Page 13 of Rider Forbidden
“You don't know anything about me, Jack.”
His eyes flare and he gives a bitter laugh. “Oh, I know all I need to know.”
“You know what - I came out to have a nice time and let my hair down with my new friends. I don't need you coming over and being mean.”
Sophie speaks up “No, she doesn't - I think you better leave us to it if you can't be nice.”
“Whatever,” He says taking a swig from his bottle again and walking off “just don't tell her anything that she’ll use against you on Monday.”
I wish I had laser beam eyes superpower right now. I would laser beam his arse.
I turn back to the three girls sat down, they're staring, looking gob smacked.
I try to explain in as few words as possible. “Jack hates me. My father is the investor for his racing and has employed me to check on his investment. Which means basically I have to follow everyone around and report back to dad. Jack hates that. Sorry about that.”
Grace shakes her head “Don't be silly, that’s not your fault. I’ve never seen Jack be so mean to someone. Cold yeah - if he’s finished with a woman and she doesn't get the memo - but never mean like that.”
I laugh “Nice to know I bring the best out in him then.”
We stay in the pub for a few hours before getting in a minibus to the club. I haven't seen Eli’s dad, which is a relief. The girls are really good company and Jack doesn't bother us again. Just knowing he’s there in the pub, it has me on edge . . . in a way I can't fathom. I can't help but be attracted to him. I recall last Saturday when we went for coffee, he was so nice, charming, and so sexy. I’d thought about him more than once after that; until I started work and realised who he was - but my body hums when he’s around, I feel like all my senses are heightened, which is crazy because we hate each other, right? But the more I have to drink, the more my body is taking over my mind. Admitting I find him physically attractive isn't a bad thing anyway, I’d have to be blind. He’s so mean, I could never like him in that way. But the physical reaction? That’s definitely real - not that I’d ever admit it to anyone.
I haven't been in many nightclubs, having a child at twenty will do that for you. I did a little clubbing before I got pregnant, it doesn't look like anything has changed much, dark, flashing lights . . . loud. I go to the bar and order us a bottle of Prosecco again and glasses. I’ve had enough to drink, but I like the nice buzz it's giving me, and I haven't let myself go like this for, well . . . years. A good song comes on and as I wait for the bartender to come back with my order, I sway my hips to the music, humming along. I feel someone come up behind me and put a hand on my hip. His body is so close. I like the feeling.
He leans down to say in my ear. “Throwing your cash around to make some new friends, are you?” and my body freezes, of course it's him.
I spin around, our faces are almost touching. “Piss off Jack, leave me alone.”
Obviously having had a lot more to drink at this point he leans into me; he puts his nose in my neck and breathes in deeply. “Hmmm, expensive perfume does make you smell fucking fantastic though.”
I push him away from me and turn around back to the bar, collecting my drink and paying. I see the bartender look past me. “Jack! How are you doing? The usual?”
Great, everyone loves him or sucks up to him . . . one or the other.
I collect the bucket and motion for one of the girls to come and get the glasses and I move away from him without giving him another glance.
It’s fun, we drink, we dance - I have a great time. I try to not think about the fact that Jack is here and just enjoy myself. My feet are killing me, these shoes look the business, but boy are they making me suffer. I leave the rest of the girls dancing and go over to our seats to give my poor feet a rest. I look at the time - 2 am . . . wow, I haven't stayed up this late in forever. Well, not a night that didn’t involve temperatures and stomach bugs. I'm quite proud of myself that I'm not past it yet, that I’ve made it to this time. I sip my drink watching the world go by. I got a text hours ago from mum to say that Eli had a fun night and is fast asleep, so all is good in my world. I lean my head back on the couch cushion and just close my eyes for a second.
“Can't keep the pace up, huh?”
I snap my head up . . . great . . . Jack. “If you've come to have another go at me just please turn around and go away.”
He comes and sits next to me. “I just want to talk.”
I sigh, he’ll have had considerably more to drink than the last time I saw him at the bar. I don't know that it's a good idea to talk to him. “What about?”
He shrugs “I may have been a little hard on you tonight, I wanted to apologise.”
I narrow my eyes at him trying to work out if he’s being sincere or not. “OK . . . you seem to have to apologise to me a lot.”
“Yeah I do, you seem to bring out the worst in me.”
“That’s what every girl wants to hear.”
He chuckles “Sorry, maybe I was too harsh on you . . . maybe I have my own issues. I should get to know you better.” His eyes are hooded “You are gorgeous, you know.”
I roll my eyes. “Jack, there are many girls in here that want to go home with you tonight, and I'm not one of them. Go and find one of the ones that were hanging off you earlier. Unless you've had them all before, which you probably have. Am I the only one in here that you haven't fucked?”
He sucks in his breath “Hmmm . . . I like you saying the word ‘fuck’.” He leans into me “Maybe I want to fuckyou. Maybe I’ve been watching you all night.”
