‘I know John,’ she stated bluntly, like it was supposed to mean something to me.
‘That’s great,’ I said, still smiling, not entirely sure where this was going.
Having a distinct height advantage, I glanced over her head, hoping my knight in shining armour was somewhere in the vicinity, because if I ever needed rescuing it was now.
‘No, I actuallyknowJohn,’ she repeated it like it should mean something.
Like I cared about anything that occurred prior to the twenty-ninth of June this year.
I shrugged in disinterest, refusing to take the bait. Her steely eyes burned into mine. If she stood there much longer, she was going to get a crick in her neck from gawping upwards. Neverwas I more grateful for my six-inch stiletto addiction, helping me to literally rise above the drama.
I smoothed my hands down over my black dress and waited for whatever line she felt compelled to deliver.
‘It won’t last,’ she warned, ‘he’s incapable. I’ve tried.’
‘Our relationship is really none of your business.’ My smile evaporated.
I refused to wilt like a flower. I hadn’t been through what I had, to be intimidated by a five-foot, Barbie in need of Botox.
‘Don’t say I didn’t warn you.’ She practically spat the words from her pinched mouth.
I crossed the room swiftly back to John and necked the drink he had been holding for me.
‘I thought you were taking it easy tonight?’ He waved my empty glass under my nose and turned to the bar to fetch me a refill.
‘Wait,’ I said. ‘I’ll come with you.’ I didn’t want to get caught again, and I was determined to maintain a united front, not wanting the frog to think she’d succeeded in driving a wedge between us.
‘Is everything ok?’ Concern crinkled the corner of his eyes.
‘Your friend wanted to warn me about you.’ I couldn’t quite meet his eye for fear there was actually more to the story than he’d let on.
‘What did that daft bitch want now?’ His jaw clenched with temper.
‘Just wanted to tell me she knew you, and to warn me that you’d never settle.’
‘That’s the thing about living in a small town, when you don’t know what you’re doing, at least everyone else does.’ His voice was dangerously low, and a vein pulsed in his neck. I’d never seen him angry before.
‘Look, I shouldn’t have said anything.’ I didn’t want this to ruin our night.
‘Of course you should say something. How dare she think she knows me, because of a drunken kiss years ago? It’s a small town, we all have a past, but don’t let anyone allow you to think they know me. Not for a second. It couldn’t be further from the truth. In all honesty you’re the first person I’ve ever really let in. For fuck’s sake I actually love you…’ His eyes blazed and drilled into me, then he blinked and lowered his gaze to the floor.
His feet shifted but before he could turn away, I clutched the back of his neck and pulled him towards me. Our lips met, slow and firm. I silently rejoiced in the words that had escaped him.
It was everything I wanted to hear; needed to hear; every day. His kiss was loaded with promises. I moved in deeper, falling a little bit more, but relieved to know we were of one mind.
‘You know how I feel about you.’ I breathed into his mouth, millimetres from mine.
John whispered into my ear, ‘There are girls you spend a night with, and there are girls you spend your life with. There are girls you buy a drink for, and there are girls you buy a diamond ring for. You know which one you are.’ He squeezed my waist encouragingly.
I couldn’t have put it better myself.
‘Time for us to go home,’ he said in a low, husky voice. ‘I want you to really mark your territory.’
‘With pleasure.’ We bid our goodbyes and hailed a taxi back to the hotel.
Chapter Nineteen
TUESDAY 25TH SEPTEMBER
