Page 17 of Long Story Short

She nodded. ‘Yes. It’s all anyone wants to talk about. We all thought it was unlikely that a journalist would make up that quote but him confirming it… I heard a group of readers talking about having a Jake Richards book-burning ceremony.’

‘Blimey.’ I shuddered at the thought.

‘I definitely didn’t make it up.’

Liv and I both turned in surprise to find a tall woman in a stunning green dress beside us. She smiled. ‘I’m Kelly Shepperd.’

I eyed the journalist responsible for telling the world what Jake had said about writing romance books. Liv and I introduced ourselves to her, and we all shook hands.

‘Ah yes, Hayley Harper, trying to make everyone believe I would fabricate an article. Every word I wrote was true.’

‘We know,’ I said with a sigh. ‘And everyone knows it now too.’

‘Everyone is talking about the panel he was on earlier with Davis Mulberry. He always let that guy wind him up.’

‘I know, but why?’ I wondered aloud, taking a long gulp of my drink.

‘They went to university together. Always been rivals, so I gather. But I think there may be something more personal behind it all. After I overheard him talking to Davis, I told Jake I was going to publish an article about it. I asked if he wanted to put his side over in it, but he said no.’

I stared at her. ‘Why not?’

Kelly shrugged. ‘All I know is Jake didn’t stop me writing that article. He didn’t want to explain himself or refute it. I always felt like there was something else he didn’t want the world to find out about so let me tell them what he’d said to Mulberry instead.’

‘But what you overheard might have ruined his career for good,’ Liv said, eyebrows raised. ‘What could have been that important to keep hidden?’

I was just as surprised as Liv sounded. It seemed like Jake had let Kelly publish that article because he was trying to hide something else. He had risked everything to protect something, or someone.

But what?

12

An hour passed but there was still no sign of Jake at the party. I was on my third glass of sparkling wine, and feeling slightly light-headed. I went for a bathroom break and when I returned, I couldn’t find Liv where I’d left her talking with Tessa.

As I searched the room for them, I was accosted by someone I really didn’t want to have to talk to.

Davis Mulberry blocked my path. He wore an expensive-looking suit and held a glass of sparkling wine too. ‘Looking for a new job after today, Freya?’ He chuckled at what I assumed he thought was a good joke.

My eyes narrowed. No wonder Jake was wound up by this guy. He just oozed arrogance. ‘Why are you so obsessed with Jake?’ I fired back, the wine having loosened my tongue much more than it normally would. I knew I should just walk away but it had been a very long day.

Davis scoffed. ‘I think it’s the other way round. He’s always felt embarrassed by the fact he writes romance books. As he should be. It’s not very manly, is it? I mean, would you be impressed if you were chatted up by a man who admitted he writes soppy crap like that?’

‘Soppy crap?’ I repeated, anger rising inside me at his attitude. Over his shoulder, I caught sight of Jake then, walking through the room. His eyes met mine, then he saw Davis and he stopped walking. It took me a second to look back at Davis, Jake’s gaze having the usual effect: like he was looking right into my soul or something. It almost made me forget what was happening for a moment. ‘Romance books are not soppy crap. Jake’s books are beautiful. I, however, have never read one of yours,’ I told him shortly.

Davis moved a bit closer to me and leaned down. ‘I can give you a signed copy of mine and convert you to the darker side of books and…’ his eyes dropped to the neckline of my dress. ‘The darker side of life,’ he added, his tone suddenly low so only I could hear. ‘I think you’d enjoy it. Don’t you?’

‘I don’t think Freya would enjoyanythingyou have to offer.’

Turning, I saw Jake suddenly appear beside me, his tone sharp, stepping so close that Davis took an instinctive step away from me.

‘Isn’t that up to Freya to decide?’ Davis pointed out, glaring at Jake.

I rolled my eyes. ‘Looks like you two don’t need me for this conversation,’ I said, turning away and setting off again to find Liv and Tessa. The last thing I needed right now was to be stuck in between Jake and Davis, and their pistols at dawn or penis-measuring competition or whatever the hell it was they were doing.

‘Freya!’ A hand reached out and touched my arm.

With a sigh, I paused and looked at Jake, who had hurried after me. ‘I don’t want to be some pawn in your rivalry with Davis. Leave me out of it.’

I looked at his hand on my arm and he quickly dropped it. It was the second time he’d deliberately touched me after helping me up off the floor at the airport, and I hated that I was counting the times.

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