Page 99 of Kissing Games
‘What are you doing for your birthday?’ she asked.
Charlie thought about Valentina. What would she be doing to celebrate hers?
‘I don’t know. I’m not sure where I’ll be. I hadn’t really thought about it.’
‘Well, if you’re in the UK and don’t have anything better to do, let me know.’
‘Thanks, Tab. You’re the best,’ he replied, meaning every word.
His sister looked away, blinking rapidly.
‘Tab, are you okay?’
She sniffed loudly and wiped her eyes. ‘Yes, fine,’ she replied crossly. ‘It’s just these bloody hormones. Can you please start acting like a dick again? Right now, I can’t cope with this version of you.’
34
Mack had come through with another job, so Charlie packed a bag and headed into Belgravia to meet his latest client, a Nigerian oil baron. He wanted someone to make sure his palatial London home was never left unoccupied and to look after Charles, his five thousand quid pedigree Cavalier King Charles spaniel. When Mack had told him about the job, he indicated Charlie would be guarding a king, but then cracked up when he explained the details.
‘So,’ Charlie had said, his teeth gritted. ‘I’m a house sitter, and the only king I’m protecting is a spaniel. Called Charles.’
‘Yes!’ Mack finally wheezed. ‘You only got the job because of your name and Judy from the shelter gave you a reference.’
In fairness, the dog was the easiest client he’d ever had, but his ultimate boss spent most of the day out, so Charlie was trapped inside with nothing to do except watch all of Valentina’s films, then do callisthenics to burn off the energy created by watching her.
The worst thing was knowing she was also in London, naked in front of a room full of men who weren’t him. Every time he thought of it, he felt sick. After three days with Charles, he’d watched every movie of hers he could find and was even more in love with her than he thought possible. Any equanimity he’d had about letting her go was torched, and every five minutes he considered calling Rory or her abuelasto ask for her number.
After five days of going stir crazy, his boss brought his new girlfriend home for the day. He handed Charlie the dog in a bag and told him to take him out to see the sights. As soon as the front door closed behind him, he sprinted off, Charles’s head poking out the top of the bag, barking with excitement. For any chance with Valentina, he needed to see her, not ring her and hope she answered. If they met face to face, he could get a better read on her feelings for him.
He went straight to the offices in Soho of the production company behind her latest film. He’d memorised the address from the front of the script he’d read with the intention of writing them a strongly worded letter about misogyny and gender equality, or simply putting a brick through their window. Now he just wanted to find out where they were filming, blag his way in and talk to Valentina in person.
Their offices were on Lexington Street and the reception desk was staffed by a young man with oversized black-rimmed glasses, hair scraped into a man bun and a moustache with waxed ends.
He looked up as Charlie set the dog carrier on the desk. ‘Can I help you?’
‘Yeah, hi, I’m looking for Valentina Valverde. Can you let me know where she’s filming today?’
‘I’m afraid that’s confidential information.’
Charles the dog growled.
Charlie slowly shook his head. ‘I’m afraid I can’t accept that. This dog is a gift from a mutual friend, Brad Bauer, and I have to deliver him personally.’
The man fiddled with one end of his moustache and looked at Charlie with disdain. ‘You know Brad Bauer?’
‘Yes,’ he replied, putting his hands on the desk and flexing his muscles. ‘I’m his personal trainer.’
The man rolled his eyes. ‘And I’m the King of England.’
Charlie pulled out his phone and opened his new Instagram account. He was only following two people: Valentina and Brad Bauer, after Tab had called him in fits of laughter to say there were photos of Charlie on his feed. He handed his phone over and watched the man looking at photos Crystal had taken of the two of them working out, plus some that Brad had taken of him.
‘Oh.’
Charlie’s foot tapped impatiently on the floor. ‘So, can you tell me where she is today, please?’
The man looked embarrassed and glanced around. ‘Er, the film isn’t currently shooting. The start date has been pushed back.’
‘For how long? Is she still in town?’
