Scandal (Tainted #1)

by Aimee Duffy

  As was the norm for England before the spring, rain drizzled down, turning the streets a muggy grey. His sports jacket was waterproof, but her suit didn’t look water resistant – the soaked-in stain on the front proved that. She had no umbrella, and instead her golden hair caught the water and turned it a few shades darker.

  There was a chill in the air and he didn’t want to have to go too far from Maine PR in case the weather got worse. She probably would never forgive him if he was the reason she ended up with the flu, and that was hardly conductive when he’d pretty much made up his mind to sign with Maine.

  ‘Baxter’s good for you, Blondie?’

  Those flaming green eyes turned on him like rat poison-tipped daggers. ‘My name is Alicia.’

  Then she tripped. He reached out, grabbed her by the waist, and pulled her to him. The second her slender body hit his, heat stirred in the pit of his stomach and his grin slipped. Her damp hair smelled like strawberries and he had to wonder if her lips would taste as sweet, especially coated in that clear gloss that reminded him of smeared honey.

  Her file and handbag hit the pavement with a clatter. He didn’t let her go so much as she shoved out of his grasp. Her face was rosy now, but not in the way women who were attracted to him blushed. Alicia briefly scowled at him before crouching down and collecting what she’d dropped.

  Sebastian tried to help, but she batted his hands away. ‘You don’t like me much, do you?’

  She mumbled something that sounded suspiciously like, ‘Well spotted, genius.’

  As they rose, he asked, ‘Why?’

  The fact that her dislike grated on him was a surprise. After months of judgement and slander, he thought he’d be over caring what others thought by now.

  ‘Why what?’ she called over her shoulder as she strutted away.

  The way her bum moved beneath that tight monstrosity of a skirt was way too distracting. ‘Come on, you’re dying to tell me. Have been since you started your pitch, I’ll bet.’

  The only reaction he got was her shoulders tensing.

  In three easy strides he caught up to her. ‘Go on, I promise I won’t tell your boss or pull as a client.’

  ‘You haven’t signed yet.’

  Her attention was on the pavement in front of her, like she didn’t want him to have to catch her again. And if he was thinking more about his reputation than the way she felt pressed against him, he’d be inclined to agree having her in his arms was a bad idea.

  ‘And if I said it wouldn’t affect my decision?’ he pressed.

  She stopped outside the restaurant and turned to him with narrowed eyes. ‘I’d find it hard to believe you.’

  She’d pretty much called him an idiot and a liar in less than five minutes, and all Sebastian wanted to do was ruffle those prissy, professional feathers to loosen her up. He was an idiot, pure and simple. When she burst into the boardroom and he saw how she withered under her boss’ glare, he’d been hit with a pang of sympathy.

  Striking a deal with him was obviously important to her and it hadn’t been her fault more of his shit was covering the daily rags. So he’d tried to lighten her up by flirting a little. The more worked up she got, the more he teased her. It wasn’t fair, not when she was trying to be professional. But she hadn’t looked anxious since. Instead it was like a fire had lit behind those big green eyes and it made her all the prettier. Even with the drab suit and outdated hairstyle.

  He moved forward to open the door for her. ‘OK, how about we start again? I promise not to tease you through lunch.’ He may have crossed his fingers behind his back, but she didn’t notice.

  ‘Good. That’s … good.’ The doubt in her eyes said she didn’t believe him.

  Smart cookie.

  He grinned. Lunch was going to be more fun than he’d hoped.

  Mai’s feet might ache from strutting around London in a pair of Gucci slingbacks, but her mood was higher than it had been in months. She had a cheque in her pocket for more than she expected and a contract with Taylor Made to do a series of in-depth interviews on her relationship with Sebastian.

  It seemed the more he screwed up and slept around, the more people wanted her to have her say. Who knew having such a public relationship with an up-and-coming tennis star would do wonders for her own career?

  And the fact Taylor Made had taken her suggestion and titled the series The Beginning of the End just added to her joy.

