice?
But she was going to find out, which, of course, was why she was here on this recce and the reason she had asked Marielle to meet her off the plane so that they could get started straight away.
The flight was only half full, so it didn't take long to get through customs and around to the baggage reclaim. It was as she was hauling her suitcase off the carousel that someone touched her arm and asked if she was Penny Moon.
Recognizing the voice as belonging to the person she had been speaking to on the telephone this past week, Penny turned to greet Marielle Descourts.
"Hi/ she said, letting go of her case and lifting her hand.
"It's good of'. She stopped dead and blinked in amazement as she stared at the woman in front of her. She felt a bit like a 45
magic lamp that had been rubbed and out had popped the delectable, sultry and stupendously beautiful brunette she had always longed to be."
. . . you to come and meet me/ she finished, reasserting her smile.
"It is my
instincts were telling her that there was something about David's involvement in this new magazine that, for some reason, wasn't being shared with her.
43
Chapter 3
A week later Penny was gazing down at the vast, snowy peaks of the Alps, which were glistening like great mounds of Lalique glass in the dazzling midday sun.
The flight into Nice at any time of year was spectacular, but on a day such as this when there wasn't a cloud in sight and the rugged mountains were cloaked so beautifully in their gleaming white winter coats it was impossible not to be moved by the sheer magnificence of it all. In fact, it was making her think of Declan, for the last time she had taken this flight he had been with her and though on that occasion there had been no snow the compelling beauty of the Alps, much to the amusement and delight of the other passengers, had moved him to
song.
He'd called her several times during the ten days or so since she'd left him, but there was nothing he could say to change her mind and make her go back.
His bisexuality just wasn't something she could live with - in fact, it had killed her feelings for him as effectively as if he had taken an eraser to a pencil sketch. Of course the imprint was still there and it was true to say that she was feeling pretty lost without him. But she knew that would pass and the negative results of her blood test meant that she must now put it all behind her and move
on.
As the plane began its descent, circling down over the 44
still, turquoise-blue sea and hugging the coastline into Nice, she was watching the passing land and seascapes and trying to make herself believe that this was soon going to be her home. It didn't seem real, but she wasn't sure whether that was because a very strong part of her still didn't want it to be, or because the shimmering light on the deserted sandy beaches and majestic stuccofronted buildings lent the place a strangely ephemeral feel.
Her schedule had been frantic right up until the moment she'd left. She, Yolanda and Sylvia had done so much research into the Cote d'Azur and had tossed around so many ideas that, though still in the theory stage, Penny had found herself becoming almost childishly excited by the sheer enormity of the challenge. Now, as the plane skimmed over the sun-spangled sea and glided smoothly on to the runway at Nice airport, she was far more nervous than excited at the prospect of having to begin putting at least some of her ideas into practice. How the hell did she know what anyone wanted down here when she'd only ever visited the place twice?
But she was going to find out, which, of course, was why she was here on this recce and the reason she had asked Marielle to meet her off the plane so that they could get started straight away.
The flight was only half full, so it didn't take long to get through customs and around to the baggage reclaim. It was as she was hauling her suitcase off the carousel that someone touched her arm and asked if she was Penny Moon.
Recognizing the voice as belonging to the person she had been speaking to on the telephone this past week, Penny turned to greet Marielle Descourts.
"Hi/ she said, letting go of her case and lifting her hand.
"It's good of'. She stopped dead and blinked in amazement as she stared at the woman in front of her. She felt a bit like a 45
magic lamp that had been rubbed and out had popped the delectable, sultry and stupendously beautiful brunette she had always longed to be."
. . . you to come and meet me/ she finished, reasserting her smile.
"It is my
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