Under His Influence

Mimi humphed through bared, pearly teeth, then looked sideways at her companion. No two ways about it, Liam McGlynn scrubbed up well. His usually shaggy hair was swept neatly back off his face and he wore a dove-grey cravat, disappearing into a waistcoat that appeared to double as a tapestry. Quirky, but Liam’s modelesque looks meant he could make a luminous shellsuit look good. The rest of his suit was a sober dark blue, hanging gracefully from his long slim body until it met the shiny black shoes beneath the trouser hem. Perhaps tonight would be the night, thought Mimi. She’d been teasing him long enough—it was time to cut the poor boy some slack. She pushed out her shoulders, thrusting her magnificent cleavage in its caramel sheath well out, and gave him a slow, lascivious wink.

“I’ll get us some champagne,” he blurted, a little unnerved, then disappeared inside the country house hotel that was hosting the reception.

Really, it was hard to know where you stood with Mimi Leblanc, Liam complained to himself, grabbing two bubble-beaded glasses from a tray and looking around at the guests milling in his wake. One minute she was giving him earache, the next he was getting the come-hither. She was fit, of that there was no doubt, but he was still not sure he really wanted to come too hither where Mimi was concerned. She was One of Those Girls who would not put up with a quick shag and a charming disclaimer. She expected more of a man—and Liam was not sure he really had any more in him than the bare masculine minimum, when it came to matters of the heart.

Now Anna would have been a different proposition. He stopped in his tracks halfway across the lobby, mesmerised by her beauty. That dress brought out the chestnut sheen of her hair, the wide glossy brown eyes, the perfect peachy skin. He had been in with a chance once. Why had he blown it? Why was he now embroiled in some scheme to save her from the smooth operator she had married, along with the modern-day Boadicea who waited outside for him? Life should never be complicated. Keep it simple, keep it fun, live life the Liam way.

“Hello, Liam,” Anna said. She looked so much more, what was the word, poised these days. John had cast his eye upon her and she had grown up, just like that.

“Congrats,” he replied, grinning goofily and half raising one of the champagne glasses. “He’s a lucky bloke.”

“Thank you. And I’m a lucky girl too. I’m so happy. Thank you for sharing today with us.”

And with that, she moved off regally. She was like a reprogrammed, airbrushed, super-sophisticated version of the gawky, girlish Anna he had known. Was she the same girl? It was like that old film—the one with all the hot women in the floaty dresses and big hats. Damned if he could remember the title though.

“What’s that film?” he asked Mimi, handing her a glass.

“What film? What are you on about?”

“Where all the women in the town are like these robot people who give garden parties and shit?”

“Stepford Wives.”

“Ah, yeah, that’s the one. Thanks. Cheers.”

He tipped a few golden bubbles down his throat then belched discreetly.

“Ugh, I can’t take you anywhere, can I, you brute? Why are you thinking of the Stepford Wives?”

“Oh, no reason,” Liam muttered as the suave figure of John Stone appeared at his side.

“I’m so glad you could join us today,” he said with a bland political smile. “Miranda. And…?”

“Liam. Liam McGlynn.” Liam shoved a hand towards Stone’s chest, which was taken and pumped almost unnecessarily hard. “I used to work with Anna.”

“She is very lucky to have such good friends. Do help yourself to canapés. The mini blinis are particularly delicious.”

He glided off, leaving Liam shivering with a strange revulsion.

“Great…service,” he shouted after the groom, feeling he ought to pass some compliment or other. “He really is…There’s something freaky about that guy. He’s too smooth. I can see why you’re suspicious now.”

“Thanks, Sherlock, your endorsement means a lot to me. Hold on. I’m just going to lurk around him for a bit.”

“Okay, Meester Bond. Don’t forget your pen that turns into a deadly weapon.”

“Just going to see if I can eavesdrop, smartarse. Go and get drunk or something. I think I might have to, if I’m going to make it through the day.”

And the night, she thought, realising that she was going to have to seduce Liam if only to take her mind off the newlywed Stones in the bridal suite.

Over by the huge marble fireplace, Stone was greeting a smart blonde in a lilac wrap dress. Mimi snagged Anna’s ancient aunt and pretended to discuss the weather, but instead listened in on the conversation behind her.

“John! You could have called. Or e-mailed. Or Facebooked. Anything! All we get is this wedding invitation out of the blue, barely six months after you buried Saskia. I mean, congratulations and all that, but what the bloody hell is going on with you?”

“I’m sorry, I really am. It all took me as much by surprise as it has you. But look at Anna—you must see that I had no choice.”

A pause, stilted and excruciating, while Mimi nodded along to reminiscences of Unseasonal Warmth through the Years.

“Yes, she seems lovely. Very attractive. It would have been nice to meet her before she became my sister-in-law though. That’s all I’m saying.”