by JF Holland
Jill was sleepy, she’d had a wonderful evening, the ballet had been an eye opener for her. The bit in the lobby afterwards, not so much. Then the restaurant, well, the meal had been a revelation. It was amazing how some could make a few food ingredients taste so out of this world. As for herself, she had a very small repertoire of meals that she could cook well, and none of them anywhere near as well as what she’d eaten tonight. Yawning, she covered her mouth, stretching and blinking. The purring of the engine, and the comfort of the seat, added to her full stomach, the warmth of the car interior and that of the plush seating, lulled her. Her eyes slowly slid shut.
“Hey sleepyhead, we’ve reached your home,” Leonard told Jill, pulling up outside her little townhouse. He turned off the engine and alighted his side, going around and opening her door for her. He then helped her out and closed the door again, before ushering her up the small path to her front door.
“I’m so sorry, how rude of me to fall to sleep on you.”
“It’s fine, have you got your keys?” he asked, and she rooted in her bag for them. Taking them from her, Leonard opened her door for her and then handed her them back.
“Would you like a coffee?” Jill asked, moving from foot to foot, but not meeting his gaze.
“I’ll take a rain check on that,” Leonard told her, not trusting himself around her in the privacy of her home. Putting a finger beneath her chin, he tilted her face up so he could see her. “You’re tired,” he murmured, his finger tracing the slight bruising beneath her eyes and tutting. “Now, here’s my phone, key in your number and I’ll phone you tomorrow to arrange something.”
“Oh right, that would be lovely,” Jill replied, relieved that he wasn’t upset over her none too enthusiast offer of a drink. It wasn’t that she didn’t like him, she did. It was just that she had work in the morning and she was dreadfully tired. So, quickly she entered her mobile number and handed it back to him. He entered her name into his phone book, then hit dial and Jill’s phone vibrated in her purse.
“You now have my number also,” he informed her with a slight bow. “Sleep well, Jill,” Leonard told her, chastely brushing his lips across her own, before stepping back. He was tempted to do more as he felt the soft cushion of her mouth beneath his own, but he pulled back. She was a temptation, but he also had to fulfil the bargain that Luc had set for him.
Blinking, as he stepped back, Jill smiled up at him. Then pushed open her door and stepped inside, closing and locking it behind her. She stood there, her back against the door, listening to his footsteps retreating down her path. She heard his car start up again, the purr of the engine fading as he drove away. Sighing, she kicked off her shoes, and put them in the small shoe rack below the table as she dropped her bag on the table top.
“Hey Moby, I’m home. Have you missed mummy?” She asked, as she moved into the kitchen and opened the fridge, pulling out the milk to warm some in the microwave.
Chapter Sixteen
Y awning, Jill cradled her coffee as she sat behind her desk, staring sightlessly at her computer screen.
“Late night?” Thomas, her boss asked, as he stepped into the room wearing green theatre scrubs.
“Ballet and a restaurant,” Jill mumbled, sighing as she took a mouthful of the sweet, strong coffee. “Can I get you one,” she mumbled, holding her cup up towards him.
“Yes please, I have some notes to go over, then I’m due in theatre within the hour,” he told her.
“Here you go,” Jill said, passing him the top file from the pile on her desk by her elbow. Thomas put the file by his hip as he leaned on the corner of her desk.
“So, who did you go to the ballet with?” he asked, as she moved to the drinks machine in the corner of the office and quickly set it, to pour extra strong coffee into his cup.
“I believe you know him?” Jill replied, her back to him as she stirred a sugar into the dark, strong brew.
“Really, who is he?”
“Leonard, Leonard Smyth,” Jill replied, turning and handing him his coffee before moving back around her desk and slipping back into her seat.
“Leonard, you’re the date from Eternal Mates?” He asked, turning slightly so he could see her while cradling his own cup.
“You know about it?” Jill asked, taking another sip of her coffee.
