‘Anyway –’ Derek’s voice was smug – ‘I’ve seen the dress Jessy is going to be wearing and I’m telling you, wear the suit.’
I tried – and failed – not to imagine how she’d be dressed tonight. The sexy dress she had worn on our first date came to mind, followed by that polka dot sundress. And the sky-blue sundress with ribbony sleeve things. Shit, everything she wore did all sorts of things to my body.
‘Just remember to behave tonight, OK?’ Derek’s voice came through the speaker. ‘And try not to piss her off, yeah? We are finally getting some positive traction now the two of you don’t look like you hate each other.’
I focused my gaze back on my phone. ‘Yeah.’
‘I mean it, Patrick. It shouldn’t be difficult, dating a beautiful woman –’
‘Fake dating –’
The snort told me everything I needed to know. ‘Everythingis fake in this industry, kid. Just be polite, be nice, smile, kiss her on the cheek and tell her she’s beautiful. It shouldn’t be this hard to woo her – she already had a crush on you –’
‘What?’ My fingers tightened around the phone.
‘Oh, there’s my six o’clock – remember, show me the love, Patrick! I’ll be watching online.’ The call ended and my phone returned to my lock screen.
She already had a crush on you.
What the hell did that mean?
I’D ONLY HAD AN hour to shower, dress in Derek’s suit and get across town to where this event was being held – some sort of rooftop on a fancy hotel.
When the car finally rolled to a stop outside the venue, I thanked my driver and took a deep breath before opening the door. I’d learnt to look down at the ground when I first stepped out of a car. Not just because I didn’t want to trip and make an arse of myself – but because it prevented me from being blinded.
‘Patrick! Patrick, over here!’ The shouts of my name never grew familiar.
‘And here is Patrick Tetlow, lead singer-songwriter for These Exiles, wearing a Crespianella suit –’
I walked past, paying them all no mind. Erika, Derek’s assistant – and my babysitter for tonight – met me at the doors. ‘Your date is just pulling up now, Patrick.’
I nodded distractedly. ‘Right. Thank you.’ I turned to see another luxury car where mine had been just a short moment ago.
As its occupant opened the door and stepped out, all rational thought exited my brain.
Jessy.
She was a vision. I could do nothing but behold her.
She was wearing a slip dress – all silk and spangled straps – in a dark forest green that complimented her so well it was like the colour had been made solely for her. Her hair had been pinned up in some sort of fancy style, all curls threatening to drip down her back, and as she turned to thank her driver –
She definitely wasn’t wearing underwear.
I swallowed hard, my whole body stiffening at the shift of her dress.
Jessy turned and, from the sidelines, I saw the mild panic in her eyes as she was faced with all the cameras. I knew that feeling.
When she stepped over to me, it was all I could do not to pull her into my arms and make a real scene. God, her perfume – whatwasthat? I had to stifle the sudden urge to bury my nose into her hair. When was the last time a woman had affected me like this? It was hard to think of anyone else, with Jessy so perfectly snug at my side.
‘Hi.’ Jessy’s smile, small as it was, was already fading.
All I could do was stare.
‘You … you look …’ Fuck. I was supposed to be a lyricist. I literally wrote pretty things for a living.
‘Shall we go in?’ Jessy asked breezily, not waiting for me to collect myself as she grabbed my hand and pulled me forward.
‘Just a second.’ Erika appeared from beside me. ‘We just need the two of you to take some pictures together and then we’ll get you indoors.’
