Page 15 of The Last Saturday In July
‘Kate?’
She looked up. ‘What?’
‘Wouldn’t you like to meet someone?’
Kate raised one dark eyebrow. ‘So now you’re trying to set me up with someone I’ve never met. Because as two sad single people we must be perfect for each other.’
‘Kate!’ Jess gave a burst of surprised laughter.
‘Sorry.’ Kate twirled her mother’s ring around her finger. ‘I picked up a dress, by the way.’
Jess beamed. ‘For the wedding? What’s it like?’ Letting Kate choose her own dress for the wedding had been one of her better decisions, because as far as Jess could see most bridesmaid’s dresses were awful.
‘I have a picture.’ Kate took out her phone and shuffled through a dozen pictures of Luke playing football, before finding a photo of herself wearing a full-length, silver-grey silk dress, with spaghetti straps and a side slit just past the knee.
‘Oh, it’s stunning!’ Jess felt a pang of envy.
Kate smiled a bit shyly. ‘You don’t mind that I didn’t ask you to come shopping with me?’
Jess shook her head. ‘Don’t be silly, I know it was something your sisters-in-law wanted to do for you.’
Kate put away her phone. ‘So, what are you going to eat? You could have one of the no-cheese pizzas.’
‘I’d forgotten they were a thing.’ Jess pulled a face.
Kate glanced over the menu again. ‘Actually, they mustn’t do them here. Pity.’
‘Tragic.’ Jess cheered up, putting away the menu. ‘It doesn’t matter, honestly, I’ve already accepted that wearing that dress and eating will be mutually exclusive.’
She and Kate exchanged a grin and Kate called the waitress over.
Jess wished she didn’t have to involve Kate in her lie. But asking her not to share anything personal with Adam was still better than coming clean with her.
From now on, there’d be no more lies. She’d be a good friend, a loving fiancée and an ideal daughter-in-law-to-be. And on the last Saturday of the month, she and Simon would have the perfect wedding.
Chapter 8
‘GINA, you know they’re keeping their theme a secret, but I can guarantee there won’t be any circus animals. Just llamas. And white horses, and white doves and puppies.’ Jess listened to the English reporter for a moment. ‘I don’t know the colour of the puppies, they’re on loan for the day. No, as far as we know, none of the British royals are on the guest list.’
Jess propped the phone between her ear and shoulder and tried to open the sash window in her office. It wouldn’t budge. But she was pretty sure she’d managed to strain her wrist. There was a knock on the door. ‘Is that it for now, Gina? She took a breath. ‘I’m sure Leo and Chelsea’s own publicity people will be able to … right, thanks.’
She hung up and called, ‘Come in!’
Adam walked in. ‘Morning.Wow, it’s roasting in here! Mind if I open the window?’
‘Be my guest.’ Jess sat down, acutely aware of Adam’s proximity as he gave the bottom of the window a sharp tap, before pushing it open.
‘Tell me if you’re in a draught.’ He leaned against the window frame and slipped his hands into his pockets. ‘How’s it going?’
‘Great.’
Jess wished Adam would sit down. It was difficult to concentrate with him standing there, taking up so much space in her office. He was too tall, or something. Although he was probably only a couple of inches taller than Simon. Too broad, then. God, she couldn’t go there.Focus, Jess.
‘There’s a good buzz about Linford.’
Adam walked back around the desk and sat down. ‘I wanted to talk about our image.’
‘Right, well, I have some ideas.’ Jess sat up straighter, and tried her best not to stare as Adam shrugged out of his jacket and loosened his tie.
