Jake didn’t respond. Instead his smile was dirty as he made his way over to Rayah and Keren and the other women to say hi, before heading over to another group of women that Zack didn’t recognise.
Fresh meat.
His cousin’s favourite kind.
Sorrell stood up as soon as she saw him and wriggled out from the table to come towards him. Rayah and Gwensi started to catcall raucously, shouting a couple of obscenities that he was pretty sure they’d still be coming out with even if they were sober. He was used to Rayah’s ways and was immune to them; Gwensi—he’d only heard about through Sorrell.
“Was everything okay with the alpacas?” she said, looking puzzled. “I don’t think I ever envisaged saying that before.”
“They were fine. Jake just wanted to make sure the barn was properly insulated before the snow started.” He stuffed his hands in his pockets to stop himself from wrapping them round her. He wasn’t adverse to public displays of affection, unlike Scott, who was apparently adverse to everything, but he wasn’t sure where Sorrell stood on the matter.
He studied her and thought once again that her ex was a dickhead of the first order and then he took his hands out of his pockets and placed them on her hips.
“I’m sorry we didn’t get to go on our date,” he said. “Next week.”
She nodded. “Tuesday is good.”
“Then I’ll clear Tuesday.”
“I can try to organise another night if that doesn’t work…”
He silenced her with his mouth, stopping caring whether she did PDA’s or not. It had been too long since he’d last kissed her and despite all the texting they’d done, he’d missed her. Now she was here, looking like all of his Christmases wrapped up in one tiny package and he wanted to make sure that the rest of Severton knew she wasn’t fresh game.
Her response wasn’t what he expected. He thought she’d be surprised and led by him, but instead she gave back, demanding him, moving her hands up his back to his neck where she pressed her fingers.
He put their foreheads together as the kiss broke, maintaining a connection between them by looking in her eyes.
“That was… something…” she said. “And very public.”
“Does that bother you?”
“It used to.” The voice came from seemingly nowhere.
Her head turned around sharply and her grip loosened on Zack’s shoulders and neck.
“Mark?”
Zack looked at the tall blonde man who had entered the bar. He was broad, but nothing like the broad frame that came from manual labour, and he was what Rayah would possibly have found attractive.
He was also Sorrell’s ex-fiancé, judging by the name and her reaction.
“Hey,” he said. “I went up to the hotel to see you but you weren’t there. Some girl said you’d be down here.”
Mark stood there with his arms open, as if he was expecting her to jump into his embrace and be carried away. Instead, her arm went around Zack’s waist and he felt the heat of her through their clothes.
“No warm welcome for your fiancé then?” He seemed to be loud deliberately, looking to cause a scene.
Zack became aware of Scott and Jake standing behind him. He knew Scott would have no issue turfing him out of the bar, and Jake would have even less of an issue illustrating just how else he could use his fists.
“Ex,” Sorrell said. “Ex-fiancé, and ex-business partner. And ex-patron of this bar.”
Mark didn’t look in the slightest bit fazed. “Can we not just talk? You know, like civilised adults.”
“We could,” she said. “But I’m not sure what else there is too say, especially seeing as it’s a Friday night and we’re in a bar. If you have something serious to discuss, such as the money you owe the hotel, then we can meet next week at the hotel. Or even better, discuss it via email.”
Zack was aware that Gwensi had joined Scott and Jake. He felt Sorrell brace.
“You see,” Gwensi started. “Sorrell’s more reasonable than me: I’d have you kicked out of here, strung up and your penis ripped off and fed to the cows. The only reason you’re round tonight is because someone mentioned the review in Best Hotels and that all the hard work is now done. Fucking shyster.” She launched the rest of her drink over him and a round of applause drowned out the music. Severton didn’t always take well to strangers that came in with demands.
