by Orla Bailey
She taps her purple manicured fingernail on the surface of my desk until I want to whack the irritating little digit with the sharp edge of a ruler. I hold my nerve and wait.
“As it’s a surprise...” She speaks to me like she’s trying to teach a cow calculus. “...we need him out of the way until the very last minute. Important professional acquaintances, close friends and colleagues will be invited so he mustn’t attempt to go into work that day. Do you think you can keep him otherwise occupied?” She makes it sound very clear that I’m none of the above but a useful little distraction of a slut, nonetheless.
“I could.” He’s taking me up the Thames on his boat on Saturday. We’re leaving early and will presumably be gone for most of the day.
“Will you?”
I get the distinct internal warning I’m damned if I do and I’m damned if I don’t. Yet Amanda is right. I’m not so petty I would ruin Jack’s special day. I take a very deep breath. “Yes, Amanda, I’ll do it. For Jack.” I want us both to be very clear about that.
“Good.”
“How will you get him to Claridge’s?” In a moment of triumph I wonder how she’s going to manage that without inviting me.
“You come in handy for that, too.”
“Oh?” I want to hear this. She hasn’t told me anything yet that would make me unduly suspicious but I simply don’t trust the woman.
“If everyone he knows is already at the dinner waiting, there’s only one way to get him to appear. You must make an excuse to leave him a couple of hours before. He mustn’t suspect anything, mind you.”
“Go on.” This could be more difficult than she imagines. Jack hates me out of his sight these days unless he knows exactly where I am and who I’m with. Not that I’m telling Amanda that.
“After you leave, someone can phone and tell him you’ve had a little trouble.” She sees how uncertain I look at the prospect. “Don’t worry, it’ll be something simple like you’ve lost your purse and can’t get a taxi home. We don’t want the man having a heart attack. He’ll simply come to your rescue at Claridge’s. Where he gets the surprise of his life.” Her frozen face doesn’t match the pleasant nature of the event but I put that down to her having to involve someone she hates. Me.
“Is that all?” I’m being sarcastic. It may sound simple in theory but Jack sees through me too easily to let me just disappear on him for a couple of hours. I’ll have to be very inventive.
“Nearly. Of course, you’re invited too.” Her chill voice fails to hide its begrudging tone.
“Of course.” I’ve had warmer invitations.
“You’ll have to sneak out a cocktail dress for yourself and black tie for Jack to change into. We don’t want to embarrass the man.”
“Couldn’t you have given me a little more notice?”
“How much notice do you need to grab an outfit and take a taxi?” Somehow she manages to make me feel incompetent.
I reassure myself by thinking it’s easy to be devious when you’ve had as much practice as she has. I’m still not certain why Amanda hasn’t devised a way that excludes me, beyond knowing he spends all his time lately with me. I try to consider any angle she may be working especially as she and Brent are now in cahoots to bring me down. But I suppose if I keep my wits about me there’s nothing particularly dangerous in any of it. She may despise me but she’d never do anything to hurt or disillusion Jack about her loyalty to him.
“Okay. What time do you need me to get him there?”
“Eight thirty should be perfect. All the guests will be in place by then.”
“I’ll leave Belvedere around six. That will give plenty of time to send him a distress call and get him there in time to change.”
“I knew I could count on you.”
Her statement makes me feel very uncomfortable. I can’t help thinking she’s up to something. “Keep Ben Gunn away from me. If you’re planning anything like last time, I’ll rip your cold heart out.” I just wanted to get that out in the open as I stand, ending this awkward interview.
“Gunn was your mess, not mine.” She’s not in the least intimidated. She stands too. “Besides, I haven’t got a heart. You should know that by now. This is all for Jack’s sake. I give you my word on that.”
I don’t trust her word. But I do want Jack to be happy and I won’t be the one to stand in the way of a special night with his friends. I’m really not that selfish.
“Until Saturday, Ms Caid.”
“Ms Devereaux.”