  Her first instinct when she left their offices was to call Jack, but he was busy with his script and she didn’t want to throw Sebastian in his face any more than she had to. Sure, he was the reason she broke up with Jack all those years ago but back then, money and the potential to become a celebrity mattered more than love.

  She was just lucky he’d taken her back after the affair. Luckier still that he encouraged her desire for revenge. It made her realise how important love was. Jack’s kind of love, the love that saw them through the rough times and then brought them back together.

  Instead of calling him, she was set on hitting the Tube and Oxford Street. The money was only going to burn a hole in her bank account and right now she was in the mood to treat her man to something that would take his mind of his silly script. Luckily, she knew just the shop to visit.

  Mai turned the corner, only to jump back into the shadows and lower the umbrella to cover her face. What the hell was Sebastian doing here and with a woman who looked frigid enough in all those layers to be a nun?

  She stayed where she was until they passed, but the sound of his laugh still hit her like it had the first time, heating her blood and making her want him. The craving was lust of course, which was all they ever had, but she still missed it. She still missed him at times. Even now, when she hated him more than she’d ever hated anyone.

  When the oddest couple in the city had gotten far enough away, Mai poked her head around the corner. Sebastian had his arms wrapped around the woman’s waist with a big, stupid grin on his face. The same grin he’d given Mai once. The same grin that still had the power to steal her breath.

  She darted out of sight and used the dirty alley wall for support. This time that grin squeezed at her heart until she bled with misery. Her eyes welled but she blinked the moisture away. Vengeance made more sense than tormenting herself. Revenge was sweeter than wondering if he’d left her for having a big arse or small tits. Payback for this would line her pockets and give her and Jack the life Sebastian never could.

  Mai walked onto the street and saw him leading the frigid bitch into a restaurant. She pulled her mobile out, snapped a picture, then searched her contacts. This one would be a favour for old time’s sake, but it served that bastard Collins right. He would soon learn he couldn’t destroy her life and get away with it!

  Sebastian guided Alicia through Baxter’s with a hand on her lower back. The place wasn’t overly flashy, though the berry coloured walls with black and chrome décor did make it feel a bit more gothic romance than he was comfortable with. But all he cared about was not bumping into the ex from hell. Or the press. Neither should expect him to visit here when he was supposed to be training.

  Or maybe they did, going by his actions in Melbourne. As he glanced around at the uncovered windows, he breathed out a curse. He really should have thought this lunch thing through.

  They were seated at the far side of the building, right next to a huge window with nothing but a purple, see-through veil covering half of it. Sebastian was about to insist they had more privacy until he noticed there were no other tables free.

  Given his father had drummed good manners into him all his life, he pulled out a chair for Alicia. She stared at it with parted lips, like the gesture was the last thing she thought he’d do.

  ‘Didn’t you expect a ladies’ man like me to be a gentleman?’ He winked before sliding into his own chair.

  Pink tinged the tips of her cheekbones. ‘Thank you. What else would you like to know about my plan?’

  All business. He sighed. �
�If we’re going to be working together, don’t you think it’d be a good idea to get to know each other?’

  Alicia shook her head and he frowned. Her reply was cut off by a server asking them what they’d like to order.

  ‘Just lime and soda for me. This won’t take long,’ Alicia said.

  He quirked an eyebrow at her then turned to the waitress with a grin. ‘I’d like to see the menu.’

  After the woman gave him a flirty smile, she left to get what he’d asked for.

  ‘If we’re going to work together to save your sponsors, you might want to tone the flirting-in-public-places thing down a notch or ten,’ she said in the most prim English tone he’d ever heard.

  ‘Jealous?’ he asked, resting his elbows on the table and leaning forward. Her eyes burned again. He fought back a laugh.

  ‘Don’t be ridiculous. It’s my job to make sure you stay out of the newspapers for the wrong reasons.’

