I waited until he was inside and then I closed the door behind me. I aimed for professional courtesy even though I knew we’d scuttled that boat already.
‘OK, what is this...proposition.’
‘It’s quite simple. Come to the Cotswolds with me for a night as my fake date.’
I gaped at him. ‘Why on earth would I do that?’
‘Because it’s the annual work event this weekend at my boss’s house and
his wife has already seen us kissing. She’s been sending me texts from a new number since the other night, accusing me of kissing you to just put her off. Her fixation is getting to a new level of obsession and it would help my situation if I could bring you with me so she believes that you’re genuine and I’m not available.’
My heart thumped. He wanted me to go away with him?No, Jess. He needs a fake girlfriend.When that sank in, it stung. This was a reminder of how it had felt to lower my guard for someone in the past only to have them use me.
At least Brodie Montgomery wasn’t pretending to care for me, but it was still too reminiscent of that sense of excoriating exposure.
I said, ‘No, I’ve got better things to do than to play fake girlfriend.’
‘Really? Like what?’
‘Stuff,’ I said defensively. ‘It’s none of your business. Anyway, your boss’s wife won’t have seen my face really; I was wearing a mask. I’m sure you have a bulging contact list of women to call up for such a purpose.’
Was that a minute flinch I saw cross his face? As if what I’d said hurt him? Then he responded, ‘Actually, as hard as it is to believe, no, I don’t. You were pretty memorable in that dress and the mask only covered the top half of your face. She wouldrecognise you.’ Before I could say anything else, he added, ‘But, I’m also willing to do a deal here. I believe you need to find a storage unit sufficient for everything here, files and furniture. I can help with that. Storage fees covered, for the first three months.’
‘Why wouldyoudo anything for us?’
‘Our company welcomes the opportunity to show that we can be philanthropic.’
So cynical. It made me sick. ‘You’re unbelievable.’ But I knew I couldn’t afford to shoot it down. It was going to put a serious dent in our finances to clear out and put everything in storage until we found new premises.
‘And, I’ll hear your concerns about leaving this place,’ he added. ‘Maybe I can help with finding a new premises.’
‘You expect me to believe that anything I say might induce your company to help us going forward?’
His eyes were very blue and not so icy now. More like a kind of white heat. ‘You underestimate your appeal.’
I flushed. Was he suggesting adding a little extracurricular activity to the fake date? Or was that my overheated imagination? Had I made it so obvious the other night that he’d completely rocked my world? A sense of exposure made me say, ‘Sex would not be on the menu.’
Chapter 14
Brodie
Brodie strove to hide how everything in him rejected that notion. Even if he had decided that it wouldn’t be a good idea to have this be anything but a platonic arrangement. The other night had exposed him – the strength of his desire for her and the speed with which things had escalated – it had freaked him out. Reminding him all too uncomfortably of the messy dynamic he’d seen between his parents.
Jessica was looking at him. He said, ‘Of course. It would be a purely platonic agreement.’
Did something like disappointment flash across her face? But it was gone. Maybe he’d imagined it because hewantedher to want more than platonic.
He hadn’t been able to get her out of his head since the other night. In spite of his better instincts warning him that she was different and that what they’d shared had been unprecedented.
But she’d just stated she had no interest in sex. She’d already told him she thought he was a terrible human being and maybe now she suspected that he did have ulterior motives, otherwise why would she feel like she had to say such a thing?
This had been a huge mistake, he never should have followed his instinct –you mean, dick– he shut out the annoying voice– to come here. ‘Look, Jessica, it was just a suggestion, OK? I thought we could help each other out. Clearly that’s not the case.’
But before Brodie took a step she was saying quickly, ‘It’s Jess, actually. Only my mother calls me Jessica and not in a good way.’
He looked at her warily, but then he took her lead. ‘My full name is Broderick and like you, only my mother uses it. Also in not a good way.’
‘Broderick.’
