‘Yeah, it’s just my sister, Andrea.’
‘I didn’t know you had a sister.’ She perches on the couch next to me. The dress hitches up further, displaying inch upon inch of creamy smooth legs.
I’m hardagain.
She’s going to be the death of me, I swear.
‘We don’t see much of each other. She lives in England.’
‘What about your parents?’ She takes a sip from her drink.
‘They’re…’ How are you supposed to articulate that I’ll never be good enough for my own father? ‘My mother died in labour birthing me and my father worked away for most of my childhood.’
‘Wow. I’m so sorry, Archie. I had no idea.’ Hazel eyes cloud with compassion.
The doorbell sounds, saving me from answering any more questions.
As I jog down the stairs, I glimpse the silhouette of a large man. The locksmith.
I open the door, wedging my foot behind it just in case.
The tweed suit is the first eyesore. The second is the stupid smirk carved onto Harrison’s face.
What the fuck?
Is she wearing that shirt dress for him?
‘I didn’t say I was going to date him.’Oh, please.
Did she invite him over because I turned her down? Are her needs so strong she’d seriously contemplate shagging the campus creep?
I don’t yet have the results of Harrison’s background check, even though I made the call the morning after the party. Jayden and Ryan have a guy who can find out almost anything about anyone. The information Declan obtains isn’t strictly legitimate, but it’s always accurate.
But even if Harrison’s check comes back clean, I can’t tolerate him near Victoria.
Mind you, I’d find it hard to tolerate any guy sleeping with her.
Harrison’s heavy hand rests on the door, trying to shove it open, but my foot and knee hold it firm.
‘What do you want?’ He might scream old money, but he also screams entitled wanker.
‘I came to see Victoria.’ Two-day-old scruff lines his jaw. Does nobody teach these toffs how to use a razor these days?
‘Is she expecting you?’
‘No, but…’ I slam the door in his face and disconnect the doorbell. He can press it a million times and she won’t hear it. I pull out my phone and text the locksmith to call me when he’s outside.
Just because I’m in no position to aid Victoria Sexton and her needs, I’m damn well not going to let anyone else in to do the job. No fucking way. I’ll die before that happens.
‘Who was that?’ Victoria asks as I return to the room. She’s stirring a sizzling pan of chicken coated in peri peri seasoning.
‘Just someone selling something. I told him you weren’t interested.’ My eyes fall to her ass again. This time when she catches me looking, I don’t even attempt to tear my eyes away.
9
VICTORIA
The clock on my bedside locker tells me it’s time to get up. I’m due at the hospital in an hour and the buzz of what might arrive at A&E is enough to propel me out from beneath the duvet.