“Yes, he was not best pleased to begin with from what I gather.”
“Hmm, Luc filled in the details for him I believe,” Jill told him dryly.
“Leonard told you about Luc?”
“Yes, something to do with Luc and him having a few problems due to a date Leonard had set him up with years ago. He also told me Luc’s now cursed where dating is concerned,” she shrugged.
“Yes, Luc hasn’t had the best of luck,” Thomas replied carefully, blowing on his coffee as his amber eyes watched her.
“What? Have I got something on my face or something?” She asked self-consciously, running a hand over her face.
“No, I’m just trying to picture you and Leonard together, that’s all.” He watched her bristle under his inquisitive gaze. “I’m not being rude Jill, it’s just that Leonard doesn’t…”
“Date, yes I know, he told me that too.”
“Really?” he asked, seemingly surprised when she nodded, if the widening of his eyes were anything to go by.
“It can be quite disconcerting being with him,” she added on a sigh.
“Why so?” Thomas asked, still watching her.
“He’s like a… magnet to women,” it was the only word she could find to describe his effect on them, and the odd man. “It’s quite strange,” she admitted, frowning, and then taking another sip of her coffee.
“He’s not a magnet to you?” Thomas queried.
“He’s a good-looking man, I’ll admit to that. He’s also funny and charming, but no, I would not throw myself at him,” she shrugged with a wrinkle of her nose. Thomas’s eyebrow rose, and smiling, he finally took his gaze from her, took a sip of his own coffee and then got up.
“What, no warning for me to stay away from him?” she asked. He moved towards his office door, folder now under his arm, cup in hand.
“No, I think you and he will be fine,” he told her, turning to look at her over his shoulder as he stood in his office doorway. “You may be just what he needs,” he winked. Then, with a grin, he walked into his office, closing the door behind him.
Jill sat at her desk, frowning at Thomas’s closed office door, trying to figure out what had just happened. Her phone vibrated in her bag, so putting down her cup, she pulled it out.
I’ll pick you up at eight, this evening. It’s a surprise, Leonard.
Smiling, Jill closed her phone and put it away before picking up her coffee again. Sighing, she stared at her computer screen, then turned and glared at all the files piled at the edge of her desk. Oh, well, work wasn’t going to sort itself, she needed to get to it. There were files to update with results, and as Thomas had been taking the odd hour off here and there over the last week, she also had some appointments to reschedule. However, she at least now had something to look forward to this evening.
She enjoyed working for Thomas, it was just that she spent most of the day tucked away in his office; which was the downside to the job. She got lonely with no interaction apart from the occasional phone call, or when she needed to take files back to the central files office. Being alone gave her way too much time to think and obsess over her own insecurities. She’d spent far too many hours wondering what was wrong with her, and why she always seemed to attract the wrong men. Yes, she had found Leonard, and they seemed to have some things in common; now they’d both opened-up a little. But there was still that niggle at the back of her mind that told her that the other shoe was going to drop at some point. Paranoia on her part, probably, but she couldn’t help worrying that there was something he wasn’t telling her.
Thomas appeared again at his office door, brushing his strawberry blond mane off his forehead
, distractedly.
“You need to fit in a haircut,” Jill said, turning to him. “What do you need?”
“Apart from that haircut, I need at least another twelve hours in a day,” he scowled. “Have you got Mr Phillips’ blood results back yet, I can’t seem to find them in his file.”
“I’ll check the system for them now and bring them through.”
“Great, if his white cell count hasn’t dropped, I’m going to have to reschedule his knee replacement surgery and change his antibiotics.” With that, he disappeared inside and shut his door again.
“No rest for the wicked,” Jill mumbled, keying in the details she needed to check his results and print them off.
It was only 9:15, she had a few hours to put in before she could call it a day and get home.
As she waited for the printer, she mentally went through her meagre wardrobe, trying to decide what she could wear this evening. He’d already seen her in her dress pants, and her little black dress, maybe she could teem her pants with a different top? She did have several blouses and lightweight jumpers.