  He couldn’t fault her logic, but it wasn’t like he’d invited the server for an afternoon sweat fest at his flat. ‘A little flirting’s great for both parties. Don’t women love the compliment? Why else would they ask if their bum looks big in clothes if they don’t want to hear nice things so they can feel good about themselves?’

  She sighed and massaged her temples. ‘This is going to be harder than I thought.’

  Alicia hiked her bag onto her lap and he frowned at the top of her head. What was with this woman? It was like she’d been born without the humour gene.

  The waitress came back, handing over a menu and eyeing him like she wanted to say something else. He was too intent on the blonde fussing around in a bag taller than her midriff to do more than give the girl a dismissive ‘thanks’.

  Alicia’s hair was pulled back tight and twisted into some kind of coil at the back. How long did those pale locks fall when let loose? Down to her shoulders, or long enough to cover her breasts?

  His heart pounded at the thought and he shoved the image aside. She wasn’t his type; too highly strung and clearly not even interested in him enough to pretend to laugh at his jokes like most women did.

  Not that he should consider her anything other than his publicist. This lunch might have been a spur of the moment decision – probably due to the fact he liked the way she’d checked him out – but he did need to know more about this plan of hers. After all, there were a lot of rumours going around about him lately. Most were ugly. Some were downright insulting, the worst coming from Mai.

  ‘Lost something?’ he asked, because she was still fumbling around in her handbag.

  ‘My pen,’ she mumbled.

  ‘Blondie, stop worrying. You don’t need to take notes, and I’ll go by the office tomorrow to sign. Right now, I want to eat and hear more about how you’re going to try to straighten me up.’

  She looked at him, the fire in her eyes reminding him he should ditch the nickname and use Alicia. Such a pretty name too, but he liked the way she glowered when he didn’t.

  ‘Of course,’ she said, then clenched her teeth.

  He pressed his lips together to keep from grinning. A bit of teasing never hurt anyone, and it was about time Miss Prim and Proper learned that.

  Alicia should have known better than to believe a man like Collins. The promise not to tease was broken before they’d been served a drink.

  Not to mention the flirting. Would she have to keep an eye on him twenty-four seven to make sure he kept what he was packing in his boxers? She couldn’t do that, not with her other clients and the way he riled her up. It would be her headlining the news next. She could imagine the headline – Earl of Cumbria’s daughter slung up for murder, or worse, Playboy of the Year Screwing for the Title.

  Alicia shuddered.

  Sebastian looked at the menu and she had to force herself not to tap the table and give away her impatience. Her stomach was on the verge of growling but she couldn’t have that. She needed this to be over and done with so she could get back to work. Away from him. Maybe he ate quickly. She could only hope.

  He placed the menu down and asked, ‘What’s good here?’

  She was about to say ‘everything’ just so he’d pick something until she remembered what he did for a living. ‘I thought you’d be on a special diet.’

  Sebastian shrugged.

  She thought he gave a damn about his career. More than likely his management company had forced him to come to Maine. That at least explained the way he had looked like he couldn’t care less in the boardroom.

  Well, it was her job to make him look good in the public eye, which meant he had to appear focused – if he ever signed. What would a sportsman need? She wished she’d looked into that. Surely protein. Probably refined carbs, too.

  ‘The salmon is nice, with brown rice and steamed veg.’

  ‘Good to know,’ he said and waved over the pretty brunette waitress.

  The woman subtly slid her hands down her stomach, then tucked her shirt in tighter so it emphasised her breasts. A burning sensation flared in Alicia’s temples. She did her best to ignore it – after all, what did she care if a woman flirted with him? If he signed, she’d have to put up with that sort of thing daily. It was better she got used to it now.

  ‘I’ll have the salmon with brown rice and steamed vegetables, please. Oh, and the grilled chicken without seasoning if you can, with salad?’

  Her eyes narrowed at Collins. Surely he didn’t need all that.

  ‘What would you like, miss?’ the girl asked.

