Page 11 of Wilder at Heart
‘Jonathan just kissed her. And they’re coming over.’
She stiffens. Bless her. I edge forward. I can’t just watch her idiot ex make a fool of her when she’s trying to be professional.
‘Do you trust me?’
She looks at me as if I’ve grown a second head.‘No.’
‘Tough. Just go with it.’
That silky curtain of hair is still hanging over one shoulder. I slide my hand around the side of her neck that’s bare, a graceful arc under my palm. Her skin is smooth, but her pulse is racing. I don’t, for a second, fool myself that my touch is doing that.
‘Pretend I’m hitting on you,’ I mutter under my breath.
She narrows her eyes at me. ‘From where I’m standing, youarehitting on me.’
‘In your dreams, Belle.’
She looks over my shoulder and squeaks. ‘Hi, Jonathan.’
I turn around slowly, my palm still doing lazy laps of the area where Nora’s swan-like neck meets her shoulder. My thumb traces the ridge of her collarbone.
‘Holmes.’
He’s such a waste of space, this guy. I offer him my hand and he takes it, but his eyes are fixated on my other hand. The one on his ex-girlfriend’s neck. For his benefit, I slide my fingertips under the thick strap of her dress and stroke. This charade is no hardship at all. She’s such a sexy little thing. Her collarbone is fine, the skin glossy.
‘Montague.’ Jonathan’s eyes are on stilts as he shakes my hand before rousing himself. ‘This is my, er, girlfriend, Lucy.’
I shake her hand, forcing myself to keep my eyes on her face. I was right in my assessment from afar. It’s a forgettable face. A little snub nose and a few freckles. Nice enough. But nothing to write home about.
‘Hi, Lucy.’ I flash her my trademark smile.
‘Hi! I saw you onCharmed in Chelsea! You were fantastic in it!’ She’s beaming at me, and given I have normal, human levels of peripheral vision, I can’t help but see her tits heaving in that monstrous yellow get-up.
She’s basically saidI saw you naked.I allow myself a smirk. Jonathan looks fit to burst.
‘That’s so kind. Thanks. Enjoy your evening.’
I turn back to Nora and slide my other hand around her waist, pulling her into me. I whisper in her ear.
‘Let me know when they’ve gone.’
‘You didn’t need to do that.’ She wriggles out of my grasp. ‘They’ve gone. Whew. You didn’t need to grope me like that.’
‘I stroked your collarbone, Nora. I wouldn’t get too hot and bothered about it. I’m capable of a lot more.’
‘I know you are.’ She glares at me. ‘I had the misfortune of seeingexactlywhat you’re capable of last week from my sofa. With Trixie and Dixie.’
‘I bet you didn’t change the channel, though. Did you, you dirty girl?’
‘You’re horrific. And I don’t need you to play games with Jonathan.’
‘It was just a bit of fun. I thought it would make you feel better to get some revenge. He was fucking furious.’
‘I don’t want revenge. I want him back.’
‘Seriously? Move on. You can do better.’
‘No, I can’t. Don’t say that. He’ll come to his senses. My future is with Jonathan. I know it.’