That could work, she thought, leaning over and grabbing the sheet of results out of the printer. Happier now she knew what she was doing, she got up and took Thomas the information he’d need.
Her phone was beeping by the time she got back to her desk.
So, how’d the date go, have you had your wicked way with Mr. Tall dark and yummy yet? Amanda x
Jill read it and laughed, covering her mouth to stop Thomas from hearing.
No I have not. Jill x
Damn girl, what’s your problem? Go get him, it’s got to beat B.O.B with his long-life batteries! Amanda x
He’s a perfect gentleman, but he did give me a mind-blowing orgasm in the middle of a very posh restaurant. (google eyes) Jill x
Ring me when you get home, I want all the details, oh and Polly says, go get him tiger, lol xx
Jill put her phone away, with a shake of her head and went back to work. She’d deal with Amanda later, but she’d bet her last pound that she’d be phoning her as soon as she stepped through her door. That girl had a sixth sense where she was concerned, she always rang as soon as she got in from work, and normally when she needed cheering up. She’d take pictures of her clothes choice and get her views. Her heart ached missing having her friend, and having her close to hand to talk to. It was great that they kept in touch, but she missed her like crazy and the monthly visits and phone calls weren’t quite the same.
Sighing, she again began checking results on the hospital system and printing out the ones that Thomas required. Making sure she put the files he’d need to double check before she could re-schedule appointments.
Chapter Seventeen
L eonard walked out of his bathroom after his shower, rubbing his hair with a towel, another slung low around his hips. He’d been to visit Balin earlier, happy to see him on the mend, albeit still slowly, but he’d still not gotten over the fact that Luc seemed to have a thing for Sophia. She was lovely, but with her being a witch, she should be the last kind of immortal (even though technically still human as not mated), that Luc should tangle with. After all, it was a witch who’d cursed him to live as a caricature statue form of a gargoyle during daylight.
Shaking his head, Leonard sat on the end of his bed as he dried himself, thinking about Jill and how she worked for Thomas, especially as Thomas was a lion shifter. She was already part of the immortal world and didn’t know it. He smiled at the thought as he padded, naked back into the bathroom and threw his wet towels into the hamper beside the shower. He may have a cleaner, but there was no need to make the poor woman go searching for his dirty laundry. Especially as she was a troll, and he meant that in the literal form, not in ugly. Although trolls weren’t exactly pretty, both the men and women had beards; strange as hell to see, as you could only tell them apart as the women had breasts. Nora was okay though, so long as he didn’t annoy her, and her husband, Burt, was his gardener, so it worked out well for him. Plus, having immortals on his staff meant he could relax when he was at home. They also didn’t live on his property in the small bungalow; which he kept as a guest house, preferring to stay in their small home back in Lunaton Woods.
Back in his room, Leonard walked over to pick his watch up off his nightstand, when he noticed the message light on his phone. Picking it up, he sat back down on the bed and opened the message from Jill, and read it.
Sorry, can’t make tonight, I’ll call, Jill.
Blinking, Leonard re-read it, thinking he’d not understood. But, no, that was all she’d written, no reason, nothing. Just, can’t make it. His first instinct was to just let it go, her loss, not his. He’d planned to take her to the movies. Him, at the movies, in a room full of humans. Stuck in a confined space, overpowering scents, heartbeats, and no windows. The sacrifices he’d made for this woman, this human woman, who drove him fucking mental. He’d given her a mind-blowing orgasm last night in a restaurant, followed by a fabulous meal, but apparently, it’s not good enough. How does she repay him, with thanks and a nice evening together, no, she blows him off without a damn explanation?
He’d planned to sit through a chick flick because she’d wanted to see it, sacrificing his own feelings. He dropped the phone on the bed and stared at the wall with a scowl. He’d been dumped by her, again, what was it with her? Angrily, he picked the phone up again and re-read it, nope, nothing else had miraculously been added to the disgustingly short text. No deep and meaningful apology. No, the world has ended and that’s why I can’t go out with you tonight to see the movie that you were so graciously going to take me to watch.
