Bedmates Soulmates

Austyn did not respond.

'Aren't you going to answer that?"

'I'm not in the mood.' Austyn rubbed his forehead.

'Did something happen?' Luca asked.

Austyn pursed his lips.

Luca thought he had an idea about the cause of his friend's sulky mood.

Austyn would never be this agitated over a business deal.

This was personal.

So he said, 'You had a fight with Kira?"

Austyn shot him a look.

Luca laughed. 'So it's true then.'

He patted his friend on the shoulder. 'Come on. There's no shame in admitting you're having

Lome the Self styled Love Explent

trouble on the domestic front. A word of advice, though, from one married man to another, apologise to her."

He put up a hand to pre-empt Austyn's objection, 'Doesn't matter what happened. The husband should always apologise first. Trust me, I'm speaking from personal experience.' The phone stopped ringing.

Luca continued, 'Lovers' spats can be a good thing sometimes. They add spice to an otherwise stale marriage. But don't overdo it. You need to know when to back down." Austyn glanced at him. 'Go on."

Luca's chest puffed out with pride.

It was a rare occasion for him to be the teacher and Austyn the student.

He straightened up, cleared his throat and pushed up the pair of invisible spectacles on his nose bridge, like a professor ready to deliver an important lecture.

'Women are creatures of emotion. They respond to flattery and affection, not cold hard logic. Sometimes, even if they know they are in the wrong, pride will not allow them to admit this. At a moment like this, the man should step up. Be the bigger person. Extend an olive branch. Shower her with kisses and gifts and sweet nothings."

'And then what?' Austyn asked.

'And then her heart melts, the fight's over, and you get a night of unbridled passion.

Luca winked. "There's no sex like make-up sex, trust me."

Austyn looked at Isabel. 'Does that work on you?

Isabel crossed her arms and sniggered. 'Don't listen to him. He's an armchair strategist. If you listen to him, it'll be one blind man leading another.

'Hey!' Luca protested, feeling his authority status challenged. 'I practice what I preach."

Isabel rolled her eyes. 'Oh please, I was only pretending to be persuaded just to shut you up. If there's a fight, I'm always the one to yield first.'

Luca was unhappy to hear that. 'You yield first? But I'm the one who did all the work. I'm the one who bought the gifts. I'm the one who made all the compromises.'

'Yes, yes, dear, you're.' Isabel waved a hand dismissively, 'You're the best. You win. Fight's over."

Luca was unappeased.

Austyn's phone started ringing again.

'Oh will you just answer it?' Luca said irritably. "That brring brring ringtone is driving ine

led Love Export.

crazy.