Page 35 of Lie For Me

‘Oh, thank god,’ Lucy said, relief surging through her at the thought of a good night’s sleep. She ran her hands through her hair. ‘Thank you, honestly. I’m so tired, and my hip is killing me, too.’

Jack slurped his tea and shrugged.

‘If you win at rock, paper, scissors.’

Lucy threw a pillow at him and missed.

‘Jack!’

‘We need to do that every night to see who gets the bed. Hey,’ he held his hands up, ‘I don’t make the rules.’

‘You do. You literally just made this rule up, Jack.’

Jack grinned and smoothed out the quilt.

‘Okay, okay, you can have the bed. But what’s the plan for me? I can’t sleep on that,’ he glanced down at the deflated mattress. ‘And that,’ he pointed at the chaise longue, ‘is way too small.’

‘I’ll work something out,’ Lucy sighed, grabbing a towel and her toiletry bag and dragging herself towards the bathroom.

Jack made himself comfortable in the spot on the bed she had just vacated.

‘How are you enjoying having a fake boyfriend?’ Jack called as Lucy went into the bathroom. ‘Is it all you hoped for?’

He looked charming sitting up in bed, damp, tousled hair, a shadow of stubble around his jaw. He grinned as he held his tea with his pinky finger raised and sipped it artfully, then blew her a kiss.

Lucy glared at him and slammed the door.

11

Jack leaned against the side of the lift, hands in his pockets, as Lucy stabbed at the buttons to take them down.

‘Okay, you’ve teased me all morning for your own amusement, so I hope you’ve got it out of your system. This is when I need you to be there for me. Be a good friend.’ She glowered at him. ‘And pleeeasse be the best fake boyfriend a girl could wish for.’

Jack looked at her hunched shoulders, and her fingers clutching tightly onto her handbag. There were faint purple shadows under her eyes, not quite disguised by make-up, and she was fidgeting, pulling at her dress and shifting from foot to foot. He took her by the shoulders and turned her towards him for a moment, forcing her to meet his gaze. He wanted the anxious look in her eyes to disappear.

‘Okay, I’m done.’ He held one hand up. ‘Scout’s honour. Nothing but good behaviour from here on out.’

Lucy sighed deeply, and he felt her shoulders relax.

‘Thank you.’

The lift dinged as it announced their arrival on the ground floor.

‘Ready?’ Jack asked and smiled down at her. She looked up at him, a hint of a smile about her mouth.

‘Ready.’ Lucy grimaced. ‘For Round Two.’

He grinned back at her. ‘Let’s have some fun.’

He took her hand in his, squeezed it gently, and they stepped out of the lift.

The smell of fresh coffee, pastries and bacon hit them as they walked into the function room, now transformed for brunch. A waiter marched past carrying plates piled high with eggs benedict, pancakes and crispy bacon, and Jack felt his stomach lurch and rumble in response.

‘Lucy, darling! Jack, over here!’

Her mother’s husky voice floated across the room, and she waved them over to a family table. She clasped Lucy by the shoulders and kissed her on both cheeks, leaving a shimmer of pearlized lipstick in her wake.

‘Darling girl, you look exhausted!’ She rubbed Lucy’s face and peered at her with concern. ‘Is your room all right? Do you need to move?’ Lucy glanced up at Jack. He tried to look contrite, but Valerie was already clasping him to her. ‘Jack, lovely to see you again.’

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