When the Siren Calls by Tom Barry

You spent the whole evening with him. I can’t think what David Knight must have thought.”
    “To hell with David Knight and what he thought,” said Isobel. “Someone was paying me some attention for a change and, quite frankly, I liked it. What is wrong with that?”
    “If you can’t see what’s wrong with—”
    “For God’s sake, nothing was wrong with it!” she shouted. “I speak Italian, I like talking about Italy. I already spend time in Tuscany and, if you must know, I’m fed up with always imposing myself on Maria while you are selling your precious time here, there, and everywhere. So tonight was not a waste of time, not for me anyway.”
    Peter folded his arms, his face set against everything he was hearing. But Isobel refused to be intimidated into silence by his sullen look. “We’ve been invited to visit this place Capadelli, and I’m going just as soon as I can arrange it. So you can come and keep me company while I visit, because if you won’t, maybe Jay Brooke will.”Ten
    Jay stared out the window as the plane lurched into the first part of its descent, the sudden sensation of the drop adding to the nausea that had infringed on his mind and body since departing. Beneath him another plane seemed to slide across the sky, like a penny across a glass tabletop, and he pulled his gaze back into the cabin, painfully aware of his helplessness. He rarely looked out the window when flying but his company on the plane left him no choice. The two people he was most anxious to avoid were both just metres away and could approach at any moment; dread clutched his internal organs, twisting and knotting them until the sky seemed his only safe refuge. From the corner of his eye he could see Lucy’s shapely arse, thrust very deliberately in his direction as she served a redfaced businessman his sixth flute of complimentary champagne. Jay half-sighed with nostalgia; if this was back when they first met, he mused, he would probably have already had her knickers off — if she was wearing any — and pleasured her behind the food trolley. But now, as she stood up, he turned quickly back to the window again, determined to avoid eye contact, fearing the power she held over him.
    “Excuse me, sir? You were asking about transit arrangements in Pisa?” said a chirpy voice, professional precision slicing through his carefully created reverie. Jay looked up to find Lucy smiling down at him, a well-groomed picture of proficiency with immaculately coiled hair and devil-red lips.
    “Actually—”
    Before he could finish, she glided in next to him, pushing her gazelle-like legs beneath his as she leant towards him.
    “I think you’ll find everything you need in here, sir,” she said, reaching one hand into the seat pocket and grabbing his crotch with the other — her smile fixed and precise.
    “Really,” said Jay, straining to keep the shock of the impact from his voice, “I’m ok with transit arrangements in Pisa. And, while we’re at it, I don’t remember booking the complimentary massage.”
    He tried to pull himself away but Lucy was not dissuaded and turned fully towards him, blocking off the view from the aisle with her back. Her grip tightened as her seductive smile vanished.
    “Dream on, you smug bastard. It’s what I’m planning on squeezing you need to be worried about.”
    “I don’t know what the problem is, but this is a really bad time. I need you to get your arse out of that seat so I can collar that grumpy looking sod over there.” He flicked his eyes agitatedly behind him, to where he could just make out the side of Andy’s face, pressed submissively to his wife’s lips as she whispered in his ear.
    “My arse is staying where it is until I am good and ready to move it,” hissed Lucy, “and so is my hand.” She tightened her fingers around him as her lips trembled and formed themselves into a snarl.
    “Why—”
    “You know damn well why I’m here.”
    “Unfortunately, I do