She trips out on her stilettos, ignoring Libby on her way through the door.
Libby rushes straight in when she’s gone. “What was that all about?” she scans the room and grins. “I don’t see feathers on the carpet. No blood up the walls.”
I collapse in my seat and sigh. “Relatively civilised actually.” I tell her the story.
She looks a little dubious. “Are you sure you can trust her?”
“Not in the slightest. But I’ll have my eyes wide open. After last time there’s not much worse she can do to me in public without alerting Jack.”
* * *
Jack and I travel home together in the Bentley on Friday evening, the way we have all week.
“How was your day?” Jack’s enquiry is casual but I’m immediately on alert.
“You don’t usually ask me that.”
A faint smile tugs at the edges of his lips. “Are you being evasive?”
“Why would I need to be evasive?” Of course I am. I can hardly tell him about Amanda’s unexpected visit, her request or her plans for his birthday. Yet his question makes me suspicious. Nothing much gets past the man. Does he already have some suspicions of his own? Is it wise to lie to him?
“Can’t you answer a simple question?” His Arctic eyes pierce mine. It only takes a second for the intensity to peak. He unsettles me so easily.
I’d like nothing more than to get it all off my chest but how can I? If he doesn’t know about Amanda’s birthday plans or only suspects them, I can’t be the one to spoil his surprise. I’m no good at keeping secrets at the best of times but I find it particularly hard to keep anything from Jack. I feel completely transparent when he looks at me, so much so I’m truly amazed he hasn’t worked out already, I’m in love with him. I grasp at a swift diversion.
“I’m making big changes at work, that’s all.” I wait. Best not to give too much away.
“What sort of changes?” He sits forwards, genuinely interested.
“It’s no secret.” Blast. The secrets on my mind seem to want to come right out my mouth. My skin flares so I turn to look out of the window. “Traffic’s heavy tonight.”
He sees through the tactic. “Secret?” Jack appears more amused than ever.
I launch into an explanation of the new structure I’m planning at CaidCo but I keep Brent and his evil intentions out of it. I don’t want Jack even thinking of going in there on Monday and tackling him. I remember how he was with Luc. I don’t want to be drawn into any reference to Amanda’s visit either. I figure if I keep talking he won’t ask me awkward questions.
By the time we reach Belvedere, he looks like he’s sorry he asked. I’ve hardly stopped to draw breath.
As we ride up in the elevator I turn to face him; too curious for my own good. “How come you’ve never asked me about work before?”
“There, you make all the decisions. You’re the boss. Just like I’m boss at Zee-Com. And Belvedere.” He shoots out of the lift with a grin on his face leaving me stunned in his wake at the sheer arrogance and assumption he’s the boss of me in private. Even if it is practically true.
“Only because I let you,” I yell pathetically to his retreating back.
He’s waiting for me behind the bedroom door where he grabs me and captures me in his arms. He tosses my bag to the floor, struggles to kiss me, hold me tight and remove my jacket and skirt all at the same time.
I want to challenge him about Amanda’s professional outfits being so much
like mine but I must pick my moments. For more reasons than one. He pulls me down onto the bed with him.
“I need to shower first, Jack. I’m all hot and sticky.”
“Mmm. Hot.” He kisses me again. “Sticky,” he murmurs between nuzzling my lips, undoing the knot on his tie with one hand and shucking his jacket from his shoulders.
“Shower?” I remind him.
He pauses and looks at me like I’m trying to spoil his fun. He stands, pulling me to my feet, nudging me into the bathroom in front of him. “Let’s kill two birds with one stone then. It’s clear who’s really boss around here.”
I smile because I got my way. And because I remembered Lenuta’s words of wisdom. Don’t give him everything he wants.
“But only because I let you,” he whispers in my ear, scattering my illusions but sending a thrill chasing across my skin in every direction.
I allow him to have his way with me for the rest of the night. In fact I don’t think I’ve ever been so sweet, docile and compliant. At one point I think I may have let it go too far when he pulls back and stares at me for ages with that familiar frown between his brows.
