"I unscrewed the door's hinges of the room where he'd locked everything. He hated the thought of the scandal and he's worried about who runs the company if I'm not there. I think he's hoping I'll go back to him if he makes it that difficult for me to get away," she said without an ounce of weakness. "I'm not going back. I'm not a fool. But having to fight him is so much of a hassle."
"What did your parents say? And Gran?"
"It's just my dad. They don't know the full story, just that I've moved out and we're in the process of sorting everything. I don't want to worry them as they don't live close, obviously, and there's not much they can do," she looked up at me and smiled. "Tell me about your family. And not about what they do for a living – apart from Callum and Ava. I don't know about them."
I chewed on an olive, wondering where to start. My family was unusually big, enough so that everyone found it fascinating. To me it was normal and I wasn't sure which bits people found most interesting. "Ava flips houses. She studied in New York, which is where her mum – our step-mum – is from and came back home to get into the property market over here. She's another one who inherited the workaholic gene. Callum's a vet currently working out in Africa somewhere on a reservation. He's coming back for dad's retirement; hopefully, they'll manage to be civil to each other for a few days."
"They don't get along?"
My knee brushed hers under the table. I didn't move it, in fact, I moved my leg closer, waiting to see if she retreated. "They never have. Callum was only two when our mum died and he didn't understand why she wasn't there. Dad tried his best, but he was struggling too so Callum was left to a nanny until Marie moved in but they never had the same sort of relationship as the rest of have. Plus, he didn't go into law or business. Working with animals was a big change for the family, although in some ways we work with them every day."
She grinned. "I'd say that's true. There are a lot of people, especially within businesses who think they're automatically excused from being pillocks because they're rich." She paused, looking me in the eye and holding her gaze. "You're a good man, Jackson Callaghan." She tore a piece of sourdough in half, giving one piece to me.
"And you know that after less than two days?" I raised my brows. She hadn't moved her legs; we were still joined underneath the table.
Her smile covered her whole face, her eyes lighting up. "I had to research you and the company before agreeing to do the rebrand to check you were workable. It's amazing what you can dig up via Google. Besides, I'm not bad at working people out quickly; you have to in my field. Clearly, I got it wrong with Richard." I said a quick thanks to Marie for repeatedly telling us to behave in public and watch what we put on social media.
"I'm sure the next guy you pick will be an improvement," I said, raising my brows, and trying to make her smile.
The conversation meandered while we ate from work to families and friends and hobbies. She was a reader, we liked the same books and films, both liked cooking and she dreamed of a big kitchen and a home she could decorate to her tastes. Her fingers nudged mine occasionally as she reached for her wine glass and I found myself touching her arm, leaning in and inhaling her.
I came back from the bathroom as she was checking her phone, laughing lightly. "Sorry," she said. "It's my gran checking on the arrangements tomorrow. Are you sure you're okay to pick her up?"
"I've said I will."
"I know, but I kind of coerced you into it."
"Maybe I like you coercing me."
She looked away, laughing. "You're an enigma, Jackson."
She had me puzzled. I didn't think I was that hard to work out.
She laughed again, not explaining and stood up. "I'll get the bill. I don't want to be too tired tomorrow. My gran can be difficult to keep up with."
I let her head to the counter, watching her ass sway in those tight leather pants and the exposed skin of her back.
"Jackson!" she said, turning around viciously after speaking to the waiter. "I was paying for this!" She looked kind of cross but in an amused way. A couple of patrons were looking at us, smiling.
I watched her some more, enjoying the emotion on her face and the flick of her hair, hair that I want to be wrapped around my hand as I sunk deep into her. I said nothing, waiting for her to come closer.
As she approached I stood up and reached out for her, one hand on her waist, the other on her opposite arm. "Why would I let you pay on a date?"
She stepped closer, her eyes tempered steel and put both arms around my neck. At first, I thought she was going to kiss me but she moved her lips to my ear and gently nipped my earlobe. "I'm so mad right now I don't know what to do to you. I didn't even say it was a date." Her breath tickled my ear and I was pretty sure she could feel my erection through my jeans.
"What would you do if we weren't in public?" I said quietly, my hands might've slipped to her ass, pulling her closer. The restaurant wasn't as busy as it was earlier, the staff starting to clear and set up the tables for the following day.
Her hands slipped into my hair and she pulled my lips down to hers and started to kiss me. I let her lead. I knew paying the bill would piss her off so right now I needed to let her have a little control. She pulled away. "I'd do that. But then I'd let you take over."
I took her hand and walked her out of the restaurant onto the busy high street and towards Sophie's apartment.
"You can slow down," she said. "The heels are more like ornaments for feet!"
I paused, causing someone walking behind us to curse as we blocked their path. I looked down at her shoes and got another visual of her in those and nothing else. "Sorry. I want to get you home."
Vanessa looked a mixture of cross and confused. "I know I said I didn't want to be tired tomorrow but..." I stopped her talking by stepping her back into the wall and kissing her, this time not letting her have a slither of control. She tasted of red wine and sweetness and her body was warm against mine as I explored her mouth with my tongue. She moved against me, her hips pushing into mine, her breasts against my chest.
I pulled away. We were outside, in public and too many people had camera phones. "Fuck," I said. "I need to get you home, then I'm going home myself." I was telling myself more than her.