  ‘Just the lime and soda.’ Her voice dripped with her growing irritation.

  Before the waitress left, Alicia asked for a loan of her pen. The other woman obliged and she turned to Collins, her suspicion rising. ‘Hungry?’

  Collins shook his head. ‘I can’t eat all that. The salmon’s for you.’

  ‘I’m not –’ but her traitorous stomach grumbled.

  He laughed. ‘Figured as much.’

  Without thinking, she snapped, ‘Why are we here, anyway? We could have discussed my pitch at the office.’

  Collins relaxed back into the chair with that easy grin and hint of amusement in his eyes that drove her bonkers. Her blood simmered at the thought he was laughing at her again and she considered getting up and walking out the door. But that would just put her back on desk duty, coming up with new campaigns for small, going-nowhere businesses, wouldn’t it?

  Combined with her late entrance earlier, her bottom would bounce off the pavement on her way out of Maine for letting Collins slip through her fingers.

  She shuddered as she imagined the heavy disapproval in her father’s glare when she was forced to go crawling back. One he used only on her. Time and time again.

  She never wanted to return permanently to the cold brick and stone building she’d grown up in, with parents who were cooler than the concrete. An overnight visit once every other month was more than enough.

  ‘We’re here because we’re hungry and there’s more I need to know before I sign,’ he answered, snapping her focus back to the conversation.

  His voice, low and rich, did not make her heart pound faster. No, that was the thought of losing the first job she’d ever had and having to go running home to her father’s country mansion.

  ‘What do you need to know?’ she asked, putting her irritation aside. Or trying hard to. It bubbled under her skin, making her want to say things she shouldn’t.

  ‘Why did you get into the PR business?’ he asked.

  ‘I don’t see why that’s relevant.’

  Leaning forward on his elbows, he grinned in a way that made her heart flutter and skin tingle. He shouldn’t be allowed loose on the female population. She scowled to hide her reaction.

  ‘It is. I need to know that you love your job, that you have the drive to do it right. Otherwise, what’s the point hiring you?’

  Collins was seriously testing her patience. She’d worked hard to win the right to prove she could salvage his reputation. She wasn’t going to le
t his cocky attitude or flirting or whatever he was trying to do ruin this for her.

  Humouring him was the only option she had.

  ‘I’ve always wanted to help people get out of trouble, and I’m very good at bringing out the best in my clients.’ Alicia unclipped papers from her board. ‘This is Maine’s standard contract. After you’ve read it over you can sign on the last page.’

  She placed the document in front of him with the borrowed pen on top. Collins didn’t even glance at it.

  ‘And you think you can bring out the best in me?’ he asked with a smirk.

  She had to take a deep breath so she could speak calmly. ‘Yes, although I admit it will be challenging. All you need to know is what I’m going to do for you and how. The whys are irrelevant. Understand?’

  ‘I don’t know … the whys say a lot about people.’

  Was he playing her for his own amusement? It seemed so, the way his eyes lit up and his lips pressed together as if to hold back a laugh. The thought of having to go into work this afternoon and tell her boss he’d walked away from the deal filled her empty stomach with dread.

  She had a sinking feeling that it was inevitable. Hadn’t she already been over this, with a man who made her crazy with lust, passion, fear, anger, and worst of all, love? He’d strung her along until she actually needed him. What had he done then? He’d walked out on her when something shinier came along.

  Collins wasn’t trying to take her virtue or flatter her with pretty words and irresistible promises, but she knew he was not going to sign. He’d probably invited her to lunch because he thought she was easy, or he was looking for a way out of his responsibilities with his management company.

  Alicia picked up the contract and pen, determined to leave Baxter’s with a shred of pride. After all, she was a Simpson and if her father had taught her anything, it was that no one played her family for fools. ‘This is pointless.’

  She made to get up, but he caught her wrist. His rough palm made her skin tingle and she met his eyes on reflex. They weren’t laughing now. Determination made him look more serious, like he did when he was on the court.