“Is there something you want to tell me, Tabitha?”
“No.” I say it far too quickly.
I distract him in the only way I know that ensures he can’t turn his mind to the problem. It may be my hands and mouth and tongue super-busy at their devious designs but it’s his heated brain that refuses to focus on anything beyond what I’m doing to him in that moment.
We doze afterwards to regain some energy and then I challenge him to a race to the kitchen to see what delights the thoughtful Lenuta has left for us starving mortals.
“Loser loads the dishwasher,” I laugh and jump the starting gun.
He catches me easily on the kitchen threshold and uses his unfair physical advantage to fly me backwards, screaming, through the air, landing behind him. He blocks my struggles to pass him through the doorway, fending off my attempts to pinch him for ages by tickling me until I’m a weak, seething mass of hysterical laughter.
“A draw,” he declares. “You load. I’ll supervise.” He thinks he’s so clever.
“Not on your life,” I counter. “You load, I’ll find a good film for us to watch later.”
“Never going to happen.”
We throw each other mock glares, their severity ruined by our playful manner.
“Both load?” I suggest a compromise.
“Done.” He holds out his hand to shake on the deal.
By now I’m far too wary of his rule-breaking to take it so he grabs me and we kiss on it instead.
When he lifts his lips from mine he gives me another puzzled look. “Are you sure you don’t have anything to tell me?”
And I thought I’d got away with it. “Always so suspicious, Jack.” Please don’t ask me.
“Where you’re concerned? Always.”
I wonder what he means by that. It’s Amanda he should be suspicious of this time.
“What is there to eat? I’m starving,” I say.
He pulls me back out the door. “Let’s look later.”
I don’t have to wonder about his reason for that. It’s growing right before my eyes. “Again?”
“It’s your fault.”
I think I accused him of the same thing once. “How do you work that one out?”
“You’re irresistible.”
“Okay.” I grin. “I’ll give you that one,”
He grabs me and slams me hard into his body. “But you’d better only be irresistible to me.”
I like that even more. “Cave-troll.”
He hoists me over his shoulder making Neanderthal ugg noises and runs me round the living room, climbing over furniture. I scream and laugh hysterically and pound on his back until he puts me down. It hasn’t done anything to dampen his arousal. I stare at him in astonishment.
“Seriously, I can’t get enough of you.” His lips tease at my neck trying to coerce my will to his. “I’m thinking of seeing a shrink.”
I push him back. “Jack. If you don’t get some food inside me PDQ, the only shrink going on around here will be me. There won’t be anything left of me for you to pick over.”
“Noted,” he concedes on a sigh, dragging me back to the kitchen. “But I know what I want for dessert.”
“Only if you’re good and eat all your vegetables.” I read Lenuta’s instructions. “And load the dishwasher afterwards,” I mutter, grinning.
He hears me and slaps me on the rump. “Devious witch.”
“Blame yourself. You’re the one who taught me to broker a deal.” I give him a triumphant smirk.
“Then I still have work to do on that area of your education. You forgot to secure the exact details of my side of the bargain.”
I stare at him widening my eyes at my naivety. “What does that mean?”
“You’ll find out.” He waggles his eyebrows. “You’d better sit down though. While you still can.” He laughs at his threat, whistling a tune as he closes the oven door on a Le Creuset dish full of lasagne and turns up the heat.
“I’ll make salad dressing while I still can, too.” Our eyes spot the brand new bottle of olive oil on the counter top at exactly the same time and we look at each other. I blush remembering what happened to the last one. “Don’t even consider it,” I tell him.
He shrugs and raises an eyebrow. I think I might be too late.
I don’t know exactly what’s happening to make things this way but Jack and I seem to have fallen into a comfortable co-existence. He seems as happy about the current situation as I am. If I could have one wish right now, I’d wish that nothing ever changes. I’ve finally come to accept my existing relationship with Jack instead of always wishing it could be so much more; content to enjoy whatever part of having me, makes him happy too.
