A Summer Romance

Beverley Hughes looked in the mirror. She was still in good shape at forty years of age. She pouted, medium to full lips, and applied a pink lip gloss. The world was her oyster, and Patrick, her husband, was dead. With his money she could do so much. They had spent many holidays in Cannes, but now she fancied Nice. She longed to get away;  feel the warm, summer breeze on her face. In fact, she wanted a new man.

Eddie French parked his van outside his rather tatty apartment block, went into his flat and found probation had called. Simone Williams had left her calling card. 'Ring Me', it said. That can wait, he thought to himself. He had a plan; always one to enjoy the high life he wanted to spend some of his ill-gotten gains; maybe see if he could capitalize on his efforts and make some more money.

He was planning a trip to France. Soon he would be off. Simone Williams could forget it. She was a plain tart at the best of times; Eddie on the other hand was very handsome - at twenty-five he had  a  lot to offer the right woman. And France, he thought, would be full of lovely women.

Beverley kicked off her shoes on the beach, but it wasn't going quite as she had hoped. She was alone, and without her husband to converse with, she was a bit lost. The flight had been great though; she loved flying but could she really expect to meet someone just on the off chance. However this was Nice and the Carlton, where she was staying, was very select. Full of fashionable people, she thought there maybe someone I can interest. She was full of expectation.

Eddie touched down in Nice the following day. He loved being abroad. He had the looks, the appetite for good living, if limited cash, and most of all he could attract women.

The first week in Nice went well for Eddie; there were plenty of girls on the beach to admire his muscles, but none of them really clicked. And anyway, when he asked them what they did they were either hairdressers or shop girls. Eddie wanted so much more.

It was the beginning of the second week and Beverley was beginning to give up. She sauntered down to the beach in her Gucci sandals and Gabicci clothes. Eddie spotted her at once; she was dressed differently to the other girls for a start. Older, but still attractive, he knew he must meet her. Maybe this was the meal ticket he craved.

I've got to think this out, he thought to himself, make it seem casual. Dressed only in his trunks, he passed  by her deckchair, accidentally on purpose tripping over her Armani handbag by her side.

"Oh, I am sorry," he said.

"Oh, I am," she replied.

As he dusted himself down, Beverley looked deep into his dark, brown eyes, her eyes all over the glistening, muscly torso, as he had just been in the water.

"Do you mind if I sit down here?"

"No, not at all," said Beverley, thinking maybe her boat had come in.

They chatted all morning. Eddie was smitten and for the first time in years he thought he'd found someone special. All thoughts of ripping off the french girls disappeared from his mind. But this woman, older than himself and obviously rich, it all seemed too good to be true.

The two became inseparable, but the more Beverley talked the more obvious the class difference became, so  Eddie started to make out he was something he wasn't. He became a sea-captain of luxury, ocean liners. Beverley was impressed but knew it was nothing compared to the millions she possessed.

They met up everyday for the rest of the holiday and all went so well. Beverley was falling in love, and Eddie for all his pretence was falling for her too.

One night in the grounds of the Carlton Hotel Beverely and Eddie kissed for the first time. Eddie moved his hands to her breasts and she moaned with sensual pleasure. They soon retired to Beverley's bedroom and had full sex on the huge, king-size bed. Eddie did not disappoint.

Days spent walking the streets of Nice were heavenly; Beverley was on cloud nine, and Eddie too was like one transported. Eddie felt a little guilty;  he had come here to rip girls off, but this was something else.

The night before the holiday was over Beverley revealed to Eddie she was the heiress to the tech giant Monicron millions, convinced Eddie was not after her money. Eddie was over the moon. He knew he would be resigning his 'captaincy' very soon, and all should go so well.

He went to his room and took out a copy of TECH magazine, showing a picture of Beverley Hughes recently widowed. He had always known she was worth a fortune and he thought to himself, Good, I've got her where I want her, and all that lovely lolly. It wouldn't be long now before Beverley Hughes had a very nasty accident.