He sighed and his hands relaxed a little. ‘We met at one of those silly fashion parties. I was only there because a client invited me. She seemed genuine. We got together. When she realised I wasn’t interested in courting the media’s attention she dropped me, but not before getting some mileage out of it by giving a kiss and tell, making up a story that I’d cheated on her.’
‘You didn’t?’
He looked at me, frowning. ‘No. I would never do that.’
Then he said, ‘My parents...they had affairs almost as an excuse just to make each other jealous. It was exhausting and toxic. That’s why I would never...’
I believed him. I would never either. ‘I get it.’
We were silent for a while as if both absorbing the fact that we’dshared.A lot. So when he said, ‘Maybe it’s time to listen to some music?’ I nodded eagerly. I didn’t want anything else coming out of my mouth.
‘Yes.’
Brodie put on a female Irish artist who I actually really liked. I sat back and tried to ignore the fact that the unsettling feeling was only deepening. I really hadn’t had expected to feel a sense of affinity with someone like Brodie Montgomery. And we hadn’t even started pretending to be together, yet.
Chapter 18
Brodie
When Brodie pulled into the forecourt of the grand Georgian country pile, there were other cars and people arriving. He glanced over at Jess. She was asleep. Her head resting towards him. It felt ridiculously intimate to observe her sleeping.
She had the longest lashes. Dark golden. She didn’t seem to be wearing any make-up. She didn’t need it. His gaze drifted down –pervert –but he couldn’t stop himself. Her breasts rose and fell under the thin material of her top.
And then, as if sensing his regard, she moved and when her eyes fluttered open, Brodie was looking at her face again. Her mouth went into a little moue when she slept. Cute.
Her eyes were mossy green and a little unfocused, and then she snapped back to life when she looked at him and sat up. ‘I fell asleep. Wow, I don’t usually do that. We’re here?’
‘Yeah, just arrived. I’m really delighted to know that I’m such riveting company.’
Brodie had actually enjoyed her sleeping next to him. It was a novelty when normally in a similar situation he’d be rushing to leave. A valet came to the car and Brodie got out to give him the key.
Jess was already out on the other side and stretching, making her top ride up to show off her toned belly. Lightly golden. She looked at him and her cheeks went pink. He wanted her. But there was no way he’d reveal how much when she’d made it clear she wasn’t interested. And when she was here doing him a favour. And when he had no intention of losing control like that again.
‘This is really fancy,’ she said, when another staff member came and took their bags from the boot.
‘Yeah, I think this is inherited. Gordon comes from wealth.’ Brodie saw movement out of the corner of his eye. He went around and took her hand, and said into her ear, ‘Incoming.’
He liked holding her hand way too much. His boss and his wife stopped in front of them. ‘Brodie, here at last, and with his lovely guest... Jessica, wasn’t it?’
Brodie introduced them all and Jess put out her hand and smiled. ‘Jess, please, and it’s lovely to meet you, Mr Davison.’
‘Please, call me Gordon, and this is my wife, Cecily.’
‘Yes,’ Jess said sunnily. ‘We met the other evening in London. Nice to see you again, Mrs Davison.’
They shook hands. No hint of the scene the woman had caused the other evening. Jess was a natural. He risked a glance at Cecily who was taking them in. Accepting this fake truth. He could see it happen almost in real time as her expression closed off and she backed away, tugging her husband with her, saying, ‘We’ll leave you to settle in. See you for drinks later.’
Brodie breathed out. ‘I don’t want to jinx anything, but I think she might actually believe this.’
‘I pity her next victim,’ Jess said.
A young man in matching long shorts and a polo-shirt picked up their luggage. ‘Please, follow me, I’ll show you to your room.’
Brodie kept Jess’s hand in his as they followed the young man into the palatial Georgian mansion. Jess squeezed his handthen and he looked down at her as they climbed the stairs. She whispered, ‘There’s just one room?’
He stopped moving, ‘We are meant to be a couple. Will it be a problem?’
Chapter 19