Okay, technically, she didn’t know he’d planned on taking her to the movies, he’d told her it was a surprise, but that wasn’t the point. He hated chick flicks, loathed them in fact, but he’d swallowed his pride; and revulsion, and had booked god-damn tickets for it so they could have decent seats. He deserved at least a phone call with an explanation as to why he was being blown off.
He then flicked through his calls, checking to see if she’d left the message because he’d not heard his phone ringing over the water in his shower. No, nothing since he’d spoken to Jaden yesterday. Again, he dropped the phone distastefully and got up, pacing around his room. Then mouth twisting, he headed over to his walk-in wardrobe. Pulling out a pair of dark jeans and a woollen jumper, he quickly slipped them on before grabbing a pair of socks out of his drawer, and a pair of dark loafers off the shelf. Then, he took his favourite, black leather jacket off a hanger and made his way back to the bed. Sitting, he pulled on his socks, and slipped his feet into his shoes, then grabbing his brush off his bedside cabinet, quickly pulled it through his wet hair.
If she was going to blow him off, she could damn well do so to his face, he fumed, storming out of his room. He tucked his phone into his jacket pocket, grabbed his wallet and keys off the occasional table in the lobby as he left. Slamming the door, he locked it and set the alarm. Hitting the fob on his keys, he walked down the steps. Then, jumping into the Maserati, he turned over the engine and peeled out of his driveway.
Chapter Eighteen
J ill’s eyes were all red and puffy from crying. So, here she sat on her sofa with a cold wet cloth over them, trying to ease the ache and help take down the swelling. Sighing, she hiccupped, as, yet another tear escaped, soaking into the wet cloth as her chest ached with loss. Just then, her doorbell went, and mumbling under her breath, she removed the cloth, pushed herself up and shuffled to answer it. She so wasn’t in the mood for company, so hopefully the sight of her swollen, bloodshot eyes, red snotty nose and blotchy complexion would scare off whoever had decided to interrupt her mourning.
Pulling the door open, she stepped back with a frown.
“Leo, I sent you a text. I’m sorry, I’m not in the mood tonight,” she told him, her bottom lip wobbling.
“Are you okay?” he asked, ignoring her shortening of his name yet again as she moved back from the door. His ea
rlier temper vanishing, as he looked at her sad face. She was not a pretty crier, but in that moment, her misery was more important to him than how rough she presently looked. He closed the door, and ushered her into her small front room, helping her take a seat on her sofa, and sitting beside her. “Now, tell me what’s upset you?” He picked up one of her hands which was twisting a tissue, and he held it between his own, trying to warm her.
“He’s gone. Oh, my god, I can’t believe he’s gone.” Jill wailed, taking her hand back from between his, and lifting them to cover her face as tears once again sprang from her eyes.
Normally at this point, Leonard would already have been out of the door, he didn’t do well with sentiment, especially not crying women. However, he couldn’t bear the thought of Jill being upset, another first for him, like the aberration of taking her temper tantrum last night in the restaurant. So, instead of disappearing, he shrugged out of his jacket, then leaning over, scooped her up and onto his lap. He then held her against his chest, stroking a hand up and down her back as he rocked her.
He rocked her until the tears stopped and she sighed, snuggling into him, then sniffing, turned her face into his chest, and wiped her nose on his Aaron jumper.
“Okay, now are you ready to talk?” he asked, trying not to shudder in revulsion after she pulled back and left a snot trail on his expensive lamb’s wool.
“He’s gone,” she hiccupped, her dark brown chocolate eyes, pools of red, puffy misery.
“Who’s gone, honey?”
“Moby,” she whispered on another hiccup, a tear trailing over her bottom lid and sliding down her cheek.