Page 50 of Just Like That

After roaming round the park looking for Nick so we can speak to Gwen a little earlier, I eventually find him standing outside the main office waiting for me at five to ten.

‘I think it’s time we swapped numbers.’ I throw my hands up in light-hearted frustration. ‘I’ve been looking all over for you.’

‘Is that maybe a bit premature?’ He grimaces at me in an almost defeatist way. ‘If this doesn’t go the way we want, I’m all too aware it’ll be over before it’s even started.’

Unable to provide any meaningful reassurance, I mirror his expression. ‘Well, the sooner we get in there, the sooner we can find out.’

‘OK, but before we go inside…’ He grabs my hand and pulls me into an embrace that makes me tingle from the top of my head to the tips of my toes, leaving me aching for more the moment he lets me go.

‘Wow. You’ve conquered your shyness quickly.’ I touch my lips gently.

‘I guess when you think it might be your last, you have to make it count.’ He looks genuinely sad and my heart melts.

‘You know, I was thinking as I was walking around looking for you… if Craig has an issue with this, he can only really do so as long as I’m working with the park – which means we’d only have to behave ourselves until the contract ends or I can get myself moved back onto my previous projects.’

‘Is that right?’ Nick’s face brightens and he reaches forward to tuck a flyaway section of hair behind my ear.

‘Yes. So it wouldn’t be over for good, it would be over for now. Though let’s not underestimate how challenging it could be working side by side if that’s the case.’

I flash him a suggestive grin and he visibly deflates at the thought of having to resist that ongoing temptation. This pleases me no end – I mean, who doesn’t want to feel desirable? – and it seems like, right now, to Nick, I am currently the very definition of that.

‘The really big issue here is my career at Capital Events, and how much more damage I’ve done to it.’

This time Nick takes my hand gently and places it on his chest protectively. ‘Jess, whatever goes down here, I’ve got your back. Me, Lauren, Serge, the whole lot of us. We’re going to save the park and save your career at the same time, I promise.’

‘I wish I was as optimistic as you. Shall we?’ I gesture to the door and with a final shared deep breath, we walk through it together.

Chapter 23

On entering the main open-plan office, I feel all the eyes of the room’s inhabitants on us, projecting knowing looks accompanied by giggling whispers.

‘Bloody hell,’ I mutter under my breath. ‘You weren’t kidding when you said that woman was a major gossip. Everyone in here already knows and I can’t imagine it was Lauren who told them.’

‘Didn’t I tell you?’ Nick replies out the corner of his mouth. ‘We may or may not have got to Gwen first.’

Reaching her office door, Nick knocks and enters with me trailing behind him like I’m walking to the stake. Gwen only momentarily glances up from the printed sheets of paper she’s poring over.

‘Ah, Nick, Jess. Come on in and have a seat.’

We sit down on the chairs in front of her desk and wait for her to finish what she’s doing. When she eventually looks up at us properly, she takes off her glasses, her expression unreadable.

‘I hear you two have something to tell me.’

I give Nick a sideways glance, unsure how to respond to this.

‘Word has gotten round then, I assume.’ He saves me the pain of having to do so.

‘It has,’ says Gwen. ‘It’s all that lot out there can talk about, and I’d prefer it if they would get on with some actual work.’

Hearing this, my stomach pools with a mix of guilt and shame, making me feel a little sick. I had hoped we could convince Gwen and Craig that Nick and I seeing each other wouldn’t get in the way of our work, but what are the chances of that when it’s already getting in the way of everyone else’s? I realise I need to make this right – and fast.

‘Gwen, I’m so sorry about this situation,’ I rush to explain. ‘I’m aware that it’s completely unprofessional, and well… it just sort of happened off the back of the dating event rehearsal, but we will absolutely not go there again while I’m working here, I promise you that…’

I can feel Nick’s incredulous eyes practically burning through me, and I know exactly what he’s thinking: this is not at all how we agreed to manage this conversation. But the problem is, I’m in panic mode, and really, it’s the only right thing to do.

‘We didn’t want you to hear it from the park grapevine,’ I continue like a runaway train. ‘We wanted to tell you ourselves and show you the respect you deserve, but I had my project meeting first thing and—’

‘Jess, stop.’ Gwen holds up a commanding hand and I cease my blabbering.

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