Page 63 of Wreck Me

‘You made friends, then?’ Rosa’s gaze bounces between James and me as she loads up Tim’s plate with a pile of sashimi. Even when she’s not working, she can’t seem to help serving others.

‘You could say that.’ James sniggers, his hand reaching for mine beneath the table and squeezing it tightly. Heat suffuses my skin.

‘I’m still not happy about the pole situation.’ I try to scowl, but no matter how hard I force my features, they won’t obey. A carefree beam rules in its place instead.

I’m happy.

Being with James brings me so much happiness.

The way his thumb brushes over my wrist brings me happiness.

The way his eyes continuously stray to mine brings me happiness.

‘You must be tired?’ James says, as Rosa gets up to clear the dishes away.

‘Not too tired.’ Desire spikes inside my soul again but it must radiate from me like a beacon.

He chuckles, and leans into my ear. ‘Oh no, lady. Don’t give me those come-to-bed-eyes.’

‘Why not? Are you tired, old man?’ I goad.

‘Not especially, but I skipped work this afternoon in order to make you come, and I need to go to my desk for another hour or so before bed.’

I pout. ‘I could wait up for you?’

‘Get some sleep, princess, you’ll need it for tomorrow.’ He stands, places a tender kiss on my forehead and excuses himself, striding across the room towards the door.

I swallow my disappointment.

Our relationship is pretend. But with every passing day, it’s beginning to feel very real. Does he feel it too?

I watch as he strides towards the door, a heavy sense of longing curls in my core. As if he feels it, he pauses, his fingers resting on the door handle. He turns slowly, and shoots me a wide smile.

‘Laters, baby,’ he mouths and suddenly I’m grinning like a schoolgirl again.

The next morning, I’m sipping my second cup of coffee in the sitting room, when I hear his footsteps approaching from along the hallway.

I hold my breath, waiting to see if he’ll come and find me. Three seconds later, he sticks his head around the door.

‘Good morning.’ His eyes roam over my outfit, a cashmere jumper dress and tan leather knee-high boots, selected this morning with him in mind.

‘Morning.’ He looks utterly edible in a Ralph Lauren polo shirt and navy slacks.

‘Coffee?’ I glance at the pot Rosa has left on the table at my side.

He hesitates for a second, then strides in. ‘I was due to meet Caelon twenty minutes ago, but what’s twenty more?’ He shrugs, crosses the room and drops a kiss on my lips. My stomach somersaults.

Yep, definitely feeling less pretend by the day.

I bite back a grin, top up my coffee cup and hand it to him.

His eyes land on mine as he places his lips to the lipstick mark around the rim and drinks.

‘What are you and Caelon up to?’

‘Going to look at an old manor house in County Meath. Caelon thinks it has potential. He’s looking to expand his chain of boutique hotels.’ Frown lines indent James’s forehead. ‘It’s going to take up most of my day, by the time we get there and have a look around.’

‘And you resent having to do that on a Saturday?’ I glance at him quizzically.

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