It seems the more we’re alone together, the more Amanda’s influence recedes. I try not to think about the part I’m going to play in her plans though. Anything to do with her makes me uneasy. I know I’ll have to find an excuse to abandon Jack tomorrow and he won’t be pleased. What did he tell me once? When you’re with me, you’re with me.
I console myself with the knowledge that when he finally discovers my little deception, he will completely understand.
And forgive me.
Chapter Sixteen
“Hey, kitten.”
“No Jack. Not now.”
I hear him chuckle. “Wake up, baby.” His voice is low and morning sexy, rousing me from sleep.
“What time is it?” I croak, stirring, gathering in my sleep-splayed limbs. My eyes remain firmly shut against the light.
“Six fifteen. Time to hit the water.”
“Ugh. It’s Saturday.” I pull the duvet over my head to block out daylight and the encroaching thoughts of having to get out of bed. I’m exhausted. Jack didn’t let me alone last night until really late and his sexual athletics have worn me out completely. “Where do you get all this energy?”
“From you, baby.” He laughs at me and slowly draws back the duvet again. “I left you sleeping for as long as I could but time and tide and all that.”
I turn my back on him and curl up hoping he’ll let me go back to sleep. His fingers gently massage the back of my neck and my shoulders.
“I’ve brought coffee. Drink it. It’ll wake you.”
I smell it. And Clive Christian. They both seep into my sleepy brain becoming too enticing to ignore. I roll onto my back again and crack my eyes open, straight onto beautiful blue ones.
“Good morning, kitten. You look like you’ve had one busy night going on there.” His smile is so affectionate I can’t take offence at the implication I look a hot mess.
Instead I allow a beam to break out. “Well, I have this awfully demanding stud to satisfy.”
“And how often do you service this greedy male?”
“He’s so bossy, I’m sure he’d let me know if I was failing in said duty.” I chew my
lip to prevent myself laughing out loud.
“Duty?” He sounds mock appalled.
“Responsibility. Obligation.” I define it for him, losing my battle and smirking.
He moves in and drops gentle kisses on my mouth. “Pleasure too, I hope.”
I curl my arms round his neck and kiss him sleepily back. “The first three times are always a pleasure with you, sir.”
“Only the first three!” He hauls back the cover, flips me over and gives me three light swats on my backside while I struggle to crawl away, laughing. I think I’ve unleashed a spanking monster.
He leans over, kissing the small of my naked back causing me to still as he trails them gently right the way up my spine to my neck. I moan sleepily. He freezes for a second, groans and jumps to his feet.
“You’re using your magic charms on me again, Tabby. Today’s dutiful pleasures will have to remain on hold if we don’t want to miss high tide. Up. You’ve got thirty minutes to shower and dress and we’re leaving.”
He stands in faded jeans and crisp blue and white striped button-down shirt with a chunky navy jumper tied around his shoulders. His bare feet are pushed into pale blue deck shoes and he has a pair of Chopard sunglasses sitting on top of his head. He looks so sexy I lie back and will him to return to bed. But he’s taking me out on the Thames today in his boat. It’s his birthday and he wants to spend it alone with me on the water. I think I must have woken up in heaven.
I don’t mention the date is special any more than he does. That way when I have to play my little trick to get him to his party, he won’t equate the two. I find myself resenting the fact I have to do it at all. I’m getting to spend the day with Jack anyway and by his own choice. All I’m helping to do later is allow Amanda to celebrate with him as well. I must be a fool.
“Bring a warm jumper. It can get blowy on the river. And flat shoes with soles that grip. I’ve prepped the boat for launch already, this morning, so we just need to get you on board. Thirty minutes, tops.”
“Aye, aye, Cap’n Jack. Livestock ready for loading.” I sit up and give a nude nautical salute making him groan and shut his eyes as he leaves.